HH bug got me ... Part One!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Wow, Now here in Texas we need rain badly..

[dragonheart]

talk about a winter wonderland

[Nate Steen .]

Rik,  

I'm looking forward to summer...it happens every year around August 14 from noon to two-thirty...don't want to miss it....    
methinks I'll only be hunting one short quick site this year....concentrate all my efforts on one place, do or die sort of thing....I won't have enough time to get spread out very thin....You take the north end of the valley,  I'll take the south end....  

Jeff,
Yeah, these Hill do take a sorta technique, but some things about shooting a bow remain 'constants' no matter what type of bow you shoot.  good back tension, steady bow arm, good release and follow through....the basics, but without them the arrows don't do their thing very well....

[Mudd]

Someone suggested that I get a group picture of my Hills.

Well here they are with a relative thrown in to boot.

 

 

 

Now I have a bow profile question.

I know that Craig offers all 3 different styles, straight, back set, and string follow, as does Miller  but how about the other Hill style bows such as Sunset Hills?

God bless,Mudd

Mudd,
The beginnings of a classic collection!  Your next one will certainly add some pizazz to the family...  
       

[canopyboy]

Form is coming along.  Muscles have strengthened a bit to overcome the 13# jump in weight that came with the Hill bow.  Arrows have started flying like darts more often than wounded ducks.  (Ok, sometimes they're like a blindman's darts.)  I'm back to shooting 20-25 yds instead of 15.  But the grip just hasn't been feeling right.  So this afternoon I marched into the shop, grabbed a file and had at it.  I took quite a bit off, and though I may tweak it some more, I want to make the changes slowly and see how they work.  Then I came back out to see how it felt.  First three arrows at somewhere around 22 paces:

   

After that groups were a bit more normal.  But I'm going to take it as a sign that the mojo was hidden deeper than I had shaped previously....

Anyone have a picture of the back of a hill in the handle area without a wrap on it?  Showing the shape?  Maybe Rob has one as he cut 'em in half for a take down?

[Mudd]

Nice shooting canopyboy !!

I admire you guys who have the nerve to start taking wood off...lol

I guess I should ask... is it a bow of your building?

That could be a difference if you've been working on it all along.

God bless,Mudd

[canopyboy]

Partially.  It was a blank that I finished a thousand posts back or so...  

I might have more trouble with a new Hill that came all done.  But would probably still do it if it wasn't right.  A used one I'd attack in a heartbeat.  I don't think I've had a bow of any type yet (even Hoyt aluminum riser) that I didn't modify within the first few months to fit my hand a bit better.  And of course the ones I make myself are never done....

[mikebiz]

Beautiful collection Mudd.  I love that Half Breed.  Is that Bocote in the riser?  My next Hill will most likely be a Yew bow.  How do you like the Half Breed?  Have you ever shot an all yew Redman and compared it to the yew/bamboo HB? My current Hills have bamboo and I find them very smooth.  Was curious as to the smoothness of an all yew bow.  Thanks.

Since we are talking about blanks I've been considering a Hill blank.  Maybe that yew bow is one to consider.  Anyway, hey canopyboy how did you find finishing a blank to be?  Did you need any special tools?  Are the Hill blanks all wood or do they have glass on the belly and or back?  I'm just gathering info before I make a decision.  Thanks.

[canopyboy]

The blanks are easy.  The instructions call for a couple of files and some sandpaper to prep it for finishing.  Then finish.  Rob mentioned some easy wipe on finishes too.

They are just like a regular Hill.  Lams are the same, with glass front and back.  Order any combination and weight, etc that you would for a regular bow from them.  You just don't have to specify LH or RH...

[mikebiz]

Hmm.  I might give this a shot.  I've seen a few pics of finished blank bows and they look great.  I'm fair with my hands, but lack patience    I would really need to take my time with this project.  Thanks for the info.

[stik&string]

Mudd, I was one of the ones asking for a group photo. Thank you.... Beautiful collection, thanks.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by mikebiz:
Hmm.  I might give this a shot.  I've seen a few pics of finished blank bows and they look great.  I'm fair with my hands, but lack patience     I would really need to take my time with this project.  Thanks for the info.

BE AWARE that craig overbuilds *everything* and while his finished bows are 3-6# higher in draw weight, his bow blanks can easily be 10# overweight and yer gonna have a LOTTA sanding to do.

[Blueridge]

Mikebiz I have 3 H Hill bows, Wesley , Big 5 and a Redman .
The Wesley and Redman are 1# different in weight, the Wesley is a tad faster and the Redman a tad smoother to draw. Like em all and real fond of that Redman .

[Mudd]

stik&string Not a problem, thank you for asking.

I needed the motivation to do it.

Mikebiz reading your posts sounds just like talking to Tony Van Dort...lol

He also asks me all kinds of questions that I don't have the 1st clue about how to answer...lol

Except the easy ones...lol

Yes sir the riser wood in the Half Breed is Bacote.

I have owned and all yew Redman but I couldn't compare it to any of my bows as I have slept since I owned it..lol(sorry)

God bless,Mudd

[canopyboy]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
BE AWARE that craig overbuilds *everything* and while his finished bows are 3-6# higher in draw weight, his bow blanks can easily be 10# overweight and yer gonna have a LOTTA sanding to do.

Mine was ordered at 55# @ 29".  I didn't sand too much and ended up at 62#.  Definitely something to think about when making your order.  7 extra pounds was a lot.

[canopyboy]

So, does anyone have something that shows a standard profile of the handle section iwo of the back?  I know a lot of discussion has been given to the shape on the belly side where your palm sits.

I had left mine full on the back and maybe a bit square/wide which was uncomfortable on my last three fingers.  I've narrowed it up a bit so the fingers wrap around with a better fit, but I'm wondering what it looks like on a regular Hill.

[Blueridge]

Nice set of bows Mudd, too bad they are wrong handed. which is your favorite?

[Rick Butler]

I'm curious, do any of you folks with  Hills hunt out of tree stands with them?  I have  ladder stands set up on my property in Mich.'s UP and last year hunted out of one set up in a good sized Cedar with my 68" Tembo.  As long as I was mindful of where my limbs were I had no issues shooting it.

[tradlongbow]

Rick-

I hunt out of a climber with 68" bow, never had a problem with the length.

Darren