Hunting tough terrain without a TD

[CaliCreole]

I was talking to the a ranger yesterday about some good hunting areas in my local mountains. He was very helpful in telling me some spots that shouldnt be to crowded where he has seen or has had good reports of game (turkey) but to get to the Im looking at a 5-6 mile hike through some pretty rough terrain, which isnt a huge problem excpet i have a one piece longbow. How do some of you protect your bows when going through tough terrain (i.e. Rocks, boulders, brush etc) or should i just invest in a take down bow for this type of hunting?

[MJB]

One Piece or take down, just carry it in your hand. Or are you considering packing in the take down ? Best to have the bow in hand.

[CaliCreole]

I was considering getting a take down so it could be packed in, there is a real nice wild trout stream in one of the areas he told me about and i have been down there before going after some of those wild trout. it was a lot of sliding around on my butt to get down some of these hills and climbing/crawling to get back out thats why i was worried about the safety of my bow

[twitchstick]

I would take your one piece. I do long hikes thruogh rough stuff all the time just take your time as long as you don't have to do any free climbing. I have a take down that never gets takin down saves set up time and tuning mistakes. I think it would be handy when you have to quarter big game or travel prayer to the hunt. Just my thoughs.

[Earthdog]

I cover my bow with camo tape to help protect the finish,an just go at it.
Around 90% of my deer hunting involves big walks in,often 8 hours or more of non stop plain old hard work.
CaliCreole,I feel your pain mate,just gotta grit your teeth an do it.

[Bjorn]

If the going is so tough that you need both hands, packing a TD would be the answer.

[LKH]

There are some hunts (rocky mt goat, sheep) where a takedown is just about mandatory, at least here in AK.  You find yourself climbing thru terrible conditions and it's so easy to take a tumble.  

A bow in your hand is just in the way and if you strap a full length bow on your back, it interferes with your progress and is apt to be broken in a tumble.  

I have a total of 5 takedowns and wouldn't buy anything else.

[JimB]

It sounds like a fun hunt anyway you do it.Packing a takedown is one way but you still have your full length arrows to contend with also.i was confronted with some similar issues recently on some lion hunts.I was carrying a light,1 piece bow.I took some pretty good spills,the first two trips.I then wised up and wore boots with  more agressive soles and used a good,lightweight trekking type walking stick.I can't stress enough the walking stick.It will help stabilize you and maintain your balance.After making those changes,there were no falls and I walked 4 times as far with less effort.

When you are slipping and falling or trying to prevent it,you are using a lot more energy than if you maintain good footing and balance.You could also also put Limbskins on your bow that would at least protect the finish.

Either way,I would do that trip.California has some beautiful mountains and turkey hunting with relatively little competition and the chance to fish a mountain trout stream when hunting is slow sounds like the perfect way to spend a few Spring days.

You should also be able to pack a turkey and your gear out in one trip,unlike most big game hunts.And that walking stick makes a good monopod for all those pictures you will want to take.

[Hawkeye]

Well, if the question how you COULD do this W/O a takedown, you might look at well-designed bow sling like the one at bowtote.com.  Really handy when you need the bow strung and available fairly quickly, but need your hands free...

I DON'T think it would be the answer if you were on horseback, or trying to trek through heavy brush constantly, but in some situations, it is just the ticket.

I have to walk with a cane (walking staff) because of medical trouble.  When things aren't going so well, like right now, I have to use two sticks!  With no hands left for the bow, this sling is a great help...

A nice retired man designed this model and manufactures and distributes it.  May not be your answer, but it is a nice resource for me!

[Grey Taylor]

Ray, what about leaving the bow unstrung in a nice heavy fabric case?

Guy

[Hawkeye]

Oops!

[mnbwhtr]

You could un string your longbow and use it for a walking stick. HeHe

[riivioristo]

This is a easy one - a TD bow will be the best. If the terrain demands hands and feets climbing you will not likely shoot there but you can make your way safely. If you think you need to be ready all the times you dont have to take your bow down...but with one piece bow - you just live with it. Good hunting to you !!

[Ground Hunter]

Buy another bow - you will feel better.  H

[Ragnarok Forge]

We hunt in tough terrain here in the Northwest.  Heavy brush, steep terrain and some of our mountains reach 13,000 feet.  I hunt with a take down - 68 inch longbow.  I only carry it broken down if I am climbing cliffs.  Otherwise I always have it strung and ready.  Animals can be found anywhere from the back yard to 9,000 feet up the mountain side here.  

My trick to carring the longbow as a one piece all the time is that I plan my trips using GPS, Terrain Maps, and Google Earth.  I plan my routes to avoid the worst of the terrain and brush areas and use the trip planning to also optimize my hunting and scouting opportunities.

Sound planning and route setting with the GPS will allow you to hunt / scout all the way into and all the way out from your hunting area.  Plus you just might get on those birds a lot quicker than expected if your scouting as you move along.  

I find the running ridge tops and just below them is often the easiest route to take, crossing at saddle points, etc....  Deer and Elk often sidehill and work the easiest travel lanes to reach different areas.  I usually find myself hiking on elk and deer trails that are exactly or very close to where my planned trip setting are.  Seems we think alike a lot.

Throw in the new software for your computer that has all of the US and its terrain and you can plan out a great path with the least trouble and most hunting opportunities.  You can leave a copy of your planned route with your better half or other family so you they can call for help if you don't make it back home on time.

[CaliCreole]

ok this may be a good idea or a stupid idea but here is what im thinking i could do until i can get my hands on a decent takedown (made an offer on a used pse coyote im hoping to get dirt cheap but might take me a while to get confidence in it) any way what do you guys think if i get a piece of 4" pvc with a cap on both ends, drill some holes and strap it to my pack. I can then put my unstrung bow in there while hiking down into the valley. teh pvc will prtect it from a fall but will add weight to my pack which Im probably ok with. This wont do anything for me for the times when i need to be ready to shoot, but i have until deer season to figure that out, I plan on hunting turkey out of a makeshift blind that i will build once into the canyon. this is all a guess of course I havent scouted that area yet for turkey just going off of what ranger told me and knowing the area from trout fishing. I like hte idea of planning my route in looking for an easier trail, but the beauty of this spot i have in mind is there is no easy way in that i know of which is why hunting presure should be light.

[Elk whisperer]

you better not go you might ding your bow

[LoneWolf73]

Hunt with it, use it as a walking stick if ya have to, refinish it for $150 when you have enough scatches. Pampering a bow......when there are so many out there and can be made? LOL

[Jerry Wald]

I would unstring it - strap it to your back pack - then your hands are free.

Then string it when you get past that area...common sense will go a long way bud

Never leave it strung if you are hiking in sharp rocks (diiferrent if you are actually hunting though)...sharp rocks can slice a string real easy and you don't want to dry fire your bow or waste a string.

JB

[CaliCreole]

not so much worried about dinging it as i am about tumbling and breaking it and walking 5 miles through tough terrain only to sit there bowless. LOL Dont get me wrong i love the outdoors and have no problems going in and coming out empty handed as long as i come out with what i went in with at least. Ive been down in there before going after some wild trout and took a pretty good head over heel tumble on a loose hill side with some pretty gnarley grade. luckily my travel rod was inside a tube in my pack, tube was bent rod was fine