For some reason I seem to make different rules or challenges for myself on this hunt. This years Quebec Quest will be have a new goal for me. I've been very lucky/blessed in the past to have taken I think eight bears by different means...selfbows(my own and a beauty by Eric), stone points by Woody, my own forged Team Tippit points, Little Delta Bow, etc. Plus last years Mr Big of over 300 pounds.
Bear Quest IV, I have an old promise to hopefully fulfill. I'll be shooting one of a couple of Mike Churney's exquisite Osage selfbows. This story goes back a bit so bear(pun intended)with me.
I first met Mike at Denton Hill on the swap blanket gathering. If you've never been to Denton, at the end of the day anyone can take anything archery related to the main lodge, display your goods on a blanket, and swap/haggle/buy from your traditional brothers & sisters. I don't think there was ever a bow made that at one time or another wasn't on a blanket at Denton!
Anyone who knows me, knows I love bows---collector bows, longbows, recurves, selfbows...the stranger the better. Plus the fun of it is to haggle over asking price or trade. About eight years ago I met Mike sitting on his blanket with a couple of really nice selfbows. It was a hot evening so I sat down with him admiring his bows and just started talking about bowhunting, how he made his bows, what was he asking, etc. I really wasn't intending on buying one just being friendly. Finally he said he hoped he could continue to bowhunt and make bows as he was just diagnosed with a brain tumor and he didn't have any health insurance!
Well my best friend's wife is a brain tumor survivor and I knew of the long road ahead for Mike. She was luckier in that her medical bills were totally cover as she had been Secretary of Housing for the Sate of Massachusetts under three governors. She was also a Chair person for the Brain Tumor Society. I said I try to get her to help and then I purchased a bow. I still Haggled over the Price of the bow although there was now a different twist...saying it was way too cheap and added an extra $100. I'd never been in a situation like Mike's and thought a little extra money would help if for no other reason than to have a bit of fun.
Every Denton after that I looked for Mike to see how he was doing. We sit and chat. I'd ask the price of his latest bow and Haggle some more about how he needed to up his price. I bought RH or LH...anything he had. One year Mike wasn't there...he had lost his battle.
I knew very little about him except for the time we shared on his blanket. We never hunted together but he was definitely a Brother of the Bow to me. I also said I'd try to fill my tag someday with his bow.
That time has come...Two of Mike's bows, Benjy's hand made Tonkin cane arrows that he just made for me, couple tippit knives...plus I'll tip the arrows with a new design Team Tippit broadhead. Hope I'm up to the task cause this one is in honor of Mike...Doc
Topic: TradGang Bear Quest # 4 2010' Unpacking & Wheels are Turnin for BQ # 5 JUNE 2011' (Read 57369 times)
