Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

While at the annual pre-4th of July gathering with my immediate and extended family, several (8 members) of us who are avid bowhunters exchanged hunting and gear related stories as we always do. This time, a nephew who has been living away for the last 4 years and took up bowhunting only 2 years ago, was present.

All but one of us shoot older compound bows (8-13 years old), and simple but reliable and durable gear. One shooter changes bows and accessories each time the wind changes direction. Each time he changes a piece of gear, what was previously the best piece of gear he had ever used, now takes a back seat to his new " stuff," the best he (now) has ever used. Additionally, he is a " zoomy" and is always striving to get an arrow to reach supersonic speeds, and is heavy into talking about his new trick gear. He also shoots a high draw-weight

The nephew that just took up bowhunting two years ago (he has hunted big game mostly a high-powered rifle) was not sure if he would like hunting with a bow, or could learn to use a bow. Therefore, he bought an older used " High Country" double-cam 55-70 lb bow. The bow came with a dozen 2317 aluminum telephone poles (arrows) that matched his draw length and were mounted with unused Muzzys, a simple " TM" bullhorn rest, and an in-line pin sight. Although the seller had previously tried to get $150.00 for the set, my nephew paid $50.00 for the set.

Nephew took the bow to a shop, had it checked for flaws. Shop said bow had hardly been shot. Shop only changed the string and installed a new peep. Nephew had the shafts revaned and purchased a " Cobra" mech release. Altogether, he has $85.00 invested in the bow and gear. He had the bow chronoed and found he was shooting 230 to 240 fps, depending on draw-weight he was using He then practiced and read and asked and practiced until he felt he could accurately shoot from varied heights and forms and make a killing hit out to 50 yards..

Most of us bowhunters in the " family" are good bowhunters and have average to better than average success. However, one extended family member, whom is a better than average shooter in 3D competition, is always having to tweak his gear, often has gear failure or bad gear performance in and out of the field, and misses shots in the field more than any of the rest of us.

Another family member regularly kills black bear, caribou, and moose in Alaska. In fact, just a few hours ago, he gave me a large moose steak and a roll of moose sausage. In addition, I have also watched a video of one of his black bear hunts. The bear was 25 yards away when the bear was hit. The big arrow hit the bear like he had been hit with a slug and took his lungs and heart out. He was recovered 50 yards from where he was hit. On one occasion, he (family member) took a caribou on a 50-yard shot.

Can anyone guess which shooter using what gear is killing black bear, caribou, and moose? What is the moral of this story?

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

Good post c903. I assume it is your nephew since he enjoys hunting big game and is willing to take the time to practice and learn the proper techniques of bowhunting. If people would just practice with their existing equipment, instead spending an abundant amount of time trying to acquire latest and greatest equipment thinking it will help them shot better without practicing.

I love hearing stories like the one you just told. Tell your nephew to keep up the good work and send his video to the new Cabela' s outdoor show.

Thanks and good hunting!!
jt

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

Understand your story, but that is not how it always ends. Many people, myself included, use different bows/acc. regularly and never skip a beat in shooting skill level.

Big difference between people who like to use different stuff, and people who think they can buy accuracy.


If you didn`t bring it with you, you ain`t gonna find it here!;)

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

good story c, it' s the nephew right? 50.00 to start then another 35.00 he got himself a real good deal!!

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

I think the first person we can elliminate is you. :D I' ve never heard you say you have killed bears, moose, or bou. :D Now then, You state your nephew has been living away for 4 years. You also state the mystery person regularly kills said bears, bou, and moose in Alaska. Can a 2 year newbie accomplish that? I don' t think I' d bet for or against him doing that. I suppose it is possible if one had lots of free time and lived in Alaska.

I' m gonna say the shooter was ABM [:o] and the moral of the story is. I need to move to Alaska![:-]

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

Good answer![8D]

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

Cool post, interesting story. Know a few just like the guys you' ve mentioned. Speed isn' t everything, and having the lastest & greatest doesn' t always turn out to be true. What counts is having equipment that you feel comfortable, and reliable with. Whether its new or a older relic. I personnally bought a new bow last yr. But thats after using each of my past bows for 5-10yrs. So far I feel more comfortable, confident, and shooting better with my latest one, then any of my past. Its no speedster either. 230fps. I know people that have speedster' s and are always telling me had to fix this or that, or change this or that. Speed has some advantage, but it causes problems also. More noise, vibrations, and things loosening up. What counts is what you can do in the woods at that moment of truth!!

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

The moral of the story is:

If you are not buying expensive crap every other week to put on your bow that aggravates the heck out of you until you run it over with your truck. Then you are missing out on half the fun of bowhunting:D:D

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

Just pointless rambling as far as I can tell!

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

:DThe winner is the one that dies with the most stuff!!!!!

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RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

The moral is, Stop Buying Crap for your bow and Just SHOT. While he was practicing everyone else was out buying crap and putting it on their bows.

Good Post!

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

I give up.... LOL! I' m not one for suspense unless i' m sitting in my treestand.:D What do you consider the moral of the story c903? Or is this one of those rhetorical questions?

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

Just a guess but I would say the moral of the story is. It' s not what you shoot or what you wear but who you are. You can dress up a pig in a formal gown but it' s still a pig. You can give a real hunter anything (that still capable of shooting that is) and he will still suceed. More by shear determination to be his best. We have all fallen into that better equipment better hunter thing at one time or another. Heck I just ordered a new LX. Did I need it? The answer is no. Did I want it? Well hell yes. It all boils down to we all want to hunt and we make do with what we have. I have hunted with guys that have bows that are 20 years old and they are just as happy as me. Because they got to see the sun come up and go down all while in the same tree and every thing that happened in between. Do I do any better than them because I have a newer bow, site or lazer range finder. The answer to that is NOPE. Its all in the love of it.

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

Mystery: You can' t sleep, possibly caffine or hot weather.

Moral: When you can' t sleep, you don' t mind talkin Huntin' !:D

I normally find one thing per year to mess with on my bow. Buying and sighting one new piece, keeps me from buying a new Mathews.

Dayton

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

It' s gotta be the nephew, when you only spend 85 bucks on your hunting gear you can afford an Alaskan hunting trip. I spend more than that on arrows every year and if I would have saved all that money over the last 20 years I' d be typing this from a little lodge outside of Juneau!!!![:-]

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

I agree with rack-attach, now where did I put that allen wrench??:D

RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

You' re saying bowhunting doesn' t mean hunting for accessories and new bows???? Dang...who' s got a dictionary? ;)

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RE: Solve the mystery! What is the moral of the story?
 

6 what?