• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Any trad guys here?

Just picked up an older TL tree saddle and am planning on hunting trad out of it this year-- had been in a loc-on windwalker with a RC harness. Shooting a Brown Recluse Seminole Chief flatbow- 50# 63". Really looking forward to it!Brown Recluse pic7.jpg
 
Howdy from Mississippi! Trad as well, and beautiful deer! My Kestrel is sitting on the bar behind me now, came in a couple days ago just had to much going on to open the box.
 
I've only ever shot trad and I started in 1990 with a MR Hamilton Scorpion Longbow. I mostly shoot my Palmer Recurve now days but am itching to shoot the longbow again. Got my kestrel a couple of months ago and am just now getting into a tree with it. Great to hear that it is suitable for trad. I've just got to get the whole bridge length and tether length down pat though.
 
Been shooting longbows and recurves for 25 years (thanks dad!). Just got a kestrel this winter. I've been pleased with the ability to shoot so far. I originally had some issues with the teether being in the road. I ended up shorting and going with a fixed bridge, and keep tied to the tree no higher than eye level. Haven't had an issue since. Not sure if it's the angle difference in the Saddle, or the fact that you have tension against the teether that "braces" you, but I think I shoot better that out of a regular stand. Closer shots are great, cause I can really cant my bow without anything getting in the way. I think you'll love it!
I'm currently shooting a 58" longbow.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
I have been trad hunting for a couple years now. Been lucky enough to take a couple animals including deer and a bear. I am taking my first ever elk hunt this Sept. I shoot one of two bows both selfbows. The bow pictured is a working recurve made from osage. And I have a bamboo backed osage bow in the build process now.
f42aaf9f2f00990b4424fe4b77013018.jpg


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
Nice to see another self bow hunter here. I too hunt with a self bow. I normally hunt with a new one every year as part of the hunt is building the equipment. I haven't decided on what to bring with me this year.

I hunt out of a tree suit that I have been using for years but I just got a sit drag i plan practice with this summer to see how I like that before I upgrade to a Mantis or Kestrel.
 
Swampman said:
Nice to see another self bow hunter here. I too hunt with a self bow. I normally hunt with a new one every year as part of the hunt is building the equipment. I haven't decided on what to bring with me this year.

I hunt out of a tree suit that I have been using for years but I just got a sit drag i plan practice with this summer to see how I like that before I upgrade to a Mantis or Kestrel.
Click to expand...
You like your treesuit? I have one I have been fooling around with and the simplicity and convenience of the hard seat is really appealing. It also seems like for some reason the straps stay out of the way for shots...something about them being low and to the sides.
 
Looking to join the ranks in the next few years here. This has been about a 6 month project, working on it a little here and there when I get a free moment in the man cave.

I am now at about 50 or 60 pounds at 23". Just got a string to start inching toward the final tillering. This being my first bow I am pretty happy so far but know it will likely never be a good enough shooter to hunt with but I have to start somewhere. There's a knot in the upper limb that makes it look a little hingy at first glance but I think it's going to be ok. I don't know. I read a Clay Hayes book and watched a couple youtube vids but largely just winging it, figuring I'll develop my own style after messing up a dozen or so.

Need to go harvest some more hickory for staves I can dry for working on this winter. It's very addicting. Not much into watching tv other than hockey, always wanted a hobby I could just sort of piddle at and craft something neat and useful.

20180608_171639.jpg
 
elk yinzer said:
Looking to join the ranks in the next few years here. This has been about a 6 month project, working on it a little here and there when I get a free moment in the man cave.

I am now at about 50 or 60 pounds at 23". Just got a string to start inching toward the final tillering. This being my first bow I am pretty happy so far but know it will likely never be a good enough shooter to hunt with but I have to start somewhere. There's a knot in the upper limb that makes it look a little hingy at first glance but I think it's going to be ok. I don't know. I read a Clay Hayes book and watched a couple youtube vids but largely just winging it, figuring I'll develop my own style after messing up a dozen or so.

Need to go harvest some more hickory for staves I can dry for working on this winter. It's very addicting. Not much into watching tv other than hockey, always wanted a hobby I could just sort of piddle at and craft something neat and useful.

View attachment 4919
Click to expand...
Nice! you're workbench is cleaner than mine!
 
Vtbow said:
You like your treesuit? I have one I have been fooling around with and the simplicity and convenience of the hard seat is really appealing. It also seems like for some reason the straps stay out of the way for shots...something about them being low and to the sides.
Click to expand...
I do like my treesuit. I modified it so I use a rope tether and prusic to attach to the tree. I just cut the strap that attaches to the tree shorter and buckle it together for a bridge. I like it better after I did that. I also cut off the rope that attaches to the belt buckle (whoopie sling) and use a climbing rope instead.

I like the firm seat and often find myself falling asleep in it. The thing I don't like is i can't wear it into the woods and it is a little hard to fit in my pack. I have shot a lot of deer out of it though.
 
Swampman said:
Nice to see another self bow hunter here. I too hunt with a self bow. I normally hunt with a new one every year as part of the hunt is building the equipment. I haven't decided on what to bring with me this year.

I hunt out of a tree suit that I have been using for years but I just got a sit drag i plan practice with this summer to see how I like that before I upgrade to a Mantis or Kestrel.
Click to expand...
I can't take credit for the build. I would love to build my own one day. I got both bows from JD Jones @ pennical bows. Not far from where I live

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
elk yinzer said:
Looking to join the ranks in the next few years here. This has been about a 6 month project, working on it a little here and there when I get a free moment in the man cave.

I am now at about 50 or 60 pounds at 23". Just got a string to start inching toward the final tillering. This being my first bow I am pretty happy so far but know it will likely never be a good enough shooter to hunt with but I have to start somewhere. There's a knot in the upper limb that makes it look a little hingy at first glance but I think it's going to be ok. I don't know. I read a Clay Hayes book and watched a couple youtube vids but largely just winging it, figuring I'll develop my own style after messing up a dozen or so.

Need to go harvest some more hickory for staves I can dry for working on this winter. It's very addicting. Not much into watching tv other than hockey, always wanted a hobby I could just sort of piddle at and craft something neat and useful.

View attachment 4919
Click to expand...
It looks like that bow is coming along. It is a very addicting hobby. Have you found the primitive archer forum yet? I have learned a ton from that forum. It is probably the best place for learning about self bows.
 
Swampman said:
I do like my treesuit. I modified it so I use a rope tether and prusic to attach to the tree. I just cut the strap that attaches to the tree shorter and buckle it together for a bridge. I like it better after I did that. I also cut off the rope that attaches to the belt buckle (whoopie sling) and use a climbing rope instead.

I like the firm seat and often find myself falling asleep in it. The thing I don't like is i can't wear it into the woods and it is a little hard to fit in my pack. I have shot a lot of deer out of it though.
Click to expand...
Awesome, thanks for the addtional feedback. Sounds like you've done what @100rollie has suggsted to me and it has made a huge improvement. I'm definitely thinking about trying those modicications, thanks!
 
Swampman said:
It looks like that bow is coming along. It is a very addicting hobby. Have you found the primitive archer forum yet? I have learned a ton from that forum. It is probably the best place for learning about self bows.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm sure it's one of those things where years from now I'll look back and realize how brutal it looks, but right now I am ok with where I'm at.

I have googled a few specific issues I've come across and ended up at the primitive archery forum I believe. I just don't have time to follow another forum! It's one of those things, too, where I just feel like so much these days we google and research everything to death, and with it being such an ancient art, I kind of feel like just experimenting and figuring out what works for me and developing my own style. I don't even have any prior woodworking experience, so I've just been taking it brutally slow, experimenting and figuring out what works best. I've already learned a ton from it!
 
elk yinzer said:
Thanks, I'm sure it's one of those things where years from now I'll look back and realize how brutal it looks, but right now I am ok with where I'm at.

I have googled a few specific issues I've come across and ended up at the primitive archery forum I believe. I just don't have time to follow another forum! It's one of those things, too, where I just feel like so much these days we google and research everything to death, and with it being such an ancient art, I kind of feel like just experimenting and figuring out what works for me and developing my own style. I don't even have any prior woodworking experience, so I've just been taking it brutally slow, experimenting and figuring out what works best. I've already learned a ton from it!
Click to expand...
It sounds like you are doing the most important part of building a self bow and that is take it slow. Like insaid, that is looking real good.
 
Dad and I both dumped the wheels in 93' and haven't looked back (or forward?) since. I have been sticking with my longbow lately, but have been considering breaking out the Predator recurve since Ron's passing.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top