Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PAHunter on February 06, 2012, 03:56:16 pm

Title: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: PAHunter on February 06, 2012, 03:56:16 pm
Hi all, I recently joined the site and recently completed my first bow.  It is a hickory bow made from a tree we cut down on the farm.  It has a lot of set and is only 26 pounds with a 75 yard max shooting distance.  :)  It was a blast to make though and a great learning experience.  Since then I found bowsite and this site and met some great guys that have hooked me up with an elm stave we're working on and now an osage stave!  It's really nice to be reminded that there are good people still out there. 

Lil about me:
I'm 36 and just got started hunting 4 years ago, though my dad and brother hunted their entire lives.  I love the woods and spend a great deal of time in the PA woods fishing, hiking, mountain biking etc.  I instantly fell in love with hunting and still feel more at home in the woods than anywhere.  It's a nice contrast to my job as a computer programming geek for Dell. 

I'm a big beliver in things we earn we hold most dear.  I love a challenge and I love to live off the land.  My uncle was looking at my carbon element compound bow (ya I love the high tech stuff also) and commenting on how when he was a kid they made their own bows to hunt with.  So I said, "Ok, let's make some bows".  I read the Bent Stick by Paul Comstock and we picked a hickory log from the farm.  It had sat outside a year and the bark was smented to it.  A fact I found out after trying to remove it with a rusted draw knife made of a metal wagon wheel and a large knife.  I probably took me 60 hours to get off that bark!  After many hours with an axe I finally got a hoof rasp which I absolutely love but got predictably agressive with and ended up with a 26 # bow.  I cared little about that and am just happy it didn't break yet.

My goal is to make a bow that I can hunt with and get a whitetail kill.  I killed 5 deer this year with a compound and crossbow and it was a great time but I think it won't even compare to the satisfaction of getting a kill with a weapon I make myself. 

I post some videos to YouTube just for fun and I'll be sure to put some of my progress with my new bows.  I'm also getting some better video equipment to film my hunts with.  Hopefully I can get my first selfbow kill on film!  That is really my goal this year.  http://www.youtube.com/user/VictoryBeforeCombat?feature=mhee

I've already really enjoyed a ton of the information on this site and hopefully I'll be able to contriubte to it eventually and get to know many of you.  Maybe I'll do a build along with my osage bow, after I finish Dean Torges's book. 

(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small79404413.JPG)

(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small25254546.JPG)

Take care,
PAHunter
Wexford, PA




Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: Buckeye Guy on February 06, 2012, 04:08:54 pm
Welcome to PA
That is an awesome first bow !!
Guy
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: blackhawk on February 06, 2012, 04:19:45 pm
Welcome to primitive archer Rob  ;)   if ya got time maybe we'll get ya bending that elm this weekend. Your enthusiasm is good,and your in the right place here. A lot of great guys and bowmakers here willing to help,so don't ever be shy about asking questions. ;D
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: k-hat on February 06, 2012, 04:27:42 pm
Welcome to PA, think we have a few good bowyers up there in your neck-o-the-woods ;)
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: HickoryBill on February 06, 2012, 04:31:49 pm
Welcome to the site Rob...and the new addiction...Hope we can help ya out as much as we can...Your next bow will be a deer slayer...Blackhawk and I will see to that!!! ;)
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: PAHunter on February 06, 2012, 05:04:44 pm
Thank you, I sincerely appreciate it!  I am taken back by everyone's generosity and Blackhawk's amazing brownies! 

Blackhawk, let me know if your available Friday night, Sat during the day, or Sunday anytime.  I could use a lesson on how to tiller a bow above 26 #.   haha  Hopefully we both get that first selfbow kill this year!  I may not know much about bows yet but I'm pretty good at puttin meat in the fridge.  ;)
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: k-hat on February 06, 2012, 05:09:00 pm
Blackhawk, now you didn't put anything "special"  :o  in those brownies didja?  >:D     PA, did everything feel lack it was happening in fast forward after a couple brownies? ;)
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: blackhawk on February 06, 2012, 05:30:38 pm
Blackhawk, now you didn't put anything "special"  :o  in those brownies didja?  >:D     PA, did everything feel lack it was happening in fast forward after a couple brownies? ;)

LMAO  :laugh:....NO COMMENT  8)
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: blackhawk on February 06, 2012, 05:34:20 pm
Thank you, I sincerely appreciate it!  I am taken back by everyone's generosity and Blackhawk's amazing brownies! 

Blackhawk, let me know if your available Friday night, Sat during the day, or Sunday anytime.  I could use a lesson on how to tiller a bow above 26 #.   haha  Hopefully we both get that first selfbow kill this year!  I may not know much about bows yet but I'm pretty good at puttin meat in the fridge.  ;)

Ill be home making bows all weekend as usual. ;D.....just tell me a day/days n time when ur comin over.
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: Buckeye Guy on February 06, 2012, 05:35:33 pm
If Chris is helping ya you don't need us !!!
Have fun !!
Wish I was there !
Guy
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: PAHunter on February 06, 2012, 05:57:24 pm
Blackhawk, now you didn't put anything "special"  :o  in those brownies didja?  >:D     PA, did everything feel lack it was happening in fast forward after a couple brownies? ;)

k-hat, I was a little light headed but I just figured it was the fumes from Bill's bamboo dust and glue.  ;)  I was fine but when a guy that's listening to Bob Marley offers me brownies I drive home extra slow just in case. 

Chris, right on man, I'll see you after 7:00 on Friday! 
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: Lone500 on February 06, 2012, 06:06:39 pm
never been offered brownies by someone listening to bob marley before. been offered cookies from a guy wearing a grateful dead tshirt tho lol.
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: Youngboyer2(billyf) on February 06, 2012, 06:21:13 pm
WOW you just put my first bow to shame, you will make a great addition to the PA community
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 06, 2012, 06:22:26 pm
Welcome! Beautiful bow! Jawge
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: blackhawk on February 06, 2012, 06:36:25 pm
Hmmm??...the evidence is stacking against me ???

I guess they were good cus ya didn't leave till 12:30 a.m.  :laugh:....and ill see ya at 7 with some grateful dead cranking  O:)
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: DRon knife on February 06, 2012, 07:32:02 pm
Little fire on the mountain and some "brownies"....sounds like a wake and bake to me!!

Welcome PAhunter,nice first bow there!! Ron
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: bcbull on February 06, 2012, 07:42:56 pm
hey guys i know another who always is playin bob marley and has a pink jug hidin in the shop  lol  DVS
  gotcha bro lol but ill go over there anytime  nice to have ya bro youll like it here brock
Title: Re: Hi from a newbie (and first bow pics)
Post by: HickoryBill on February 06, 2012, 10:20:09 pm
I thought those brownies were special...But then there was alot of dust floating around(IPE.bamboo.glue.Elm,and Osage)As well as alot of BS.I had one to many of those brownies,prolly why I slept in so late