Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Buffalogobbler on May 23, 2013, 07:04:24 pm
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In May of 2012 I was lucky enough to win the osage stave from "The Monster Osage Tree" that Clint (Osage Outlaw) donated to the Tennessee Classic for thier raffles.
In July of that year I signed up with my pal and fellow Hawkeye Bowmen member Holeinthebowchuck for a bear hunt in Zama City Alberta with Big Bear Outfitters. After making our down payments on the hunt, both Chuck and I decided that we would make special self bows just for the hunt, and I chose to make my bow from the stave I won at the Classic, hoping that there might be some special karma in the wood.
The bow I made is, 61 and 3/4 TTT, 59 and 1/2 NTN, 1 and 1/2 at the fades, 3/8 at the tips and 52# @ 26". The handle has a brass and silver wire inlay bear track surrounded by a carved snake scale pattern and a brass wire inlay border, with an ebony arrow shelf. The tip over lays are ebony over blood wood and the top tip is carved to represent a black bear bleeding at the throat. The bow was then finished with several coats of bear fat to give it the spirit of the black bear and protect it from the elements.
This is the fifth self bow that I have made. I used the dimensions suggested by Gary Davis in his video and for the final tillering I relied on the guidence and expertise of friend and fellow Hawkeye member "Iron Leg"Dave Reed.
I named the bow "The Big Bear"
Buffalogobbler
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0709.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0709.jpg.html)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0751-2.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0751-2.jpg.html)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0759.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0759.jpg.html)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0764-1.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0764-1.jpg.html)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0749-1.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0749-1.jpg.html)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0775-1.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0775-1.jpg.html)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0891-1.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0891-1.jpg.html)
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Nice work of art bow and really nice trophy!! Congratulations!!
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That is beyond awesome! Great looking bow and great story.
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Here's a few more pics.
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0907-1.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0907-1.jpg.html)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff310/buffalogobbler/IMGA0988.jpg) (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/buffalogobbler/media/IMGA0988.jpg.html)
Both bears were around 250lbs and squared out about six foot.
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Great job on the bow and congrats on the bear takedown. 8)
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Nice job all around.
Taking a bear with it makes even more special.
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Great job on a fantastic bow.
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That is special. The bow and the hunt.
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WAT TO GO!!!!!!!.......Buffalogobbler.That'll be a chershed memory for sure.Congrats.
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Congrats on the bear the nock & handle looks awesome.
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Kevin, great lookin bow an what a great way to break her in. Good mojo in that one. Bob
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Congrats Kevin! That is 2 cool! And I love those tips, beary cool idea ;)
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nice job Kevin.cool story and cool bow.i am glad it all worked out or you guys.most guys just get to dream about things like this.you guys made it happen and i am so happy for you.you'll never forget it.
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Thanks for all of the nice comments guy's, making the bow and going on the hunt really has been a great adventure.
Kevin
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Kevin,
That is an amazing bow and great story with a perfect ending...that's one of those "wish I could see and hold" bows...maybe at the Classic next year?
Lyle
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Really unique and beautiful bow, thats some fine craftmanship there. Congrats on that bear also, makes the bow even more special, :)
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Look at the rings on that bow. And I wish I could do detail work like that; I just don't have it.......................
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Very cool Kevin,nice job both times. :)
Pappy
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Cool bow.
Is that nice bearey going sleepy bo bo? :'(
Del
(We're a bit softie in the UK 'cos we ain't allowed to hunt with bows.
I'd be sobbing as I munched into a nice bear steak >:D )
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(We're a bit softie in the UK 'cos we ain't allowed to hunt with bows.
I'd be sobbing as I munched into a nice bear steak >:D )
+1
just one question how did you carve that bear paw and snake scales? great detail work there and on the tips. watcha going to do with the bear/s? SS
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Congratulations on a fine bow and making yogi burgers with it!
Tracy
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Awesome bow and wonderful story to boot, it couldn't have been any better than that.
Knapper
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SWEETTTTTTTTTTTT
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I'd say all the mojo you worked into that bow paid off quite well...congrats on a sweet bow, and a great adventure!
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Thanks again for the nice comments guy's!
SS, the snake scales were carved with a gouge and rotary tool and the wire inlay bear paw, I make little chisles, cut the pattern and insert the wire.
Kevin
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Absolutely stunning workmanship. It's the little details that really set works of art apart! That's a bow that would look just as good on display as it does at full draw being used.
I hope that bear was hunted for a reason though :( Maybe I'm like Del and too soft being from the UK, but it seems such a waste of a beautiful animal - unless it's going to be eaten I suppose.
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That's a special bow! Great story.
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See nobody tells ya you can carve a handle like that, then ya see it done and presto! You got a plan, i love that BearBow. Thanks for sharing.
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I hope that bear was hunted for a reason though :( Maybe I'm like Del and too soft being from the UK, but it seems such a waste of a beautiful animal - unless it's going to be eaten I suppose.
WillS thank you for your kind words about my bow.
But I must respectfully say please do not question the integrity or the lifestyle of those you do not understand, respectful questions are always appreciated because they are an attempt to learn and understand. But assuming that these bears were hunted without reason and were wasted is insulting, and I see no useful purpose in those comments.
I live off of the land as much as possible and keep old traditions alive out of respect for our American ancestors, I grow much of my own food,I forage for wild plants and I fish and hunt. Was a bear wasted when I used bear fat to protect my bow from the elements as native Americans did? Where was the waste when I used turkey feathers and deer sinew on my river cane arrows, from animals that I killed and ate?
Many people eat hormone injected meat wrapped in plastic, believing it was magically grown in a petrie dish and eat fruits and vegetables grown on monoculture factory farms, using chemicals and pesticides that poison the land and water and I do not question thier integrity or lifestyle and I find it quite ironic that people who seem to believe that no animal has ever died for thier benefit question the ethics of hunting.
Look into your soul and question yourself but please do not question me.
Kevin
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Kevin, I apologise if you read my comment as a question on your ethics or morals - it certainly wasn't meant to be! As I said, it would have been a waste had it not been used for food etc. I can't ever condone trophy hunting, but I find very little to argue about when discussing living as our ancestors did.
Its hard to say for sure, but I think if the UK were to legalise bow hunting I would probably give it a go! There must be quite a thrill hunting an animal with a bow you've made yourself!
Again, sorry if my comment was misunderstood - I love the bow, and have no problem with hunting for food!
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yep im going to start to use up as much of my road kill foxes as possible. e.g the hide for a project, the leg tendons for what little sinew i will get to use as thread, the jaw bones (if still intact) for knife handles. if im going to use an animal i won't just use it for it's skin. SS
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Very Very nice bow Kevin, I absolutely love those tips. Any chance you will be bringing this bow to the Hawkeye August trad shoot? I would love to see it in person and am going again this year.
Jon
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Congratulations on all accounts!! 8) 8) 8)
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Will, I am sorry for the misunderstanding also.
I have to remind myself that people who are not exposed to the hunting lifestyle might not understand why hunters do the things that they do.
I have been asked many times if I eat what I kill and I reply that I have always been a meat hunter and not a trophy hunter but after thinking about it, I say that no longer , it is a misstatement, because all hunters keep something from thier kills to remember the animal and the hunt. Also there are many reasons to hunt that do not include food, in New Jersey and Ontario they stopped the spring bear hunt and nuisance complaints went up for bears breaking into cabins and houses looking for food, in California they banned the hunting of mountain lions and thier numbers increased, they lost thier fear of man and they started eating people. But mostly I am a hunter because it is part of my heritage.
Jon, Ask for me when you get to hawkeye for the Traditional Shoot and we'll go out and shoot a course together.
Kevin
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There are and estimate of between 25-30 thousand bears in manitoba alone and a average of about 1600 harvested yearly! I have never met a canadian who hunts bears but are more likely to put one down if the bugger around the dog ,garbage,house ect.like any wild animal in a modern society sometimes there's a turf war and the bear almost certainly loses.
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Sorry,almost forgot"wicked bow bro"!
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I would like to say something more impressive than everyone else, but it's all been covered!
But...I will still throw my 2 cents in...
Let's see...WOW :o :o :o.
Everything bout that bow is sweeet. The carvings, excelant. That is some functional art!!!
Fantastic job.
Ron
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My love for bears has no equal so I hope you don't mind if I (someday) replicate your string nock :D
Excellent bow! A nice bear to boot. You should come to Oregon and bag one of our 300+lb bruins :)
-Pinecone
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Thank you again everybody for the kind comments.
Bryce, if you put a carved bear nock on one of your bows I would love to see it! 8)
Kevin
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Kevin, I had a chance years ago to hunt bear with my selfbow. I never harvested an animal with it until this year, when I was lucky enough to take a doe. The memory of hunts like yours will live long lifes and be told long after the bow and the bear are gone. I'm a lazy, unskilled self bow attempter, but even I can appreciate all the work, time, and energy you put into building your masterpiece. The bear bleeding nock is absolutely freakin' awesome! Thanks for sharing.,
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Will, I am sorry for the misunderstanding also.
I have to remind myself that people who are not exposed to the hunting lifestyle might not understand why hunters do the things that they do.
I have been asked many times if I eat what I kill and I reply that I have always been a meat hunter and not a trophy hunter but after thinking about it, I say that no longer , it is a misstatement, because all hunters keep something from thier kills to remember the animal and the hunt. Also there are many reasons to hunt that do not include food, in New Jersey and Ontario they stopped the spring bear hunt and nuisance complaints went up for bears breaking into cabins and houses looking for food, in California they banned the hunting of mountain lions and thier numbers increased, they lost thier fear of man and they started eating people. But mostly I am a hunter because it is part of my heritage.
Jon, Ask for me when you get to hawkeye for the Traditional Shoot and we'll go out and shoot a course together.
Kevin
Sounds like a plan.
Jon
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Sweeeeet!!!! :)
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Thats one heck of a bear bow!
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Im glad you posted this Kevin. It deserves plenty of attention. I got to see it first hand and love it! The grip is a treat the minute your hand touches it. Excellent work my friend.
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Nice job on the bow!
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I absolutly love this bow design!! I refer to it often as I plan to make another to take bear hunting in Virginia this year. Just curious what was the distance of the shot you made on the bear?
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That is awesome! How did u get those bears to look so good? I jack everything if it is sculpting wood like that! Congrats on the bruin! ;)
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Beautiful bow, beautiful bear.
As a side note - I gotta disagreee with you about the CA hunting ban on lions causing an increase in attacks. Mountain lions attacks on people are dropping dramatically in CA. IN the last 20 years their have been 6 verified lion attacks on people, one fatal. Amazing few given the lion populations, and their proximity to people and our states massive population. And fewer lions are being shot with depredation permits to0 (down 71% since 2000), so that's not the reason. Nobody really knows why the attacks are less. I hunt too, BTW, and I live in lion country, but I'd only shoot one for self defense. Those big predators are vital in our ecosystems.
Sorry I'll get off my soap box now ;) ;)
Gabe