Living The Good Life

Easing ever so slowly over the crest of the ridge in the smokey grey of the early morning, I sent a series of soft cuts from my box call into the heavy air and listened in quiet stillness.  Suddenly, the faint crunching of leaves was detected, I felt my heartbeat accelerate and my fingers grip the string a little tighter.  I made a conscious effort to point my shoulders in the direction of the sound in reparation for a shot, and with sharp clarity and focus I remained like a stone to the approaching quarry.  I was enthusiastically anticipating the moment of truth and the culmination of years of effort for this lofty endeavor of the meeting of wood and steel, to feather and flesh…..

I had been looking forward to this hunting trip since the close of deer season in January, and rainy and cold conditions were not going to dampen my enthusiasm.  I had traveled a day early to set up my large wall tent and wood stove for a party of nine turkey hunters that would arrive the following Friday evening and hunt Saturday morning.  My brother arrived on Thursday just as I was finishing up the last lashing of the tent awning.  It had taken me a little over two hours to set up the tent, but now we would be well sheltered from the unseasonable cold and breezy Mountain.  We managed to finish pitching camp and get a quick scouting excursion out toward my intended hunting area with hopes to roost a bird and perhaps find a few morel mushrooms to accentuate dinner.  It was early and cold, but my trusty mushroom patch came through with a small pile of lusciously fleshy fungus.  The turkeys on the other hand were tight lipped and not giving away themselves as easily.  

 

 

We turned in that night comfortable in the warmth of the wood stove, and our bellies full of one of the finest meals ever prepared in the woods.  Fresh morels fried in butter, onion, and garlic sat piled atop archery killed venison round steaks seared in a cast iron pan atop a vintage Coleman camp stove.  Man-O-Man…..does it get any better than that?  

 

In the dark of the early morning hours, we dressed and prepared some hot coffee and bagels.  The cold morning air was biting as the still bare branches rattled and brushed each other in the breeze.  Soon I would find myself easing over that ridge and listening to the crunch, crunch, crunch of the approaching animal.  Now, the sounds were getting closer.  I strained to look for the bobbing head or fanning feet of the approaching turkey.  Suddenly the movement of a form allowed my eyes and my brain to discern the shape.  It was another hunter. The air let out of my lungs and I watched the shotgun toting hunter clad in the latest head to toe coordinating realtree fashion.  Did he think his outfit would make him invisible to the bird’s ears as well?  He moved quickly by only pausing for a few seconds here and there.  I had on a grey hat, green and grey checkered wool shirt and solid green pants, yet this fellow never spotted me as he wandered through during the perfect time of the morning.  Oh well. I let him go on his way and slowly crept back the way I had arrived placing some terrain between us.  It was time for plan B.

Nary was a gobble heard that morning, so I skirted back to my mushroom hunting area passing more trucks and hunters pouring out of the woods on the access road.  This was public land hunting and the pressure was on.  I was content with the fact that I was spending some quality time with my bow and finding a fair share of early mushrooms.  These would go well with the dutch oven meal I had planned for my visitors that evening. 

I arrived back at camp and started the cooking preparations. I dug a nice deep hole and started a fire from the hot coals still present in my wood stove.  I loaded this hole with seasoned cherry firewood and created a nice hot bed of coals in the bottom.  My brother arrived later with similar results regarding the turkey despite carrying the shotgun.  It would seem that if the birds are not around, it doesn’t matter what you carry on the hunt.  I prefer my lightweight bamboo and glass masterpiece. 

I had pre-chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and had a good supply of fresh butter from our local creamery to marry with the freshly chopped mushrooms.  Two bone-in shoulder blade roasts were thawing in my cooler and they soon joined this concoction in a nice hot dutch oven for a quick sear on my trusty coleman.  I browned the roasts finally adding a cup of water along with some apple slices and carefully placing yellow potatoes in every spare space of the pan.  By this time, I had about 10 inches of hot coals in my pit.  Shoveling out half of the coals I lowered in the hot dutch and covered them with the remaining colas and dirt.  Now, dinner was prepared.  Not one to relax too much in camp, it was time to stump shoot and scout as our guests filtered in and established their tentage.  I had a chuckle at the looks from my hungry brother’s teenage son’s as I proceeded to tell him he was standing on dinner.

By 8pm everyone had arrived and were ready to eat.  Digging up the dutch was one of the highlights of the trip to our guests, especially when they tasted the fall off the bone tender venison that lay inside.  I will definitely be cooking this way again.  What a great way to prepare a meal and go off to hunt or fish as it cooks.  

 

 

Well, the hunting party did not fare any better than I did that first morning, seeing more hunters than game.  I took to the local Put-and-Take trout stream after our guests departed Saturday afternoon, as I was staying until Sunday to tear down.  I managed to wrangle up nine fresh rainbow trout and several more morels.  That evening the cold rain started again, and my few remaining buds enjoyed fried trout cooked in the iron and butter before retreating to the warmth of canvas luxury.   

 

While the birds did not cooperate on this trip, nature sure provided me with success and lots of memories.  You just can’t get adventure and experiences like this from sitting in front of a TV or by living in a sterile city world….YOU have to get out, get real, and get back to the old ways… and do it.  Live it.  This is the good life.

Review: Sunset Hill "The Legend" by Nate Steen

Bowyer Nate Steen from Idaho recently allowed me the pleasure of reviewing one of his recent creations. Sunset Hill “The Legend” American Semi Longbow (ASL) is Nate’s own take on the classic straight ended “Hill Style” longbows as inspired by the works and teachings of Howard Hill through Mr. John Schulz.  Mr. Schulz and his late brother Dan were personally tutored over time by the great Howard Hill and produced many of Mr. Hill’s personal bows.   Nate named this particular bow “Bright Eyes II”, as it’s resemblance and construction are similar to John Schulz’s personal exhibition bow used in the “Hitting’em Like Howard Hill” instructional film. “Bright Eyes II” is 66 inches long between the nocks and marked 57 pounds @ 26 ½ inches of draw.  In addition, it is my opinion that Nate has been able to successfully incorporate a few of his own improvements based on his research and passion for the legends of the longbow. I will attempt to highlight some of those aspects in this review.

Grasping “The Legend” a person is immediately struck with the light mass weight and delicate point-ability of the weapon.  The impression of fine craftsmanship is evident by the smooth graceful lines and perfect balance that one may compare to the feel of a finely constructed bamboo fly rod.  These aspects are further enhanced by the classic construction and aesthetics of the bow.  Highly marbled Mrytle wood in the handle is contrasted by the heat treated caramelized bamboo in the limb laminations. These are ultimately punctuated by the creamy milk chocolate bar colored brown glass on the back and belly.  Slightly below the dark brown dyed leather handle wrap, as well as on the belly side of the limbs, the script in fine white resembles the classic Schulz cursive lettering on the inscriptions that are so iconic to vintage longbow aficionados. .  

 Starting at the top, “The Legend” has the smallest and most slender tips I have ever seen in an American Semi Longbow. I have handled dozens of John Schulz made longbows from various time periods of his career and these tips are “the smallest of them all” comparatively.  The string grooves nearly touch on the belly side of the bow.  The limb dimensions below the tips are almost a square in cross section, as deep as they are wide.  The profile is reminiscent of the classic English longbow here.  The back and belly edges are notably rounded and much of the bamboo as viewed from above is visible on both sides of the glass.  The limb profile when unstrung is string follow with approximately 1/2 inch of follow, which after an extended shooting session can extend to an additional 1/4 inch at the tips (see pics below) before relaxing back.  This movement highlights how much of the limbs “work” is done by the core wood as opposed to the glass.  The limb width at the fades is a little over an inch wide.   The handle section from taper to taper is a few skimpy 8ths over 12 inches long, whose short length Nate says maximizes the working limb length and can allow a shorter than typical bow without stacking effects.  

The back bow below is a "back set" Schulz made Tembo for comparison:

The Handle on this particular bow is 2 1/8^th inches deep.  The thin and slightly rounded width extends to a shallow dished area near the center at 2 inches deep.   The deep sweeps in the handle taper are evidenced by the slender narrow continuance of glass extending up under the leather wrap on both sides.  This design creates a narrow wedge handle that is both naturally comfortable and easily consistent in the hand.  Inspired by several archery legends like Hill and Bob Swinehart, who had their personal bows set up without a side plate, Nate inlays a small round leather circle at the precise arrow pass before the finish is applied.  His rationale is that “shooting off the wood” allows the archer to audibly detect any mistake in release or tuning. This feedback ultimately results in improving both the archer and the symbiosis of bow to the shooter.  Another benefit of this design is that the thinning of rest material brings the arrow pass more toward center shot and helps make the bow slightly more spine tolerant.  I have found that this does not increase any noise in drawing the wood arrows I am accustomed to shooting.

Speaking to shooting, let me begin by saying that this longbow is the most forgiving and stable shooter I have had the pleasure to release an arrow from.  The string follow allows a buttery smooth  draw that does not stack at the end of the draw cycle due to the maximized working limb length. Nate is a careful study of limb tiller and provides a bow that bends more out of the handle than typical ASL designs.  These aspects also allow a lower brace height as Nate recommends around 5 7/8^th for his bows.  The stored energy in this design sends an arrow with noticeably more speed than expected, destroying any reduction in cast from the slight string follow design and all the while reducing the “hand shock” to a gentle muffled thump.  There is no need for string silencers.

All the benefits of shooting a Sunset Hill are evident when the archer utilizes the bent arm fluid style the bow is designed for.  If you are a serious “Hill” shooter and devotee you need to get behind one of these bows and see for yourself. I enjoyed the bow enough to convince Nate to let me purchase "Bright Eyes II".  We will be partners on numerous future adventures.

The "Long Shot" Buck

It was a cold and windy morning, and I could make out snow still lying in the shady spots of the laurel as the reddish sun began to illuminate the landscape.  I picked a chestnut oak tree on the edge of a laurel thicket and open area where the deer like to travel.  I figured I may get a crack at a cruising buck this time of year.

Near 7:30am I catch movement of a buck to my rear.  I get up and turn to face the tree and spot a 6 point nosing around about twenty couple yards away.  It is heading slowly uphill and away and I knew I would probably not have another opportunity to shoot before long.  I had to lean out and shoot with the bow completely vertical because of the tree and when I released I watched my white arrow strike in the hind quarter.  Oh NO!

The buck blasted downhill and by me on the right side.  I watched as the protruding arrow with little penetration struck brush and broke with a crack.  I thought I had better try for another arrow and quickly had another on the string.  Making the necessary lead I released.  The buck just kept going as I missed high as he was busting brush.

I watched him run a 180 degree arc around from my first shot and stop at the edge of the laurel row quartering downhill and away.  I had another arrow on the string at this point, but I only had a small window to shoot and he was soooo far away.  There were over handing branches that would likely deflect the arrow as well.  I thought to myself that I owe it to try since I already had one poorly placed arrow in it.  I bore down and concentrated hard.   I can remember the arrow leaving and almost no movement from me……just silence as I waited for that arcing arrow to crack off deadfall.  I heard nothing and the buck immediately exploded.  I knew I had to be close the way he lit out of there, but I thought no way in hell I hit him. 

I decided it best if I give it lots of time before I start trailing. 

Around 11am I decided to start slowly trailing the buck.   I found my broken white arrow and followed kicked up leaves, tracks, and small sporadic blood until I found the spot he was standing on the long shot.  I looked up to 40 yards short, and 40 yards over, but there was no sign of my arrow.  I slowly continued to follow very sparse spoor, losing it and then regaining it several times.   Eventually it led me to a bed with this big bubbly clot and lots of blood. 

The trail heading out was a heavy blood trail and the tracking went a lot quicker from there.  He just kept going though.  Through the hollow bowl, up over the rocky ridge, over and behind off the property . 

Suddenly the trail took a turn uphill into some thick laurel and we found him. That red arrow that made the lethal wound was shot from 83 steps away when I went back to collect my stand and paced it off.  The arrow entered about the last rib and exited under the right armpit.  That initial hit only struck into the ham and was a non-lethal flesh wound.

This is how we found him.

Practicing the long shot and my speed shooting and proficiency with the back quiver for that follow up shot, definitely helped collect this buck.......along with a good helping of lady luck and a good friend to share it all with.

Hunting with the Back Quiver

HUNTING THE BACK QUIVER by Greg Ragan

Chances are good that if you ask someone the image they have in their head of a “vintage traditional archery hunter”, most will describe a person equipped with a back quiver and longbow.  Howard Hill, Bob Swinehart, Ben Pearson, John Schulz and other bow hunting legends preferred the back quiver for hunting despite the fact that the popular bow quiver was available in their times.  Many archers like a back quiver for roving, or the 3D range, but dislike them for hunting.  Their excuses are many: My arrows rattle around and make noise. My heads get dull from banging together. When I bend over my arrows fall out. Withdrawing an arrow flags game.  My exposed arrows catch on every twig and branch.  The area I hunt is too thick to go through the woods quietly.  I am not flexible enough to remove my arrows.  Perhaps you can think of more?

All of these issues can be overcome with a properly constructed, designed, and broken in quiver along with the time to become proficient in the use of the device.  In fact, the back quiver provides many advantages once one is skilled in its use and it becomes as an extension of the archer like the bow itself.   

The Advantages of a Back Quiver

The most noticeable advantage of the back quiver is to remove the quiver from the bow.  Longbows are especially very light and delicate in the hand.  A bow quiver adds weight, and does so lopsidedly ruining the balance that the bowyer intended.   Besides, if a bow quiver was more conducive to accuracy Olympic archers would have them on their bows right?  This imbalance can be a detriment to accurate shooting and the proper feel of the longbow.  In my opinion, the fewer things you have hanging off your bow for hunting the better. 

Another advantage the back quiver gets the nod on is speed and capacity. Once an individual is proficient in its use, a second arrow can be smoothly and fluidly back on the string and ready for action without looking.   I have had follow on shots at game even before I exclusively went to the back quiver, and I was never able to get that second arrow out and on the string as easily or as fast as with the back quiver.  The proper use as described by John Schulz in Hitting‘em Like Howard Hill with nocking above, allows a very fast knocking and shooting without having to look away from the game.  I also like to occasionally shoot at deer when squirrel hunting, so carrying more than a dozen mixed blunts and broadhead arrows is no problem for the back quiver.  The quiver equipped with a single strap can also be easily rotated around the body and under the arm while going through thick brush.  When the density does not require crawling or ducking, a skilled user will automatically pass through the brush sideways to protect the protruding arrows with bow arm and foot forward.  This automatically places the hunter at a better shooting position should game appear…with the shoulders parallel and the feet perpendicular to the direction of the game. 

Besides, what other quiver can you put a squirrel, rabbit, or your lunch into?

Choosing and Breaking in Your Quiver

One of the most successful hunters was Howard Hill, and he utilized and perfected a style of backquiver that now carries his namesake.  The “Hill Style” quiver has many aspects that aid the hunter and this is the style and technique I will describe as I feel it is superior in that endeavor. 

 

The single thick strap allows the sliding and rotation of the quiver as I described previously.  The quiver is equipped with a very wide mouth.  This is not only to hold many arrows, but also in order to make withdrawing of an arrow easier.  Once the nock is secured in such a quiver, the arrow can almost immediately be withdrawn and steadily angled away from the quiver limiting movement and maximizing speed.  If the tube was long and skinny, one would have to extract the arrow straight upwards until almost the very end of the arrow before coming forward with it.  The oval bottom helps facilitate collapsing the leather at mid quiver.  As I will discuss this is what holds the arrows and prevents them from “banging together”.  The quiver leather also advances this end with a medium-heavy thickness which gives weight and friction potential to the quiver when collapsed. Do yourself a favor and get a good Hill style quiver.  There are some folks (including Howard Hill Archery) that still know how to build these beauties.  A stiff quiver that will not collapse with large pockets, fancy embossing, and 3 chest straps may seem really cool, but the equipment is putting your hunting at a disadvantage.   Leather costs are high and these quivers are not cheap, but keep in mind that if you treat it well this durable piece of equipment should last a lifetime of hunting.

Once you get yourself a quality quiver it will need to be broken in.  The quiver should eventually conform to your back, the tube collapsing on itself.  This holds the arrows still and securely.  Several products can be used to help this conditioning.  Montana Pitch Blend, mink oil, or even canola or olive oil can be used to soften and condition the leather.  During the summer months put the quiver out on your deck or atop your car and let it heat up really well.  It will readily take the oil or treatment in this way.  It is also a good idea to retreat the quiver thoroughly once a year to help prevent dry rot and preserve the life of the device.  On a new quiver I will fold the top down to meet the bottom and sit on it as I commute to work back and forth every day, some folks put it under their couch cushions but I try to stay away from the couch.  Fold, bend, and re-treat until the quiver readily collapses flat under its own weight around your back.  The arrows should be lying in the quiver at an angle, not straight up and down, gravity helping things to stay put.

 

If the quiver is broken in and adjusted properly you can bend over and almost completely invert the quiver without any arrows sliding out.

 

Using the Quiver

The quiver should be adjusted so the strap is fairly snug, but able to be rotated freely, and as viewed from the front goes from your neck on the opening side to around above the level of your nipple and under the arm of your bow hand.  This places the arrows around the level of the top of your shoulder or a little below. 

If you can touch the top of your shoulder you should be flexible enough to get an arrow out.  To make this easier you can bump the bottom of the quiver with the elbow of your bow arm while at the same time reaching back with the drawing hand.  Once you have the arrow nock you can pull the arrow around your body and the wide mouth of the quiver will help facilitate this.  Trap the string between your thumb and forefinger, guide the string into the nock groove, and slide the nock down the string to your nocking point (nocking above).  Angling the upper bow tip up slightly will assist this “trap and slide” procedure.  Next, guide the arrow to the rest and rotate your hand around the string until you are again in a position to shoot.  With practice this can all be done in a matter of a few seconds and without looking.

 

When loading your arrows do not just stuff them all down the opening at once in a jumble.  Place each arrow one atop the other carefully, laying them in, so that the shafts do not cross deep in the quiver bottom.  This will also help the shafts lay flat sandwiched between the two layers of leather.  This goes a long way to keeping the fletching from twisting together and making noise.  Thusly there does not need to be anything in the bottom of the quiver to keep arrows from “rattling around”.  You do not need to embed them in foam, fill the bottom with oats or anything else, or need sheep shearling around the opening.  The quiver collapses and holds the arrows fast, preventing the broadhead edges from grinding together and your arrows from making noise.  The only thing I put in the bottom of my quiver is a piece of scrap carpeting cut to match the bottom shape in order to dampen the thump of thick leather against arrow when one drops in. 

 

The final thing you need to do with your new quiver is use it!  Knowing how to navigate through brush, knowing by feel where those arrows are in relation to that overhanging branch, not having to look back to smoothly draw and nock an arrow all take time and practice.  The more you hunt the back quiver the more its redeeming qualities become apparent.  Try it exclusively for at least a year of hunting before you discount it.

Similar to the traditional bow itself, the back quiver takes some time and practice to get proficient with, but once you do it will pay dividends.  Plus they just look classically cool. After all, Howard Hill knew what he was doing.