Tomorrow @ Bethalto Christian Church: 30 shots at animal targets at unmarked yardages. Practice @ 6:30, shoot @ 7:15. prizes top 3 scores. Cost is unknown yet, but I am sure it is resonable. Fellowship opportunity and meet new people. Call me if you want to car pool 314.568.2319
Monday, February 25, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
A NEW BREED, A NEW BROADHEAD - RAVEN
FIRST AND FOREMOST: I AM A BOTTOMLINE BELIEVER IN SHOT PLACEMENT! A SHOT WELL PLACED IN THE KILLZONE with ANY BROADHEAD WILL KILL ITS TARGET! WE ALL KNOW NOT ALL SHOTS ARE PERFECT AND NOT ALL BROADHEADS PROVIDE A QUALITY BLOOD TRAIL FOR THAT IMPERFECT SHOT.
I'm searching for a mechanical broadhead that gives me confidence when I walk afield: larger cutting diameter, great performance, and reliability. I’ve tried ONE, before! It made me sick how much I had to “baby sit” it. Pre-deployment, dry rot o-rings/band failure, hard to replace blades, NOISY while in quiver…, ugh! Did I kill game with it? Yes, but I could have killed more! Also, I killed my biggest buck to date with a an other mechanical broadhead (READ STORY). THANK GOD FOR SHOT PLACEMENT!! The shot was perfect, the buck did not go far, VERY LITTLE BLOOD - GAH, that is scary!!
I currently shoot a fixed blade broadhead -no moving parts, less chances for failure. With a fixed blade bh, the only way I will fail, IMO, is due to shooter error and lack of woodsmanship and archery skills (bow tuning, broadhead alignment, fletching, etc.) This is not a post to “educate” you on broadhead selection or tips on tuning your bow, but to give a humble opinion. So here I go with my “FIRST IMPRESSION” on the Full Magic Archery RAVEN broadhead. I ran into this broadhead at the NWTF Convention:
1. Tip: The RAVEN, being so new, does not give you options in that department. I LOVE the chisel tip over the cut-on-contact, because I want it to crush though a bone in case of an imperfect shot to the near shoulder, for example. This happened with its competitor - the tip bent preventing it from potentially reaching vitals. HOWEVER, I am still willing to give this broadhead a try if it performs well on MY FIELD PRACTICE SHOTS (remember >>>>>> shot placement).
2. Noise: IT’S QUIET! This bh remains so even when shaking it vigorously. I tested the broadhead inserted to an arrow shaft, swung the shaft hitting my fingers and palm of my hand – made MINIMAL noise (less than a famous competitor)! The other bh I used prior, same test, rattled and made too much noise.
3. Feel: love it! Blades are SHARP!! Their unique 46 degree angle/shape is impressive. I noticed it right off the bat.
4. O-rings: Yes, it does have them. I hate them because they rot. However, due diligence on my part will prevent me from going afield with bad ones. Too, I LOVE THE LOCKING "HOOK" ON IT!!
5. Cutting diameter capability: Are you DOUBLE kidding? UNlike its competitors, a 2.3" inch cutting diameter is gi-gormous! Blood trail, if shot placement is right should not be a problem. The only way to miss the blood trail is if you are color blind. NOTE: A debate I had in the past – THIS IS NOT A “LICENSE” TO TAKE BAD/LOW PERCENTAGE SHOTS!!! A reader on another site misunderstood (and eventually he saw my point. A larger cutting diameter may turn that marginal shot into a better shot. Maybe it reaches that artery the 1-1 ¼” could not. It will open the wound more as to prevent coagulation, thus loss of blood trail.
6. Weight: I shoot 100 gr, so I’m am fine, but I’d like to see 85 gr or 125 gr options for others. Again, being new, all is good. Besides they are in my preference.
I have not shot this broadhead…., YET. I want to be clear, I do not know how it performs when shot. My next review will be on its flight and impact on practice targets.
Visit:
I'm searching for a mechanical broadhead that gives me confidence when I walk afield: larger cutting diameter, great performance, and reliability. I’ve tried ONE, before! It made me sick how much I had to “baby sit” it. Pre-deployment, dry rot o-rings/band failure, hard to replace blades, NOISY while in quiver…, ugh! Did I kill game with it? Yes, but I could have killed more! Also, I killed my biggest buck to date with a an other mechanical broadhead (READ STORY). THANK GOD FOR SHOT PLACEMENT!! The shot was perfect, the buck did not go far, VERY LITTLE BLOOD - GAH, that is scary!!
I currently shoot a fixed blade broadhead -no moving parts, less chances for failure. With a fixed blade bh, the only way I will fail, IMO, is due to shooter error and lack of woodsmanship and archery skills (bow tuning, broadhead alignment, fletching, etc.) This is not a post to “educate” you on broadhead selection or tips on tuning your bow, but to give a humble opinion. So here I go with my “FIRST IMPRESSION” on the Full Magic Archery RAVEN broadhead. I ran into this broadhead at the NWTF Convention:
1. Tip: The RAVEN, being so new, does not give you options in that department. I LOVE the chisel tip over the cut-on-contact, because I want it to crush though a bone in case of an imperfect shot to the near shoulder, for example. This happened with its competitor - the tip bent preventing it from potentially reaching vitals. HOWEVER, I am still willing to give this broadhead a try if it performs well on MY FIELD PRACTICE SHOTS (remember >>>>>> shot placement).
2. Noise: IT’S QUIET! This bh remains so even when shaking it vigorously. I tested the broadhead inserted to an arrow shaft, swung the shaft hitting my fingers and palm of my hand – made MINIMAL noise (less than a famous competitor)! The other bh I used prior, same test, rattled and made too much noise.
3. Feel: love it! Blades are SHARP!! Their unique 46 degree angle/shape is impressive. I noticed it right off the bat.
4. O-rings: Yes, it does have them. I hate them because they rot. However, due diligence on my part will prevent me from going afield with bad ones. Too, I LOVE THE LOCKING "HOOK" ON IT!!
5. Cutting diameter capability: Are you DOUBLE kidding? UNlike its competitors, a 2.3" inch cutting diameter is gi-gormous! Blood trail, if shot placement is right should not be a problem. The only way to miss the blood trail is if you are color blind. NOTE: A debate I had in the past – THIS IS NOT A “LICENSE” TO TAKE BAD/LOW PERCENTAGE SHOTS!!! A reader on another site misunderstood (and eventually he saw my point. A larger cutting diameter may turn that marginal shot into a better shot. Maybe it reaches that artery the 1-1 ¼” could not. It will open the wound more as to prevent coagulation, thus loss of blood trail.
6. Weight: I shoot 100 gr, so I’m am fine, but I’d like to see 85 gr or 125 gr options for others. Again, being new, all is good. Besides they are in my preference.
I have not shot this broadhead…., YET. I want to be clear, I do not know how it performs when shot. My next review will be on its flight and impact on practice targets.
Visit:
Monday, February 11, 2013
HUNTINGFREAKZ TURKEY BROADHEAD IDEA
Folks, chasing whitetail is over for me. It has been for over two weeks. Even though I didn't get a chance to hunt as much (the least I've hunted in 16 years, for that matter), I had a successful season - not so much because of the kills, but because of having had the opportunity to spend those few precious few days, few hours, occasional excursion with great optimism and high spirits.
I was able be safe as to be able to come home and spend quality time with my son - Marko, and return to my demanding everyday responsibilities at work.
Many of us have ideas, and that's where they stay - on the idea stage. Pobably, many of you have already thought of this idea, and if you have - then great minds think alike, lol!! I do say this, I have not seen it publicized or announced. So I'm taking the liberty of doing so. Thus, my mental status - from whitetail to swamp chicken mode. woot woot!!!!
Now, enter the turkey season - enter swamp chicken, thunder chicken, long beard, and all you want to call them, haha. IMO, there's nothing like hunting free-chase, truly wild game, especially in public lands. Bowhunting turkey is a rush. They are beautiful, mesmerizing, hypnotic, and amazing. I have called in many a birds, witnessed many procreation rituals, fights, roosting, and blown many shots! WOW! My blood and heart are pumping as I am writing this.
Target and methodology of archery practice have changed. Broadheads have changed - from Muzzy 100 gr. to my own modified, turkey specific broadhead. The target is smaller and the distance is closer. For whitetail deer, I practice long ranges (55-60 yards) to shoot within my comfort zone (inside 30 yards). For turkey, I use an actual turkey target. I also scatter and shoot small stuffed animals I buy at Goodwill. I have changed from a "paper plate" zone to more a "small spot" zone. Too, I now include an actual five (5) yard shot (my past two successful hunts in Kansas have been at five yards, coincidentally, one a turkey and on a mature whitetail buck). No more tree stand practice - only ground blind and natural cover practice, which includes shooting in awkward sitting positions. LIKE MY COACHES USED TO SAY..., "PRACTICE THE WAY YOU'RE GONNA PLAY & PLAY THE WAY YOU PRACTICE". This is not a blog on how to get ready for archery/bowhunting turkey, but it does give you a generalization on what MY preparation consists of. This is not a strategy as to how to find turkey or ambush toms. It is not a write-up on calling or set-ups. I do tell you this - give it lots of thought and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. There's so many successful archery hunters (kill-wise), but if you are like me, my kill rate is low due to the lands I hunt, #publiclandpains, #weekendwarriors, #bowhunting vs shotgun, and DIY hunting (I am lucky, however, to be able to travel to KS and hunt under a sub-lease - the only non-pressured land I have access to). An excuse, maybe, but that's how it is - that's how I roll.
Right about now you are probably wondering, "what about the turkey specific broadhead title of this blog?"
IF YOU ARCHERY HUNT AND WANT A DEVASTATING BROADHEAD, LEAVE A COMMENT AND YOUR E-MAIL, I WILL GLADLY SHARE MY SIMPLE WAY TO TURN A DEADLY BROADHEAD INTO A DEADLIER TURKEY SPECIFIC BROADHEAD. IT WORKS, FLIES TRUE, AND HAS DEVASTATING EFFECTS! See, I always had a dream, a vision, an idea of a "turkey specific" broadhead. There are already some, but not what I had envisioned. A while back, I sat down, sketched my idea, and started to daydream lots. Because I'm an average joe, have limited resource$, challenging patent process, lack of FUND$, lack of technology, and an unresponsive manufacturer who won't give me the time of day as to be able to share what I have - I am now ready to OPENLY share my idea THAT WORKS! I stopped daydreaming and started to look for broadheads that, under my own risk & NOT RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURERS, I would be able to modify on my own with some simple tools. Once I modified the broadhead and made it look like my sketched idea, I practiced, practiced, shot and shot, then practiced and shot it some more (see vid to get an idea). Then, I took my turkey specific broadhead idea and put it to the test on a real hunt. The result..., see the pictures below (WARNING: GRAPHIC). I was not able to get the shot on video due to heavy rains. It is my goal to get great footage this year!
#Huntingfamily, I'm not in this for money, I'm in it due to my archery, bowhunting passion. I want fellow hunters and huntresses, present and future to succeed - kill or no kill. God bless and good luck this upcoming turkey season. Oh, please don't sue me because of this idea. If you own this idea, just let me know - ha, I'll burn my patent paperwork immediately. If you try this idea, do it at your own risk. I'm not telling you to do it nor how to do it, I'm just sharing what I do.
I was able be safe as to be able to come home and spend quality time with my son - Marko, and return to my demanding everyday responsibilities at work.
Many of us have ideas, and that's where they stay - on the idea stage. Pobably, many of you have already thought of this idea, and if you have - then great minds think alike, lol!! I do say this, I have not seen it publicized or announced. So I'm taking the liberty of doing so. Thus, my mental status - from whitetail to swamp chicken mode. woot woot!!!!
Now, enter the turkey season - enter swamp chicken, thunder chicken, long beard, and all you want to call them, haha. IMO, there's nothing like hunting free-chase, truly wild game, especially in public lands. Bowhunting turkey is a rush. They are beautiful, mesmerizing, hypnotic, and amazing. I have called in many a birds, witnessed many procreation rituals, fights, roosting, and blown many shots! WOW! My blood and heart are pumping as I am writing this.
Target and methodology of archery practice have changed. Broadheads have changed - from Muzzy 100 gr. to my own modified, turkey specific broadhead. The target is smaller and the distance is closer. For whitetail deer, I practice long ranges (55-60 yards) to shoot within my comfort zone (inside 30 yards). For turkey, I use an actual turkey target. I also scatter and shoot small stuffed animals I buy at Goodwill. I have changed from a "paper plate" zone to more a "small spot" zone. Too, I now include an actual five (5) yard shot (my past two successful hunts in Kansas have been at five yards, coincidentally, one a turkey and on a mature whitetail buck). No more tree stand practice - only ground blind and natural cover practice, which includes shooting in awkward sitting positions. LIKE MY COACHES USED TO SAY..., "PRACTICE THE WAY YOU'RE GONNA PLAY & PLAY THE WAY YOU PRACTICE". This is not a blog on how to get ready for archery/bowhunting turkey, but it does give you a generalization on what MY preparation consists of. This is not a strategy as to how to find turkey or ambush toms. It is not a write-up on calling or set-ups. I do tell you this - give it lots of thought and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. There's so many successful archery hunters (kill-wise), but if you are like me, my kill rate is low due to the lands I hunt, #publiclandpains, #weekendwarriors, #bowhunting vs shotgun, and DIY hunting (I am lucky, however, to be able to travel to KS and hunt under a sub-lease - the only non-pressured land I have access to). An excuse, maybe, but that's how it is - that's how I roll.
Right about now you are probably wondering, "what about the turkey specific broadhead title of this blog?"
IF YOU ARCHERY HUNT AND WANT A DEVASTATING BROADHEAD, LEAVE A COMMENT AND YOUR E-MAIL, I WILL GLADLY SHARE MY SIMPLE WAY TO TURN A DEADLY BROADHEAD INTO A DEADLIER TURKEY SPECIFIC BROADHEAD. IT WORKS, FLIES TRUE, AND HAS DEVASTATING EFFECTS! See, I always had a dream, a vision, an idea of a "turkey specific" broadhead. There are already some, but not what I had envisioned. A while back, I sat down, sketched my idea, and started to daydream lots. Because I'm an average joe, have limited resource$, challenging patent process, lack of FUND$, lack of technology, and an unresponsive manufacturer who won't give me the time of day as to be able to share what I have - I am now ready to OPENLY share my idea THAT WORKS! I stopped daydreaming and started to look for broadheads that, under my own risk & NOT RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURERS, I would be able to modify on my own with some simple tools. Once I modified the broadhead and made it look like my sketched idea, I practiced, practiced, shot and shot, then practiced and shot it some more (see vid to get an idea). Then, I took my turkey specific broadhead idea and put it to the test on a real hunt. The result..., see the pictures below (WARNING: GRAPHIC). I was not able to get the shot on video due to heavy rains. It is my goal to get great footage this year!
#Huntingfamily, I'm not in this for money, I'm in it due to my archery, bowhunting passion. I want fellow hunters and huntresses, present and future to succeed - kill or no kill. God bless and good luck this upcoming turkey season. Oh, please don't sue me because of this idea. If you own this idea, just let me know - ha, I'll burn my patent paperwork immediately. If you try this idea, do it at your own risk. I'm not telling you to do it nor how to do it, I'm just sharing what I do.
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