Lonely In Missouri
Dear Daniel – Can you put something in the magazine that would help me find anyone that lives close to me that would enjoy shooting crossbows and hunting together. I like to have company, but have no one to share the experience with. I live approximately 60 miles southeast of Springfield, MO. If you need more information give me a call at 417-683-5814. Thank you. Looking for a crossbow-friend. Don Nelson - MO
Don – Consider it done, my friend. I wish you lived close, I would I ask you to join our gang. I hope you find someone to keep you company on the range and in the woods. We have some good people as members in the fine state of Missouri. Good luck and good shooting. >>------->DJH
THE HEADLESS BUCK KILLER
(Include “Dahlen Buck 2009-01” photo) Dear HBM – I would like the Emerald package for one year. Enclosed are two photos, the one with my head missing show what can happen when using a self-timer and being careless. You choose if you decide to use one. The buck was shot November 8th, 2009, the second day of gun season using an Excalibur crossbow using a 100-grain Innerloc broadhead. Philip Dahlen - MN
GRANDPA’S GIRL
McKenzie Clark, 12 years old, took the doe about 5:30 pmFriday, October 24, 2009. We went back out Saturday morning and she took the buck (photo in Member’s Memories) about 7:30 am,both with the Parker Tornado. Two days later she had 3 does come to her, but she let them walk. She wants horns now. When we dressed the buck, she helped dress and quarter it (not bad for a little city girl). Thank you for your response. Member, Wayne Cox - SC
NOTES FROM JONATHAN KAUL
Dear Paul Jagielski and Daniel Hendricks - Thanks for the kind words regarding my letter titled "Evolution" in the Summer 2009 issue of HBM. If you found it "thought provoking", it accomplished what was intended. My concern, however, was not primarily with Daniel Hendricks, but moreover, for all members of the ACF to realize how special the ACF movement is to the advancement of the Crossbow and how important being a member is to this cause. I, too, consider Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine to be the premier deer magazine and continue to this day as a "subscriber", rather than a "member" Thanks again guys, and, Good Hunting! Jonathan
Dear Mr. Garofolo - I certainly am not an "expert" with the crossbow. I reserve that title to Daniel Hendricks.I also have some 40 years of hunting big game with the last13 seasons hunting exclusively with the crossbow and a fair amount of "been there, done that" I've taken over 100 game animals with the crossbow, the vast majority of which are Whitetail Deer. As you've discovered, hunting with a crossbow is no "slam dunk" as the anti-crossbow group would have people believe. Assuming your practicing careful scent control, what i learned deals with a deer's incredible ability to detect movement. The majority of what is seen afield is in the vertical plane, as is the compound bow. The crossbow is in the horizontal plane making any movement much easier for deer to detect. My first couple years i, too, was getting busted much more than i did with the coumpound bow. Try an experiment having someone in your stand move the crossbow vertically and horizontally while you observe these movements. They really stand out. I hunted from 16 ft ladder stands and found adding a 4 ft extension greatly reduced deer detecting my movements. Next, i started using a non-lined leafy cut outfit that also helped a great deal. I went to a detached quiver that allows me to keep the crossbow on my lap, pointed in the direction i expect my shot to be. If you're using a red dot scope as i do, turn it on after getting settled in your stand and leave it on until you leave your stand. This eliminates the hand movement required to turn your scope on when game is seen. Remind yourself repeatedly that the crossbow is easier for deer to detect the movement of and it will help you move the crossbow with more stealth. All together, these things have reduced my being busted by nearly 80%. Hope this helps, and, Good Hunting! Jonathan
Dear Doug Gray & HBM - If you enjoy Corey Fords stories, check out his book "You Can Always Tell A Fisherman". It is a compilation of many of his "Lower Fourty" stories. I think you'll find it entertaining reading. Good Hunting! Jonathan Kaul - IL
WORKED MY TAIL OFF FOR MY 2009 BUCK
Dear Daniel – Here’s my contribution to HBM for this year. Deer are really scarce in our part of the UP this year. I hunted 55 days in 10 different blinds in the Eastern part of the UP before getting my buck. We really have a major wolf problem in my area. We are seeing less deer than in the past. It doesn’t look food for the future when little or no fawns are around. Keep up the good work & have a great year. Larry First - MI
HAPPY WITH HORTON
Dear Daniel – I appreciate your publication for is quality and interesting stories supplied by fellow members. It is a first rate periodical. Many of your fine articles explain wonderful experiences of readers. To this end, I want to comment on something that may be rare for the publication.
Since becoming a dedicated advocate of the crossbow in 2006, success in the field has been grand. However, this fall I missed the season for wild turkeys in West Virginia. The reason - a health issue this summer caused me to purchase a Horton E-Z Crank cocking device for my Legend HD 175. Being inexperienced in the use of the cocker, I messed up the locking mechanism on the bow.
I am certain we have all heard the story, equipment of any kind is only as good as the service one can expect from the manufacturer. From the beginning, Horton has been the only bow I have known. Now with the experience of having to complete and total satisfaction through expert repair, I can say with gratitude, Horton’s motto of One Shot, One Choice is clearly one-shot, MY choice for the present and future. ACF Member, Daniel W. Farley – WV
NOTE TO BILL TROUBRIDGE
Dear Mr. Troubridge - I recently watched your television program Excalibur's Deer City USA on the Outdoor Channel. I'm very pleased to finally see a hunting show based upon the Crossbow that also reflects the philosophy of respecting anyone's choice of weapon. Congrats and well done! I very much enjoyed viewing it and will recommend it to all of my hunting acquaintances.
I'm a member of the American Crossbow Federation (ACF) and periodic contributor to the Horizontal Bowhunter Magazine. I read your recent letter to Mr. Daniel Hendricks in your support of the ACF, which he published in the Fall 2009 issue. You set the example that all crossbow manufacturers should follow in order to promote and support the crossbow within the hunting community. In the same issue, Mr. Hendricks also published a "Lettitorial" from me with the same basic theme as yours, increasing membership and support of the ACF.
Given your support and in an effort to further promote the ACF and the Crossbow, would it be possible to do so on your program, Excalibur's Deer City USA? What better platform than that to help increase membership to the ACF and it's continuing goal of promoting the Crossbow within the hunting community. If Mr. Hendricks would be agreeable,I believe an interview with him on your program would be an excellent way to introduce the ACF to the hunting community. This would outline the benefits of being an ACF member, thereby, further promoting the Crossbow. I realize there are commercial considerations with respect to the television program. If time can be taken to interview a hunter/outfitter, would it be possible to substitute that time with an interview promoting the ACF and the Crossbow? As an ACF member, I thank you for your support of the ACF and sincerely hope you can make it possible to include the ACF in your Excalibur’s Deer City USA. Respectfully, Jonathan Kaul - IL
Dear Jonathan - Thanks for your letter and also for your dedication to crossbows and crossbow hunting. I will be taking up the prospect of having the ACF featured on Deer City with Steve Gruber, who actually owns the show.The final say will be with him, but we do have some pull in these issues. The ACF is an organization which is near to our hearts, and it's well being is important to us all. Thanks again for this great idea....Bill Troubridge, President of Excalibur Crossbow Inc.
MID-DECEMBER MEMORY
Hi Daniel – I hope you and all are well going into the sometimes hectic time of the year. At the middle of Dec every year I send you a picture of myself at the range with my crossbow. I figured this year I'd let you in on the story behind this annual visit.
Five years ago, on Dec 15th. I grabbed my Excalibur and my little terrier to head up to the range for a quick round of 3-D targets. It was in the later part of the afternoon, the sun was just above it horizon. The snow was about 10" to a foot deep and the going was kinda tough at the 6500 feet elevation. Long story short, at the furthest target from the parking lot, the hammer fell. I knew I was having a heart attack. I won't go into the exact pain and symthoms, but I knew it was going to be a long trip to the truck. I was down to a Groucho Marx type of bent over shuffle. A couple of shuffles, try to catch my breath, and a couple more shuffles.
As it got darker, I started to worry about Griz, my little Jack Russell, I didn't have a leash for him and I was worried that if I didn't make it, the coyotes might get him. As I was in a pause mode, I looked out over the valley at the sunset on Bookcliff mountains and Mt Garfield to the East. Everything got real peaceful, I was alone with my dog in the mountains, real still and quiet. I thought about my family, and my Dad who died at a very early age from a heart attack. And I accepted what nature has just handed me, but I was determined to do my best to make it out. I left a note in the snow to tell Judy and the kids how much love I had for them, and continued on.
It was pretty dark when I heard a vehicle in the parking lot. Then a voice "can you hear me? anybody out there?" Griz busted away from me and high tailed it to the voice, I answered that I was out here and having some trouble. Turns out, a park ranger from the Colorado National Monument was on his way home from work and noticed the gate was open (not usual at this time of the day) and decided to check things out. Lucky for me! He came to my voice and helped me to his truck.
I asked him to call my son and he could come get me. Nothing doing he had a park service radio, called an ambulance from the valley and helped me settle down. Meanwhile the volunteer fire folks from the little community of Glade Park showed up about the same time as the ambulance and after the ambulance got un-stuck from the snow, I got a ride into town. A couple of stints later, and a short rehab and I was as good as new.
SO, every year at this time I go back and get on the 3-D range and do my little thing. This year Griz (who is a young 10 years old now) and I struggled a bit through the snow (at a slow pace) and had a good shoot. These past 5 years have been a gift to me. I've hunted and killed a fair amount of game with my crossbows and looked at things around me in quite a different way. Anyhow, there you go, I hope I get to send you many more pictures from my annual 3-D shoot. Happy holidays my friend, Doug Grey CO
Doug For the past five years you have been a blessing to us as well. You have shared great stories and colorful photo of your adventures, as well as spending some personal time with me. You have become a good friend, Doug and I am so very please that things turned out the way they did five years ago. Let’s hope that we have on twenty-five more to go, okay? >>------->DJH
THE McCOWAN KIDS ARE AT IT AGAIN
Dear HBM - ACF member Austin McCowan (age 7) killed his second boar of the year. He shot it with his Browning X-Bolt 22-250 right at dark. He was tickled to death...His excitement was elevated when a dozen charged into the field while I was looking for the blood trail. He was still in the treestand, and I had the gun of course. He could see them long before I could, because I had the flashlight pointed to the ground in my search.Teeth snapping and loud grunting.... and that was just me! LOL A big sow had some piglets with her and she was putting on a scene. It was dark, but not pitch black. When I ran his gun up the treestand to him, they left. I went back again, and I was beyond startled when the same darn thing happened from the opposite direction. I am guessing the hogs heard me walking in the corn stalks and assumed it was feeding time - nobody wanted to be late. Austin saw at least 20 before we left....
He was eager to point out to big sister, Courtney that she has only killed one hog. She of course pointed out the deer total was 5 to zero.... : ) Courtney and I went this afternoon but didn't see a thing. I had a fantastic week over Christmas. I killed two large boars in one evening and two days before Christmas I killed two more with one shot. The bullet hit the second boar right behind the ear - it dropped like a rock, 10 ft from the other one. I cooked one whole& hog for Christmas, apple in the mouth and all - it was a first for us. The look on some of the family's faces was priceless when we brought it out. Take care, Richard McCowan - TN
LAST MINUTE DOE
Dear Daniel - Last hour of the MN archery season & I was able to put some meat in the freezer. Took me this long to connect because I've been trying to shoot one w/my long bow most of the season :o) So w/15" of snow on the ground & thermometer reading -6 degrees and windchill of -22 it was my last night to sit over the food plot where I'd been seeing many deer. Luckily enough this nice doe was the 1st deer out to feed by 5 pm I'd started my long drag back to the truck and by 10 pm she was cut up & in the freezer.
I should probably add that Tammie's a little jealous because she's been hunting the last 5 days in the negative temps and wasn't quite as lucky as me :o) Happy New Year everyone!! The Schreiber's - MN