Doc

Yup, mine is 14 years old ..... MQ-32 bought in 1999. That is one thing that makes me such a Mathews fan. Any bow that can be that old, shoot that many arrows, and get that many deer, is really kind of special. If the thing ever fails to perform, I will not hesitate to buy another.

I have hunted the same property for more than 50 years, so there isn't a whole lot that changes from one year to another. Occasionally, there are little hick-ups in the food sources, but a quick covert walk through the area can reveal that. A lot of my scouting occurs in season as things begin to change. Right now the deer aren't doing many of the things they will be doing a month from now. As a matter of fact, I may be doing a lot of my hunting right around the house. I have a deer problem regarding yard plantings so I may be waging war on some of these critters that have taken up residence around the house. In fact during gun season, my front window may become a gun-port ..... lol. That doesn't really require a whole lot of scouting. The fact is, I am more concerned about my late start with my bow practice. A bit of tendinitis has held me back from starting and even now I have to go slow with the duration of practice sessions to make sure I don't get it going again.

It is true that without probable cause, what I have in my house will likely never be known by the authorities. But, I do like to take my guns outside to actually shoot them and hunt with them. I do like to talk about my guns. I do periodically actually buy a new gun. I do occasionally have to upgrade my stocks of reloading components. In other words, not everything about my guns and ammo (and clips) stays in the house or is completely unknown to anyone who wants to pay attention. I will say that a gun that I have to build into the walls of my house hardly seems like a very wise use of my money. What good is it to spend good money on stuff that you can't use or even display? I hate to see people take comfort from the fact that they can secretly hide weapons from the law inside their house. The fact that I can wall-up my guns and ammo doesn't really console me much. I would rather see people take all that resolve and put it toward repealing the laws that cause you to even think that way.

We used to have some targets set up on company property at work where a bunch of us guys would go out at noon and practice shooting the bows. I had the bow set for around 70# back then. One of the guys from work spotted us and decided to come over and watch. I asked him if he wanted to try a couple shots. This guy was a huge guy with a pretty muscular build so I really didn't think there would be a problem. Yeah, you guessed it. He couldn't get the bow drawn, even after several tries. I on the other hand could shoot the thing for hours even though I am rather average in terms of build. The point is that there are very unique and specialized muscles used in drawing and holding a bow. Frankly, I don't think there are any simulation exercises that can beat simple repetitive practice using your bow as an exercise tool.

You can do so by simply not voting at all, and living with the consequences. Do not lose sight of the fact that we did have some that voted against the Safe Act and who consistently vote in a pro-gun, pro-hunting fashion. So there is no need for a blanket hatred of politicians. As I have said in the past, it is time to use our vote as a tool for punishment and reward. I have taken the Safe Act to serve as a litmus test. Those who voted for it will not get my vote and I will be casting my vote for whoever is running against them (and I don't really care what the politics of that person is). This will be a protest vote. It will be cast with the intent of punishing those who voted for this major attack on the 2nd Amendment and gun owners across the state. If a majority of gun owners did that, the message would be sent that an anti-gun vote will cost you your future in politics. That is the entire aim of my vote....period. One single issue ... all about that one single legislative vote. At some point we have to put an end to the arrogance that our legislators feel toward their constituents. They have to be made to understand who works for who in this system. We have this one chance where all gun owners are galvanized into a united force on this one issue. That makes our little minority quite a focused and powerful political force. We had better not squander this one opportunity by each running off in different directions with our one and only defensive weapon ..... our vote. Those that don't vote at all will be sending a message to the politicians too. That message will be, "Do what you want. There will be no consequences. And I don't care".

There is no such thing as getting registered too early. Those that wait until the elections actually occur will most likely never do it. One thing we had better get on board with is getting gun owners registered and getting their minds right on what's at stake and how to proceed with changing things. It is difficult to keep the fire alive until the next elections. I have already noticed a distinct reduction in intensity of feelings about the Safe Act, but I still try to keep issues alive and keep people primed and ready and capable of doing what's right. Registration and education is all part of that and like I said, there are no restrictions keeping people from doing that early. The original post didn't highlight the time frame because I don't want to emphasize any excuse for procrastination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note to all: I have added the site addresses to obtain the ID of your state representatives to the original post. So now you have all the info in one spot.

Yes, there is a correct order to things. Some want to exhaust those legal and political resources before throwing out the baby with the bath-water. Others just want to simply tear things down, cross their fingers and see what happens to come out of the ash pile.

Lol .... Help yourself.

32 days ....... That's not enough time. Me and my Mathews are not ready yet!

Don't wait to the last minute. Are you registered to vote? ....... http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting/Register.shtml Have you identified who your legislators are?...... U.S. legislators: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NY State Assemblyman: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?sh=search State Senator: http://www.nysenate.gov/ Do you remember who the good guys and the bad guys are? ... http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/17272-lest-we-forget/

The man is in the second half of his term-limited tenure. He no longer has to worry about re-election. The only check that we ever had on him is past. He is free to run amok with impunity. And he seems to have the personality to take full advantage of that situation.

You have never heard me say that or read any posts here or anywhere else that ever said that it would never happen here. I have been telling people for as long as I can remember that it is imperative that they support their advocacy groups and become active in these kinds of issues. I have been an advocate of writing letter, sending e-mails and making phone calls to fight infringement laws. And along with these admonishments, I have explained in very clear terms that if they do not, they will surely lose the rights that they believe are protected by the 2nd Amendment. What I have found in all these years are that hunters and outdoorsmen in general are an apathetic bunch (probably worse than any other segment of our population) and most likely we get what we deserve because of it. That is also the awareness that makes me understand how silly this talk of revolution and uprising truly is. We can't even get them to join the NRA, and we expect them to go to jail for their ideals? Ha .... don't make me laugh. I find that most of these quasi-militant people are simply making boastful empty threats and then walking away patting themselves on the back feeling like they have really done something. These are the people who do not join advocacy organizations and do not try to influence legislators with communications, and never really do get officially counted as being on one side of the issue or the other. That is how we get into the situations and losses that we find ourselves in. Government policy and positions are not changed by bluster and impractical threats, nor do you pick up allies and believers by taking ridiculous extremist positions. About the only thing that is accomplished with extremist views is to alienate the bulk of the population and set up a hard-core resistance to listening to anything we have to say. The label of "wacko" is a hard one to shed once it has been applied. Those that try to portray that end of the spectrum do not do us gun owners any favors. We automatically get thrown into that wacko category simply by association. Do you think that McVeigh and Nichols did us any good? They are half the problem. Nowadays whenever anyone sees a so-called "black gun" discussion those are the guys who come into the minds of the average citizen. I have no ambitions to become associated with those guys by spouting the same brands of extremist revolutionary crap. They are the ones that have made government incursions easy. I may be a bit naïve, but I do still believe in our system of government. Lord help us from those that would trash it. I really do fear what they would put in its place.

Alright! That's the spirit. I was feeling left out .... lol. We can get something going here if we try hard enough. People who shoot anything other than aluminum arrows are wimps. I'm right! I'm always right! and everybody else is always wrong! ........ and they are poopy-heads!

You know bow shops are not the only ones that pull this kind of trick. It's getting harder and harder to get anyone to honor their commitments. They seem to tell you whatever you need to hear when you drop off the items and then calmly tell you that it's not ready when you show up. I've had the same thing happen with people telling me over the phone they have something in stock and when I get there to buy it, it's not there. Doctors appointments are another example. Don't you be late or you're in trouble, but be ready to cool your heels for 15 minutes to 1/2 hour or more when you show up on time. Lawn equipment repair? .... When is the last time any of those guys ever completed a job on the time that they originally quoted? And on and on ..... I do try to take care of these things during whatever off-season time that may apply, but sometimes you just don't have that option. A shop keeper should have enough experience to estimate how busy he will be and should give you an honest estimate. You may not like that honest estimate, but the end attitude toward the outfit is a lot worse when you are lied to.

Anything that extends or contracts the distance from your anchor to the nock of your arrow effects your draw length. It might be very slight to the point where you automatically compensate for it in your anchor or form, but it does (has to) change the draw length when all other things remain the same.

That sounds more like the process for determining arrow length, but the question was about determining the draw length of the bow which is defined as the distance from the string at full draw to the pressure point of the bow handle +1-3/4". Regarding the draw weight comments, generally you will be able to draw and hold much more with the compound. Yes at some point through the draw cycle you do have to pull the max weight, but the lesser holding weight of the compound is the weight where you have to be able to exert control and steadiness. And the compound has the advantage there which allows you to use a much heavier bow. For example, I shot a 70# compound bow for quite a few years and it wasn't really all that much of a challenge. The highest I was ever able to consistently shoot my recurves was at 50 pounds. Beyond that I was a shaking mess. That's a 20 pound differential. Also I have found that the actual arrow length and draw length is generally shorter on the recurves and longbows than it is on the compound. The final holding weight on the traditional equipment is the max draw weight and generally causes more physical compression of joints and posture. Kind of a fun thing to do when you have not shot a recurve (or longbow) for a few years is to take one of the arrows that you use on your compound and draw it back with a recurve. You'll be surprised how many inches of that arrow are sticking out in front of the recurve when you have reached full draw.

Tough-looking country! The fact that it's been logged has got to offer some feeding opportunities. Generally when the woods is opened up like that, the new open areas fill up with browse. Also, the fact that you have 5 trails coming together indicates that you have a pretty good supply of deer And a spot with good potential). Most of us rely on agriculture to set up patterns for us. My hunting area way down here in Ontario County is beginning to look more and more like yours .... lol. Farmers have pretty much abandoned this hill country. So like you, I am at the mercy of wide-ranging browse feeding patterns. We get a bit of a break when the oaks are producing acorns. That concentrates them a bit. But I am constantly reacting to changing food and bedding patterns throughout the season.

Thanks for the tip. I'll pass it on to wifey. She'll really appreciate it.

Opening day, the chase phase of the rut is full-on. That is what makes them super vulnerable for that first hour of the season. Things get a whole lot more covert after that initial on-slaught of slam-banging of guns. So if you are thinking of using rut-based tactics, I doubt that many of them would work after that first hour or two. It pretty much gets down to a game of hide & seek after that beginning of the gun season. Rut activity gets postponed to the hours of darkness.

I guess it all depends on how lightly you take becoming a felon. I mean it doesn't cost a thing to threaten to ignore laws, but it quickly becomes a whole different kettle of fish when the realities of what felony entails begins to clarify in your mind. Once it sinks in just what the penalties of felony convictions entail there usually is a very quick mind change. The thought of jail time can be a very sobering concept. The realization that a felony is a automatic way to lose all firearms ownership tends to finally silence the bold talk. The recognition as to how a felony conviction can totally ruin one's life in a very permanent fashion generally silences all the bold talk that is expended when the action is just a theoretical boast. I have to say that it takes a lot less backbone to sit back and be satisfied with threatened non-compliance than it does to actually get out and become activist in legally fighting unjust laws. We currently have some very dedicated individuals and organizations doing exactly that right now here in NYS. They understand what it takes to realistically beat back illegal actions by government. They understand that it takes a lot more than some feigned bluster and empty threats of law-breaking. They are actually doing something positive toward changing a law. I applaud that. We are not a nation of Timothy McVeighs and Terry Nichols's thankfully. Becoming some kind of domestic terrorist is not exactly the path that I would choose to jump into without all of the legal remedies having been tried and failed. It all sounds so good on an internet forum but takes on an entirely different aspect when coming up in a trial. Frankly I see such idle talk of felony law-breaking as being just someone who either doesn't understand the consequences of what they are proposing, or some wack-job like the two individuals mentioned above who enjoy the thought of revolution. That is some pretty mentality that I would just as soon not be associated with ..... lol.

I read somewhere that the most common shooting problem is incorrect draw length. Archers then try to make their form fit the bogus draw length. Apparently it is not a feature to ignore because it can severely screw up your form and shooting habits. That is one good reason to use a competent archery pro that will ensure that you have the correct stance, grip, repeatable anchor, and proper draw and holding muscle structure and use, when measuring you up for draw length for an intended bow purchase. It is one of the more important specs on a bow, and needs to be done right. You don't need to be all crunched up trying to accommodate a draw length that is too short and you don't need to be stretching your arms out in an un-natural fashion to reach the proper position in the valley. Yes it is true that there are pros out there that should never be trusted with handling other people's equipment or advising them on proper shooting form. I too have some nightmare stories of having my equipment screwed up by guys pretending to actually know what they are talking about. All you can do is to talk to others who shoot well and have had a specific pro as their go-to guy when equipment purchases are required. Lacking any other kind of authoritative reliable credentials, that's all you can do.

Grow - This may be a perfect opportunity to ask if there are any shortcuts or special tips on peeling peaches. I got a pile of them and even though they are more like apricots in size, they are ripened up and taste pretty darn good. But I thought that since you are probably getting quite expert at peeling peaches by now, maybe you know some tricks at making the job easier.

Just curious ..... When you say your camp is in the Adirondacks, are you talking deepest, darkest, central, Adirondacks where there is almost no farming activity at all, or are you talking about peripheral Adirondacks where there is some agriculture nearby?

HEY! ...... I own a Mathews and everyone who doesn't shoot Mathews is a poopy-head! So there!

Here's my opinion for what it is worth. I don't know what the food sources are in the area that you hunt, but I do know that deer are still well into their summer food sources right now, with their bedding-feeding patterns established accordingly and with many changes to come over the next month or two. So as food sources change and cover begins to open up from fall defoliation you will see changes. As rut begins and matures you will changes again. Your selection of stand locations may work for the earliest part of the season, but be prepared to change locations as the patterns take their fall shifts.