Again awesome hunt thank you for sharing story and photos.

Quote from: Possum Head on Today at 10:07:17 AMInteresting! Like you I've been around long enough to know some short bows have a reputation for shooting much better than others due to design. The Shrew is certainly no exception. Many have stated they find the longer bows just as good to hunt with from ground or tree and that's great but for those that lean towards shorter builds, it's good to know there are those engineered to behave at longer draws.

I am one of those guys that have stated "longer bows are no problem" and I still believe that. I have used 66 inch longbows out of a tree with no issues. And I do believe that you can make it work.

I think that for ME, this ultra short Scout is working out to be a specialized tool. And from release to target impact, there is not a compromise. I think it has a LOT to do with form, and how my form must be "smaller" while sitting. Because when I take this same bow out to 30 yards, standing....it doesn't feel right.

The great thing about building your own string if it come out right you can untwist it start over, it looks harder than it is, like Arctic Hunter said  "how to build a great bowstring is a great video to learn from also some great how to on YouTube.

Great post Roger give some good insight on using short bows,

Interesting! Like you I've been around long enough to know some short bows have a reputation for shooting much better than others due to design. The Shrew is certainly no exception. Many have stated they find the longer bows just as good to hunt with from ground or tree and that's great but for those that lean towards shorter builds, it's good to know there are those engineered to behave at longer draws.

While I have killed a bunch of deer with what would be considered "short" bows.....like 56 and 58 inch Shrews, over the last few years I have drifted towards longer limbs.

My current favorite Shrew is actually 60", as is my Black Widow recurve. My Northern Mist Ramers are 62,64, 66 inches.

2 years ago I bought a super short Shrew Scout, and shot it enough, but didn't love it. To describe the experience, it wasn't comfortable to shoot for a long time. I was actually going to sell it, but decided to shoot it a bit one more time.

I took my Waldrop PacSeat to my backyard range, sat in the chair is if I were ground hunting, and holy smokes....I really shot it well.

So yesterday I knew I was going to ground hunt.My son was duck hunting on a lake nearby, and I was going to hunt the swamp adjacent. We have hunted this swamp plenty. And while there is lots of dry ground, it is the absolute thickest area we hunt. Horrible with multi floral rose and Russian olive.

I took my PacSeat and this little Scout, snuck in, and had a great morning. No deer cooperated, but I really did notice a difference in manipulating this tiny bow in the thick stuff, both while walking and sitting. My route OUT of the swamp was a path I had never taken (path as described by ONX, there was no path) and 50inches really made a difference.

So here is my thinking...I think....This tiny bow is NOT a choice for one bow does all. My 60 inch bows are kinda that sweetspot. But because it has the exact same grip as my 60 inch Shrew, I am able to shoot it well, and it REALLY works for tight spaces. I will be messing with this idea for the rest of the year.....the ground is so much more convenient than a tree.

Quote from: Wudstix on November 06, 2025, 11:30:06 PMI've found that 18.3% of total string length down from the nock point to be optimal positioning for string silencers.  I also use para cord sheath material as string silencers.  Just pull out the white stuff and put three or four 2" pieces in the string at each end.  This works for me with D/R longbows 60-62 inch long with heavy arrows.  YMMV

Thats interesting....I will try that.

Randy Gusafson, Ron LaClairs old friend had lots of time on his hands in the cold UP winters. I remember visiting his shop and talking quieting bows with he and Ron. They dug deep into string stranding, silencer materials, etc. What I came away with was Randy's discovery that silencer spacing mattered more than anything. He claimed that a bow string vibrated kinda like a sine wave, with high and lows. he would space his silencers UNEVENLY, and try and catch both a high and a low.

One of my favorite silencer materials is a bag of wool scraps I got from Teresa Asbell. They look ugly but work. The silencers that 2 Tracks makes (or used to make, I'm not sure) are excellent.

The absolute A#1 string silencer system, in my book, is the one Terry Green and his daughters used to sell.

Agree with what was said above. For me it's 15-20 back twists.

What a fantastic write up,  and what an adventure! I'm not jealous in the least over here in the nanny state of the poms.
I ordered some broadheads from the states last year, customs deemed them pointy and sharp so destroyed.
Anyways, sorry got distracted , long may your freedoms Continue to enjoy such great times.

Quote from: MnFn on October 29, 2025, 07:42:18 AMI really enjoyed this story. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
Two questions tho.
1. What weight bows do you usually shoot for goats?
2. What is a sneaky beer?
Thanks again!

I got so carried away with the sneaky beer, I forgot to say 50lbs is around average for Goats, but you could probably have no dramas with a good #45 set up.

In keeping with our jovial weekend, Jezzas pic of his Billy seemed serious so we said " How about your best thousand yard stare"



Laughing follows,



That's better.

We drove the ute down a rough fire trail to pick up the Jez while he cut off the head.
A quick snap of the three Thunderchilds in the back with three Goat heads and three rough looking heads 



Nothing sneaky about the beers back to camp - it was celebration time, the weekend was a great success. Great time had with good company. Sore jaws from laughing, a few kills under the belt, and an open fire back at camp to re live all the events from a great time.

I always liked the old photos from yesteryear of Australian bowhunters end of trip trophy pictures, and suggested to the boys we do one to remember a great trip.

After camp was packed up the following day,we headed down to the creek and set up the horns on a log amongst the She Oak trees and took one last picture.



By my reckoning, I'd say there's probably a dozen, maybe two dozen Big Jim Thunderchilds here in Australia. So to get a picture like this is pretty special.

Thanks for reading,  hope you enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Memo.