I have read with interest the stories of those hunting with flint heads. Since it is currently not legal to bowhunt here in SD with those type heads I have never done much but admire those who were actually using that type equipment to take game. I have a friend that lives in Illinois that has been bugging me for years to come out and hunt something out there with him. He comes out here every year to hunt pheasants and wants to reciprocate. I have always resisted since we have all kinds of deer here and couldn't see spending $400.00 on a non resident tag when I can hunt deer here. Two things have changed. First I see you can get over the counter nonresident antlerless archery tags for $15.50 a piece and second I see you can hunt with flint arrow heads. So now I am interested. I need to confess that I am the least handy person I know so while it would be awesome to knap my own heads and make my own selfbow I realistically think that is a bad idea. I have no problem paying someone who knows what they are doing for arrows and/ or a bow. My 1st specific question about selfbow's relates to draw length. All of the selfbows I have seen listed for sale or in posts have listed draw weight at a 26 or 27" draw length. My draw length is 29 1/2". Is it possible to get a selfbow that works with that longer draw length? While I think it would be neat to hunt with a selfbow I do not want to have to totally change the way I shoot and come up with some different style of shooting to accomodate a shortened draw length. Second question would be do you have any specific recommendations on where to try to buy the type of arrows and/ bows I am interested in? If a selfbow would not work for my draw length I would consider using my 57 Kodiak. While it may not striclty match the type of equipment previously used to launch flint tipped arrows it is a cool older bow that I own and have not yet hunted with. Also let me know your thoughts on any aspect of this process I may not have considered. Thanks.
Dan
Hello, slightly older than me younger brother! :D
1) Selfbows can be had in your draw length. Overdrawing a selfbow made for a shorter draw can break it.
2)Once you can shoot your selfbow well, and know what kind of arrows it likes, you can haft "boughten" stone points to matching shafts.
3) Contact Ted Fry (Raptor Archery) about your dream...he can help.
4) It is not a sin to use stone points with a laminated bow. Either that, or I am going to Hell and not waiting for a handbasket.
Killdeer :wavey:
Hey Killy, thanks much for the info!!! I just realized we joined this cyberspace camp the same day. I was number 236 and you were number 237. Although at over 9,000 posts to my measly 516 you certainly have some posting seniority on me! :biglaugh:
Dan
Plus we are 436 and 437 , so we are much younger than you stated above. :saywhat:
And now you know why I am the Chatter Member! :D
Killdeer
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/TG%20Uploads/Archery%20Equipment/First_Flight_1997jpg.jpg)
Wow, it must have been Monday when I posted. Yes we were 436 and 437!!! Sheesh, I am getting old enough with out exagerating in that direction! Very pretty flint head on that arrow in your picture!!!