After a week plus of trying to help my buddy get a 17 year old trad freak to get a bear; it was my turn tonight.
We had all seen bears; but no shots.
I am still nursing my 2 month plus 3 day old bionic knee - so I sat 12 steps below the bait; in a spot where I could see the downwind bear trail the bears use to scent check the bait.
I put a 3 legged double bull chair against a tree; and just leaned back against a big tree and waited.
Pretty soon - the mosquitoes went from a minor nuisance to hundreds of them; and I knew there was a bear near ( the skeeters follow the bears).
So a big headed blonde bear stepped out and walked up to the bait; and I waited for a shot.
There was not so much as a twig between us; and that bear walked right up close ( several times a matter of feet away) and looked me over real good; but just could not focus on me (wore my mosquito netting gillie tonight).
This went on for well over a half hour; and every time I would start to draw...
The arrow on the leather shelf would make the slightest noise- and too my leather glove started making a noise. The bear would then turn and face me.
Arrgh !!! How do I make that leather quiet?
no - I didn't get the shot I wanted.... but I did see another bear on the trail below me- and his reaction to hitting my scent was to break big branches in good numbers just yards from me... he is a big boar; but it was too late to shoot (even though the moonlight allowed me the opportunity).
I strive to see the arrow fly when I shoot :)
You might want to try a fur rest made from sealskin.I have used chipmonk and red squirrel etc. as well with good results.A rug rest works well and so does velcro or felt.
You might try and lubricate the glove and see if that helps.
I'll be curious for this one-my glove makes a nice "creaking" kind of noise when I start drawing....
Jeremy
what kind of leather r u useing i use pig leather and never had that problem
I would suggest Neats foot oil,food grade silicone,or saddle soap for the glove(and break the glove in) and rest.Are you sure it's not the string creaking? I spray my arrows with the food grade silicone(it doesnt smell and dries in seconds) and that allows them to slide on the rest very quietly.
Change the shelf to seal skin OR you can get a file and rough up the surface of your leather to a more "swade" like surface removing any hard slick spots. To help it stay soft, you could put a little mink oil on it as well.
I've got a soft velcro rest on all of my bows. Doesn't make a sound when drawing an arrow.
It's funny how loud that little sound is when everything is tuned up. I remember having bear in my lap and after getting the shot being able to hear a chipmunk pass gas at 400 yds.
Try industrial velcro for your rest. Very quiet and available at Home Depot.
Mike
I quit using velcro because it was noisy and went to calf hair....never heard of 'soft' velcro....might like to hear more about that.
If you will treat your glove, it wont creak...and if you are in the field....there's a simple solution...liberaly lick all the fingers including the sides of the fingers before you draw.
I lost my America Leathers glove and had to use a Super Glove I'd had put away for years the other day hunting with Rob, and I had to continualy lick and spit on the fingers. Pain,.....treat it with any kind of leather treatment.
After shooting a tab exclusively, I finally got my new Kuston King synthetic glove in the mail. Super slick on the tips and no break in. I used it last night for the first time and it is dead silent. Doesn't get sticky in the heat like leather.
My rest material depends on the arrows I'm shooting. Aluminum is loud when drawn across most surfaces where wood or carbon seems more forgiving.
i put Aromur All on my arrows and let and dry them wipe it off. also seem to be easier to pull out of target. Got this out of one of the Wensel's book
Brian,
PM your mailing address to me. I have a piece of sealskin from an Alaska Bowhunting Supply package that I will send you.
Ray
:thumbsup: Armour All??? Thats a New One on Me!! It SHOULD make them "Slicker Than Owl Snot on a DoorKnob"!! I gotta try it, Thank you for Sharing!! :goldtooth:
Fuzzy side of industrial velcro. Still trying to find a use for the other side....
Chad
I had a glove that creaked like that and I finally had to just get a new one. I tried every lubricating material and it would still make that sound. I've tried the velcro and calf hair and both seem good to me.
Terry - I am always in the habit of sticking my fingers in my mouth and giving it a liberal soaking when I see a deer I want to shoot. Never been busted by the noise it makes but I just cannot get over how loud it can seem.
Glad to know I am not the only one who does this.
Bob Urban
Leather has a rough side and a slick side, I use it rough side up. After a lot of practice, it gets a smooth spot where the arrow slides when it is drawn. Before hunting, you scrape it with your thumbnail until the smooth spot is rough again. It is now silent again. Can't help with the glove, I use a tab. Bill
If it gets real bad, moleskin will quiet it but doesn't last too long.
Get some soap stone, use the edge of a knife, make a fine powder of it, and work it into your glove, and your rest.
It's super slick, and odorless.
Works for me.