Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bob B. on August 22, 2011, 12:31:00 PM
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I have a question. I know many tradgangers are hill lovers and shoot them often. I am curious as to how many of you hunt deer with them as your primary hunting bow. What Hill bow do you hunt with and what is your length and weight?
Bob.
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Northern mist 66" 57# @ 28. There are four of us headin to maine with Northern mist hill style bows for a bear hunt. make that three I hurt my hand and had to have surgery.
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Hills/style only 35 years straight. Prefer straight handle, 70" ntn, & draws over 70#@28". My shortest is 66" ntn. Shoot from climbing treestands, makeshift ground blinds, & stillhunt often. No shoot problems. Just takes getting used to. Favor my Tembo.
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I only have one bow and it hunts whatever I am after. The specs are in my signature and the bow is pictured in my avatar.
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I have hunted with a 70" down to a 64". Bow length is based on your draw length. It just takes some planning on hunting with longbow on your setup.
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Big 5, 70", 60@28. Not partial to the Big 5--just happens to be the model I always end up with. Next one will be 68".
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I'm not a regular Hill longbow hunter, although I have done so just a few times. Also, I've not hunted deer. I've killed only three billy goats, two boars and one sow with Hills. The goats were with a 67#, 66" Redman. The pigs were with a 75#, 70" Wesley Special. Wooden arrows were used. Now, Rik and Ben Maher, they are the gurus on hunting with Hills! A lot of wins there... Also, Australia's own Jeff Challacombe has hunted with some Hills but more-so with bows of his own making in the same style, and he's put-away a good deal of game.
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68" Jerry Hill Elite, 60# @ 28, and I draw 29 1/4. I have hunted with other bows as short as 60" ntn, and I've not noticed any handicap with the longer bow.
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Hill Cheetah, 66" 53@ 27.
I have hunted with 68" and 70".
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Hill style longbows for the past 26 years...also backquivers, and wood arrows only. I prefer 66" lengths for a 27" draw.
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Northern Mist Classic 68" 63 @27"
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Last year I hunted with a 64" 50@28" Howard Hill Longbowman's Choice and killed a deer with it. This year I will be using a Northern Mist Shelton 66" 50@28". I hunt out of a Tree Saddle and on the ground.
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I have two Hill I use and switch off depending upon what I feel like taking that day.
* 70" Wesley Special marked 63# @29"
* 66" Big5 53# @28"
I draw an honest 28". I think the Big5 is a little heavier in poundage than it is marked and the Wesley is marked a little high in my opinion. They feel the same when I draw, my cheap hand scale weighs them almost identical and I can shoot exactly the same arrows from both. I use wood although I have dabbled with alum and carbon.
I don't worry about the length, I actually prefer the longer Wesley but I also agree it takes a little getting used to and a little extra precaution in tree stands and heavier cover.
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70" Big Five 72# @ 28" for the past 33 years, hopefully for another 33 years
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This will be my first season hunting with Hill Style bows.
68" John Schulz Trophy Hunter 59# @ 27" and I pull an honest 28"
66" Northern Mist Shelton 56# @ 28"
Wood arrows and 145 grain STOS Broadheads with both.
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I shot a fox last year with a hill bow he's at the taxidermist now who has been telling me it will be done in about two weeks for the last three months.......Nate's making me one now and I'm hoping I might bring home some cube steak and hamburger with it this year.
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I've been shooting Hill style longbows for over 27 years. I have hunted but not shot a deer with one.
I shot a Hill Big Five in the 1980's and took a lot of game with it. I have shot my own Hill style bows since 1988. I used to shoot 72# for a lot of years but as I got older I've gone down in weight. I went to 66# and have now been shooting a 59# @ 26.5" bamboo bow since about 2000 and it is 66" long. I use wood arrows of around 725 grains.
Jeff
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I hunt with a bunch of Hill style bows ... deer, hogs , goats and a bunch of other critters too ! Like Nate I like a 66" bow for my 27"+ draw .
Since 1999 I have shot one animal with with an alloy 2016 ... the rest of the critters fell too wooden arrows tipped with Ribteks, Ace and Tusker broadheads . These arrows spend most of the time in my back quiver ...which was made by Nate Steen .
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Here is a deer that was taken with a Big River "Hill", 66", 55 @ 26". I shot the doe out of a "boat seat" tripod stand in Llano, Tx. She was quartering away and I hit the off side shoulder. The STOS broadhead went through both sides, just not a pass through. One thing about shooting a Hill style bow is to get your bow arm shoulder "inline" with the path of the arrow. Shooting from the seated position, I "close" my shoulders and "point" my bow arm shoulder at the target. I have a tendency to shoot left when seated, and this helps to stay inline. Food for thought on hunting with "the Hill".
(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n559/jeffbschulz/DSC02841-1.jpg)
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Dragonheart,
I appreciate the "food for thought". Nice pic of your doe. Do you usually get a pass through with that set up if you do not hit large bone like a shoulder?
Bob.
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Most of the time I shoot through. On this hunt the deer had been hunted really hard all season (Jan hunt) and were very skidish!
She was so on edge even after I let her settle down and browse some that she jumped down a bit on the shot. I hit the other shoulder and went through, but just the BH came out the other side. The exit hole was HIGHER than the entrance that is how much she moved. Bent the arrow big time!
I debated on leaving the arrow in her for the photo, but I wanted an "ol school" looking photo. DavyCrockett (SHEP)took the photo.
I was shooting a 2020, 260 grain STOS. Heavy arrow. I believe in the 3:1 BH think it is the best. Will be trying out some Tuffheads this season.
If you plan to shoot seated, really practice beforehand. I discovered the "trick" with the shoulder and has really helped me when I get in a situation like that of a "boat seat stand" that are just hard IMHO to shoot a longbow out of.
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This will be my first season hunting with a "Hill Style" American flat bow.
One piece BamaBow Elite 65", 49# @ 26" draw.
Shooting home-made Port Orford cedar arrows, 27" BOP, 160 gr STOS broadheads, 500grain total weight.
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Bob, I get pass-throughs on almost every deer I shoot, I use moderately heavy arrows around 550 - 650 grains. I like 2 blades...Hill's, Hunter Heads, Zwickey, Grizzly, Concord's(great for the price)...they all work well. I've shot many deer through both shoulders, broadside and the arrow fell on the ground off-side. The only time I don't blow the arrow completely through is if the animal is moving like walking, running, etc. Moving tissue is harder to penetrate, but I still poke the broadhead out the far side....
a one-horned buck shot on the run a couple of years ago
(http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr30/natesteen/hunting2009007.jpg)
buck last year shot a long way away, full penetration
(http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr30/natesteen/hunting2010009.jpg)
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Sunset Hill,
Wow, great pics ... I appreciate the info. How mnay pounds is your 66 inch bow? Also, Dragonheart, thanks for your info as well.
The reason I started this thread is I hear of so many guys shooting Hills, but I was not sure how many hunted with them. I hunt with a few trad guys, all but one hunts with as short a bow as they can get. I have a love of the long D bow. My Deathwish is 68 inches and is just a joy to shoot. It is similar to a Hill bow. I will hunt the heck out of her this fall and am looking at maybe getting a Hill bow, perhaps a Wesley.
Thanks for the info guys.
Bob.
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Not a "Hill" but hill style 70" 64#. Shot deer from the ground, blinds and treestand since 1980.
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Honestly Bob,
anything around 66" to 68" isn't really noticeable in the field if you're on the ground because of the versatility of canting the bow. In a treestand, sometimes 68" is too long to maneuver.
I shoot around 64# nowadays....used to shoot real heavy 80# and up, but realized before I got too old and hurt to back the weight down a bit. It didn't seem to hurt penetration any....lol
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September the 30th I'll see what kind of penatration I can get on an alligator. Going to send Nate a piece of leather to make an armguard. Oh Nate if you get a call from a Andy in SC he's a friend of mine I assisted him on his gator hunt last year and he's doing the same for me this year. He's a gun hunter but I have been letting him play my Schulz bow and I think he's getting into it and I'm trying to talk him into getting you to make him a bow!
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I have 2 Wesley Specials. Both are 68" long and draw 65# at 28" draw I also have a Cheetah at 68" long and draws 55# at 28". I do almost all my hunting/shooting with these bows. I have several other longbows but I don't shoot them as much as these 3 bows.
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I have used and took two does with my howard hill redman 50# at 27" last year from the ground 62" long.
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I've been shooting a 70" HH Redman, 60#@ 28" for most the summer and will be using it this fall.
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Originally posted by MikeNova:
September the 30th I'll see what kind of penatration I can get on an alligator. Going to send Nate a piece of leather to make an armguard. Oh Nate if you get a call from a Andy in SC he's a friend of mine I assisted him on his gator hunt last year and he's doing the same for me this year. He's a gun hunter but I have been letting him play my Schulz bow and I think he's getting into it and I'm trying to talk him into getting you to make him a bow!
Aligator armguard, that just sings!
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Never had a problem with penetration. Either an 80# @ 27" Wesley Special 68" or Autumn T.D. 92# @ 27" 70". Shooting Hickory shafts with 200 Gr. Ace heads total weight 900 to 1000 grains.
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c'mon guys! please post images no wider than 640 - it's easy to have photobucket do this for ya automatically - how to autosize photobucket images (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=129;t=000093) - thanx!
You have to love them D bows
Mississipi lake longbow 56# @ 26"
The arrow stucked in the opposite shoulder bone
F-Manny
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F-Manny,
Great picture,thanks for the info.
Bob.
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Here is a small doe from last year. Total penetration with 2016, WW broadhead. Howard Hill Big five string follow that was made into a takedown by Jack Harrison. About a 10 yrd shot out of a tree. 66" bow, 53# @ 26".
(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n559/jeffbschulz/DSC_0985-1.jpg)
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That is a great photo ... and we use similiar poundages and arrows ...
Good stuff Bro !
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Originally posted by Frenchymanny:
c'mon guys! please post images no wider than 640 - it's easy to have photobucket do this for ya automatically - how to autosize photobucket images (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=129;t=000093) - thanx!
You have to love them D bows
Mississipi lake longbow 56# @ 26"
The arrow stucked in the opposite shoulder bone
F-Manny
Resized:
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i144/frenchymanny/P1010024-1.jpg)
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Hill bows only for deer.
Same for elk, bear, wild boar, goats, sheep, rabbits, moose, coyotes, rock chucks. . . you just can't beat them as a hunting weapon.
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt252/Rikhinton/2008_Mule_Deer_low_res.jpg)
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt252/Rikhinton/2005_buck_2_low_res.jpg)
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My 66" 60@29 HH Halfbreed is the only bow I own and that's what I hunt with. Here - lookie...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/black_friday_2010_doe/20101126_ac_09.jpg)
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Return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear.
;) ... :goldtooth:
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Cornfield_Buck.jpg)
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Twodeer.jpg)
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/longbow%20rabbit%20pie.jpg)
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/buckskin%20bowman.jpg)
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Love Hill style bows!! Simple, lightweight and tough as nails.
I like that pic of you next to the corn Ron, it reminds me of quite a few hunts around here. :cool:
Here is my only harvest to date with a Hill style bow. It's a 60# Martin Mountaineer during late winter in Yankee Springs. Not many bunnies out there anymore but you get lucky once in a while.
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/Picture091.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/Picture092.jpg)
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at the 2006 trad gang mod melt in el paso texas, a glenn st. charles pac yew t/d longbow, a woodie and a wabbit ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/mm2006-rob-wabbit.jpg)
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:thumbsup:
Love it!! Bunnies and bows go together soooo nice!
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Here's a vintage video clip demonstrating the versatility of a 70" Hill bow. The target is a steel bionic bear with an 8" hole in the kill area.
http://www.tradgang.com/videos/ronlaclair/ronl-2.wmv
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WOW!! great pics guys, man I am stiked to go hunting. Ron, I remember some of those pics and the video from a long time ago! Awesome!!
Bob.
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Excellent clip Ron! I miss the old Michigan Outdoors, I still have the old theme song stuck in my head.
I was a wee lad when that segment aired. I also remember Fred Trost trying for caribou with a longbow.
I think it's fair to say those segments and that show lit the flame to eventually becoming a bowhunter, so thanks!! :notworthy:
No one in my family bowhunted and living the hunt through others kept me interested and dreaming. Nearly 20yrs later I was finally able to buy my first recurve and evolved(or de-evolved) into the bowhunter I am today. Now I'm a longbow lover at heart and I doubt it will change.
Those were the good old days when outdoor shows presented hunting in a tasteful, ethical, and educational way.
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Big Five this season wood arrows :thumbsup: Killed deer with my Redman.
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Hill style bow of my own making. This will be it's first season in the woods. 68", 59# @ 28", 650 grain ash arrows.
I also got Ron to sign it at Denton Hill this year for a little added mojo.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1834.jpg)
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Shawn Rackley's new JD Berry "Vixen".
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/JD%20Berry%20Vixon/riser2-1.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/JD%20Berry%20Vixon/strung-1.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/JD%20Berry%20Vixon/unstrung-1.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/JD%20Berry%20Vixon/limbtip-1.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/JD%20Berry%20Vixon/logo-1.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/JD%20Berry%20Vixon/riser-1.jpg)
[IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158
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This year I'll be using a Jerry hill Bow.
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For 26 years I shot recurves (mostly). Two years ago my wife bought me a Martin L100. I recently bought a 57 lb HH Cheetah. I plan on taking a deer with it this fall!
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Any other Hill bow pictures with critters?
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All critters big and small, taken with the hill style bow, any, at all?
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I got this turkey with a 60# 70" Hill longbow.
(http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s64/GordonJabben/IMG000131.jpg)
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70" yew Mahantango 55#@28" w/ 765gr arrow.
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Anyone have some good pics of the redman?I'm debating getting a redman but I havent seen any good clear pics of them.Howard Hill bows need to make a new sales catalog with better pictures close up clear pictures.Theyve had that same catalog for years.
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(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/bhaukom/HillandBrillhart002.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/bhaukom/HillandBrillhart001.jpg)
Here's a Redman Achilles
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Here's a couple grays from southern Illinois. Bow is a #60@28 Big Five...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/bgentry/PopeCounty081906004.jpg)
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Some Hill casualties :bigsmyl:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/possum-2.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/HeadShots.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/IM000991.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/IM000857.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/IM000989.jpg)
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Smoke thats a beautiful bow.thanks.
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Stone Knife,
You are a stone cold critter collector!
Nicely done.
Bob.