i was thinking to myself at work today how far i've come in the short period that i've been bowhunting. i started out with a rifle as a kid and a teenager, then i progressed to using a crossbow for a few years. i've been hunting exclusively with a recurve now for about 2.5 years. in the last year i've really become interested in primitive bowhunting. i've learnt how to make a stone point of hunting quality and now i'm trying my hardest to make a selfbow. it seems i'm de-evolving. the accomplishment of one goal leads me to the next...which is usually even more challenging. it seems that i'm not happy unless i'm trying to do something that i haven't already done. the drive within me to take an all primitive kill with gear of my own making is strong. what will i do when i've done it? like yesterday, i could have gone for an afternoon hunt but i couldn't drag myself away from my attempt at a selfbow. there's just something special about achieving a goal. i guess i should just sit back and enjoy the journey.
it not like every kill isn't special to me, because they are. i'm just addicted to continually trying to do it harder next time.

the other week i shot my 1st animal with a stone point with my recurve. now it's, "i want to get something with a stone point i made with a selfbow that i made".  

just thought i'd share my thoughts.
anyone else addicted to a challenge?

It sounds pretty satisfying what you are doing with the self-made equipment.  I have been content with my hunting for a very long time.  I focus on improving and maintaining top-notch shooting ability first. The next most important thing to me is scouting, hanging stands, and planning my hunts. Then execution of my hunt plans is what I get a great kick out of.

I'm very satisified with the quality and performance of recurve bows built by master bowyers. I know I can't make a better working or looking bow myself.

I sometimes wonder if the folks who make bows enjoy the hunting part as much as they'd like. I know sometimes my wife says she doesn't enjoy a complicated dinner because of the effort that went into preparing it.

Fairly natural progression, ozy.  BTW, it's called evolving, not devolving.  

I think a lot has to do with you developing skills and being able to see that... you CAN do it.

Then we try the next step, then the next.  

Not everyone is hit with that way of thinking.  Many are stricken with the need for more gadgets and better everything.  A friend of mine is going thru that now.  

Go for it.  Move at your pace, but go for it.  You may find much more satisfaction at each step of the game.
ChuckC

I'm content with the gear I choose but like to make it more challenging by targeting mature deer on public land.
It's hard letting a small buck walk when a few years ago I would have happily dropped the string on him. I would like to think I can continue to do this but those fat butterball spikes are getting hard to pass on.  

I am headed where you are.  Next year or year after it will be hunting with a self bow, self arrows and obsidian tips I made by hand.  I love the challenge and love it most when I complete it with my own sweat and tools I made.  

Tricia and I are headed over to meet some friends in Mackay and to hunt next July / August I am hoping to get on some Chital, Rusa, and Hogs with them.

yep! the only thing i'm not satisfied with is not enough pope and youngs here.

I live in MN and it is a hunters paradise. Millions of acres of public land open to hunting. With a little off season work it is fairly easy to gain access to private lands and, over the last decade we have had fantastic deer hunting.

Where I bowhunt I can kill a buck and 4 does per season. Just a quarter mile south of my house in zone 601 you can buy unlimited antlerless tags and kill a doe a day if you want.

What a change from the early 1970's when I first started deer hunting. In 1971 the deer season was closed. My first year, 1972, our party of six was happy to see a single deer in a day of hunting. Today, I often see multiple deer any given day on the stand.

In terms of other species, our pheasant hunting since CRP came into play in the mid 1980's is the best it has been since the Soil Bank era. We have the best ruffed grouse hunting in the country. Our turkey population is expanding and we are setting record harvests every year. We have excellent  numbers of canada geese, good to excellent bear hunting and, most recently new opportunities to hunt mourning doves and sandhill cranes.

I am very satisfied with my hunting and I never take for granted how good I have it!

I'm always satisfied,I will be thoroughly aroused when I move to Georgia and get to hunt grown up animals.Deer in Jersey are a tad bigger than squirrels.      

yup im satisfied with what hunting i do. go out try to get a deer for meat  for the table sometimes it happens and sometimes it dont it would not be fun if ya got one everytime. lifes good.  

This will be my first bow hunting year and I'm doing it with a laminated longbow that I made.  I'm already thinking about next year and I'd like to make a selfbow between now and then to use.  I'm also going to be on an obsidian gathering trip in a few weeks because I'd really like to be able to make my own heads.

There's just something about harvesting animals for food with tools that I've made.  Similar tools to what folks used YEARS ago that can still be just as functional.  Good luck in your endeavors-I'm sure you'll be successful.

Jeremy

that is a wonderful goal.i'm not going to be satisfied until i get a selfbow of my own.good luck,steve

I grew into a bowhunter at a young age. The older I got, the more I learned HOW to enjoy hunting, so much so, that it became who I was.

For me, there were girls, dirt bikes, and bowhunting. The order would change with the seasons.  :D  

Eventually I married, and soon I had a son. Before the diapers were done, he was my best hunting partner. Then along came his brother. Same story. For several years, hunting was an exploration trip, in full camo with backpacks full of chocolate milk and Hostess cakes. I showed them buck rubs, and deer trails. They could recognize White Oak acorns before they could ride two wheelers.

At fifteen and twelve, they are seasoned hunters.
My hunting has taken an even MORE satisfying turn, with my efforts to introduce them to the contentment and peace I have known throughout my life. My daughter has told me this year she would LOVE to go hunting with me, but would rather not get anything on her trips. So be it. I will show her all the reasons we are who we are.

I feel a sense of urgency, in regards to my kids getting to experience some of the things that I have. I don`t know why. Other than the "urgent" feeling, I AM content.

I enjoy the year throughout, BUT when hunting season comes, there is a gleam in my eye, and my wife looses sleep.  

OZY ... don't do it ...You'll turn out all messed up like me ... lol !!!!  Osage dust and flint chips mess with your mind ..."beware"

bonebuster- i reckon i'll have new make a new style of back quiver when i have kids. one they can ride in!!

Howdy Clint I think you have done very well on your journey for only 2.5 years. I have read many of your advetures, also the challenges and achievements that you have set yourself and come up trumps everytime. I too am happy with the road I travel and can't wait until I can share my journey with my young ones.

Well done mate

Darren Amos

I have to say yes.  From compounds to recurves and now on to longbows.  I've been fairly successful with the first two and have no reason to question my abilities with the l/b.  I would like to fill my 15 doe tags with it between now and Jan.  Also, I still want that monster buck by bow.
I see what you mean though.  I'm moving on to wood arrows and cutting a lot of my own feathers.  Someday, I'll make a bow.