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WILLIAM DOUGHTY Aumsville, Oregon — •«...«•> me, wregon

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^iiiiiiiiitmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiitiiiitiiinn A R CH E R Y EQUIPMENT, For Schools, Camps or Scouts ® *"* ft Lemonwood Bow............. $5.00 -5 In. Target Arrows, each...

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SHOOTING TURTLES AND FISH WITH THE LONG BOW

Dr. G. A. Bullard writes us as fol­ lows: “While my bags have been limited, I have had considerable sport bowing turtles. Our creeks and rivers of south Texas abound in them. I shall have to devise some method of re­ trieving arrows, for a hit is invaria­ bly carried under water, and another good arrow gone to Davy Jones’s Locker.

“A new innovation I have hit upon: A sucker simply will not bite, not for

FLETCHING Simply macle clamp insures professional work. Fully illus­ trated instructions prepaid, 25c.

J. G. PRATT 1105 Ridge Road, N. Woodside, Silver Spring, Md. me—but he does not object to being shot at. I find the penetration of an arrow is excellent in water up to 4 feet deep. Only a shooter at fish must observe the factor- that light re­ fracts and deliberately shoot under.

After fourteen trials I nailed a twopound sucker, shot him through the spinal column. An extra sharp arlow is preferable, a light hunting barbed head.

“My next effort is to bag a big­ bass which persistently refuses all my attractive frogs, flies and what have you. ‘He is educated.’ ”

YE SYLVAN ARCHER Vol. b No. 5

Corvallis, Oregon

Entered as second-class matter November 5, 1927, at the post office at Corvallis, Oregon, under the Act of March 3, 18/9.

Published bi-monthly by Ye Sylvan Archer Publishing Co. at Coivallis, Oregon.

Editor and Manager J. E. DAVIS .......... $1.00 Per Year Subscription Price.. $1.25 Per Year Foreign Subscriptions ...................... 20 Cents Single Copies Advertising rates on application.

Copyright, 1927, Ye Sylvan Archer Publishing Co.

Table of Contents “AN AMATEUR ARCHER’S FIRST TOUR WITH THE BOW,” by Victor Burke 3 “EARLY HUNTING AND SOME NOT SO EARLY,” by L. C. Thome 8 “ARROW EXPERIENCES,” by Albert E. Andrews 10 “GENESIS OF THE BOW,” by Van E. Robertson..........................................

12-13 “GOLF ARCHERY MATCH,” by W. 0. Robinson ..................... 15 “MY FIRST HUNT,” by Milton Cook ..............................16 “CHEROKEE ARCHERY, by Donald Moore 17 “MAKING A TARGET,” by B. G. Thompson 18 “THE POTOMAC ARCHERS, by C. A. Briggs 19 “SPEAKING OF DEER HUNTS,” by David B. Denhardt 21 STORY CONTEST AWARDS After careful consideration and much consultaton with authorities, the. prizes in our story contest, which was announced in our July issue, have been awarded as follows: First prize, “Miss Billie’s Deer,” by Philip Rounsevelle, Pinehurst, N. C. Second prize, “After Wapiti with Bow and Arrow,” by Robert Cole, Thermopolis, Wyoming.

Third prize, “An Amateur Archer’s First Tour with the Bow,” by Victor Burke, Pullman, Washington.

Fourth prize, “A Deer with Bow

and Arrow,” by E. E. Gervais, Marsh­ field, Oregon.

The prizes will be sent to the win­ ners in a short time.

In awarding the prizes we tried to consider first the interests of the ma­ jority of oui- readers. Many other good stories have been received and will appear in the pages of Ye Syl­ van Archer.

We thank all those who have con­ tributed stories and wish that we could have awarded prizes to all. We expect to announce another contest of this kind in oui- next issue.

THE PUBLISHERS.

JANUARY, 1928

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

3

CAn Amateur Archers FirFt Qhoum

Wihh the ^Bow

By VICTOR BURKE, Pullman, Wash.

The object of this article is to pre­ length at the target and to change to sent to the readers of “Ye Sylvan a 24-inch arrow would reduce my ac­ Archer” the desirability of adding a curacy to the vanishing point. bow and a quiver of arrows to the The 28-inch arrow necessitates a equipment for the summer auto tour.

G-foot bow if the bow is made of yew With me no longer will the bow be or other breakable wood. A 6-foot restricted to the hunting trip or the bow does not pack into the equip­ target range. On summer trips the ment very well. So I decided to use tourist usually carries a .22 rifle from a bow short enough to fit crosswise which he derives much pleasure. The in the back of the car and non-breakaddition of the bow will relegate the able enough to shoot a 28-inch arrow. rifle to second place. In support of A friend gave me a piece of iron wood this contention I will give a brief ac­ from Indiana to try out. I turned it count of a summer tour, paying par­ into a bow 58 inches in length. With ticular attention to the part the bow a 24-inch pull the bow weighs 43 pounds. With a 28-inch pull it played in making the trip a success.

This trip carried us through the Sal­ weighs 55 pounds. A yew bow of mon River country of central Idaho the same length and weight out­ shoots it when using the 24-inch ar­ and the Blue Mountains of Oregon.

But first a word about our archery row, but with a 28-inch arrow it has equipment. I prefer to shoot a 28- the same cast as a beautiful 6-foot inch arrow. I shoot arrows of this 55-pound yew bow that I own. Both

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i Stanley Lake and the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho.

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

200 shoot a 28-inch hunting arrow „. The possibilities , - -." yards. of~ non-breakable woods in the development of the The bow deserves consideration. ., , same ™? length of bow and arrow, yew, will outshoot any other wood. But if some of the non-breakable woods will outshoot yew, pound for pound, when longer arrows are used with them

Just like shooting fish

than is possible with yew, then yew cannot maintain first place when short bows are desired. And short bows are desirable when touring.

There are possibilities here that the producer of archery tackle should bear in mind.

Leaving Pullman bright and early on the 16th of August, 1927, in the Big Six Studebaker, we soon reached the bluffs of the Snake River and be­ gan gliding down around the curves into this truly wonderful canyon to Lewiston. We passed on without stopping and were soon climbing out of the canyon up the Winchester grade. The great canyons of the

JANUARY, 1928

Snake and Salmon Rivers with walls ■from 2000 to 5000 feet high, these more or less precipitous and broken up into walls, ravines and curving hills, are truly wonders of nature and impressive to all who view them.

We reached Grangeville and the Salmon River at eleven o’clock. I was glad to get a good look at the Salmon River because I have been planning to come down it on a raft and pick up game on the way with the bow and arrow. Its headwaters rise in the wildest and most inaccess­ ible part of the United States and game of all kinds, including goat, sheep and elk frequent its canyon walls. I had planned a trip down the Clearwater branch of the Snake for this summer but all my acquaintances declined to accompany me on account of the risk involved.

The road south of Grangeville fol­ lows the Salmon for 20 miles to Rig­ gin. Here the Salmon turns east into impassable regions and the road leaves it and goes south up the Lit­ tle Salmon. We moved on next morn­ ing to McCall and the beautiful Pay­ ette Lakes. Our first objective was the South Fork of the Salmon be­ tween Warren and Edwardsburg. Ed­ wardsburg is the jumping off place for the great game fields on the headwaters of the Salmon. After loading up with supplies at McCall we took the road for Edwardsburg.

The road is good until within a few miles of Warren. Here we found real mountain roads, narrow and rocky and I soon scraped all sides of the car except the top. The luggage carrier on the running board hooked on to a stump and was torn loose in a flash and straightened out like a rod. A little hammering and it was back in place. I soon concluded that the Studebaker is too big a car foi these roads. Passing Warren an over a 7000 foot rise we started down

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JANUARY, 1928

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

into the canyon of the South Fork of the Salmon. The road drops 4000 feet in ten miles. A person who is not willing to back a mile around sharp bends on a 6-foot road bed with almost a sheer drop of hundreds of feet on one side has no business on this road. Fortunately we met no cars and were soon down and camped on the bank of the river for a .few days fishing. The weather was hot and the fishing poor and after a three days stop we broke camp early and started up the grade. I felt easier as I had the inside coming out. How­ ever, again we were fortunate in not meeting any cars.

We returned to McCall and after dinner headed south for the famous .Stanley Basin. The road goes south to Cascade and then east by Warm Lake and up over a 9000 foot divide.

We camped on the summit and were treated to a beautiful mountain sun­ set. In the morning there was ice in the basin.

The road descends Elk Creek into Bear Valley. This is a great deer country but. the season was not open.

Here we heard of the salmon fishing and stopped to have a try at it. In Idaho it is permissible to take salmon in any manner except with dynamite.

They are usually speared or shot with a high powered rifle. We de­ cided to try the bow and arrow. The fish are easily seen lying over the gravelly spawning beds in the shal­ low reaches of the stream. We camped for the night and arose next morning to find frost on the grass and ice in the basin although it was only the middle .of August. I was soon out along the stream with the ironwood bow strung and an arrow ready. A half hour inspection of the stream bed and a medium sized sal­ mon was seen. I hastily pulled the arrow to the head and released. The arrow passed over the back of the

5

fish. Because of the deflection of light passing from water to air, one must aim below the object shot at in water. The second arrow, held lower, passed through the body of the fish just behind the gills. There was a great churning and splashing of the water as the fish attempted to es­ cape. It could make no progress and was quickly picked up. First meat for the bow and it gave me more of a thrill than shooting them with the 30-40. .Being a hunter rather than a fisherman I got more pleasure me­ andering along the stream with a bow, conscious of its possibilities on land or water, rather than the fishingrod in my hand.

The arrow was effective in 14 inches of rapid water and the 30-40 failed to reach them much deeper.

The drawback to shooting fish with the bow is that one must enter the water to retrieve the arrow. How­ ever, try it once, for there is quite a thrill in sneaking along the bank, lo­ cating a fish, socking an arrow into it and dashing in to retrieve, espec­ ially if the water is cold and swift.

After three days in Bear Valley we packed up and moved on to Cape Horn and up Beaver Creek some ten miles for a little trout fishing. How­ ever, trout fishing was old sport and the bow and arrow new, so we aban­ doned the stream and took to the woods squirrel shooting.

Now knocking the squirrels out of the trees with a .22 pistol is a simple propo­ sition compared to knocking them out with an arrow. The first two or three squirrels stalked were in big tiees and as the first arrow whizzed by took alarm and concealed them­ selves in the top. We finally located one in a tree in which it could not hide and the fun began. Our plan, of attack was for one to be stationed on each side of the tree and watch the arrows of the other. We used one

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

JANUARY, i928

6

Two days on Beaver Creek Was enough and we returned to cape Horn and then on to Stanley Basin Stanley Basin containing as it does the Redfish Lakes flanked by the Sawtooth Mountains has the most beautiful mountain setting in Idah0 These mountains almost equal the Tetons of Wyoming which have been called, and rightly so, the most beau­ tiful mountains in America. They fascinate me more than Mt. Hood, Rainier, the Olympics or the Califor­ nia mountains.

After a day on Redfish Lake en­ joying the mountain scenery we headed back towards Oregon for the opening of the deer season on the 10th of September.

Some gun crank ran wild in nam­ ing streams in the Salmon River country. Flowing into the middle folk of the Salmon is a large stream called Pistol Creek. The branches of Pistol Creek are named Thirty-two, Foresight, Popgun, Twenty-two, Gun, Chokekore, Forty-five, Forty-four, Automatic, Luger, Thirty-eight, Colt, Trigger, Remington, Savage, WinChester, Springfield, Little Pistol.

The author of the names ran o'>ut of appropriate words as there are sevalthough'i a The author and his rabbit eral branches unnamed, u..___ leu, aivx.v-o Later I hit another one in the ribs. neighboring lake is called Artillery It carried him out into the air but he Lake. crawled under a log upon hitting the Back tracking to Bear Valley we ground and so escaped before Betsy turned southwest on the road to LowL.s wish to the setter could reach him. A point­ man. If any of my readers .... - - a.. thrill ____ and nerve __. ; exl.

—rhaustion he ed arrow would have penetrated and get — would have resulted in the squirrl be­ should follow our- route from here to ing collected. However, I was satis­ Banks. The road goes over Elkhorn fied with the one squirrel considering Mountain and down Clear Creek to the short time allotted to the shoot­ Lowman and then down the Payette ing. I had accomplished something River to Garden Valley and on to that I had never done before and felt Banks. The road down the mountain kind of “chesty” about it. There may requires low gear for braking. R 1S one be a greater thrill in shooting bear or very narrow with a steep drop on mountain lion out of a tree but it re­ side with turn-outs far between, It quires less skill than shooting squir­ tests one’s nerve a bit, but it is rels. nothing compared to the trip down

arrow each, retrieving after each shot so that none would be lost. Ray­ mond’s first arrow touched the tail, my .first scraped the ribs; Raymond’s second missed and the squirrel faced downward preparing’ to descend. My second arrow, a blunt one, struck him squarely between the eyes, crushing the skull. Second meat for the bow. I saved the tail to attach to the quiver.

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JANUARY, 1928

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

the Payette canyon from Lowman.

Here we have a 6-foot roadbed cut in the side of the canyon wall, with short turns, a rocky roadbed in spots, turn-outs far between and a 1000-foot drop on one side. I went into low to get around some corners. If you are a good mountain driver make this trip once—by all means. If there is any question about your nerve, do not try it. There is no chance on this road to rectify a mistake in driving. One mistake and it is all over. I did not imagine that any state would let cars pass over such a road without greater provision for their safety. After years of moun­ tain driving- in various states, I can say that this trip is by far the most hazardous I have seen. And yet, the storekeeper at Lowman assured us that it was a good road. I wondered if he could tell us where to find a bad one.

From Banks we proceeded to Horseshoe Bend and on down the Pay­ ette Rivei- to Ontario, Oregon. We camped between Ontario and Vale to try for jackrabbits with the bow. The rabbits come out of the sagebrush at evening and descend on the ranches in large number. Raymond used the .22 and I the bow. Hitting a rabbit on the run with an arrow requires much skill and some luck. I didn’t register although several rabbits on the move had close calls. However, in an hour, I got two at rest. With the first one killed the arrow passed between the ears just over the skull and struck the humped-up back, cut­ ting through the backbone and lodg­ ing deep into the pelvic region. The second rabbit was slightly down hill and facing me. The arrow struck it in the right eye, passed downward through the skull and neck and lodged in the ground. The rabbit never knew what hit him. Rabbit shooting is great practice. The arrows are

7

readily recovered and one can shoot at either moving- or stationary ani­ mals. I want more of it.

I had now shot squirrel, rabbit, packrat and salmon with the bow and had a desire to have a try at a deer.

We followed the John Day Highway to Austin and Prairie City, made a thorough investigation of the deer hunting- possibilities and decided to try our luck on Squaw Creek. But luck was against us and my deer still roams the forest. There was snow on the tent the first morning. Thus was ushered in ten days of almost continuous rain and snow. The deer left the ridges for the lower, warmer levels and we could not follow. Three morning hunts brought us nothing.

The road out was rapidly becomingimpassable so on the 14th of Septem­ ber we decided to pull out. The car mired down twice on the way to the highway, but by cutting a few boughs and covering the worst sp:ts we got through without much delay.

The trip home by way of Baker, Pendleton and (Walla Walla was overfine highways and easily made in two days.

Thus ended a wonderful trip of 1200 miles, mainly through beautiful back country with many streams, taken leisurely and thoroughly en­ joyed. No small part of the pleasure and thrill was due to the bow. Here­ after it will be a necessary part of my camp equipment. After returning­ home the incidents most clearly re­ membered and frequently described have been those associated with the bow. Catching fish on a hook and shooting squirrels and rabbits with a .22 is too old a story to carry much of a thrill simply because of much repetition. Getting them with the bow and arrow adds a new zest be­ cause of the greater difficulty and uncertainty of accomplishment.

(Continued on page 11)

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

JANUARY, i928

8

Early Hunting, and Some Not So Earl/'

By L. C. THORNE, Vernal, Utah My first kill with the bow' was and that flattened wire did its work made when I was but five years old. striking Miss Chicken right in the My father had made my first weapon neck. Sony day for the chicken, sor­ in' the form of the crossbow, (he had ry day for me! My father let out a used one with considerable success on shout of glee, and taking the chicken small game when he was a boy in we hurried to the house to tell the Michigan), and my arrows were tale of my prowess as a hunter. But short and had flint heads. These when we got to the house and Ma heads were the real thing in the was told what a fine shot I was, it primitive, having been found by him was a different story. Of course, it in the hills which surround our ranch. was her prize pullet I had killed and My flint heads did not last long, she took the mush paddle to me in though, as I shot them into the side good style. It seems she had told me of the log house and broke them the never to shoot at the chickens and I had forgotten, but I have never for­ first day.

One day some Indians came along gotten the paddling I got as my re­ and camped near our house and they ward.

This rather subdued my activities made fun of my cross bow. I was tired of it anyway as it was too awk­ with the bow and arrow for some ward to shoot in the brush where I little time, though later I shot an played. So I got Pa to take the bow- arrow through a cotton-tail’s ear. out, and then I could shoot the way The summer I was twelve I follow­ they did. ed my father through the fields when I was hardly old enough to be he was mowing the alfalfa and many much of a success at arrow making, was the rabbit that paid toll to my to buy arrows was unheard of in bow. A year or so later I did all the those days or- at least in our locali­ mowing and carried my arrows under ty, and I was always teasing my the gee sting of my hat. The bow father for more arrows. Finally he I hung on the long lever of the mow­ told me to go down to the slough ing machine. Thus, when needed I back of the corrals and cut some dry had them, and the bunnies acquired cat-tails for shafts, then cut some made quite an addition to our menu, wire in three-inch lengths and put it My success with the rabbits made in for heads. I did this and pounded me rather ambitious, so when ai little the ends till they were flat and chisel later in the year, inspection. of my shaped and quite sharp. They satis­ a fine old fied my childish ambition and solved trap line brought to light finish him sachet kitty, I prepared to the arrow question ag far He was as with the feathered shaft, iather was concerned. across a about fifteen feet from me, One evening while Pa was milking, little gully and somewhat lower than I was s' foot standing near with arrow on I. He was caught by a front string looking ifor something to and stood facing- me. I shot him shoot. A chicken1 started across the next right between the eyes and the n corral on the run.

I don ’1 Shoot the chick- instant he got even with me. en!” Pa called out.

Without an in- know how he managed it. I1 meteiy Stant Of Citation I drew and fet fly state facts.

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JANUARY, 1928

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

My tackle of course was homemade and crude, so crude that even the hired man laughed at me. Lemon­ wood and yew bows I had neverheard of. Locating a bunch of young­ jackrabbits in the field one morning, I whittled a bow from a dry willow that I pulled out of the brush roof of the shed during the noon hour, stiung- it with a heavy wire, as bow string was not available, and before evening killed five of the jackrabbits.

My arrows I feathered with chicken feathers found in the henhouse and tipped with heads cut with a cold chisel from pieces of strap iron or heavy barrel hoops. I even made some heads from the handles of my mother’s German silver spoons.

For twenty years after this, guns took the place of these crude boy­ hood weapons with me, and then a troop of eager young Boy Scouts re­ vived my interest in the bow and ar­ row. |We made our own tackle, as

■good scouts, and again weapon made good.

silent

From now on the bulk of my hunt­ ing will be with bow and arrow. I believe in giving what little game is left a sporting chance. 1 don’t actually need the meat and the pleas­ ure and exercise enjoyed from stalk­ ing' the denizens of the wild and matching wits with them is payment enough, even if I return home with the game sack empty.

A shoemaker’s rasp is an excellent tool for working down the horn nocks, bow handle, etc.

One can probably be secured through your lo­ cal shoe repair man.

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Last summer I tried fishing in an archer’s way, and was successful to the extent of four big carp captured and as many more that the arrow failed to pin to the mud, so that they got away.

An old bow in the possession of E. C. Thorne, Vernnl, Uinh.

been broken oft but, a.

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Mr. Thorne says:

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... rcjXjon but it is entirely different from those ir'ui^ndiaus. X have ineiude.i two sets of these

in the photograph to show the difference.

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

JANUARY, 1928

10

CArrow Experiences

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By ALBERT E. ANDREWS, Huntington, Indiana. sides of the box; hit a rock; splin­ tered the arrow. The authority was right. I now make roving arrows by taking a 32-20 shell, filing it off at the crimp, filing off the flange or rim of the shell, drilling out the primer, and setting a screw in the end. A birch arrow so treated does not break.

At first it was not necessary to paint arrows—not at all. But after we lost a few we changed our minds.

We now coat them with a quick dry­ ing enamel, striping them around the shaft with rings of red and white.

We have not found it necessary to use varnish, but perhaps some day we will.

Feathering an arrow required one hour of labor at first. Now it is rather- quickly done. We have bought white feathers and dyed them, and have made arrows with the natural gray, white, .green and red feathers.

I have a hunting arrow that has gone throug'h two rabbits with two gray and a white cock feather. One such shot rather discourages the appear­ ance of the fletching, but a good washing and then a steaming puts the feathers back in good shooting condition. To my eye, however, there is nothing so beautiful as three gray feathers with white enameling between them.

When I first read how Dr. P°Pe put a bead on the cock side of the shaft near the nock so he could know without looking how to nock his al row, I thought he was carrying ag­ onizing details to the extreme. I P“ a red bar along one of the w 1 ® spaces on the shaft and could se® where to nock the arrow without Pu ting my eyes on the nocking point o the feathers. Later I found that glass bead actually did help and no

In the beginning let it be said that I do not write from complete knowl­ edge or years of experince; that I am not an expert shot with the bow, and that when I shoot at a rabbit I am very likely to touch my nose with my thumb—instead of touching my chin with my index finger. But even a greenhorn learns some things; and chief among these is the fact that the advice of the authorities is correct in 99 per cent of the cases and only half wrong in the other 1 per cent.

One thing I have learned very well indeed; don’t stand an arrow on end against the wall until you are ready to .go hunting. I have a meth­ od better than that. My sons and I have a heavy cord strung along the wall. We hang smaller cords over the big one and tie the ends together.

Then we loop the small cord, poke the arrow through, pull the loop tight, and there hangs your arrow straight down until you are ready.

There may be a better way, but I have not found nor read of it.

In making arrows, we follow Dr. Pope’s suggestions very closely. He says the maple dowels at sash and door shops are really birch; so I bought some maple dowels and made arrows. Later I got some birch and I found that the maple dowels in our town were sold true to name. They are heavier than birch and more brit­ tle.

When I started out to make ar­ rows, I began with a roving design.

I put a screw into the end of the shaft and it appeared so sturdy that I said to myself: “The writer had it wrong; this thing will stand up for any kind of knock.” So I feathered the thing; set up my target, which is a cardboard box; squared off for a shot; sent the arrow through both

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I use it. I can keep on watching a rabbit running away while I draw an arrow and nock it without looking at my hands, The authority was right about it.

For trying out the arrows we shoot the paper carton round, It’s like this: There is a convenient sign board—one of the big ones—near where I live. I can get behind this sign board without anyone seeing me.

I slip out of the house, stop at the •garage for two big paper boxes, sneak up back .of that sign board, put one box down, step off so many yards, put the other box down, and start shooting. Two of my friends found out about it. One of them got a bow and has killed a rabbit with it.

The other one is now toiling over a stave. The grocer has not yet found out why I am so interested in getting a certain type and size of tough pa­ per carton with every order. /When he finds out how an arrow cracks when it hits these cartons, and how they fly on through while the box doesn’t even budge, he’ll piobably make an extra charge for my favorite brand. Or will he get a bow, too?

We use the small broadheads for hunting in our state. They are not necessary, of course, but one rather likes a hunting head for killing game—or shooting at it. ;We put these on with ferrule cement, such as we use for repairing our fly rods; then glue a strip of “ribbonize” (narrow silk ribbon ob­ tained at nickel and dime stores at 5 and 10 cents a yard) about the joint of steel and wood, and enamel over the ribbon. You need not worry about such a point coming off.

Our game consists of the or­ dinary white tail—very ordi-

11

nary. It is the Indiana shybuck that sprouts ears where the horns ought to be. There are quail, woodchucks, a few wild ducks and squirrels. Of course, Indiana also has coons, ’pos­ sums and skunks, but the former two are rather nocturnal and the last mentioned takes too many liberties; so we don’t class these as archers’ game. An arrow will go through any game in this state and a hunting­ point leaves no blood-shot meat.

AN AMATEUR ARCHER’S FIRST TOUR WITH THE BOW (Continued from page 7) I am now planning to get a Hun­ garian pheasant on the wing with an arrow. During the past few years I have been getting from 50 to 60 of them each year with the shotgun.

Getting one with the bow will be a greater sporting achievement than getting 60 with the shotgun. Here’s hoping.

George A. Smith of New York City, and a deer he killed with bow and arrow at Port­ age, Maine. The buck weighed 185 pounds and was shot at 50 yards.

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illujsgo methinks The lust song- was sung, when u the • foe was young-, 11 Some thousands of centuries a ight a ffo-hat When a man did raise his voice The merits of his new found\' t0 bio b0'o fo There is no doubt but that his sfI cou Was intellect’s very first salute--ute‘ His bow, magic thing of wood and m Did make him more than just a MAX HAP LIKE THIS son; In a melody rude, and words as cr ith He told how the wondrous thing t’..i..B i, list " ‘ Of a sinewy branch, strong and stat stat on Torn from a tree in the jungle sh tl How, with teeth he chewed, stones hewed, ’Til curving at last it would bene1 w To tire fibrous vine he strung in’liDO•ve Tight from the tip to the nethc-rce fa He then sought out a hard wood Growing tall and straight and nt.

Which, tipped with bone scrapedr stone, Gave to his bow the needful arro'm LI He sang of the strength in the tejMs -1 od length y< And all his fellow men did thrillii•.aced As he sang of his craft to drive die- ci And of its magic power to lullth With stone-club mace he ne®\n?j" ’ Jnour Huge beasts he feared and iw* . fj till 11 ' And with gasping breath, 118™ t\ Claimed either him or his vici - t Now, he could stand, with bov- J" send And blows from a distance se ■‘ c( this That slobbering jaws and Mo”“- ;. he a Could not return nor could H place I S’a\ For, arrows keen, that fly Beep this surging bow coi de Through hairy—through scab p£ Of hungry throat and buljn= ' y thi

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'nf tlje Bolu BkTSON 11 ll,!. Osgood .id the arrow’s thud that brought the blood en t*Un foaming drops, or crimson spurts, , -ought fear as well—no beast could tell 5cea«|0What gave to him those deadly hurts— d bo7ft blood in spurts—deep inside hurts— No foe to crush, though try the best he can ns shs courage flees—his vitals freeze— lute—Brute strength’s o’erpowered by the wit of and man' st a THUS [IS s song did end and echo blend as criWith cheers that made the forest ring— ing vie listening horde, with all accord d staAt once proclaimed him as their king, le shi THE MARK OF THE BOW Wipen, this Pleocene man, to mark his clan, That all of them he might know, ben(jith white-hot flint, burned well the print in‘ ]ijA^0Ve the eyes of each, a bending bow! ther face far off then, sons of the men >od sp^hat this primeval king did vow, no/Ss bow have borne, and also worn id nai pej q-His royal mark—the arched eyebrow!

YOUR INHERITANCE arroir-0m that day, down the misty way, bovThis heritage has descended true— e ood that pours through those veins of thrill yours , the .'Raced through the veins of that primitive ■ill! crew. not f^nd this is why you cannot deny nted A'our relatives of that long ago— t fiipur fingers “itch” and your eyebrows inns i twitch . At the sight of a good yew bow!) 'nd BE YE EVER FAITHFUL dy cl*> this simple thing of wood and string— liey f'The ancient cave-man’s bow! placed you here in this modern sphere— ejaunc;It gave you all you have and know!

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Rure ■'■by the author.)

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—Portland, Oregon, 1915.

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14

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

PACIFIC NORTHWEST ARCHERY ASSOCIATION

By KORE T. DURYEE, Secretary Seattle, Wash.

A meeting of the officers and di­ rectors of the Pacific Northwest Ar­ chery association was held m the oi fice of Dr. I. V. Cole, Seattle, Wash, at 2:30 p. m, November 20, 1927.

The meeting was called to order by President J. W. Doughty. Those present were: Kore T. Duryee, secre­ tary; Dr. I. V. Cole, regional director for Washington; M. L. Hill, regional vice president for British Columbia, with written and signed proxy from Dr. Cecil Killam, regional director for British Columbia.

The following resolutions were un­ animously adopted: That the initiation fee shall be one dollar ($1.00).

That annual dues shall be one dol­ lar ($1.00), and that all dues shall become due and payable at the an­ nual meeting in July of each year.

That all who shall have paid their initiation fee of $1.00 and dues of $1.00 to the secretary by January 1, 1928, shall be considered charter members.

That the annual tournament :and meeting shall be held the middleJ of July each year.

That the Metropolitan Round con­ sisting of 30 arrows at each distance of 100, 80, 60, 50, 40 yards, be shot each day in place of the York and American Rounds. The Columbia Round for the women and flight shooting for both men and women.

It is also intended to shoot the Wand and other novelty events.

That suitable and attractive sta­ tionery be printed and that any mem­ her ber so desiring may purchase any quantity he wishes for his personal use.

That a circular letter be sent to all

JANUARY, i928

known archers of the Northwest no. tifying them of the lesults of this meeting.

PATTY AND THE BEAR

Obed Patty, Gold Bar, Washington, says: “Finally, this fall, after much schemeing and many failures, my

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brother and I managed to get within striking distance of a black bear.

When I loosed my shaft this bear’s back was partly turned away, but that broadhead sank in like a pin in a rotten pumpkin. The bear got UP on a log, but received another arrow from my brother.

It struck just back of the shoulder and the arrow went clear through and pushed ou the skin on the the other other side. side, This fin ished Mr. Bear for good and he iol e over dead.”

BOW AND ARROW TURKEY SHOOT

AIban>'’ On November 19th, the . All)3"-'' Oregon, Archery club and the arcl>ery American Legion held an ariiia’i' turkey shoot in the local

28

JANUARY, 1928

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

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A GOLF-ARCHERY MATCH Through the courtesy of Mr. A. G. Rice, the secretary of the Washing­ ton Country club, near Washington, D. C., a match was arranged between two crack golfers, J. E. Graf, and William Wood, and two of the Po­ tomac Archers, J. G. Pratt, president of the club, and W. O. Robinson, sec­ retary-treasurer. Neither Pratt nor Robinson had ever played golf or gone over a golf course with bows and arrows or golf tackle before the match was played. A loop of wire eight inches in diameter covered with cloth, on which was painted a five-inch bulls-eye, was set up four feet to the right of the hole. If the archer hit the bulls-eye, it counted as one stroke; if he hit the target out­ side the bulls-eye, it counted two strokes. The golfers, who were ex­ ceptionally good drivers, were able to drive further than the archers could shoot. After the archers got used to shooting short distances at a small mark on the ground, however, they had the advantage on the greens.

Archery on a golf course is a com­ bination of flight shooting, clout shooting and hunting, and a versatile archer will show up well at the game. For' the best score, the archer should have a powerful flight bow and a very weak bow for use on the greens. With the weak bow he should have plenty of practice at shooting accurately at short distances at a small mark on the ground. It is a very different matter from shoot­ ing 40, 50, 60, 80 or 100 yards at a four-foot target on level ground. The archers found the most difficult of all shots to be from a position too far to risk a shot for the bulls-eye, say 30 yards or more away. At this distance it was found best policy to shoot a partly drawn arrow high in the air, calculated to land just in

15

front of the target. The holes on different levels were the hardest to estimate for the archers. One hole in particular, 175 yards away, and perhaps 30 to 40 yards below the level of the stand. It seemed an easy matter to treat this like a 100-yard target and get a score of two, with a possibility of one. However, the arrow fell far short. Holes above the level of the stand were almost equally as deceiving.

The scores follow: Out Par 4, 3, 4, 5, 4,4, 4, 5, 3—36 GOLFERS Graf 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4—43 Wood 4, 3, 5, 6, 5, 4, 5, 5, 4—41 ARCHERS Robinson 4, 3, 4, 7, 7, 4, 6, 4, 3—42 Pratt 5, 3,4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3—38 In Par 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 5, 4, 4, 4—35 GOLFERS Graf 4, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4-40-43—83 Wood 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5-39-41—80

163 ARCHERS Rob’n 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4-39-42—81 Pratt 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 5, 4, 4, 4-35-38—73 154 Archers won, 5 and 4.

Best ball—Golfers 78; Archers, 67.

“THE WITCHERY OF ARCHERY” The Archers Company of Pinehurst, N. C., is planning to reprint Maurice Thompson’s “Witchery of Archery” provided sufficient interest is shown by archers in securing­ copies of this hook. The price will not be over $2.00 and probably con­ siderably less. If requests are sent to The Archers Company for a mini­ mum of four hundred copies we are assured that they will have this book printed and will put it on sale at the most reasonable price possible.

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

JANUARY, 1928

16

oHFy First Hunt

1

By MILTON COOK, Auburn, N. Y. yards when we heard a scramble One day this fall I tried to get some friends of mine to go on a among the leaves and away went a cottontail before we could shoot. hunt with the bow and arrow, but That encouraged rather than disthey all had some excuse and I was couraged us and we went on. In a going to go alone when by chance I little while my companion spied a met a man whose son was interested rabbit sitting at the bottom of a in the bow and arrow and would like small knoll. to go with me, so, I consented, He had never killed anything with the Selecting his best arrow, he started bow and arrow and neither had I. We to try to creep up on him a little, for were going after rabbits chiefly. we were a good thirty yards away and that was a good distance for us We each had a bicycle and decided to shoot. When he had gone about to go on those, Each of us was ten yards nearer he raised his bow, equipped with a good bow and a and pulling his arrow to the tip, let dozen arrows. I had a particular piece of country in mind where I fly the shaft which went about a foot over the rabbit’s back, and bunny ran thought there would be some rabbits.

When we arrived there we left our away unharmed. My companion was bikes by the roadside and, stringing so disgusted with himself for missing such an easy shot that he threw his our bows and placing an arrow on the string, started out. Spreading bow on the ground.

We saw many other rabbits and a out about seven or eight feet apart few squirrels but we did not care to we marched through the underbrush, shoot at the squirrels. In fact, aftei making considerable noise.

This woods, as that was what we were in, my companion’s miss we had g°lie was swampy here and there and the only about three bow lengths whdn bo.g holes were full of snakes. As I a rabbit jumped out right at our■ feet, am afraid of snakes, I was scared all We both let loose with our shafts ______ the time. anyway, for we were angryu to think right under After we had beaten that “bog- that a rabbit was sitting s hole” as my companion called it, and our noses, perhaps laughing to him hadn’t seen anything alive except self. snakes and birds, we decided to give After that that we we adopted adopted the the India11 After it up. dictum, “Heap look, little walk, allt On our way home my had many more good shots, but we,e my companion companion saw a small wood and suggested that unable to get in a fatal one. we go in and see if we could scare up It was getting late and, think111 we something. We had not gone thirty we had better start for home,

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128 JANUARY, 1928

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turned to go out of the woods when I noticed a rabbit sitting near a sort of hole. It was now my turn to take the first shot, so I chose one of my arrows with a yeoman broadhead, placed it on the string, pulled it to the tip, and let fly.

No one, except myself, can realize what a thrill went through me when I saw that I had pinned him through the neck and that he, lay there dead.

Rushing up I picked him up and showed him to my companion who thought he must weigh at least ten pounds, Afterward we found out he didn’t.

I was quite proud to think' of hav­ ing killed him with bow and arrows of my own make. I am sure I have never enjoyed a day more, although I did arrive home tired and weary.

There will be more hunts in store for me, now that I have gotten my first game with a bow and arrow.

CHEROKEE ARCHERY

By DONALD MOORE, Brevard, N. Car. It is the understanding of the gen-

17

eral public of today that an Indian can outshcot a white man in any branch of archery. Although the In­ dians are very good shots, they can be outmatched by an average white archer, at least in the case of the Cherokees.

The best shot among the Cherokees can very seldom reach five hundred points in the Single American round.

The Cherokees have been defeated by one of our neighboring archery clubs several times.

One of their disadvantages is their equipment, Their arrows are made of birch and feathered with two feathers about eight inches long.

Therefore, it is difficult for them to make a good set of matched arrows.

Their bows are of hickory and ash and are flat on both the front and the back, being about one-half inch in thickness and from four to six feet in length.

Perhaps they could develop into more accurate archers if they would use our archery tackle.

Subscribe for Ye Sylvan Archer.

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Sumner Osborne, Seattle Washington, who has made some excellent scores in both the York and American Rounds.

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JANUARY, 1928

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

JAN

<2yVLakin£ a ^Target

By B. G. THOMPSON, Corvallis, Ore. about every foot to hold it together while it is being rolled and sewed into a disc. A good cord for this purpose is hemp binding twine. A needle can be made from a flat piece of iron or tough wood. The target when fin­ ished is about 49 inches in diameter.

The straw must be sewed very tightly together. A soft flabby tar­

The lack of a satisfactory target is probably responsible for more young archers becoming discouraged and giving up in disgust than any other cause. The price of a well made standard sized target seems rather high to the average beginner, espec­ ially if he has no other archers asso­ ciated with him and he has to bear the cost alone. His usual procedure, therefore, is to adopt some make-shift which quite often proves unsatisfac­ tory and after breaking most of his arrows, he becomes discouraged and quits.

But he need not quit. A little well directed effort will solve this prob­ lem. A very satisfactory target is made by piling three bales of straw one upon the other. Two stout stakes are driven behind the bales and se­ curely wired to each bale. The tar­ get face is fastened securely to the straw with pins made of heavy wire.

A target thus made will stop the arrows without injuring them and if kept covered with a tarpaulin when not in use will last indefinitely.

A regulation target is made by making a rope of straw and rolling it up into a disc, sewing it together with a heavy cord (see illustration).

Unthreshed rye straw is best for this puipose but hard to get. Rye grass hay is a good substitute. Any mead­ ow or .grass hay, such as orchard grass, Harding grass, etc., will suf­ fice. The straw is carefully combed out with the hands and strung out in a long pile, a handful at a time, the end of each handful overlapping the one before it. The pile should be sufficiently large that when it is squeezed tightly together with the hands it will be about 4 inches in di­ ameter.

The straw is now tied with a cord

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get is useless. The making of such a target is a two-man job and often results in a few blistered fingers and a changed attitude in regard to the price at which such a target should sell.

The target face is made of signpainters’ cloth or oilcloth. If of oil­ cloth, the reverse side is used. U16 face consists of a bulls-eye and four rings. The bulls-eye is painted g<>1(1’ the ring next to the bulls-eye red, the next one blue, the next black and the outer ring white. The bulls-eJ'e is 9.6 inches in diameter, and t11' width of each ring is 4.8 inches. Dull

(Continued on page 20)

JANUARY, 1928

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

19

c(5he ^Potomac CArchers

By C. A. BRIGGS, Washington, D. C. Archery, the sport of the ages, is in the recent dinner at which twentyagain coming into popularity. The one were in attendance. Bows, ar­ Potomac Archers have been revived. rows and auxiliary equipment be­ At a recent dinner at Schneider’s cafe longing to the various members, were the rapidly growing membership on display. These proved so fasci­ adopted a constitution and planned nating an attraction that it was nec­ for the next year’s activities. essary to drive the members away This introduces a new and interest­ from it to attend the meal which ing chapter in an organization which meanwhile had been served and was was active from half a century back getting cold. to a few years ago. Many visitors to At the conclusion of the dinner the Washington in past years remember constitution was adopted and talks seeing archery for the first time were given. when they passed through the Smith­ W. J. Ghent, who shot with the old sonian grounds on a summer after­ Potomac Archers, told of the mem­ noon. Today there is scarcely a bers of the old time group. The most handful of survivors of the original famous was L. W. Maxson, who cap­ Potomac Archers so well known in the tured the championship at several past, but again archers are to be seen national meets, and whose name is not only in Washington, but numerous engraved indelibly in the past records places elsewhere. of the sport.

Another member of the old Poto­ The present interest in archery has such a vigorous character as to con­ mac Archerg was one of the most stitute a rebirth. This was reflected graceful of shooters, a delight to

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

20 ' watch. However, he wasn’t so good at hitting the target.

Mr. J. G. Pratt, the president of the club, told that the particular incident which started the revival of the Po­ tomac Archers was the propensity of his small boy to throw stones. The desire to direct the energies of the boy happily led to a bow and arrow, and his father’s interest in archery.

Hugh Moffat, of Warrenton, Va., the best archer of the club, had at­ tended the annual tournament of the National Archers association in Bos­ ton last summer, and made an excel­ lent showing. Mr. Moffat taught himself by books and experiments, and saw another archer shoot for the first time at this occasion where he excelled most of the experienced shooters.

Moffat discussed the advantages of using a light bow such as he em­ ploys. Many let pride in their abil­ ity to pull a strong bow defeat their ability to shoot well.

V. A. Sisler, Jr., of Central high school, told of the formation of a high school team. This is just start­ ing, but is going to be much larger than anticipated. Over 35 boys gave in their names to take up the subject.

In providing an archery range it was suggested by the school authori­ ties that the indoor track be used.

Their idea was that any runner on the tiack could dodge an arrow coming his way. However, they saw a few arrows shot, and as soon as they could recover their breath from their surprise they decided that the run­ nets could not dodge arrows.

Sister recently hunted rabbits successfully with his bow and arrow.

He draws a 65-lb. bow, stronger than most men can imanage ------- and adequate to kill a deer or a bear.

C. A. Briggs disclosed and and ex­ plained a device to be used in the

JANUARY, 1928

study of some scientific features of bows and their action.

The president of the club is J. q Pratt of the Bureau of Entomology and the secretary-treasurer is Mr. W.' 0. Robinson of the Bureau of Soils, Those in attendance at the dinner were W. A. Barton, J. E. Benedict, Jr., C. A. Briggs, C, H. Briggs, E. A.’ Chapin, Norma Chase, G. B. Cluin, Jr., Leon Cammerford, E. L. Davis W. W. Diehl, I. W. Dix, Charles Dreschler, Paul Garber, W. J. Ghent, W. R. Maxon, Charles K. Membert, Hugh Moffat, J. G. Pratt, W. H. Wil­ mer, W. 0. Robinson, and V. A. Sis­ ler, Jr.

MAKING A TRAGET (Continued from page 18) or flat paint should be used. A glossy target is hard on the eyes in bright sunlight.

The value of the rings in scoring is as follows: The gold 9, the red 7, the blue 5, the black 3 and the white 1. If an arrow cuts two .colors it counts the innermost color; e. g., if an arrow cuts the line between the blue and the red it counts 7.

The target is hung on a stand made of three pieces of pine or fir lumber 1 inch by 3 inches, 6 feet long. The three pieces are bolted to­ gether loosely at one end and stood up in the form of a tripod, the two outside legs being brought forward to support the target. When placed in position the center of the target should be just 48 inches from the ground. Oak is more durable, but arrows striking the stand are less likely to break where fir or pine is used for the legs.

A waterproof cover for your hun ing bow can be made from an old inch automobile tube.

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21

Speaking of kDeer- Hunts

By DAVID B. DENHARDT, Woodland, California We four: Mr. Bruton (Brutus), other smaller sheds. All in a state Mr. J. Fisher (Jim), Mr. P. Bruton of ruin and complete desolation.

(Paul) and myself, David Denhardt, We unpacked (it was now about who never, if possible, have missed an 5:30 p. m.) and laid our beds in the opportuntiy to hunt together, were dance hall. We thought this the best the recipients of what to us was a place as there was a large fireplace rare invitation—to hunt on a private at one end which we planned to use. hunting range where there had been As soon as this was done Brutus little, if any, hunting done before. It went out to get some wood, and said was indeed an ideal chance for the that he would get supper. So Paul, modern bowman “to do his stuff.” Jim and I decided to scout around a The hunting ground was located in bit and investigate our hunting the higher levels of the Coast Range ground. We had gone but a short mountains of California. We needed distance when we jumped a spike no second invitation; so after a short buck and a forked horn. They were “council of war” set the date for Au­ not within good bowshot however, so gust 27-28. we did not get to try our broadheads As all of us were hearty devotees on them. Suddenly we heard hoof of the bow and arrow, we decided to beats and presently a man on horse­ leave all firearms at home. So, after back rode up. many hours of careful preparation, To me he looked like “Teddy” we were ready to sally forth in quest Roosevelt, fitted out in the most pic­ of the extremely elusive California turesque, yet extremely serviceable black-tailed deer. costume of the cowboy. He wore two guns, one on either hip, as well as the Minus beads, paint, and moccasins, but armed with the same primitive two rifles strapped on his cayuse. He weapon with which the American In­ leapt from his horse and with a very dian slew the buffalo and fought the courteous bow introduced himself as Lyle Johnson, overseer of the ranch. paleface in the pioneer days of both east and west we embarked on our He explained that he had been re­ quested by the owner to show us the four hours drive to camp.

We had been informed that the last country on which we were to hunt.

We were thereupon shown two quarter of the road would be rough; it would be impassable for anything fresh water springs and the pass but a Dodge. I thoroughly believe it through which the deer passed to and would have caused Kit Carson to hes­ from the springs and feeding ground. itate.

However, after- two hours’ We were also instructed as to the cursing, sweating, pushing, and pull­ best plan of attack, which was: to go ing we arrived at our destination to the spring before daylight and with only three broken springs and ambush ourselves about fifty yards away from it and to remain there un­ two blow-outs.

Our stopping place was the half­ til about 8 a. m.; then, if we hadn’t way point on the old road connecting gotten our deer, to scour the sur­ the northern coast with the interior­ rounding country and try to get a valleys. It consisted of a medium shot. Then, having shown us the sized hotel, with a large saloon and a larger and most frequented valleys dance hall, a spacious stable, and and those higher ridges which were

22

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

used by the bucks, we started back to camp. We invited Lyle to remain for supper, which he did, much to our pleasure.

As we neared the camp the invigo­ rating aroma of coffee assailed our olfactory organs, and the essence of beans attacked our appetites.

Brutus had a good supper waiting for us; and was as pleased as we were to have Lyle with us for sup­ per.

The table did not groan under the load, however, as it had been built to accommodate a barbecued steer. It resembled an old dining table of Louis XIV, with a surface as large as a skating rink; it possibly weighed as much as a streetcar. In the center of a big pan of beans (likely some of Van Camp’s) steamed appetizingtly toward the heavy beams above. The odor from a three-gallon coffee pot, which grumbled on the stove in the next room, only added to our appe­ tites.

F

When Brutus hollered “Grub pile, come and get it,” the scramble be­ gan. In the ensuing engagement not a man dodged, retreated, or hid out in a gopher hole. It was only after every enemy position had been stormed and “swallowed up” (there was no premature armistice), that we were content to push back our chairs and sit before the fire. j After spending a pleasant evening during which we cussed everything from the weather, which wasn’t too good, to the ipi ice of seeing a good boxing match, .

—> and discussed evervthmg from short skirts tn h.'/^me vnmg irom short skirts to big hunting in Africa, we got out c_ our archery -1---- equipment, ' , in which Lyle J was very much interested, and ened our broadheads, and resharpour bow re-waxed strings for the morrow’s hunt.

Greatly to our sorrow Lyle was

JANUARY, 192S J

not able to remain with us over night so at 12:45 a. m. he left us.

It seemed to me as 1though ’ I had hardly hit the bed when I bounced right back up and there was break­ fast. Brutus was up to one of his old tricks,—up at 3:30 and breakfast ready. After a few :none to quiet groans and prodigious; yawns, we (Paul, Jim and I) crawled out of our sleeping bags and prepared to eat breakfast.

And what a “petit dejenner” it was—a pie tin full of crisp Virden’s bacon, a seemingly dishpan full of scrambled eggs, hot buckwheat cakes produced by a clever handed cook with amazing speed, miraculous pre­ cision and terrible earnestness, as well as the three-gallon coffeepot half full of steaming “java.” You can just imagine how long it took us to stow away those victuals. Even Jim, who as a talker would make Demosthenes quit in disgust, was silent during those few minutes. But we did not waste time here. We scrambled into our hunting vests, strapped on our arm-guards and quivers, put on our gloves, grabbed oui- bows and were off.

The stars were slowly fading >n the east, strange phantom-like shad­ ows appeared, then disappeared, as we quietly made our way to the springs. Our nerves tingled wit hopes and excitement. My sha ’ ready nocked, seemed impatient to on its mission. The air was deat. )_ still and seemed to cringe with app>^ hension as an owl or lonely coy0 wailed at the disappearing moon’ It was but a short time before were at the spring, Paul and I a lower one; Jim and Brutus a upper.

•laiess> Light was encroaching on dai objects turned .gray and puip turns. A breath of air ®erl -ttere<i to the north. Drowsy birds twi

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JANUARY, 1928

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

in awkward tones, as laden trees cracked and snapped from a heavy frost.

Slowly distant trees and brash emerged from the gloom and were more distinct. Deer might ap­ pear on the scene at any time now.

Thus an hour passed; dark clouds had been gathering in the south threatening an early rain. In fifteen minutes heavy banks of fog were rolling towards us. In the east, dawn was blushing violently as the naked sun appeared. Still no bucks on the scene. I began to suspect that they had been all killed or scared off the place. The wind had ceased; the air felt warm and oppressive. Still no bucks.

There were birds at the spring: quail, doves, meadow larks, and spar­ rows; three big jackrabbits played and frisked about not thirty yards from me—easy marks—but I was aftei- larger game. I vaguely won­ dered what Jim and Brutus were do­ ing, whether any deer had come to their spring.

Hold! it was raining, large drops of water were falling from the bleak heavens above. Slowly and hesitat­ ingly at first, then gaining courage they beat down harder and harder.

You can imagine my feelings at this moment. Then, of a sudden the rain stopped; mysteriously so, here it had been raining turkeys and coons not a quarter of a second ago. Not a bird to be seen. During this time I had fallen into a state of non-attention and was barely aware of these things at that time.

It was while I knelt thus that I was startled by the ciuching of grass and the snapping of twigs. I was instantly on my feet, bow half drawn and ready to drive an arrow through an elephant, when Paul hove into sight, I felt weak all over. I shall never forget those few seconds. I could not, to save my life, remember what Paul first said, however, what

23

he next said registered on my brain.

As it was almost 2:30 and no deer, he proposed that we might as well “pull up stakes” and move out. He suggested that we go around the ridge and attempt to drive some deer down the draw, to where Jim and Brutus were. I told him that it was a good idea, a very good one. My senses were returning.

We walked perhaps two miles with­ out seeing anything, not even a jack­ rabbit. However as we neared their position we jumped a doe.

D------ n! It was beginning to rain again. We hurried on to the other spring and arrived there just as Jim and Brutus were preparing to leave.

Jim was volubly expressing his opin­ ion of the weather, this shower in particular. However, this was to no end. Brutus while waiting had killed five jackrabbits and two blue jays, Jim had one jackrabbit to his credit and three—well, it doesn’t make any difference. So after gathering up various arrows which had been scat­ tered over the landscape we hot-foot­ ed it back to camp, not in the best of spirits, feeling probably as does a cat which suddenly finds itself caught in a downpour and no shelter. I felt as though I had been dipped into a huge vat of the very wettest water, We had one consolation, however, our tackle would not suffer.

Paul, Jim, and I had our heavy osage orange bows, ranging between 65 and 75 pounds, and Brutus had his 93-pound yew bow.

Our first move was to undress and dry our clothes before a fire. Laige as the fireplace was, however, there were too many clothes to be dried at once, therefore it was a slower oper­ ation than we at first imagined it to be. In the meantime we wrapped up in blankets and held a council of war.

It was certain that we could not stay here long if the rain kept up, that is, if we wished to get away from there

YE sylvan archer

JANUARY, 1928

24 : within a week or so, as we had about eight miles of the worst kind of road ’ iable to go over before we ( f) imaginable decent, well traveled road, came to a d.

So it was decided to clear out of there as soon as possible. So, gathering our things together and gettingeverything in readiness foi■ a hurried were departure as soon as our clothes c.. ....

------In due time, howdry, we waited, were dry. After that ever, our c_ clothes ... it wasn’t long before our chariot was jogging homeward.

The car slewed, slipped, skidded, and bumped until we thought it would fall to pieces or skid over a bank; however, after Jim had assured us that it was the best Dodge in ex­ istence we felt reassured and tried to hold ourselves together and ride it out. This is the kind of road you get when you try to hunt where “the hand of man had never set foot be­ fore.”

We arrived home at 1:30 P- m.,

Here’s hunter of ' 'rhe bull iu Company 65 each bagged an elk wlt.Ii

plans all laid for another hunt within the next few weeks. This incident, ally did not pan out, as business con­ ditions interfered.

The result of our deer hunt then resulted in the bagging of: six jack­ rabbits, two blue jays and threewell, you’ll have to take our word for that. Thus I hope that, though you may go on many a deer hunt and bag many a buck you will never come home empty handed e’en though all the devils, and, maybe gods, interfere.

A very efficient scraper for fin­ ishing the bow is made by takng an old straight razor blade and grinding the sharp edge off square on an em­ ery wheel. Such a scraper has a keen edge and remains sharp a surpris­ ingly long time.

Subscribe for Ye Sylvan Archer.

One dollar per year; 20c per copy.

n>’,e «<1 by Bob Cole, taxidermist and ^.ru i rd**­ st AurusC. Bob shot one arrow ' ’iiert eks.. Bob was sbootiiiR a Bte’ H«rJ! pro' and a 2S-inch fir shaft. Cole the bow this ‘--a season.

CLASSIFIED ADS

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It is our intention to make this col­ umn available to those who have some article of archery tackle to sell exchange the value of which would not’ justify a display adverti: 1 - >ment.

We have therefore cut outi p:ve v, . - for this column to 5c per w..td; minimum charge 50 -.-.t.-__________________

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Writing to Advertisers

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