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Vol. 15 r \a:

No. 8

December, 1943

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

those noble men and

women in the service who are doing such a magnificent job for us, for the companionate peoples of the

world and for posterity, we pledge

this issue.

— The Editor.

December, 1943

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Uc Mol. 15

Jlcrember, 1943

Xo. 8

Grunts and Broadheads

By Jack Pratt, Vancouver, B. C., Canada In 1940, having killed Goat with the bow up on the Elk river in B. C., my appetite was keen for a real hunt.

Thus the next year in company with Kore, Don Cole and B. Rastoll, I went back, but unluckily we had 18 days of rain in a steady downpour. Need­ less to say, our take was nil.

After getting into the swing of war work here in Vancouver I had about given up ever getting back to my fa­ vorite hunting grounds, but as is usual, my oft-favored topic soon found a listening ear in the person of Frank Phillips. Phillips, a veteran hunter and game guide, at one time had met C. Styles on a hunting trip up the Simpson river in the upper reaches of the Kootenay district.

Styles intrigued Phillips so much with the bow that he vowed some day to be able to shoot and hunt with the lowly arrow. The upshot of our meetings was that I should join Frank and act as a paid guide for his

dude hunters this fall. Imagine an archer being paid for his services to take rifle hunters into his favorite hunting territory!

Not being long in accepting the offer, August found me all packed and stepping off the train at a flag stop just East of Banff, Alberta. On the 30th of August we met and be­ came acquainted with 15 head of pack horses. Right now, paying trib­ ute to Frank and his outfit: there is no finer guide and his horses are tops, although not all gentlemen.

Frank’s patience never cracked in all the time I was with him, and after listening and learning the real how, I give credit to Frank Phillips, for without his coaching my hunting might have been as usual—hard stalk­ ing and just maybe a kill.

Phil showed me how to call an Elk, taught me more about their habits and peculiarities than I imagined was possible to know. Now I feel

“With a whoop I jumped in and waded out to him'*

4

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

sorry for Mr. _____ Moose. He is but a cripple even against the bow.

On the first of September our first party of dudes were due in at Kananaskis Lakes, Alberta, our jumping off place, where we crossed into B. C. It was here that I paid dearly for my fall into the role of guide.

Going into Kankanaskis by truck our brakes failed and while blocking the rear wheels on a steep hill, the first three fingers of my right hand were crushed. The nails of my sec­ ond and third fingers were torn com­ pletely off. Between tears and curs­ es, my thoughts were “I’ll never be able to shoot a bow now,” but two weeks later I gingerly drew the bow string and was able to hold.

Our first party wanted fishing so we made our first base camp at the Elk Lakes headwaters of the Elk riv­ er. Fishing was excellent. Just bait the hook with a chunk of Moose or Goat meat, throw in the tempting morsel, then turn and run. The fish were right after you for more.

Our two dudes made their kills each with an elk, a moose, and two goats. Bear sign was plentiful but as yet we had no luck. Their three weeks were up on the 21st and our next party due in on the 27th of Sep­ tember. Frank, along with the cook and wrangler, took the party out, leaving me alone at the base camp.

Oh boy! Six days of hunting! To my sorrow, no other archer to enjoy it. The weather had been perfect, clear and cool at night and really hot in the daytime.

All ready to go, the 22nd saw me up early and walking down the val­ ley. My plans were vague as one never knows whether it will be elk, moose, goat or bear to go after, de­ pending upon the how of the wind and where the game.

On leaving camp, I could hear elk bugling across the valley, but the wind was too slight, so upon spotting goat near the summit, in a favorable position, I decided upon a goat hunt.

After climbing until above them, and circling until the wind was directly into my face, yours truly paused and drew breath. (Kore will laugh at this). The goats were romping around on a big snow patch about forty yards below me. The day was now blazing hot, and the kids were rolling and sporting all over the snow.

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December, 1943

Keeping well covered in heavy timber I spent the next hour working closer until the nearest goat was around 25 yards away. In the mean­ time, a few had walked slowly out of sight to my right. Having my eye on a fine Billy, I had forgotten about the goat that were walking around and all of a sudden there was a snort and a stampede behind me in the timber.

I let fly at my Billy and missed.

All the goat headed straight up the thickly wooded hill, too thick to shoot in. Dashing up the slope into a small clearing, there stood a perfect target.

The Billy was watching me draw, hold dead in line and let go. The arrow sped straight for him, but just as it looked like a hit the goat jumped clear of the arrow. The arrow stuck tight into an old windfall alongside him and with a quick scamper Billy was gone.

Shot out of a 75 pound silk-backed recurved Bud Pierson Osage bow, believe me, that arrow was traveling.

I went home with the score two misses and vowed more care next time.

Had I remained up on the ridge, the goat would have no doubt walked right up to me. Oh, well, another time, etc.

The next day, with the wind in my favor, and having my eye on a fine big bull elk with a bevy of cows, I endeavored to get close without alarming the cows and calves (no mean feat).

Cows and calves are alarmists as any elk hunter knows.

For an hour and a half, I was within fifty to a hundred yards of the big bull as he bossed the cows, but never did the chance arrive for me to shoot or move closer. Finally the cows all moved into a steep little gully which angled uphill.

The big bull was bugling about two hundred yards down the valley.

Knowing he would soon be back I carefully worked uphill even with the cows, keeping about thirty yards away from the gully. Soon I heard the big fellow coming closer.

He came into sight, his great horns flashing in the sun, but I was now at a disadvantage as some of the cows had come out on the far side of the gully and would spot me if I moved.

I had to watch the bull pass into the gully out of sight, and was just about moving forward when, right in front

December, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

of me, a young four-point bull came up out of the ravine, the big bull having put the run on him.

There he stood, thirty yards away, looking straight at me. With a back glance he lowered his head and start­ ed walking directly towards me.

Luckily I was in a perfect shooting position, and had the bow at ready as he moved closer, angling slightly to my right. I slowly moved the bow keeping in line with him, and as he drew abreast of me not twenty feet away, very carefully picked a spot six inches back of the front leg low down, to miss the shoulder blade.

Slowly I drew the full length, held lined up and let go, and the elk wasn’t there! Yes, Mr. Gardner, tie that one for a miss.

The elk must have sensed the movement of the bow limbs, because with a backward bound, he wheeled and, all in one motion, he cleared the arrow. For a split second I couldn’t believe it.

I still can’t remember seeing the elk move. It was so fast, just like a magician’s trick—now you see it, now you don’t.

The bull had just wheeled and stood looking at me, twenty yards away. In a flash another arrow xyas on the string and this one didn’t miss.

Striking him dead center, the feath­ ers disappeared smack into his side and he was away with a bound, to keep running until out of sight in the big timber, nearly a half mile away.

Getting my wits straightened out I could see my first arrow sticking into a small sapling, marking where I had stood at the moment of release, and, standing a stick up where the elk’s front feet marked the earth as he had leaped clear, I drew a line to the arrow. It must have passed in the exact line I had intended it to go!

Your guess is as good as mine as tb whether he sensed and movement of the bow, or my presence. I’ll never know. Anyway I lay claim to the dubious honor of best misser. I’m not very proud of this kill, because after hunting all afternoon and with dusk coming on I was forced to go home, spirits at a low ebb, without finding him.

However, the next morning, I stumbled over him, fully a mile from where he was hit. The arrow had cut completely through the liver so I believe he had bled slowly. Here my

5

bow hunting ceased, except for grouse shooting and practice.

Our next party, Dr. Hickman and his friend, came in on the 27th of September. The doctor, having hunt­ ed and bagged everything except sheep and Grizzly the year before, was after sheep and bear only, and it was while on a side trip with the doc that we counted nineteen Moose in a fifteen mile ride.

One big fellow we grunted in to us until he stood looking us over at twenty-five yards.

Neither of us moved, so the big bull grunted a couple of times and walked away.

Phil and I had agreed upon not hunting with dudes present, so my bow and arrows hung in the cook tent.

We came back to base after the doc and Phil had missed their shots at sheep. The weather was chang­ ing, with the wind shifting all around the compass, and sheep are gone as soon as they smell or spot you. The rain hit as we arrived back in our new base camp a few miles below the lakes. Here the country is miles of open meadow, a perfect moose coun­ try.

Incidentally, the first morning in camp, a big bull moose walked right into camp, to stand looking at us from between the two sleeping tents.

Needless to say, the doctor’s friend became so excited that he fell over the water bucket in a wild scramble for his rifle, then dropped his shells and finally brought the big fellow down a hundred yards from camp.

We were camped across the river from a game lick and it wasn’t un­ usual to hear and see elk or moose daily.

It was in this setting that I made my try for moose. It rained heavily on the eighth and ninth and cleared a little on the tenth around noon. The tops of the mountains were all snow covered, and clouds had set in heav­ ily so no hunting was being planned.

Thus I decided on a short afternoon walk, taking the bow for company.

Crossing the river I looked around the salt lick. Lots of fresh sign. I did not plan upon a very long hunt as the occasional rain drop was beating along with the wind. It was just when circling through a small mead­ ow that I spotted a big bull moose at the upper end.

Luck was against me as the wind

6

December, 1943 YE SYLVAN ARCHER THE ARCHERS LAMENT

by L. J. Markham

was wrong and he scented me. With a backward glance he trotted off up the valley. Knowing in all probability he would head for the upper mead­ ows, I dashed across the river knee deep in icy water, and started in a big circle, having to go nearly two miles to head him off. I was puffing slightly when I hit the upper trail and saw him slowly walk through the trees, away across the river, out on the meadow. He was moving parallel to me. This may sound far fetched or just plain funny, but it’s just as it happened: Keeping at a steady lope I grad­ ually drew ahead of him, and here I made the river work for me. The river made two right angle bends, flowing directly across the valley.

If the big bull kept on his course he would be forced to cross at one of the numerous game trails crossing the river. Quickly working across the open meadow, and taking a stand be­ hind a small spruce tree, I paused to consider.

My shoes were full of water, so first one and then the other, off they came, dumped, and water rung out of my socks. I put them back on perfectly cool, calm, and col­ lected. Oh yeah!

The moose was out of sight and it was just a toss-up whether he came my way or not. After a short wait I could hear him grunting along and soon he showed up walking slowly toward the river, about a hundred yards upstream. Here it was that Phil’s coaching paid off.

As the bull entered the water, I grunted. He stopped, looked my way and grunted, then moved downstream toward me. I crossed my fingers but he came out on my side about seventyfive yards away to walk behind some small spruce. Quite noisily I started walking quickly toward him.

He heard me and became curious, fin­ ally exposing his side. Then he saw me and stepped out, up came the bow slowly and I drew, held well down, let go, and—missed again at 40 yards, the arrow deflecting off some almost invisible willow.

The big bull snorted and started at a fair lope. Whipping out another arrow, I grunted a couple of times and the big fellow stopped broadside.

Holding beneath him I let go, and “chunk” is the only sound that ex(Continued on page 11)

Tune: Michigan, My Michigan 0 sport so fine, I sing of thee, Archery, Oh, archery; Thy crested shafts I love to see, Archery, Oh, archery.

Thy bows of Yew and Osage strong, Thy shooting line so straight and long, And targets too, so bright and round, Archery, Oh, archery!

At tournaments that I’d attend, Missed again, I missed again; I strive so hard for end on end, Missed again, I missed again.

With point of aim I’ve tried in vain, I’ve held and held with might and main, And sights galore have I obtained, Missed again, I missed again.

The Champions style I’ve tried them all, Missed again, I missed again.

To right, to left my arrows fall, Missed again, I missed again.

Port Orford shafts so straight and true, My bow so fine, of perfect Yew, Alas! Alack! It’s sad but true, Missed again, I missed again!

Afield I go to try for game, Missed again, I missed again.

I’m bramble torn, I’m tired and lame, Missed again, I missed again.

To right, to left, ’tis just the same, My sight’s not right, my point of aim Is always wrong, so this my plaint, Missed again, I missed again!

Instinctive archers thrill me through, Missed again, I missed again.

Hope springs eternally anew, Missed again, I missed again.

I watched their style and tried it too.

I’m doing fine. Of hits I’ve two, My spirits soar, my faith’s renewed, Missed again, I missed again!

And so dear friends, my story’s told, Missed again, I missed again.

This game , so new, yet centuries old, Missed again, I missed again.

Our ancient brethren staunch and true Launched clothyard shafts from bows of yew, But I repeat, ’tis sad but true, Missed again, I missed again.

December, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

7

Blunts from the Old Stump

By The President

The big game seasons are over in most states and from reports coming in the bow and arrow hunters nave had a record year. Michigan arch­ ers have also had their banner year.

Incomplete reports show that Mich­ igan bow hunters have bagged over thirty deer. Twenty were shot in Allegan County alone, of which sev­ enteen were bucks and three were does. We will have at least three women to whom the Art Young Big Game award will be made.

Mrs. Oliver Shomaker, Mrs. Wesley Blun­ dell of Michigan, and Mrs. Roy Hil­ ton of Minneapolis, Minn. About 300 archers hunted in Allegan Co., Mich­ igan, dozens of them from neighbor­ ing states of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and several others. There Are plenty of bucks in Allegan County. How would you like to have the first Na­ tional tournament after the war held at Allegan, Michigan, during the last week in October, and give you an opportunity to hunt deer right in the same territory for a few days or weeks, as you prefer, from November 1 on? The Michigan non-resident archer’s license fee is only $5.00, and the Allegan people are most hospita­ ble. Accommodations and meals are very good, and reasonable. All suc­ cessful big game hunters are urged to report the results of their hunt to the Secretary, even though they are now Art Young winners. We need these statistics in the interests of archery. The Executive Committee is now working on additional awards to present Art Young winners, and also awards to be made to successful small game bow hunters.

Wisconsin had a 40-day deer sea­ son for archers opening October 2.

Minnesota had a 3-week archer sea­ son opening on October 16 in Henne­ pin and Northwest Counties. Roy Hilton and Roy Payne and their wives, of Minneapolis, Minn., hunted in Wisconsin in Savage County. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton each bagged a doe in Wisconsin.

Roy Hilton reports as follows: “Roy Payne shot two deer, both got away, he has one bloody arrow as evidence. I shall explain in detail, in our story, how

our fear of overstepping the law caused us to lose an anima] which could have easily been finished off, and how a true sportsman stood in the fading twilight and watched his Art Young award stumble away into the darkness. I shot a doe, running, at 18 yards, a clean front shoulder shot, and she dropped about 60 yards from where she was hit. Bet (that’s my wife’s name) made a beautiful standing shot at about 15 yards and brought down a doe weighing 125 pounds. The arrow struck the left front shoulder, passed through the heart and out between the ribs on the right side. This deer ran some 75 yards before dropping.

Mrs. Payne didn’t hunt but was standing beside my wife when the shot was made and sure is proud of the mental picture she carries—we have heard the episode, step by step, a dozen times or more.”

For a number of years bow and arrow hunting was illegal in South Dakota. However, largely through the efforts of Rev. Carl H. Loocke, of Rapid City, South Dakota this ban was removed and bow and arrow hunting is now legal in that state. It is singularly fitting that Rev. Loocke should shoot the first legal deer in South Dakota since that type of hunt­ ing was legalized. He shot a 4-point buck 12 miles south of Rapid City.

Unfortunately, he did not send in his membership until after he had bagged his buck, and therefore is not eligible for the Art Young award.

He will, however, receive an Honor­ able Mention. Other South Dakota hunters are now using the bow for deer hunting and field archery should receive an enthusiastic reception in that state.

Wisconsin also had a good bow season. Larry Becker, of Madison, Wise., says: “I am enclosing the ap_____ plication for the Art Young award for which I really worked. The buck I got this year is my second, as I got a 10-pointer last year and a 10pointer this year. This deer puts a diamond in my Wisconsin Bow Hunt­ er gold pin, which is also a real thrill.”

8

December, 1943 YE SYLVAN ARCHER just returned from Alaska, and as for prospects for post-war hunting there says: “Ken Jones arrived home from the Alcan Highway about a month ago. He says that that coun­ try up there will sure be a nice place for archers when the ‘big ruckus’ is over. Plenty of game both large and small. He took his tackle along, but it was the wrong time of year for hunting.”

Harry Glover, in service somewhere in Alaska, writes: “Did you know that hunting with the bow and arrow is prohibited in Alaska? That is what I hear from the fish and game service anyway. Shall look into it more at some time in the future.

Haven’t had the opportunity to do any hunting as yet so haven’t looked into it thoroughly as yet. Have managed to do a little fishing for trout and salmon here, and though I lay no claim to being a fisherman have man­ aged to catch a few fairly good sized fish. Shooting them with the bow and arrow in many of the streams around here would be such a lead-pipe cinch that I have not tried it. There are bear in considerable numbers here, but deer are scarce. I under­ stand that there are mountain goats to be had not far from here though I am inclined to think that the area is closed to all hunting. As soon as things slow down enough to give me an opportunity to do some hunting (if ever) I shall look into the possi­ bilities of bow and arrow hunting a little more and let you know what I am able to find out.”

C. H. Styles, of Berkeley, Calif., has written an article on how to make your own buckskin, in the November issue of “Outdoor Life.”

This is worthwhile reading for archers.

Dr. James B. Morrison, of Cumber­ land Mills, Me., is an enthusiastic leader of field archery in that state.

He promises to look up “Uncle Hat.” They can do a lot to put field archery on the map in that state. Dr. Morri­ son shot a bear in the shoulder with a broadhead, but the bear got away.

He is out after other big game and hopes to be listed among this year’s Big Game Winners.

Here is an interesting item that ap­ peared in the American Red Cross “London Arc Light” in the October issue, which ties up the present with the past: “Using a 150-year-old yew

Leo LeLonde formerly of Los An­ geles, and now of St. Paul, Minn., writes about the Twin State hunting: “Have found a bunch of swell fellows up here since coming up from Los Angeles and am a member of the Twin City Archery club. The fel­ lows show little interest in field arch­ ery until early fall, then go for it whole hog, due to the swell hunting conditions (deer) in these parts, hav­ ing a month in Wisconsin and three weeks in Minnesota for archery hunt­ ing only.”

Kenneth Burdick, of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., has hunted deer with the rifle 18 years. He used the bow for the first time this year and bagged a 4pointer. He got more thrill out of this shot than all the hunting he had ever done with the rifle. More and more gun hunters are taking up the bow, and hundreds of future archery converts will come from that source.

West Virginia archers were suc­ cessful in getting a special deer sea­ son in Watoga State Park again this year, November 22 to 27 inclusive.

William E. Harmon, of Charleston, W. Va., is President of the W. Va. Bow Hunters club, and is enthusias­ tically building up NFAA member­ ships in that state.

We are pleased to see field arch­ ery developing in the great hunting state of New Hampshire. The Dover Archery club, of Dover, N. Hamp., has been organized with Walter Nash of Dover, as Secretary. The Briar Patch Bowmen, of Linwood, N. J., are also in for field archery. Mrs. Edward F. Merrigan, of Pleasant­ ville, N. J., Sec., reports on their club: “We have secured an abandon­ ed golf course and have set out our field with fourteen rye straw butts for targets, using the original water hazards and bunkers for our course.

This makes a very enjoyable shoot, and as this is our first attempt at field archery, we are proud of the fact that the first three shoots prov­ ed so successful that we were able to pay off our initial cost of the straw butts. More people seem interested in this type of shooting all the time, and we are really trying to help push this along as far as we can.

We are getting weekly writeups in our local paper and hope that this will also help.”

Osage Jim saw Ken Jones, who has

December, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

bow, Pfc. Edwin L. Whitehead, of Dallas, Texas., was the first G. I. from the Columbia club to try out the nearby archery field. He shot with a member of the Royal Toxophilite Society, Mr. Bilson, who only a week before had won a cup originally presented to his society by King Wil­ liam the Fourth.”

Among the new field clubs organ­ ized is also the “Bryn Maur Bowmen” of New York., Charles Burdick, Pres­ ident, W. LaBine, Secretary, 1420 Parkchester Rd., Bronx, N. Y. Harold J. Stable, of New Cumber­ land, Pa., has ordered 14 field arch­ ery Handbooks for shipment over­ seas. Willard E. Bishop, of S. Wey­ mouth, Mass., has sent in subscrip­ tions to memberships for his friends as Christmas presents. Many archers who took out memberships for friends or relatives in service are again re­ newing this year. What finer gesture of friendship can you make at the Holiday season to your friends and relatives in service and out than a NFAA magazine and membership subscription? There is no finer mor­ ale builder for those in service than up-to-date news of their favorite hob­ by and sport.

M. C. Staddon, Commanding Offi­ cer in the R. C. Air Force writes: “I have had one opportunity to hunt deer in New Brunswick so far, but the hunt was unsuccessful due to the time of year. You can have one of your Big Game awards wrapped and ready to mail as I am sure that I will get a deer and maybe a moose to boot, this year, even if I have to lasso one and tie him to a tree. I hope to send you an article entitled ‘Modern Armament Applied to Arch­ ery,’ which I am now preparing, for enclosing in Ye Sylvan Archer. This subject has to do with the striking and killing effect of heavy arrows.”

Dr. Manuel Acuna Eskildren, of Mexico City, sent in his membership although he doesn’t know what “NFAA” means. Thev are organiz­ ing an archery club and are anxious to find out. From Washington, D. C., we hear that the Navy Department Recreation Association is organizing an indoor archery club. We hope they shoot the indoor field round with us.

Ernest E. Altick. Director of Cheley Col. camps, of Estes, Col., says of

9

their activities: “We serve in our camps during the summer over 650 boys and girls from thirty-five States and one hundred fifty cities. This is a great potential in many ways for archery. Last summer over one hun­ dred boys and girls made their own tackle and the majority completed shooting requirements on the range.

Hunting, Roving, Archery Golf and Clout were the most popular endeav­ ors.

Over fifty small kills were made. We are very much interested in putting in an official Field Course as part of our program next season and suggest that you give serious thought toward establishing some type of summer camp affiliation with mail tournaments, awards, etc/’ Few appreciate the important part archery is playing in army hosnital centers in rehabilitating wounded soldiers and sailors, and helping re­ store mental and physical coordina­ tion and in physical development. We received an interesting letter from “Pancho” Barnes, of Muroc, Calif., who operates the Rancho Oro Verde, and also the Antelope Valley Flying Service. Nearby is located an Army Air Force base hospital. She is or­ ganizing an archery club among the convalescent soldiers and is building a 28-target field course.

Poncho writes: “Most of them seem to get around very well and they want them to have exercise. We have cases such as a fellow with both ear drums bro­ ken (because he got too close to a bomb) but he can get around as well as anybody and isn’t even deaf when you talk directly to him, but is deaf when you are behind him. I don’t know many of the boys well yet, but they tell me there are about 100 men who can go for archery. Many others can watch who will later take it up when convalescent and they can start making tackle for themselves in ad­ vance, also make tackle for the ones who are able to shoot. One little Lieutenant with a broken back is getting very enthusiastic already and wants to get started. He can read up on it and make tackle. He got hurt when he crash landed a P-38.”

Poncho is certainly doing her part to win the war, and we all give her our enthusiastic encouragement and praise for her work. We hope others will follow her example.

(Continued on page 11)

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

December, 1943

“WILD BILL” CHILDS’ FLAT TRAJECTORY HEAD I do not recommend that you use this head. If you want a good broad­ head, take the advice of more exper­ ienced bowmen than I and build a head that weighs seven or eight hun­ dred grains.

I use this head because I’m crazy enough to want my arrows to smoke through the air in a flat line like a tracer bullet.

I’m exposing this head because of numerous requests from archers who have kept Mouseface and I busy mak­ ing samples or drawing diagrams of it. At first glance the head looks fragile but it is surprisingly strong and will stand just about everything except a head-on collision with a

boulder. The material for this arrow should cost about fifteen cents. That helps the old shooting morale too, be­ cause when you see one of them skip on past your target into the brush it won’t hurt as bad as it would if it was a big old stick costing a couple of bucks.

The instructions are simple: Use well-seasoned, straight grained Port Orford cedar, eleven-thirty-two in di­ ameter and spined according to your bow weight. I use about 4 lb. spine.

Slot the end, and taper the point to about the shape of a .35 calibre bul­ let jacket. Wrap the arrow with two layers of scotch tape just behind the slot that the head fits into. This

/. mm vn SLA

Scotch Tape

Duco Fie tching Cement

£

11 YE SYLVAN ARCHER with the good news. The arrow had entered his right side just touching a rib, and cut completely through the chest cavity, coming out near the shoulder blade.

The arrow was broken when I opened him up, with a chest full of blood. The moose was not on his feet more than six or seven minutes after being hit and ran less than ninety yards.

The next day Dr. Hickman was so struck with the kill that he examined where the arrow entered and his words were, “It’s as clean a kill as I’ve seen in years of rifle hunting.”

The doctor’s autopsy showed quick hemorrage from lungs and arteries being cut. Air entering the chest had deflated the lungs and stopped the moose from running any distance.

To many hunters it may seem odd to hear of grunting at moose, but such is the case. Bull moose, during GRUNTS AND BROADHEADS their mating season, walk along giv­ ing an occasional grunt, like a rather (Continued from page 6) dispeptic old man, and can be heard presses a good solid hit. With a for a considerable distance. With the jump he started to run and in a few wind just right a very low deep grunt steps was into a big spruce thicket. on the hunter’s part immediately at­ Stepping off the shot, it was sev­ tracts their curiosity. Try it some enty yards at least. Looking around time. for blood I soon found a few drops and followed the trail, very quietly, spotting more blood at short intervals.

Blunts from the Old Stump I became so absorbed in looking (Continued from page 9) for trail sign as I entered the thick­ et, and, with head down, was slowly The NFAA indoor tournaments moving along when I happened to start in December and continue look up and found myself looking at through January, February and the rear end of a moose just a few March. The Flint Bowmen Round feet ahead of me. I wheeled and made (56 targets per month) may be shot a bee line for parts other than right indoors or outdoors. The round is there. Luckily for me the moose was described on page 48-51 of the 1943 facing away from me and he had only NFAA Handbook. This is an inter­ a glance at me. With the noise I esting round and can be set up even made in getting out of there, he was in your back yard. Any group of startled and I heard him crash some three archers may shoot it. This is trees and then splash into the river. an opportunity for small groups of Mv heart hit a new low. isolated archers who may not have With my thoughts on the lost kill, built their regular courses, to shoot and having visions of another long in national competition. Don’t worry hunt, I started for the river to find about scores or winning top honors. the big bull lying on his side in two Get in on the fun and shoot anyway. feet of water. With a whoop I jump­ To our archers in service and out, ed in and waded out to him. scattered all over the world, the of­ Now come the cleanup, rolling him ficers and Executive Committee of onto his back where his horns held the NFAA send their warmest Seas­ him from turning over. Evening was on’s Greetings and the hope that it not far off so out came the knife. won’t be long before we will be all Details can be skipped, but at last, drawing the bow together again. wringing wet, I headed for home

December, 1943

keeps the head from driving back.

Fill the slot on the end of the arrow with Duco cement and stick the head into the slot.

Smear about three heavy coats of cement around the head, leaving each coat harden before the next is applied. Keep the glue away from the cutting edge of the head. I fletch with a feather about 5 inches long, no spiral, and trim the feather just high enough to keep the arrow in true flight. The height of the feather will be determined con­ siderably by your bow weight so it may take a little experimenting to hit the exact height you want. A finished arrow 27 V2 inches long should weigh about 380 grains.

There you are, boys—silent, flat and fast, and I know it will pene­ trate. If you don’t take my advice and go ahead and use it, let’s hear how you make out.

F

12

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

December, 1943

Little Alvin Goes Hunting

By Glenn St. Charles, President, Cascade Field Archers, Seattle Now that the subject of beginners is in the limelight, I feel that we have a right good example in our Club who is worthy of a little print.

You see, we had one of these peo­ ple, “novices” I believe they are called. His name was Alvin. “Little Alvin,” we called him. Tink and Louie had brought him along one bright tournament day about four months ago. This was a bit new for us; at last, an audience!

The boys did everything that day but make a 20-pin trying to impress Little Alvin. It didn’t discourage him, though, and we were practically be­ side ourselves when out of the blue he dropped a remark that he’d kinda like to try this crazy sport!

Well now, fellows, what more re­ ward could a true Archer ask? We fairly swarmed over him -with our surefire tackle and, not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, he wanted to try a little of each! Then, of course, not ever having shot a bow before, he had to be shown how.

Well, the same thing all over again, and after he got out from under the mess he took a stance that combined the works! Alvin made a 14-target round that day in about 20. Fair, yes, for a beginner. He’d really need lots of coaching though, we all de­ cided ; provided, of course, he showed up again.

You know how archers are. Once you’re bitten you always come back for more. Little Alvin borrowed a 45-pound bow from someone and also some moth-eaten arrows and every Wednesday night and Sundays he could be seen trekking his way around the roving course.

The September shoot came along and Alvin decided to enter.

Of course we knew he wouldn’t do so well, being that he was a novice and needed lots more practice. He made 215, beating some of the “old timers.”

Beginner’s luck, of course. Alvin had only been shooting a couple of months.

Some of the boys began spinning yarns about hunting, because there was something that Alvin surely wouldn’t be able to do. Novices, you

see, just don’t get good enough in four months to ge hunting!

October 3rd breezed along and an­ other tournament day. Little Alvin showed up with a 50-pound osage bow he’d made himself! Well, now, that was just too much. We all know that novices just don’t do these things! It takes years to know how make a good bow. This particular piece of wood practically fell apart before his eyes when he got through working it over! (The handle was too thick; tips bent too much; too light for hunting, etc. He used the old stick that day, anyway, and shot 250!

Now the hunting talk really got going in earnest.

Too bad Little Alvin wouldn’t be in trim for the big trip. You see, things are different when you’re out in the woods, there’s bound to be snow and cold and—well, shooting at moving targets is something you just can’t do in four months!

Came the day. Alvin was there bag and baggage and with a new 60pound yew bow he had made him­ self! “It would be nice to ride for him,” we thought, “and Alvin would learn lots, being with us ‘old timers’.”

It was an eight-day trip to the Mad Lake Bow and Arrow Reserve, with the usual tents, food, baggage, etc.

We set camp and were up bright and early on opening day. Leon, a oneyear veteran, took Alvin in tow to acquaint him with the surroundings the first day. A doe was all they encountered.

The second day Bob Modrell and Alvin trekked half way across the Reserve and saw hide nor hair. The third day I was feeling especially good and decided to take Little Alvin and Bob to my stamping grounds where several does had been seen cruising around. Not even a doe stirred that day.

However, Alvin wandered off by himself long enough to bag a grouse at 30 yards.

“I missed him the first shot,” he explained. “Then I took my mittens off!” The bird in question displayed a neat cut in back of the head.

Bob and I had to treat that incident with a bit of discretion of course, we

13 YE SYLVAN ARCHER hang-dog expression and said, “Glenn, that isn’t my deer.”

“Well,” I exclaimed, “it must be Bob’s then, ’cause”—Yeah, that was it. Bob had gone with Alvin to the deer stand! “Glenn,” Leon said apol­ ogetically, “that’s Alvin’s deer.”

Now, I ask you, boys, isn’t that a spot to be in? Imagine yourself con­ fronted with just such a situation!

Here I was a veteran hunter caught flat-footed by a novice and one dead four-point buck!

Little Alvin relieved the suspen­ sion and explained, “Glenn, it’s too bad you didn’t come up there with us to that deer stand this morning. You see,” he said, “I had stopped to eat an orange; and when I finished and stepped out into the trail, there was this buck coming my way about 150 yards off. I walked over to a tree about 25 yards away and waited.”

“Sure enough, there he came. He fell down when my arrow hit him— slipped, I guess—and then got up and ran up the ridge about a hundred yards. When I got there a few min­ utes later he was stone dead. Gee, too bad you didn’t go up there this morning!”

Boys, I was speechless. Here our novice had gone and bagged appar­ ently the only legal deer in the Re­ serve and the rest of us not even so much as loosed a broadhead! Tell me, do things like that happen else­ where ?

The hunting did get better after that day and on the last morning I had my chance on that same ridge.

Two different bucks tried their darndest to make a hero out of me.

One huge fellow carrying a regular brush pile walked within 30 feet— yes feet— of me before he decided to get out of the trap. I led him three feet. A half hour later one waltzed by 25 feet away—yes, feet again—and left my arrow in a neat pile in the trail after a tangle with his legs! Yes, fellows, I’m a sworn novice now; and it does feel good to get down to earth again. It’s pretty darn tough up there and a long road back! Archie Powell shares the hon­ ors with a year-old bear to his credit.

The rest of the old-timers shared my luck; however, they were shooting at bucks 60 yards away instead of 25 “. . . Gee, too bad you didn't ffo up feet! there this morning!"

(Continued on page 21)

December, 1943

being veterans of past seasons. We just hadn’t seen any—can’t hit ’em if you don’t see ’em—isn’t that right, fellows? Then too, there’s that be­ ginner’s luck angle again!

The fourth day arrived and Alvin seemed to be getting tougher. He wanted to go back on that ridge again.

All those tracks up there weren’t made by cows, he conjectured. It was apparent from the day before that the deer didn’t like so many people around; so, I left Bob and Alvin at the ridge saddle to try a new spot.

They wandered up toward the old deer stand.

“Let Alvin have a little fun,” I said to myself. “All that was up there were does, anyhow.”

Well, after an hour of shifting from one foot to another in two feet of snow I’d had enough. Back I went to see how the boys were making out.

I’d no more than reached the ridge saddle than down off a snow bank slid a four-point buck, very dead and very big, with Little Alvin and Leon right behind.

Where Leon had come from I don’t know, but there he was with a beau­ tiful deer. “Nice shooting!” I shout­ ed. “Where did you get him?” etc.

Leon looked at me with sort of a

1. Bob Blackmore shows his mother how it’s done.

2. On the trail out of camp from Maverick saddle.

3. Mad River, snowbound. ____ Left to right: Bob 4. One hit out of many misses.

Modrcll, Tink Johnson, Leon Morel Jr., Glenn St. Charles, Al Gerarden.

5. Basil Blackmore missed one too.

6. “That should be a good place for one to come down,” said Korc.

7. Rastoli and Stamps looking; west from Maverick into a sea of clouds and hilltc top islands.

8. Cascade Archers' camp.

9. Duryee gets a not too close shave from Rastoli.

10. Between the big snows.

11. Irl Stamps, veteran bowman hunter.

12. “The Castle”—Korc’s camp.

13. Bill Gillam picks a deer stand.

—Photos courtesy Fredrick, Duryee, St, Charles.

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16

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

December, 1943

Hunting With the Bow

By WALTER D. PERRY (Reprinted from November, 1941, Pennsylvania Sportsman’s Hunting and Fishing Digest)

1

(Continued from last month) Dan was awakened, not by the com­ motion and noise made by the other members of the hunting party, but by the aroma of coffee, bacon and pancakes of which he, in due time, imbibed with gusto. During break­ fast Mr. Blank gave the orders for the day, dispatching individuals to the various strategic positions such as Bob’s Shanty, Middle Fork, Little Minister Piano Box, The Beeches, Tea Pot, and other names he could not remember. It was to be still hunting in the morning, meeting at a given place for lunch and a drive in the afternoon. Dan was to accom­ pany the host.

Dan put on his red plaid hunting coat of heavy wool, pulled down the ear lugs of his cap and left the cabin with the hunters. He noted that the sky was clear and the weather cold, he judged about 5 deg. above. He thus noted the apparel of the other hunters. Some were adorned with the conventional red plaid garments and others, the more experienced ones, including the host, wore garments of a more somber hue, dull browns and forest greens from which, he de­ ducted, made them less conspicuous when stalking deer at close range.

He correctly reasoned that since fire­ arms are barred in the preserve it was unnecessary for the hunter to display loud colors for his own pro­ tection. He further noted the lack of bulk in these garments; they were rather close fitting and were minus such things as large pocket flaps, belts, etc., which he again accurately deducted made for more freedom of action as he realized that the archer had to transmit his own physical power, through the medium of the ' bow, into the lethel arrow and that the bulk of conventional clothing would interfere with the free action of these weapons.

They crossed the single strand of wire that marked the boundary of the preserve; here was a short consulta­

tion and then the hunters set out on their individual ways.

Dan and his host headed toward a deep draw in which, even from this distance, could be seen the clean light gray branches of beech timber. Dan noted from the many tracks of game left in the snow that this was good deer country and it should not be difficult to bag a deer in short order if one were permitted to use firearms, but with a bow—that was something else—he would wait and see.

He wondered how a wooden bow would react in this crisp weather; he did not know that Admiral Byrd’s men had tested bows in the severe Antarc­ tic weather and found them depend­ able. They soon reached the beech grove and took their position in the lea of an uprooted tree, this forming a perfect blind commanding a view of the grove and was downwind from it.

They could see deer “diggings” in the snow where they had been feed­ ing on the little triangular nuts. They waited. All was silence, except for occasional gunfire that could be heard now and then coming from var­ ious directions outside the preserve.

It reminded Dan of what his host had told him about the first day of the season—that not a minute passed without hearing gunfire from all di­ rections, proving what he had always believed, that the major part of hunt­ ing was done the first day. Still they waited in the silence of the forest. A deer was seen but far be­ yond bow range. Cold began to pene­ trate the clothing so Dan and his host decided to walk for a while and accelerate the circulation.

Silence was the watchword, a fellow archer was seen farther down the hillside, the greeting was only a smile.

The sun was quartering the sky by now and a direction was taken down the light and up the west wind. They moved steadily and silently, observing the messages written in the snow by the wild creatures. A gray or black

I

December, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

squirrel would be seen now and then —the tracks of a snowshoe were par­ alleled by those of a fox, the mute story of struggle between forest folk.

From the top of a tall dead pine came the chop, chop of the pileated wood­ pecker—as their course took them nearer a crackling scream was heard and a flash of white and black feath­ ers was seen as he winged'his way out of vision. It was gratifying to know that this rare bird had inhab­ ited the Fork Run preserve for many years.

An occasional grouse slug­ gishly rose and sailed out of sight, the sound was unlike the thundering flush of a month ago.

Dan’s host pointed out stands of hemlock, oak, white pine and beech which formed the forest — he also pointed out that the preserve was rectangular in shape, lying roughly in a northeast and southwest direc­ tion, located in the headwaters of Ford Run and Little Minister, both streams being tributaries to the Ti­ onesta.

The preserve is on the height of land.

Dan noted many immense rocks, some as large as buildings, scattered on the mountainside. It occurred to him that the preserve was a plateau and was cut by some half dozen streams which had eroded some fairly good valleys.

The streams were of good volume a^d were unpoluted. His host explained that it was a five-mile walk around the preserve.

Deer sign and tracks were every­ where but the hunters seemed to be unable to locate them. They kept moving, quartering with the sun and cutting across wind, pausing for a quarter of an hour now and then and • listening—no sound except the mur­ mur of the forest. Dan could hear his own heart beating in the silence.

Their course was leading them to­ ward the noonday rendezvous which they reached in a short time.

They found the other hunters, just outside the wire with a fire going and .tea brewing. They ate their lunch and related their experiences of the morning. One had had a good shot but through the bushes and a twig had deflected his arrow. Another had taken a chance at 80 yards and saw his arrow fall just under the deer’s belly. Another had tried to stalk a deer by crawling on hands and knees

17

but no dice. The tenseness of the si­ lent hunt was broken by laughter, joking and fun. They then prac­ ticed their skill on the many old stumps with blunts and Dan was amazed by the accuracy of the arch­ ers and the power of the bows. Some arrows were lost and some were brok­ en but they took these casualties as a matter of fact.

A “drive” was put on in the after­ noon. They alternated from drivers to standers from time to time. Some deer were sighted and some shots were made but the red gods were not with archers. Late in the afternoon the group reverted to still hunting and took stands at various crossings and points of vantage. Dan and our host returned to their original stand by the uprooted tree and waited for the deer to come down to feed.

The shadows were growing long and harbingers of night could be seen, felt and heard. The great horned owl greeted the purple shadows from the opposite hill, a response.in kind came from the mountain above and from far down the valley came an­ other, then another from afar off.

Apparently satisfied that all was well, they relapsed again into the eternal silence.

Dan was now experiencing some of the things he wanted, the tingling cold on cheek, fingers and feet—the fatigue of a day without sitting down, trudging through snow—the pangs of hunger calling for vitamins to re­ plenish broken-down cells.

The thought of a roaring log fire at the cabin and a night of undisturbed sleep seemed to calm all the anxieties that he had felt the day before. He began to realize that these hunters were really hunting. They were pit­ ting their skill with primitive weap­ ons against the denizens of the for­ est who are wise only in nature’s ways. The chances of killing a deer with a bow as combared with a gun was, as his host had claimed, a hun­ dred to one. They were really giv­ ing the game more than an even break. He liked it. He thought he heard something and listened—clump, clump and then silence. Click, click and again silence, something testing the air. He looked in the direction of his host and noted that he, too, had heard and had automatically raised his bow and was at partial draw. A

18

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

young buck with a visible Y then came in view slowly and cautiously traveling diagonally downhill in the direction of the uprooted tree. The tense archer waited, not moving a muscle; presently the deer stepped into an opening some 30 yards away —at this instant the archer quickly came to a full draw and loosed. The broadhead from his 55-pound bow sped like a glint of light and struck the deer in the shoulder. They saw the shaft sink to the feathers as the deer made a great leap and bounded down the hill. They waited a few minutes and followed the crimson trail for about a hundred yards where they found it lying in a windfall, dead.

Examination revealed that the ar­ row had taken a diagonal course through the shoulder into the lung cavity and on through the other side, cutting a rib in two as it passed.

I

December, 1943

There was great enthusiasm at the camp that evening as the hunters all rejoiced at this success. Mr. Blank, who had hunted through British Co­ lumbia and Alaska and had taken specimens of all American big game with the rifle, was far happier in tak­ ing this ordinary white tail than he was in killing the magnificent ram that adorns his den. As for Dan, he had all but forgotten the excellent specimen that he had taken the day before.

Two years have passed since then, each of which found Dan in the arch­ ery preserve during deer season. He has learned to shoot the bow well but he has not been lucky enough to connect as yet. He gets out of his hunting with the bow all those things his subconscious mind had caused him to hope for and he now has the true interpretation of the phrase "All of hunting is not the killing of game.”

December, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

TACKLE MAKING HINTS

By Kore T. Duryee First I want to compliment our Na­ tional President Mike for his excep­ tionally fine article in the last issue.

My experience has been nearly en­ tirely with Yew wood in bow making, having made over three thousand.

For straightening bows I have an electric heat box about 4 inches square and 30 inches long made of asbestos. To make this I put four steel bolts in each end of a sheet of asbestos. Take a single wire heat­ ing element, fastening one end to a bolt. Pull hard on the wire, straight­ ening same, and fasten to the bolt at the other end over to the next and back to your second bolt. Continue this until you have the four lengths of wire and fasten to the last bolt.

Take a lamp cord and fasten to the two outside terminals. Put a second piece of asbestos over the wires and between the bolts and then put on the two sides, and top, using asbestos of course. Leave the ends open. Use your wife’s cooking thermometer, put­ ting it inside at one end and clamped to the top and at one corner out of the way. Now put in your bow limb you want to straighten, closing both ends of the box partly with paper to help hold the heat in. Plug in your extension cord.

In about 15 or 20 minutes your thermometer will register about 180 degrees which is hot enough. Take out your bow and straighten in your hand or vise. This method is NOT satisfactory for reflexing the tips of bows. Have broken at least 75 per cent of the ones I have tried. How­ ever, it may work by putting a piece of thin metal on the back and belly of limb before heating. Remember you must work fast in bending wood when heated by dry or steam heat.

I never use hot glue for any pur­ pose and cannot see any advantage in using it, but a lot of disadvantages.

It is not waterproof. Your rawhide must be dry (hope I am right about this) and so it cannot be stretched unless it has been done from a pre­ vious wetting. If so, then your raw­ hide is stiff and will be harder to force down into hollows you so fre­ quently have in yew wood bows. Here is the way I do it: Take a 2x4 six feet long. Next take two pieces of half or three-quar-

19

ter inch boards one inch wider than your two by four and six inches long.

Make a cut in one end of each and two inches deep so they will fit snug­ ly over the 2x4. Hold on by a couple of strong rubber bands or strip of in­ ner tubing. Now take a small block of wood 1 inch thick and 2 inches by 3 inches and make a slight concave in the middle of the 3-inch edge for the bow handle to rest in. Also make a smaller concave in the top of each of the first two blocks. Put the 2x4 in a vise and set the bow with the back up with the middle of the handle resting on the small block of wood and the two ends of the bow projecting about 5 inches beyond the other two pieces. Clamp the bow firmly at the middle of the handle with a 6 inch steel clamp to the 2x4. This then holds the bow firmly while you are putting on the rawhide backing, the bow being set back about 2 inches.

Cut your rawhide about 1-4 inch to 3-8 inch wider than the limb and soak for 30 to 45 minutes, in cool or luke warm water. Do not have your casein glue too thick, about like paint.

Wipe the water off of your first strip of rawhide, put the butt end in a vise and stretch. If there is a thin spot be careful that you do not stretch it until it will not cover the limb.

Put the glue on the limb and then the rawhide with a 1 inch brush. Rub your forefinger over both to smooth out the glue. Start wrapping at the handle with 1 inch dressmakers cloth tape that has a firm woven edge.

After wrapping about 4 inches, hold firmly with inner tubing or a block of quarter inch plywood and a small clamp the first 2 inches of the wrap­ ping. Then take hold of the small end of the rawhide and stretch again and hold it with a small piece of rub­ ber at the nock. Now continue your wrapping, bringing edge to edge of the cloth, smoothing the air out of the rawhide between wrappings.

Be sure never to release the pres­ sure when wrapping and let the end of the rawhide cover the tip of the bow as this protects it. Turn the 2x4 around in the vise while you pre­ pare the other half of the bow. Let the bow stay in the form till dry.

Use as little rubber as possible as casine glue dries very slowly under it.

20

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

We Sulvan Arcljer Official Publication of the National Field Archery Association

Published the twentieth of each month at 505 North 11th Street, Corvallis, Oregon.

J. E. Davis........ Editor and Publisher A. T. Wallis............ For the Duration Subscription Price ...... $1.00 per year Foreign Subscription .... $1.25 per yr.

Single Copies ........................... 10 cents Advertising Rates on Application Entered as second - class matter June 25, 1942, at the post office at Corvallis, Oregon, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

Editorial The action of the Washington State Field Archery Association in supply­ ing its State Game Commission with the official publication of the Na­ tional Association is a commendable one.

An ever-increasing active organiza­ tion of archers is coming into its own. We are receiving nation-wide recognition, not only as successful hunters, but as sportsmen who love the outdoors, who appreciate the bounteousness of Nature and wish to perpetuate its flora and fauna.

We are proud of the fact that we are archers, as Perry “Wild Bill” Childs stated recently in the Califor­ nia Bowman Hunter, “that many of us have ‘graduated’ from riflemen to bowmen”; that we can say we have stalked game to within feet (this in itself is no mean accomplishment); that we love the outdoors for the sheer joy of living it affords, and finally, that many of us accomplish the ultimate aim of all hunters, a tro­ phy for our efforts.

That the Game Commissions of the Nation be informed of our activities we urge State Associations to follow Washington State archers’ lead.

Dick Cook of Hagerman, Idaho, 11year-old cartoonist and archery en­ thusiast, sketched the cougar incident

December, 1943

depicted in this issue. The incident occurred during the eight-day Mad Lake hunting season in Chelan Coun­ ty, Washington. The parties involved were Bill Gillam of Seattle, the cou­ gar and yours truly, although the editor disclaims any part except the loosing of the broadhead. For fur­ ther details the cougar may be inter­ viewed at any time in the Mad Lake Reserve. Gillam knows nothing about it due to the fact that he was so busy tracking he forgot to look up. We hope to have more incidents of inter­ est on the Mad Lake hunt in a later issue.

We regret the passing of Mrs. Mar­ vin C. Buchanan, who died of pneu­ monia in New York City on Novem­ ber 28.

Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan, formerly of Seattle, Wash., have lived in New York over a year, “Bud” having been transferred there in connection with governmental duties in 1942. Both were active field archers in Seattle for a number of years and are well known in the Northwest.

Besides her husband and numerous close relatives, Mrs. Buchanan leaves a month-old daughter. Husband and daughter accompanied the body to Seattle for interment.

My Big Chance

By Damon Hoivatt, Yakima, Wash.

Starting with me, some people learn only by experience. .The late October snow storm had moved the elk down from the highest ridges and we saw numerous elk, some bulls, during the one-week deer season. Deer were notably scarce.

I saw one doe in a week’s, hunting.

My partner, Ted Donelson, shot one of the two bucks he saw, using the rifle when it became evident that chances with the bow were nil. The well crusted snow no doubt had some­ thing to do with our poor luck.

However, we were primarily elk hunting and opening day found us eager for the chase.

The third day Donelson and I were standing beside the trail on Tamarack mountain in the Oak Creek district in central Washington when we heard an elk walking down the trail above

December, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

us. I turned to better my shooting stance and in so doing I bumped my bow against Ted’s.

The walking stopped, then started again.

We could plainly hear the elk walk up the mountain away from us. A deer is sometimes curious but a bull elk is cautious, very cautious!

Shortly after this episode we were sitting above the trail when I heard a bull bugle up mountain from US. During October the mountain air rings with the shrill bugle of the bulls, but in mid-November a real bugle is rarely heard. Rather the bulls are given to short squeals and grunts usually in the morning when the bands are marching back from the open slopes and into the tamarack thickets to spend the day.

On hearing the bugle, I carefully walked up slope about forty yards and stood behind a tree. Then I heard elk walking toward me and all of a sudden there was a big spread of antlers soaring through the trees, or so it seemed to me. A large bull, when walking with head erect, is a very impressive sight with his long legs, long neck, 700 to 900 pounds of weight and immense spread of ant­ lers, and this one looked as high as a house.

He stopped between two trees broadside to me twenty yards away and then and there I forgot all I had read about the slow movement, the deliberate draw, the careful aim. I forgot everything except that here before me was the magnificent beast I was seeking.

The bull caught my sudden move­ ment and in a flash whirled and faced me, and the much-desired broadside shot was suddenly changed to a frontal shot. I aimed for the base of the neck and released just as the bull jumped and the resounding reverberations of his hoofs on the mountainside were a tart reminder of the folly of my haste. It was a clean miss.

The following week the weather turned so warm that the snow melted, the grass began to grow, and twenty­ eight cows in one band were observed to be panting, mouths open in mid­ afternoon. The bulls scrammed to high country and we had no more chances.

Oh well, there is another year com­ ing, and experience is a good teacher.

21

Your Game Commissions Washington State Field Archery Association has taken the lead in consideration due State Game Com­ missions. That the Washington State Game Commission may be posted on the activities of field and hunting archers. Ye Sylvan Archer will be sent each month to office headquar­ ters, in care of B. T. McCauley, chairman.

Little Alvin Goes Hunting (Continued from page 13) Bob Modrell shot 11 arrows at two different bucks and even took time out to change a bow string in between shots at one of them! Cal Fanders, Leon Morel and Louie Baldi also had shots but failed to connect.

All in all the score sheet for the old-timers didn’t look very good against our one lone novice’s score, and, you can bet, we all have a whale of a lot of respect for Al Gerarden.

His buck weighed 175 pounds dress­ ed and was shot through the lungs just back of the left shoulder. His arrows weighed 510 grains and his bow, as I said before, was one he made himself—60 pounds.

Now beginners, don’t go right to work and make all your own tackle.

We know Al is an exception. He’s just as crazy as the rest of us!

Archie Powell displays his year-old bear shot in the Mad Lake Reserve.

22

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

December, 1943

IE:

8th 1943 Mail Tournament

By Karl E. Pahnatier

K

EXPERT BOWMAN CLASS­ 'S. L. Kallander, Framingham, Mass.

Paul Bledsoe, Malibu Mt. Club Earl Grubbs, Malibu Mt. Club Glenn St. Charles, Cascade Club C. W. Seastrom, Malibu Mt. Club ....

Roy Hoff, Malibu Mt. Club Howard Noble, Malibu Mt. Club Kore T. Duryee, Seattle, Wash .

Carl Seastrom, Malibu Mt. Club Dwight Sherrill, Malibu Mt. Club ....

Emery Watts, Malibu Mt. Club William Patrick, Northrop Ar. Club..

28 Target Score 70-260 62- 242 59-225 53-203 63- 237 63-228 56-206 33-219 53-195 39-135 58-234 26-94

28 Target Score 58-232 57-215 47-171 57-223 50-198 57-223 58- 204 44-170 57-207 41-147

56 Target Score 128-492 119-457 106-396 110-426 113- 435 121-451 114- 410 77-299 110-402 80-282

Han- Han­ di­ dicap cap Score 852 360 837 380 796 400 776 350 735 300 711 260 290 700 370 669 662 260 662 380

BOWMAN CLASS— W. B. Blackmore, Marysville, Wash.

Joseph Bennett, Malibu Mt. Club .

Claude Neely, L. A. Bowmen-Hunters Al Gerardin, Cascade Club Tom Shulze, Northrop Archery Club Al Lesman, Malibu Mt. Club Ed Tweeddale, Everett, Wash Tink Johnson, Cascade Club .........

R. J. Modrell, Cascade Club Franklin Jones, Everett, Wash. ......

Walter Walton, Hopkinton, Mass Bert Wallis, Seattle, Wash Max Stemple, Northrop Archery Club Louie Baldi, Cascade Club Vince Ruh, Malibu Mt. Club Archie Powell, Cascade Club Al Biordi, Malibu Mt. Club T. Thorsen, Malibu Mt. Club Robert Blackmore, Marysville, Wash.

Paul Ludwig, Malibu Mt. Club Robert Morley, Malibu Mt. Club S. L. Graham, Malibu Mt. Club R. B. Clark, Malibu Mt. Club D. S. Ellis, Malibu Mt. Club

66-244 58-236 43- 157 42-154 46-158 44- 168 37-131 46- 166 47- 177 39-153 41- 159 42- 154 47-171 36- 138 42-146 44-172 49-181 44-152 37- 141 31-109 60-228 44-160 39-139 46-176

50- 196 58-228 58-232 51- 189 54-210 40-150 46-178 39-141 54-192 56-214 39- 145 49- 189 50- 184 38-142 40- 160 43-163 41- 171 25-83 34- 132 35- 115 64-256 35-137 31-117

116-440 116-464 101-389 93-343 100- 368 84-318 83-309 85- 307 101- 369 95-367 80-304 91-343 97-355 74-280 82-306 87-335 90-352 69- 235 71-273 66-224 124-484 79-297 70- 256

150 80 120 150 110 150 150 150 80 80 130 90 60 130 100 60 30 140 90 80

NOVICE CLASS— C. L. Wright, Northrop Archery Club Wellington Lewis, Hopkinton, Mass...

Fred Wickersham, Seattle, Wash Cal Fanders, Seattle, Wash Leon Morel, Jr., Cascade Club Ben Bredimus, Seattle, Wash Rollie Pontine, Northrop Ar. Club....

Roy Farrant, Cascade Club J. R. Frederick, Seattle, Wash

35-127 34-124 29-109 20-72 22-80 19-75 24-84 16-52 22-76

38-132 27-97 24-80 27-108 27-97 27-95 12-85 15-49

73-259 61-221 53-189 47-180 49-177 46-170 36-169 31-101

590 544 509 493 478 468 459 457 449 447 434 433 415 410 406 395 382 375 363 304

December, 1943

23

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

Han- Han­ di­ dicap cap Score 352 80

EXPERT BOWMAN CLASS— Frieda Hoff, Los Angeles, Calif

28 Target Score 33-119

28 Target Score 41-153

56 Target Score 74-272

BOWMAN CLASS— Minerva Gandy, Malibu Mt. Club ...

Mary Bledose, Malibu Mt. Club Marie Seastrom, Malibu Mt. Club ...

Amanda Sherrell, Malibu Mt. Club Silvia Noble, Malibu Mt. Club

36-130 27-89 26-97 22- 72 23- 93

47-167 37-137 30-130 30-110 17-65

83-297 170 64-226 200 56-227 180 52-182 210 40-158 220

JUNIORS— Dean Tweeddale, Everett, Wash Donald Duckering, Seattle, Wash

43-159 16-62

38-146 15-55

81-305 21-117

LADIES

8th Tournament Notes This is the last tournament report for the 1943 outdoor mail tourna­ ments.

The indoor tournaments will start with the first one in December.

The championship standing will be reported in the next issue of the Ye Sylvan Archer. Before it can be pub­ lished it must be checked with the secretary to see that all the archers are members.

The tournament secretary received a check for $25.20 from Forrest Nagler to be used for a trophy for the champion of this association. No strings attached.

Cascade Club, Seattle; Northrup Archery Club, Los Angeles; Los An­ geles Bowman Hunters, Los Angeles; Malibu Mt. Club, Los Angeles.

The ribbons for the fourth, fifth and sixth tournaments have been re­ ceived and mailed to the winners. The ribbons for the last tournaments and the championship standing have been ordered but may not be made up for some time. There will be no delay in sending them out when received.

Karl E. Palmatier, Tournament Secretary.

TIP FOR TACKLEMAKERS The following communication was received by YSA editor from one of our boys in the service.

Dear Sir: Due to my present occupation, my active interest in archery has been, thus far, thwarted. My interest, how­ ever, grows keener as the days go by.

467 426 407 392 378

This may be the result of too much wishful thinking, but here goes.

Has any concern ever considered producing a “sea bag” bow? The demountable bow would probably be the one, with a few adaptations, per­ haps. You see, sailors do get liberty, and sometimes a bow would be a very handy means of enjoyment. But this bow would very necessarily need be a demountable bow with straight ends, recurved ends making stewing diffi­ cult.

In the event a sailor (or a soldier too) was based somewhere and had a certain amount of liberty, think of the use to which archery equipment could be put.

The Navy might have a different idea about a sailor stowing his bow aboard, but it might be possible to do it. Arrows would be the hardest to manage. A thin, strong, metal tube case, perhaps, with a half-dozen capacity, to be stowed in the center of the sea bag. The bow should be “backed” to protect it from the rough usage a sea bag gets.

Out at sea, it would be useless of course, so it could be “stationed” at the home port when on sea duty. But a great deal of time is spent on shore, and it seems a pity not to be able to follow the sport of kings when con­ ditions permit, but lack of equipment restricts.

Signed, E. G. Bjorklund, S 1/c.

Please mention Ye Sylvan Archer when writing advertisers.

i

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

24

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES for Classified Advertising 5 cents per word per issue. Count initials and numbers as words. Mini­ mum charge is 50 cents.

December, 1943

The photograph on page one, by Dixon Valance, shows Archie “Griz­ zly” Powell of Seattle in one of his better moments on the Cascade Club’s West Seattle Roving course.

BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

E. BUD PIERSON

"ARCHERY TACKLE, HOW TO MAKE AND HOW TO USE IT."

by Adolph Shane. Bound in cloth and illustrated with more than fifty draw­ ings and photographs. Information for making archery tackle and in­ structions for shooting. Price is $1.75.

Send orders to Ye Sylvan Archer, 605 North 11th street. Corvallis, Oregon. __________________________

Bowyer — Fletcher Tournament Tackle, Glue, Raw Materials.

RELICS AND CURIOS MINERALS, FOSSILS, Beadwork, Old Glass, Pistols, Stamps, Coins; Catalogue 5c. Vernon Y. Lemley, Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Custom Made Tackle 3109 Burnet Ave. - Cincinnati 29, Ohio

Nick’s Archery YEW BOWS MADE TO ORDER

1117 First Ave., Seattle, Wash.

ARCHERY EQUIPMENT

OSAGE ORANGE billets or staves wanted in quantity. Write KINGMOORE ARCHERY COMPANY, 7034 No. Figueroa St., Los Angeles 42, Calif.

4-1

Seasons Greetings and

Best Wishes Archery Tool Specialties for the Archer and the Manufacturer

RICARDS TOOL & MACHINE COMPANY 17 Dumont Ave. South Plainfield, New Jersey

'K'K'k.'K.l

70 pages of Archery informa­ tion for 75 cents, well illustrat­ ed. Ye Sylvan Archer, 505 N. 11th St., Corvallis, Oregon.

TACKLE BY LUNSFORD BOWS — Yew $7.50 to $35.00 Self or backed in rawhide, sinew, hickory and bamboo.

ARROWS—25c to 85c.

All spine rated and weighed FEATHERS—Full length, base surfaced; Gray 2c; dyed 4c.

Hand-laid bowstrings 50c - 75c.

Plenty of all raw materials.

List for stamps.

11705 Meadows, Apt. 9093 Portland 17, Oregon

Please mention Ye Sylvan Archer when writing advertisers.

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

December, 1943

25

The

Season’s Greetings

"THE MARK OF DISTINCTION IN ARCHERY TACKLE Fine Yew Target and Hunting Bows, Plain or Backed with Rawhide.

Lemonwood Bows with Rawhide Backs.

College and School Equipment Target, Hunting and Roving Arrows Price List on Request Wholesale — Retail EARL GRUBBS 5518 W. Adams Los Angeles, : California

to Everyone

Monte Vista Archery Co. Manufacturer of Plastic Points and Nocks in all sizes Port Orford Cedar Shafts in three sizes Box 5 South Tacoma, Wash.

Ill TIT I QTYTI PROVEN

Prices on request

ARCHE RYi-

TACKLE

RALPH L.OiGAYNtR’ BOVA'TR-FLCTCM.R

[SlLVtR LAKE RANGE \ CHANNING. Ml CHUR

HANDBOOK—How Io Mako and Uio

Bows and Arrows —90 Pages wall MANUFACTURER!

Illustrated (with catalog) 35c.

co

'of highest QUALITY TACKLE.

Illustrated Catalog Free upon request.

Special Christmas Gift Sets.

Also Wooden Toys and Novelties.

CATALOG—100 pictures—color

spread—Instruction Folder. 10c.

CATALOG alone 5c. Stamps or Coin.

1E/TEMMEER- ttUEBU vi ma-NY-

RAYBURN’S OZARK GUIDE

“Make That Wenk Bow Strong and the Better Bow a Killer”

is a magazine devoted exclusive­ ly to the storied Ozarks of Mis­ souri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

It features folklore, legends, customs, hillbilly humor, hunt­ ing, fishing, boating, scenery, tourist information, opportuni­ ties for homeseekers etc. The editor is the former publisher of ARCADIAN LIFE MAGA­ ZINE and the author of “Ozark Country” of the American Folk­ ways Series of books.

RAYBURN’S OZARK GUIDE is $1.00 a year. Single copy £Sc. Otto Ernest Rayburn, Editor

BAMBOO (There is no substitute) Bow backing cut from long segment 4-in. canes. 2-in. wide, 60, 66 or 72-in. long in the rough, $2.25 each.

Processed, ready to apply $4 ea.

Material for a bow. 4 sections with handle included . . $8.00 Adjustable reflex form 2' long with flexible metal straps $2 pr.

Only Bamboo items shipped charges prepaid, instructions included. Add 10c for exchange on personal checks. No C.O.D. orders accepted.

JIM DEEDS

2126C, 62nd Avenue Oakland 3................................ California Established 1933

I

Lonsdale, Arkansas

26

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

Monte Vista Archery Co.

VIKING ARCHERY

I

December, 1943

Manufacturers of Plastic Points and Nocks in all sizes.

P. O. Cedar Shafts in all sizes.

1874 Market Street San Francisco, Calif.

Everything In Archery Box 5, South Tacoma, Washington

«

THERE IS A BEN PEARSON DEALER NEAR YOU— His stock and plans depend on your patronage.

Shipping and other conditions indicate you will need the conveniences he has to offer.

Our Catalog Selection offered and location of m*p a I from a complete nearest dealer line of equipment >101 (IBM.■■■Mill upon request. materials and accessories.

—>

We have a complete stock of Field Tackle with which to start the New Year right.

Send for Catalog

BEAR ARCHERY CO. 2611 W. Philadelphia Ave.

-

-

Detroit, Michigan

Ii

27

YE SLYVAN ARCHER

December, 1943

LISTEN,— . .YOU ARCHERS! I •• I Merry Christmas, Happy New Year

and good shooting

I !

to

ARCHERS In All Branches of the Service and

| SEQUOIA | FIELD ARCHERS of Oakland, California

Greetings

h

all Parts of the World

r

POTTER & MACQUARRIE

“Wild Bill” Childs, Secretary :•

3400 Fruitvale Ave. Oakland, 2, California

SEASON’S SMEIINGS from

NICK’S ARCHERY Home of Fine Yew Bows

1117 First Ave.

Seattle 1, Wash.

A

r

28

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

December, 1943

Entered as second-class matter June 25, 1942, at the post office at Corvallis. Oregon, under the act of March 3, 1879.

DEDICATED To

ARCHERS IN THE SERVICE in

Appreciation of the FINE JOB THEY ARE DOING ★

Hear Arriiery Co.