November 1943

Pc S’d I va n Hat. 15

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Jfoitember, 1943

BUT ABOVE ALL By “WILD BILL” CHILDS President Northern California Field Archers Association

L/. < "Wild Bill” Childs—"Two pieces of wood and a piece of string.”

“The big game hunting seasons are now on in most of the states, and thousands of archers will be stalking their favorite hunting grounds. For the benefit of new archers we might repeat certain unwritten rules of the game, which bow hunters have volun­ tarily and almost universally adopted.

Rule one: etc.; Rule two: etc.; Rule three: But above all, don’t brag or show off . . .” From Ye Sylvan Arch­ er, October issue, page 4.

Unnecessary, this rule No. three for beginning archers. Who ever heard of an archer showing off or bragging? These low-bred traits just aren’t in the make-up of us true

sportsmen who take two pieces of wood and a piece of string and de­ murely venture forth among the gun hunters to bring in our meat. This case must be brought out clearly be­ fore the new archer so that he will know he has joined a legion of fine souls who are modest to the extreme.

He will know that when he hears an archer mention one of his accomplish­ ments he is doing it solely for the benefit of the new archer. If he opens his bag of tricks and performs for the new archer, he does it because he unselfishly wants the novice to become a proficient bowman as eas­ ily as possible.

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

Every year Lady Luck pats a few of us on the quiver and we drag in big game. We don’t go after the ed­ itors and photographers before the deer has quit kicking. We don’t send accounts of the hunt to every maga­ zine in the country or apply for the big game award before we unstring our bow. If we are lucky enough to hit our game with an arrow that is as heavy as a crowbar, do we insist and demand that every archer in the nation use an eleven hundred grain arrow?

(Apologies of Mr. Bear).

No sir, we skin out our meat, eat it, and forget it.

This brings a few incidents to mind that will illustrate and prove my statement that bowmen don’t show off or brag.

A few months ago I was contacted by the recreational director of a large industrial concern to start an archery club. I decided the quickest way to get results was to arrange a small exhibition shoot and invite their em­ ployees, so I let a few of my friends know what I expected of them and set the date for the show. I had ev­ erything in order when the national champ calls up long distance and asks if I thought I could put my third rate show over without his help, so I made room for Phil on the program.

Then the state champ wants in, and target champions, and some famous bowman hunters. They came from miles around to join my show.

They shot balls out of the air, ap­ ples off each other’s heads, cigars out of each other’s hands. There was nothing they didn’t shoot that night and I had to sneak up and cut some of their bowstrings to get them off the stage.

These boys were willing to perform that night, not because they wanted to show off, but for the cause of archery. They spent their month’s gasoline allotment and went through this distasteful ordeal thinking that if only one of the spectators was helped one little bit by their endeav­ ors their time was well spent.

“Osage Jim” Murphy and I were giving our bows a rest one hot sum­ mer day out in the rabbit patch when Daws Feathers treks out of the sage­ brush into our shady retreat under a cottonwood. He had eight rabbits firmly gripped in his sweaty hand.

November, 1943

Nothing was said for a minute be­ cause Osage Jim is a veteran and knows how to handle such cases and I had quickly turned my back so that I could push my eyes, which had popped out, back in my head. When I got my eyes back into focus, there stood Feathers with a big toothy grin on his face looking at us as though he expected us to compliment him.

Osage Jim looked those eight rabbit? over with calm deliberation and fin­ ally remarked, “That one on the end looks too big and tough—won’t be fit to eat.” “‘I’ll say he’s tough,” said Daws, prodding the big rabbit with his bow. “See that baby? Had to shoot twice to stop him.”

Now that’s modesty. In all this big world there aren’t two people as modest as these two. Feathers had a very successful hunt that day, and did he brag about it? No, he modest­ ly admitted that he had to shoot twice to drop his biggest rabbit.

One time I stopped off in a small town in the Sierras while I was ar­ ranging to be packed into the deer country.

After the natives had snooped around my tackle for an hour or two, they decided to invite me to make an evening hunt with them.

One of the hunters, a high school principal, remarked that some of his female students used tackle like mine to shoot targets on the school lawn.

I could have broken the archers’

■v

J ■ 7 . j

‘. . eight rabbits in his sweaty grip —and a toothy grin on his face.”

November, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

unwritten rule and explained to him that my ninety pound recurve and featherweight broadheads shouldn’t be classed with high school girls tackle, but I swallowed my pride and remained silent because I didn’t want these hunters to think I was bragging or showing off.

I was given the seat of honor on their prowl car, a position on the right front fender with a leg draped over the headlight. I’m sure they sat me up in front where they could watch me because they were true sportsmen and wanted to give their guest first chance. The driver got in and five hunters hopped on the truck bed and we started down the rough mountain ranch road at about ten miles per hour.

We bounced along uneventfully for a mile or two down a canyon road over boulders and ruts and I prayed for the machine to blow a tire so that I could get relief from the head lamp gripped between my legs that was killing me at every jolt.

The guns started banging behind me and I turned to see a large fox loping through the brush, parallel to the road and 40 yards above our heads, on the hillside. The bullets were smacking dust all around the fox and he and the machine were gaining speed at every bounce. If the crazy fox had held his course, he would have been racing automobiles today and I wouldn’t be writing of him, but the lug tacked off to the port on a course that led him down over the cut and across the road.

The brakes went on and I left my precarious perch on the headlamp to fly through the air and luckily land on my feet. I expected to start dodg­ ing bullets but I found out later that the silence I felt behind me was caused by five empty magazines. The fox came over the bank and hit the road the same time I did.

I loosed an arrow from a crouch that caught the fox an inch under the ear as he bounded across the road. The fox crumpled in a heap as the arrow caromed from the rocky road bed off over the canyon wall in­ to the Tuolumne river bottom.

I didn’t turn around with a malic­ ious glint in my eye to belittle the six men standing in the prowl car with their slack-jawed amazed ex­ pression. That would have showed a

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trait that isn’t in an archer’s make­ up. Instead, I walked casually over to the dead fox, keeping my back to the hunters so they couldn’t see the look of incredible amazement I was wip­ ing off my homely face, picked up the fox by the tail and chucked it into the back of the prowl car. I re­ marked that I lead the shot too far and nearly missed, then I climbed back onto my perch on the headlight.

Boys, there are six men in Tuol­ umne county, California, who respect a bowman and treat him as an equal because they know we are a tribe who don’t brag or show off.

I could tell you of the time I made a gun hunter get down and kiss a six point buck I dragged in to pay off on a foolish bet he had made, but — what’s the use? I’ve tried to explain my point—we’re a clan apart. How do you imagine I got my name? Or “In­ defatigable Fred” Gadberry got his, or “Osage Jim” Murphy? We’re the most lying, showing off, bragging, egotistical bunch of birds this side of hell, but we love it.

We’ve picked up a weapon that was discarded in the evolution of mankind and are foolish enough to match it against man’s modern guns. We’re crazy, gentlemen, you and I both.

But listen, you new archers, you’ve thrown in with a league of guys that can’t be beat, and you won’t go wrong by it.—But above all, don’t brag or show off.

BEGINNERS, PLEASE NOTE Concensus of opinion is that a bow you can handle, matched shafts and sharp broadheads are pre-requisites of a good archer-hunter. Warm cloth­ ing that allows freedom of movement and footwear to provide a silent ap­ proach, add to the joys and comforts of the occasion. Experience is by far the best teacher, however, and you may read a dozen articles or see a hundred pictures, but your education will not be complete until you step out on that crisp autumn morning with a sturdy, tested bow in hand, and some straight and true broad­ heads in your quiver.—Utah Shafts and Broadheads.

Please mention Ye Sylvan Archer when writing advertisers.

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

November, 1943

Blunts from the Old Stump

By The President

We have a number of complaints from new archers that most scientific articles on archery are written for experts and there is not enough in­ formation to help the new archers get started. This column is therefore dedicated to the beginner, although you experts may find something here­ in worthwhile. We hope this article will start a series of articles by oldtime archers which can be published monthly that will be of value not only to experts, but beginners as well.

BOWS AND ARROWS: Beginners are usually so enthusiastic about the sport that they want to start making their o\vn equipment right away. This is a mistake. The technique of fine bow and arrow making is an art, and comes only after years of experience, and also requires natural artistic and mechanical ability. It is all right to tinker with bow and arrow making, but don’t expect to turn out good bows and arrows because you have a book that tells you how. Golfers and gun hunters don’t make their own tackle.

A good yew or osage stave costs from five to ten dollars, and it takes from ten to twenty hours of expert hand­ work to turn out a good bow. That is why good bows cost from $15 to $35. Lemonwood bows are cheaper because they can be machine made.

They are all right to start with, but you will want better equipment if you like and stick with the sport.

You can shoot accurately good arrows in a cheap bow, but you can’t shoot cheap arrows accurately even in the best of bows. Regardless of the kind of bow you have or buy, get good ar­ rows. You can buy reasonably match­ ed arrows for around $8.00 a dozen.

Finer and more closely matched ar­ rows will cost you more, but the ar­ rows should be fitted to your bow.

That is, will they fly straight? If your arrows are too weak, (lacking spine) for your bow, they will fly left; if too stiff, they will fly right.

The closer your arrows are matched in spine and weight the closer the group they will shoot. Well matched arrows will group in a 9-inch circle at 60 yards. We hope manufacturers will label their arrows so that when

archers buy them they will know that they will shoot straight in bows up to a certain weight. This is not done as yet. So if you buy arrows by guess, it is better to have them too stiff than too weak. We say nothing of bow and arrow lengths, because this is determined by the physique of the individual archer. Taller persons with longer arms need longer bows than shorter persons with shorter arms. Every tackle dealer has charts showing suggested lengths of bows and arrows for different type indi­ viduals.

BOW WEIGHTS: A lot of begin­ ners have the idea that they are not real he-men (or she-women) unless they can pull a heavy bow with the best of them. This is a sad mistake.

No one should shoot a bow stronger than his physique permits. The ten­ dency of all archers is to overbow.

Don’t shoot a bow so strong that you shake all over trying to hold it steady.

You won’t get any pleasure out of the shooting, and you won’t be able to shoot accurately. Because the big game winners happen to shoot bows of 60 pounds to 65 pounds weight, and some even as high as 90 pounds, don’t think you can’t big game hunt and get your game too unless you do likewise. I can draw a 75 pound bow to full draw, but I can’t shoot accur­ ately with a bow that weight—55 lbs. is tops for me to shoot and expect to hit anything. If your physique per­ mits you to handle 60 pound or 70 pound bows with comfort and accur­ acy, fine, but don’t struggle with heavy bows just because Joe does it.

Even beginners with good physiques have to develop new muscles in bow shooting, and as muscles are built, heavier bows can be handled. Shoot as heavy a bow as you can draw and hold with comfort, and release with accuracy, one that gives you pleasure in shooting.

SHOOTING TECHNIQUE: In­ shooting structions on instinctive she „ technique are given in the Field Arch­ ery Handbook. There are many other books on shooting technique, but none stress enough the important part the bow arm plays in accurate shooting.

November, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

Your draw, hold, aim and release may all be perfect, but the bow arm per­ forms the last act of shooting. After you release, the arrow must still travel about two feet before it leaves the string and bow, and is beyond your control. Nine out of ten archers have the habit of dropping the bow arm immediately, perhaps to see where the arrow is going to hit. This leads to the habit of relaxing the bow arm almost at the instant of release, and the arrow can fly anywhere. The bow hand must remain PUT until the arrow has cleared the bow. The only way to assure this is to hold the bow arm up and in place until the arrow has hit the target. Then lower the bow arm consciously.

RECURVING AND STRAIGHT­ ENING BOW WOOD: This is pretty well covered by the books, and what I say is probably not new. I prefer steam to boiling when recurving or straightening bow wood. For steam­ ing bow ends I have a metal tube about 12 inches long which I hook on the spout of a teakettle. The bow end is inserted in the tube and then steamed for about a half hour. The end can then be bent to the desired shape over a form, or if you are not too particular about the shape, one end of the stave can be clamped in a vise and then bend the stave to the desired shape.

To assure against fracture, I use two thin strips of steel, one clamped on each side of the bow*, before bending.

Tie the Stave in place and leave until it cools and dries a little. An hour is suffic­ ient. For steaming full length staves or limbs of a bow, I use a steamer six feet long, made out of an eavestrough down spout. A wooden box steamer can be quickly made. I have straightened many pretty crooked pieces of yew and osage by this method. The bow should be worked down to approximate thickness and width before steaming. I have never tried recurving lemonwood. Perhaps someone can .tell us how it can be done. I have also straightened osage bver dry heat—a gas burner—but this requires careful work so as not to scorch the wood and ruin the stave.

BACKING: Backing a bow is a pretty complicated process to the un­ initiated, but. really is very simple.

The procedure I will outline will in­ terest even the expert. The method

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can be used for any kind of backing except silk, which requires special stretching apparatus. Assuming you have the stave and backing surfaces smooth and a good fit, the question is how to glue them together. Nearly all archers use casine or some cold glue. Hot glue is not popular because it chills too fast. I have tried all types of glue but find that hot glue gives the best results and can be used if handled right. A good grade of hide glue, flake or granulated, can be purchased at almost any hardware store. The glue should be soaked in cold water for about an hour, the ex­ cess water poured off and then heated in a double boiler. You probably can’t buy a glue pot, but you can make a simple glue pot by taking any small can, cut half way down the sides in several places, then fold over the edges so they rest on another larger cup or pot containing water.

This keeps the glue from cooking over the boiling temperature of water. Heat the glue in the boiler until completely dissolved. I test the glue by putting a drop between the thumb and finger and then spreading apart. If the glue stretches into long thin threads it is O. K. Most people use hot glue too thick. The glue should be about the thickness of very thin cream, and run freely off the brush and when applied should spread freely without sticking.

The glue can now be applied to both surfaces to be glued. You will find that as you apply it the glue will chill and form a jelly with no stick­ ing quality. Now here is where I give away a trade secret which I do not believe has ever been published and which we worked out after years of experimenting with hot glue. Now that Uncle Sam does not need blownout inner tubes any more, cut one up into rubber bands, about an inch in width and two or three feet long, by cutting around the diameter of the tube. Have these strips ready for your glue job. When you have applied the glue, wrap the stave and backing, stretch the rubber bandage as you wrap, and leave about 1-8 or 1-4 inch spaces between each turn. Wrap it up the full length and back again the complete length of the stave. To keep the stave from cutting the bandage it would be well to first knock off the sharp corners of the stave and back­ ing. The wrapped stave should then

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

be put into the steam box described in the preceding paragraph and steamed for a few minutes. The steam will reheat the chilled glue, and as the glue softens, the rubber bandage will squeeze out the excess glue and form a perfect fit. The stave can now be taken out of the steam box and left to dry for 12 hours with the bandage on. The dried excess glue can then be removed with a file, a scraper or sandpaper. If you want to reflex any bow where you use wood for backing, when you take your bow out of the steamer, clamp the handle to a table and let the two ends rest on blocks of the desired height.

Press down on the backs of the limbs to permit the sliding of the back on the stave. You will have to work fast before the glue has a chance to again chill. When dry, the bow will have the desired set-back. In gluing raw­ hide, fibre or other thin or flexible backing, I use a piece of cardboard the shape of the bow between the backing and the bandage to give a smooth glue job, as otherwise the rubber pressure will leave ridges in the thin backings.

REPAIRING BOWS AND AR­ ROWS: The reheating method in us­ ing hot glue as herein described lends itself to repairing and salvaging many broken arrows and fractured bows. Most arrows break off near the pile, and are too short for use.

I either put on a footing of osage or or other hardwood, or make a simple splice. To make a splice, plane the broken end of the shaft to a fine point so as to make a splicing surface of 4 to 6 inches in length. Plane a similar surface on the repair dowel so that the two planed surfaces are of exact length. The two will then match up and line up perfectly. Ap­ ply hot glue to surfaces and wrap with % inch rubber bands stretched tight. If the glue has chilled, warm gently over a gas burner until it is reheated, and excess glue squeezes out. Be careful not to apply too much dry heat so as to dry the glue. Check the job for straightness, and if necessary straighten while hot. Put away for 12 hours to dry. Fractured arrows can be repaired the same way.

A bow usually fractures on the back and raises a sliver. Glue the sliver down in place by method described.

If the fracture is a small one, after

November, 1943

the sliver has been glued back in place, dried and surface cleaned, you can wrap around the bow with silk thread in the manner windings are put on fishing rods. If the fracture is a bad one, it may be necessary to put on an extra patch after you have glued the fracture back in place. This extra patch is put on by scraping out the wood at the fracture point and for several inches above and below it so as to form a concave hollow with the ends of the curve thinning out into a long thin surface, paper thickness. A patch of similar wood is then made to fit the hollowed part.

Be sure the back of your patch is all even grained. Glue the patch in the method described for repairing ar­ rows. After dried, smooth out the patch. If you get a good job on your matched surfaces, the patch will hold without wrapping. If you desire silk thread may be wrapped around both ends of the patch as above described.

The secret of any patch job is that the edges must be planed to a long thin surface so that when the bow is bent there is no raised surface left to start a new break. Similar repairs can be made to the belly of the bow where bad spots have developed or the limb has weakened. I have put complete new bellies on bows by this method. Don’t expect your patches to hold unless you do a good fitting job and get your end edges long and thin.

I hope this article will invoke some discussion among beginners as well as experts. If you have any questions with reference to hunting, shooting, bow and arrow making, or on any other subject write the editor. If you have information which would be of value to beginners or experts, we suggest that you write an article, so that this magazine can be made of real benefit to our members.

Salt Lake City archers have been attempting to solve the backstop prob­ lem on the Hogle’s Zoo Roving course.

Ralph Segerstrom offered the sugges­ tion that portable tulle butts be con­ structed. Permanent supports for the butts could be constructed and back­ stops hung in position only when their use was desired. This would eliminate their destruction by vandalism and inclement weather.

Patronize YSA advertisers.

November, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

LINDEN, N. J., FIELD ARCHERS AGAIN ACTIVE Now that the eastern gas ban has been let up we can get -out to the range once more. During the past few weeks we have had a few in­ formal shoots and have been doing some work on the course. The only recent addition we have found neces­ sary to our sod butts, are small semi­ circular mounds of dirt approximate­ ly a foot high, from ten to fifteen yards behind the targets to catch the stray arrows. We cleared underbrush and stumps from a natural bowl and are using this area as a sort of a picnic ground. With an eye towards better scores, we have also set up a practice butt in this bowl.

We have also undertaken to sur­ vey the entire area allotted to us by the Park Commission, so that we may compile a detailed topographical map for our convenience in laying out our entire 56 targets. Particular attention is being paid to our present seven and possible location of another seven targets in the immediate future, which will then give us one unit in a full field course.

We have con­ structed for convenience of all par­ ticipants of our shoots a lost arrow container which we have hung on a tree near number one shooting posi­ tion. At this same spot we also have a portable desk fastened to a tree which holds our score cards, assort­ ment of pencils, registration books and other necessary articles for run­ ning a shoot.

We elected new officers at our Oc­ tober meeting; the listing being as follows: Larry Heath, president; Andy Ericksen, vice president; Bob Reeves, treasurer, and Eleanor Han­ cock, secretary. Any correspondence should be addressed to the Union County Park Commission Building, Warinanco Park, Elizabeth, N. J. We have been showing all available hunting pictures at our meeting which prove to be very interesting and edu­ cational in helping to promote the good will that all we archers try to express.

To date eight of our members have left us to join Uncle Sam’s fighting forces. They are: W. Anderson, Lin­ den, N. J.; M. Hauswald, Linden, N. J.; V. Heath, Westfield, N. J.; A.

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Kirbach, Linden, N. J.; V. Lotito, Lebanon, N. J.; E. Omland, Roselle, N. J.; T. H. Miller, Mountainside, N. J.; and R. Wade, Hillside, N. J. Our membership is still growing and we know that it will keep doing so in spite of the gas shortage and our boys going into service.

GLADYS SONDERLAND, Entertainment and Publicity.

Michigan Archers An over-abundance of deer which have been doing considerable damage to crops in Allegan county, Michigan, has given Michigan archers and those who desired (or could obtain trans­ portation) to hunt in Michigan, the opportunity of a real deer hunt this year.

During a 30-day season, all during November, in Allegan county, in which a buck, doe or fawn may be shot, the archers of that section have planned a full month of entertain­ ment for the hunters.

The evening of November 13 a deer hunters get-together was held in the Griswold Auditorium, Allegan, in which a program featuring ventrilo­ quism and magic by a well known magician, and an exhibition of arch­ ery skill in the Allegan Archery Club indoor range entertained the assembled toxophilists.

Washington Reports The Mad Lake Bow and Arrow Re­ serve gave up little game to a record attendance of hunters during the first week of November. Al Gerardin of Seattle bagged a four-point buck and Archie Powell of the same city shot a yearling bear.

The weather ran the gamut of temperatures but the big “high moun­ tain” bucks refused to appear. Only medium-sized Blacktail bucks and Blacktail and Mule deer were seen by the stalking hunters.

A record kill in the surrounding area by riflemen during the 1942 sea­ son may have been the deciding fac­ tor on why so few deer were seen in the Reserve this year. Statistics and estimates revealed 16,000 bucks were taken in Eastern Washington in 1942.

Several deer were shot by archers in other sections of the state in early “special season” areas.

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

Ifc J&glitan Arrljer 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

November, 1943

in determining the success or failure of a beginner, for, it not only often determines his hits in the woods and scores on the field course, but it de­ termines the pleasure derived from tackle which is suited to the indi­ vidual.

On one occasion we had the mis­ fortune to find a novice shooting at a target with a seventy-pound hunt­ ing bow and “1100-grain” broadheads.

The stature of the novice mentioned indicated he was considerably over­ bowed even if he had been an experi­ enced archer. The unfortunate part enters in his apparent unawareness that he was violating most important physical and psychological laws.

Many manufacturers are devoting much time to instructing beginners in the making and use of bows and arrows. We solicit these men, as well as those who have tackle-making as an avocation, for articles on tackle­ making and technique which will aid in making the beginner a successful

and enth

CORRESPONDENTS, PLEASE NOTE All communications to Ye Sylvan Archer should be addressed to YE SYLVAN ARCHER, 214 Summit Ave. North, Seattle 2, Washington.

Members of the NFAA wishing to renew subscriptions are reminded their NFAA membership expires at the same time as their subscription to Ye Sylvan Archer. Please send your renewal to John L. Yount. Sec­ retary, NFAA, P. O. Box 383, Red­ lands, California.

President A. J. Michelson devotes most of his column this month to the neophyte—“the beginner” in archery.

It is about time someone devoted a little time to beginners, for, if results of this year’s hunting expeditions are any criterion, learning the “hard way” is not conductive to the ultimate aim of many field toxophilists—suc­ cess.

Mike says in his most recent letter to the editor: “There are plenty of archers making their own tackle that could give a lot of help to new archers.”

Proper equipment for field and hunting is the most important factor

Word was recently received by Utah archers that David Morris, Utah bowman now in service over­ seas, has been wounded in action in the South Pacific, and is now convalescing in a hospital in Australia.

Morris saw much action in New Guinea.

Utah Shafts^ and Broadheads . repbrts Jean (Cyrus 7us Clyde) Trittin, xx-xUail, c vice-president off the th2 NFAA, NFAA will be home on a short furlough following “boot training” at Farragut, Idaho.

He hopes to have a few days in the woods and also try his hand at flight shooting.

INVITATION “Release yourself from your worries And come to the forest with me; With the long bow we shall hunt together ’Neath the spread of the greenwood tree.

Though the game bag be not heavy, The secrets of the woods will unfold;' Your soul will be enriched by its treasures And like Pan, you will never grow old.”

—Dean Green.

November, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

9

Hunting With the Bow

By WALTER D. PERRY (Reprinted from October 1941 Pennsylvania Sportsman’s Hunting and Fishing Digest) Dan O’Hara stopped his car and looked out of the window at the steep mountains that rose from the nar­ row valley. Snow lay on the upper reaches but the valley was free from snow.

The mountains were deeply wooded and looked too tough to climb.

It was December and Dan had gone to get a deer.

He got out of his car, taking with him an expensive pair of binoculars through which he surveyed these mountains. He was used to binoculars and knew how to systematically search out animate objects amid in­ animate surroundings. His attention was attracted by some object just be­ low a windswept gap—after a care­ ful study he found it to be a buck with a fair head. He estimated the distance at 450 yards.

Returning to his car he uncased an ultra modern rifle, a .270 cal. of ex­ treme high velocity, equipped with a new and popular telescopic sight. He adjusted this sight, taking into ac­ count the distance and the elevation of his target. The deer had not seen him, at least it paid him no heed— perhaps he was accustomed to cars stopping in this beautiful valley. Dan knew this and was in no hurry. He noted an old stump just beyond the highway to which he went and used as a rest. He took careful aim and squeezed the trigger; instantly the deer gave one mighty leap and then crumpled up at the very edge of the precipice. Still watching through his glasses he noted a feeble kick and the deer rolled over the cliff and kept rolling and skidding down the steep slope. In a few minutes it had conic to rest at the foot of the mountain, not fifty yards from where he knelt.

Within a short time the deer was dressed and fastened to the running board of his car. All this had hap­ pened within forty minutes or less and he was ready to go home.

He surveyed his trophy, which was an excellent specimen, but there was no elation in his heart. He was not

satisfied—he began to realize that his hunting trip was over too soon, far too soon. He had spent months of anticipation, he had also spent much hard earned money for modern equip­ ment, the best he knew how to buy.

Now that his quota was filled in less than one hour he really was sorry. It dawned on him that this was not what he wanted, he wanted to hunt — to tramp over the mountains—to stand on watch. He wanted to spend some of his pent-up energy—he wanted to feel his strong heart forcing red blood through every capillary of his body—he wanted to feel fatigue—to feel the pangs of hunger—to feel the sting of biting cold on his face, his fingers and his feet. Modern science had robbed him of all these joys.

Well, he could at least see some of the country that he had not seen be­ fore. He would cross the mountain and go down the east fork of the Tionesta.

When he reached Kelletsville it was snowing hard. He learned that the road down the creek was closed, so he decided to cut across the hump and hit the concrete at East Hickory.

It was tough going, when he reached the ridge he found the road had many bad drifts. It was getting late and he wondered what he would do if he got stuck. He went on for another mile in second gear, he had trouble getting through some of these drifts and now he was in one he could not make.

In his desperation to get out he failed to notice two figures approach his car. The figures waited until the engine had finished a terrific but futel effort to conquer the drift, then one of them hailed the driver.

“Having trouble, brother?” “Yes,” said Dan. “Looks like I’m stuck.”

These men, he noted, were dressed in hunter’s togs and in the semi­ darkness, seemed to be carrying long sticks and a peculiar looking bundle suspended across the back from the right shoulder. The spokesman for

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

his visitors then remarked: “I’m afraid you’re up against it, brother, the roads from here to East Hickory are reported to have impassable drifts and we understand that every home in and around Kelletsville is filled with hunters. Looks to me like you had better bunk with us tonight and we will see what can be done in the morning.”

“Gentlemen,” said Dan, “You must be real sportsmen, such courtesy and hospitality are not usually meted out in this manner. I will accept your invitation as there seems to be noth­ ing else to do. I take you are hunters but I do not see any guns.”

“Yes, we are hunters,” said his visitor. “We hunt with the bow. We are staying at the cabin of a very good archer friend whose property joins the archery reservation, a sec­ tion of 1000 acres which has been set aside for hunting only with the bow.”

“Gosh I That is interesting, I have heard something about that reserva­ tion—had any luck?”

“Not yet. Still hunted all day, we will probably put on a drive tomor­ row.”

“How are you fixed for fresh meat?”

“We have a little left that we brought with us,” said his visitor, eyeing the deer on the runningboard.

“Well,” said Dan, “How would you fellows like to rip off a hind quarter of that deer while I collect my equip­ ment, which I still think cost too much money to leave out in the car.”

“Watch us,” said the two men in unison and all got busy.

Within a short time the deer was swinging from the limb of a tree, minus one hind quarter and the three men were on their way to the cabin.

They had less than a quarter of a mile to walk, so it was not long un­ til they entered the camp. Before the large open fire place sat the owner, Mr. Blank and his wife, also two hunting guests. After the introduc­ tions and the explanation, Dan was made welcome.

While he thawed out he answered general questions and tried to carry on a polite conversation, which was rather difficult because he could not refrain from looking at the many primitive implements that seemed to occupy the walls, the corners of the room, the mantle and the table. Stout

November, 1943

yellow bows, some with recurved ends —deerskin arrow quivers filled with arrows with large feathers and dan­ gerous looking, speer like, steel ar­ row heads—leather cuffs and other unfamiliar objects. He also noted the refined conversation and the cultured manners of these people. He wanted to know more about this kind of hunt­ ing. The general atmosphere appealed to him—-he felt a bond originating from his subconscious mind, some latent factor which had run in the blood of his sires, on back to the primitive times when they, perhaps, had hunted the giant elk in the dis­ tant Irish moors. This bond drew him nearer to his newly found friends.

After the dinner was over and the hunters had resumed their places be­ fore the great log fire, he turned to his host and expressed a desire to know more about this business of hunting with the bow.

Dr. Blank replied: “Most of us archers were once masters of fire­ arms or at least had hunted with them for years. We had taken our share of game and since the deer herd in this state has long since pass­ ed the half million mark, the shooting of a deer seemed to have lost its ap­ peal. Unless the trophy was a record specimen, it was just another deer.

Individually, we wanted more hunt­ ing and found the answer in the bow.”

“What I want to know,” said Dan, “is how I can become an archer and hunt in this manner. I am beginning to believe that you boys have some­ thing on the ball.” He then related his experience of earlier in the day and tried to tell of the things he had felt and had been thinking.

His host resumed: “You will first have to learn how to shoot the bow, this may be accomplished in one sea­ son if one begins in the spring and keeps at it, under competent super­ vision, until early fall. By that time one will be able to determine the weight of bow that one can handle best, also the proper length arrow, in other words by that time one will know one’s archer self.

Then the hunting tackle must be procured.”

“First, of course, is the bow. It should be of osage orange, backed with rawhide or the more modern backing of silk. There is no use to discuss other words at this time as

November, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

11

you now understand what I meant all experts have, after expensive ex­ periments, come to the same conclu­ when I suggested a dozen matched broadheads and blunts.” sion, that osage is the best wood for a hunting bow. The weight should be .

“I am beginning to get the general what one can conveniently pull — idea,” said Dan, “but I am also be­ judging from your weight and build, ginning to see that archery is far I would say that about 60 pounds more scientific than I ever imagined; would be close to correct in your case.

I must also say that I am far more One should have two extra strings interested now, since you have given that have been fitted to the bow. The me this information. Offhand, I be­ finish of the bow should be deadened lieve I will make an effort to hunt so as not to reflect light — melted in this manner next year.” Dan really beeswax applied to the bow will give looked, like he meant what he said. this effect. A deer will often not “How big a hurry are you to get move until the arrow has been releas­ back home?” asked Mr. Blank. ed when they get a glint of reflected “I came up for a week’s hunt,” light as the bow is being shot. I have Dan aswered. “But it was all over in often seen my arrow strike where a a few minutes and I have to quit deer’s heart had been just a split hunting, so it Idoks like there is second before.” nothing else to do except go home.”

“The next item is the arrow. Have “Could you stay over for a day or your dealer get you a combination set two and see how we go about it?” of matched broadheads and blunts, earnestly asked Mr. Blank. this means a dozen of each.” He went “If you really mean it, nothing will to a quiver and extracted two arrows, suit me better,” said Dan, simply. one had the spear-shaped point and the other was what the name implied, The whole gang then merged into blunt—just a heavy square-ended a general conversation, mostly about metal cap covered the end of the ar­ bows and hunting. The plan for the row. next day’s hunt was discussed and decided upon. Good nights were said “This arrow,” continued Mr. Blank, and all went to bed. “is a broadhead. You will note that Dan lay in bed thinking things over the greatest distance between the cut­ — someway he was in a different ting edges is, roughly l’/t in. and frame of mind — then he tried to makes a wound not unlike the thrust imagine how if a big buck — and the of a sword of the same width. There sandman got him. is no shock, such as delivered by a high powered rifle, the victim dies (Continued next month) from hemorrhage and usually dies very soon. If not struck in a vital The Nevember 1st election of the spot the victim receives a flesh wound Cincinnati Field Archers resulted that heals without crushing of any in the following officers: President, bones. The broadheads are designed Edward Clapper; vice president, Bill to get the greatest possible penetra­ Strack; secretary-treasurer, Kather­ tion, the arrow shaft offers little or ine Rouland; Corresponding secretary, no resistance so, when shot from a Martha Strack; field captain, Elden bow of 50 pounds or better, one may Rouland; purchasing agent, Edward expect to shoot clear through a deer.”

“This one is a blunt,” his host went Clapper.

The entertainment committee was on. “Its main purpose is to practice chosen for three months. The club with. It would never do to shoot at also sent Christmas packages to each an expensive target with a broad­ of the local archers away in service. head, neither is it good policy to go roving with them. Should they be shot It was voted to send them a large assortment of delicious cookies. into a stump, tree or log, one would Official shoots are being held twice have to get an ax and chop it out. a month and it is hoped to hold in­ In order to get the proper practice, it is wise to have blunts that exactly terest throughout the winter months in spite of the cold weather. Fifteen match the broadheads one expects to hunt with—this means the same archers from the Cincinnati club par­ weight, the same in spine and the ticipated in the Dayton, Ohio, Archery-Gold tournament on October 12. same kind of fletching. I hope that

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12

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

November, 1943 -------------------------- a

7th 1943 Mail Tournament

By Karl E. Palmaticr 28 Target Score EXPERT BOWMAN CLASS— 66-252 James Dundas, Flint Bowmen Ken Moore, Pasadena Rov. Archers.... 90-358 59-237 Glenn St. Charles, Cascade Club 259 Stew Foster, Pasadena Rov. Archers 76-284 Frank Eicholtz, San Diego, Calif Roland Rexroad, Pasadena Rov. Ar. 61- 235 54- 208 Cliff Ravencraft, L. A. Bowmen-Htrs 50-178 Robert Green, San Diego, Calif 62- 238 Tiny Munson, Malibu hit. Club 50-198 Paul Hougham, Pasadena Rov. Ar C. W. Seastrom, Malibu Mt. Club .... 64-258 55- 195 Eugene Lecoq, San Diego Dwight Sherrill, Malibu Mt. Club .... 53-205 46-176 Paul Bledsoe, Malibu Mt. Club E. L. Kallander, Framingham, Mass. 52-200 Glenn Smith, Pasadena Rov. Archers 48-184 55-217 Carl Seastrom, Malibu Mt. Club Howard Noble, Malibu Mt. Club _ 57-203 55-199 William Patrick, Northrop Ar. Club..

338 Larry Hughes, Pasadena Rov. Ar. ...

28 Target Score 68-274 83-335 56-228 232 77-305 56-226 50- 201 51- 185 66-258 47-167 53-213 47-173 45-163 53-189 50-192 53-195 63-263 59-231 58-226 336

56 Target Score 134-526 173-693 116- 465 127- 491 153-589 117- 461 104-409 101- 363 128- 496 97- 365 117- 471 102- 368 98- 368 99- 365 102-390 101-379 118- 480 116-434 113-425 167-674

Han- Han­ di­ dicap cap Score 340 866 150 843 370 835 340 831 240 829 360 821 380 789 420 783 280 776 410 775 300 771 390 758 380 748 380 745 350 742 360 739 250 730 280 714 240 665

BOWMAN CLASS— Harvey Hicks, Pasadena Roving Ar...

Claude Neely, L. A. Bowmen-Hunters Lucien Decock, L. A. Bowmen-Htrs...

Robert Blackmore, Marysville, Wash.

W. B. Blackmore, Marysville, Wash.

Walter Steele, L. A. Bowmen-Htrs...

Al Gerardin, Cascade Club Vince Ruh, Malibu Mt. Club Max Stemple, Northrop Archery Club Archie Powell, Cascade Club Louie Baldi, Cascade Club E. L. Holston, San Diego R. J. Modrell, Cascade Club Franklin Jones, Everett, Wash D. S. Ellis, Malibu Mt. Club Walter Walton, Hopkinton, Mass Al Lesman, Malibu Mt. Club Tink Johnson, Cascade Club T. Thorsen, Malibu Mt. Club Tom Shulze, Northrop Archery Club Al Biordi, Malibu Mt. Club Art Schampel, Pasadena Rov. Ar. .. .

Jack Colburn, L. A. Bowmen-Hunters Pat McCormick, L. A. Bowmen-Htrs.

Paul Ludwig, Malibu Mt. Club Joseph Bennett, Malibu Mt. Club Charles Howe, Malibu Mt. Club

208 53-205 45-171 48-176 47-179 52- 190 45-175 41- 159 53- 199 51-189 35-131 40-142 43- 161 47-159 27-107 29-129 37- 131 33-117 31-117 38- 137 37-137 42- 150 33-117 44- 154 29-105 51-193

102-384 94-362 89-345 105-389 82-308 97-367 78-294 86- 334 100-368 102-372 78-296 78-276 91-343 94-342 67-253 67- 269 68- 248 68-244 73- 257 78-283 88-350 81-317 58-216 74- 264 65-245 87- 328

130 150 150 100 160 100 170 120 70 60 130 150 80 70 150 130 150 150 130 100 30 60 150 90 70

176 41- 157 44- 174 57-213 35-129 45- 177 33-119 45- 175 47- 169 51-183 43-165 38-134 48- 182 47-183 40-146 38- 140 31-117 35- 127 42- 140 40-146 51-213 39- 167 25- 99 30-110 36-140 36-135 46- 164

514 512 495 489 468 467 464 454 438 432 426 426 423 412 403 399 398 394 387 383 380 377 366 354 315

November, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

13

28 Target Score 46-172 31-109 102 27-111 31-106 27- 97 19- 67

28 Target Score 47-181 32-114 113 27- 99 27- 89 19- 73 21- 73

56 Target Score 93-353 63-223 61-215 54-210 58-195 46-170 40-140

Han- Han­ di­ dicap cap Score

EXPERT BOWMAN CLASS— Lulu Stalker, Flint Bowmen ....

38-138

38-140

76-278

100

378

BOWMAN CLASS— Amanda Sherrell, Malibu Mt. Club.. .

Mary Bledose, Malibu Mt. Club Silvia Noble, Malibu Mt. Club Minerva Gandy, Malibu Mt. Club Marie Seastrom, Malibu Mt. Club Helen Lecoq, San Diego

28-100 31- 119 25- 95 32- 120 34-120 30-110

30- 96 23- 87 20- 78 27-101 23- 87 21- 77

58- 196 54-206 45-173 59- 221 57-207 51-187

220 200 220 170 180 190

416 406 393 391 387 377

NOVICE CLASS— Besselee Jones, Everett, Wash.

20- 76

22- 74

42-150

JUNIORS— Dean Tweeddale, Everett, Wash.

31-107

33-123

64-230

NOVICE CLASS— Ed Tweeddale, Everett, Wash C. L. Wright, Northrop Archery Club Henry Thompson, Pasadena, Rov. Ar. Vernon Herbert, Everett, Wash Wellington Lewis, Hopkinton, Mass...

Rollie Pontine, Northrop Ar. Club...

Leon Morel, Jr., Cascade Club

LADIES

Seventh Tournament Notes

By Karl E. Pahnatier Stew Foster, Pasadena Roving Archers, made a 20 on the 45, 40, 35, 30 yard targets.

Sixty-three archers took part in this tournament.

G. S. Wagner, Flint Bowmen, was not reported in the fifth mail tourna­ ment. His expert bowman class score was 54-200, 48-188, 102-388, 430, 818.

This puts him in second place for the fifth tournament.

Ed Tweeddale will be in the Bow­ man Class for his next tournament.

The Pasadena Roving Archers have put in their bid for the first NFAA national tournament. To quote, “We feel that we have one of the most beautiful ranges in the country, and have received a great many favor­ able comments on it from eastern visitors. We also feel that Pasadena would be the logical place for this meet, because of the large NFAA membership in Southern California area. We have on our club mailing list over 200 archers.”

The only other archery group that „ u has made a bid is the_________ Michigan Archers Association. The keener the competition the better the meet should be. Start talking it up because we surely are going to have this tourna­ ment somewhere and we all hope soon.

Cascade Club—Seattle.

Malibu Mt. Club—Los Angeles.

Northrop Archery Club—Los An­ geles.

Archer Guide Scores Jack Pratt, former professional hockey player and now a prominent sportsman and archer of Vancouver, British Columbia, reports he bagged a huge bull moose and a large bull elk while acting as guide for a party of eastern rifle hunters in the Camp­ bell River country of Canada.

Pratt also reports he had several shots at mountain goats but failed to connect. All of his hunting was done with the bow.

Please mention Ye Sylvan Archer when writing advertisers.

____

14

November, 1943

YE SYLVAN ARCHER

Cincinnati Field Archers The Cincinnati Field Archers had a very interesting novelty Rover Meet October 17, at which a very satisfactory number of enthusiastic archers participated, all of them com­ menting favorably on the beautiful and unusual target faces drawn and painted in colorful pastels by the art­ ists of our club, namely, Edward Clapper, president; Elden Rouland, chairman of targets and Mrs. Rose­ mary Clapper. Bill Strack supplied the mechanical apparatus needed for the moving targets.

The day turned out to be a typical Mid-West Ohio Indian Summer day, with the woods and grounds aglow with autumn colors and falling leaves.

The air was crisp and warmed all day with plenty of sunshine.

The shooting lasted all day, in two rounds, with refreshing coffee and “donuts” served in the late after­ noon around a blazing open fire in the fieldhouse shelter. The meet was given some very good sports write­ ups by Cincinnati’s leading newspa­ pers, the articles being written by President Ed Clapper, who also made some advertising posters which were placed in vantage points at leading sportsgoods stores.

ARCHERY EQUIPMENT

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

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Please mention Ye Sylvan Archer when writing advertisers. r-

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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, 505 North 11th street, Oorvallis, Oregon.

"ARCHERY,” by Robert P. Elmer M. D., revised edition, most com­ plete book on archery published. 566 pages of valuable information for colleges, libraries, schools, camps archery clubs and individuals. Price $5.00 postpaid, orders to Ye Sylvan Archer, 505 North 11th street, Corval­ lis, Oregon..

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Plenty of all raw materials.

List for stamps.

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YE SYLVAN ARCHER

November, 1943

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VIKING ARCHERY 1874 Market Street San Francisco, Calif.

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P. O. Cedar Shafts in all sizes.

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

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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.

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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 25 c.

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November, 1943 I ...

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

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