First of all, in the latest Bowhunter magazine, I read the column on grizzly attacks.  I really enjoyed this article because it goes into something that I think is a very important issue: whether or not bowhunters should be able to carry a firearm while bowhunting. 

In my opinion I think that the bowhunter  should have the choice whether or not they want to carry a firearm.  The issue is not to carry the firearm for hunting, but rather for safety.  In some states such as mine, Missouri, a bowhunter is under less of a threat because humans are pretty well at the top of the food chain and are not attacked by many things here.  There are always exceptions though and now that the black bear population is  spreading quickly I think that this law needs to be looked at long and hard.  Even though Missouri may not have any bears, there is always the freak attack of other animals such as wild (feral) dogs, the occasional mountain lion or escaped exotic animal from an animal farm.  I firmly believe that the first issue when a bowhunter heads out into the woods should be safety and anything that can be done to protect hunters is definitely worth discussing.  One other point I would like to make on behalf of bowhunters carrying firearms is the fact that some states have legalized carrying concealed weapons.  Now I’m not really sure what the stipulations on this law are but if someone can carry a .44 into Wal-Mart to buy baby diapers surely bowhunters should be able to carry one while in the field.  I know there is always the possibility of the bowhunter using the weapon for purposes other than intended but they would most likely be far and few between. 

On a different note I recently purchase a new hunting simulation game from the local software store.  If you read the column when I mentioned the other game (Deer Hunter), I would like you to know that I think this game is 100% better than the Deer Hunter game and is cheaper.  I came across this game and I thought WOW, this game looks really fun, good graphics, realistic scenes, actual hunting situations, it’s got to cost a fortune . . . not the case.  I flipped the box back over and frantically searched the front for a price and when I found it, I was, to say the least, shocked, it was marked $19.99.  Those of you who are familiar with software prices know that the good games these days are selling anywhere from $45-$65 so at a mere $20 this was a steal.  I thought about and decided that I had to have it.  I bought it and hurried home to try it out. 

I loaded it quickly and easily and was very anxious when I finally got to play it.  The game really does simulate an actual hunting trip.  First of all you start out by selecting the place you want to hunt, The Piedmont, The Bitterroot, The Dakota or The Yukon.  The game boasts 9 different weapons, and 16 different big game animals to hunt.  I selected the Piedmont because it was the only one that offered turkey hunting and I was wondering what it would be like on a game.  After you make your selection you are whisked away to the hunting lodge where you talk to different people for advice on the area and so on.  You then check in with the desk and buy your tags, yes you actually have a budget and have to buy tags and gear.  You can take a hunters safety test to earn extra money also, $100 for a perfect score.  Then you make your way to Lenny the outfitter.  There you shop through a Cabela's catalog and buy every bit of hunting gear you will need, from your safety/first aid kit to your tent you sleep in.  After you get that all taken care of, you should go to range and sight in any weapons you want to use.  In the bow category you can choose either a compound or a recurve.  Then you make your way to the campsite to pick your hunting stand on a map, then you go hunting. 

When you or your guide spots an animal you will be zoomed to a close up of the animal and have somewhere from 3-6 seconds (estimate) to make an accurate shot.  In this game, distance, animal size and wind speed all play a factor in how you hit the animal.  If you barely hit him you have to track him.  When you make a kill you go to a screen that tells you about the animal, size, weight, distance shot and so on. If the animal is large enough, Cabela's gives you an award of varying amounts for your next hunting trip.  The hunt lasts 6 days and you hunt from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.  The time moves quickly so it doesn’t take long to spend a day.  In general I think the game is a lot of fun and anyone who likes computer games and hunting should check it out. Well, if you want to check it out I guess you need the name, it’s called, Cabela’s Big Games Hunter.  They have a web site if you want to check it out : www.headgames.net I haven’t been practicing much either because I just had surgery.  I had my appendix taken out last week and I can’t pull my bowstring back and probably won’t be able to for a while, so I’ll get out there whenever I can.  Until next time, shoot straight. 

I thought I would get to do some deer hunting over my Christmas break and I was right.  I didn't get to do much, and it wasn't  where I expected, but I did get out in the woods with my bow.  We went to St.  Louis during some of my Christmas break and I tried my hand at urban deer hunting.  When I got in the woods I found what looked to be a good place, a well used deer crossing on a 4-wheeler trail.  I sat on an embankment about 8 feet up since I didn't have my tree stand.  This was about 1:45  in the afternoon. 

I sat there for about an hour and a half when I heard something running around behind me.  At first I thought that it was a  squirrel but the more I listened the bigger it sounded.  Finally it ran across the trail about 40 yards down from where I was.  It was in a thick area so I didn't make a positive identification but I did see that it was reddish brown.  Hoping it was a deer I clipped my release on my string and got ready for the second sound to cross, but it didn't.  It started coming straight toward me  through a pine thicket.  I was ready when it came out but I wasn't ready for what came out.  Right as I was getting ready to draw, a dalmatian busted out of the cover and started running around me barking and yipping. 
 
Only then did I find out what had run across the trail, an Irish setter.  I tried to get the dogs away from me but it was to no avail,  the farther I walked the more they barked so I finally gave it up and when back to my Aunt and Uncles house and waited for  everyone to return home from their busy day. 

That was about all the bow hunting I got in over my break although I did get to do some gun hunting.  I am not sure if I  mentioned it in any of my earlier columns but my Dad, a friend of ours and I got drawn for a managed deer hunt on a state park.  It was one of the hunts we have in Missouri that I talked about in an earlier column.  While we were there, I shot two deer with my 30-30, a button buck and a 2 year old doe.  I won't go into detail right now since I am sort of pressed for time but if you want to know about the hunt you can e-mail me and I will give you the details. 

That brings me to another point.  I really appreciate all of the response I get to my column and I truly enjoy reading your stories  of your hunts and I would like to respond to all of you and I will but I need you to send me your e-mail address with your note since the messages are forwarded to me I am not able to reply to author. 

What did I get for Christmas?  Well, I had a good Christmas this year, I got all kinds of good stuff, such as a new pair of  neoprene waders (for duck hunting), lots of ammunition (although none of it was for my bow), lots of cash from relatives, a gift certificate to L.L. Bean and an Aim Rite 3-D deer target.  Ever since I shot in my first 3-D tournament I have loved to shoot at 3-D animals but couldn't because I didn't know anyone that had one...so, I did the next best thing possible, I asked for one for Christmas...and got it!  Right after I got it, I opened it and set it up, by myself since my dad was busy with trying to figure out the functions to a camera he bought my Mom.  Actually it was real easy to set up.  I just snapped it together (figuratively  speaking), drove the re-bar into the ground and slid it onto the posts.  I then hurriedly went and got my bow and arrows and started shooting like mad. 

I had a lot of fun until my hand started hurting from pulling the arrows out of the target, they were hard to get out.  After I put  up my stuff I noticed I had a tube of bow string wax on my dresser and I thought maybe it would work if I put a thin coat of it onto the front quarter of my arrows.  I tried it and it works great. 

The arrows are very easy to pull out.  Any kind of wax may work but the kind that I used was made by Pro Release Inc., it's called Bowstring Wax (catchy name?). 

On another note, I was reading in my Bowhunter magazine an article entitled "Perfect Practice Makes Perfect" on page 110 of the February/March issue.  The column was written by M.R. James, founder and editor in chief of Bowhunter magazine.  The 
article talks about shooting one arrow at unknown distances, stump shooting in many aspects.  One of the lines that still stands out in my mind every time that I think about the article is where he says "To my way of thinking, a bent practice arrow is a small price to pay for in-season success."  Which you have to interpret in your own words by determining what your definition of success is.  To me success means being able to safely, effectively and humanly take an animal while in the field which is the least  one can do for the animal.  If you haven't read the article, do so. 

After reading the article I was further inspired to go out and shoot a stump and did so that afternoon when I caught a break. I  grabbed a few of my arrow and headed into the woods behind my house and started looking for reasonable candidates.  After a short time I found my first victim, a 2 gallon bucket standing straight up.  I clipped on the release and tried my best to mold the white bucket into the side of yearling doe and when I released, I heard a whack and saw the bucket flip backwards several times.  I walked up to the bucket and pulled my arrow from it.  The spot which the arrow stuck was about 2 inches higher than where I aimed but I was confident that it was still a dead deer.  This went on for about 45 minutes when I spotted another  stump which I thought was well rotted and would be easy to retrieve my arrow from after the shot.  I went through the whole process again but this time turning my victim into a large bull elk. 

When I released, I knew the shot was good and the thought was confirmed when I heard the whack an arrow makes only  when it hits a stump that hasn't hardly rotted at all.  I walked up to the downed giant and tried to pull the arrow out of the stump but it was no use, the stump kept the arrow.  I had a lot of fun while stump shooting and I am sure that I will do it again soon. 

I think that just about wraps this column up. In closing I would like to compliment Mr. James and the rest of the Bowhunter staff for the fine work they do with the Bowhunter magazine.  Shoot straight! 
 
If anyone has any good bowhunting advice or stories, I would like to hear them. Thanks, and I'll let you know how I do. E-mail me at thomasfrench@bowhunting.net.