Top_Heavy's World

Friday night a friend from the IowaDeer.com site came down for bow tuning and lasagna. Cody is shooting an XForce Super Short, about my draw length and it was maxed out! We chrono'd the tiny thing and my eyes bugged out as it read 322 fps! It is hard to believe a bow so small can create so much energy. We sighted in his pins out to 50 yards and while struggling with the huge winds, we both felt pretty good about our shooting. I did notice that Cody shot better with my Drenalin than he did with his bow... he is a very good shooter, but a bow as touchy as the Super Short, requires constant practice. The term used is Forgiveness, the ability of the bow to shoot accurately by not over exaggerating small imperfections such as wrist torque. We refletched some arrows for his brother, another ID.com friend... Tyler got PINK and LAVANDER blazers on his new hunting arrows! We did spend a little time fishing... about 25 casts each, and considering the 20 mph NW gusts, I was happy with the one nice bluegill that Cody caught... I was even the one who suggested going inside! I must be getting soft. Thanks for sharing your time Cody, it was a blast.

Saturday found me being lazy, I did the "Dad's cooking pancakes, eggs, bacon etc for breakfast" thing. Mornings like this are still a fond memory of my youth, so I was doubley blessed when my father actually showed up for breakfast and spent the morning with us. The household chores took priority and we ended up having a great day indoors. I started a serious excercise program again... Weights, cardio, heavy and with purpose... I have never bench pressed 400 lbs before, and I have always wanted to. I set a goal to be benching that mark in 10 months when I turn 40. I was in the mid to high 300's when I was 33, (I leaned down to 218lbs to try and better the weight differential) but this poundage has always been a life goal. There was a free weight "machine" called a Wide Chest Bench Press and I was able to do 425lbs, but that isn't a true free weight flat bench, lift off the rack unassited, drop to chest, lift again, press. I will try not to bore you with too many nights of my goal, but I figured I could share now, a month into the training. Feeling pretty good about where my pins were set, I spent time working on my release trigger. Squeeze practice is very good for the shot, and I started shooting small dot targets at 6 yards. My 30 yard pin is perfect here, but my 60 is needed when I move to 3 yards.

Sunday morning started with more 6 yard practice, perhaps 60 arrows or so, then Jody and Craig showed up with a friend of theirs. I was asked to help sight in a low poundage Bowtech bow for a slightly older doctor, who is just learning to shoot. The sight bracket was lowered as far as possible, the pins were as low as possible, and the bow was shooting high at 2o yards. I raised the peep, changed the serving distance from the peep, compensated for the string twist and served the G5 back into place. The D loop was pinching the arrows hard enough to lift them from the rest when drawn, so the knock was removed and I served the D to proper gap. We double checked the timing and other set up options until we were happy and we headed to the Waltonian Archery Clug. I spent the next 1/2 hour with Doc getting his pins set and keeping him company. I let Jody and Craig warm up by playing a game of Cricket. Most people know this game from darts, but Craig brought archery targets that look like dart boards. I don't remember who won the first game, but I managed to put together a good game and took the second fairly handily. Doc was grouping great for a beginner but his unused back muscles soon tired, so we called it a day. The snow was starting to melt by the time I got home,so shoveling wasn't needed, so I worked with my brother Andy to get his river boat ready. We are traveling N in 2 weekends to fish big walleye. The reports were good last weekend, and we would have been there if the snow wasn't in the forecast.
Off season training, 3 kids and goals as lofty (foolish?)as mine sure can make for some CRAZY days!

I was lucky enough to have Adam Boysen stop over tonight to work on his new Bowtech bow. Adam moved his old sight to this bow to make it shootable until he chooses a permanent one. The bracket sits in a more favorable position on this bow, so he raised it up and centered the 3 pins. After a few warm up shots indoors, we moved outside and sighted at 20 yards. 3 shots and we had him hitting close, 3 more shots and he was centered. Adams large shoulders and arms were much better in the wind, my skinny frame was blown back and forth to the point that I couldn't group 3" at 20 yards! Great at 20, we backed off to 30. Adam is shooting only a couple of feet per second faster with the same arrows, so we set the pins to approximately the same gap as mine, and in no time he was again shooting very tight groups. Backing off to 40 I dropped to a better shooting position. I shoot the best while sitting, on a chair, on my feet with my knees in front, or even slightly raised in a modified kneeling position. I sent my three arrows down range and even in the wind I put them in a 2 1/2" circle. Adam kept shooting and I was amazed at how well he shot, each arrow slipping into the vitals on the block target. Shooting 40 yards with .029" pins is tough, but he kept at it and soon had arrows touching each other. We finally called it good enough, as the groups were as good as the weather would allow.
We stripped the long vanes off of his Gold Tip arrows, cleaned them and refletched them with 2" blazer vanes. I like to let the Goat Tough glue dry a few hours before shooting, so we will chronograph them again this weekend. Changing vanes dropped less weight than expected, only about 6 grains per arrow, but it should be better than the ragged old ones previously on there. Adam picked out 2 white and a bright chartruese yellow... I wasn't about to put them on a man's bow, so I talked him into 2 white and a white zebra pattern for the cock feather. The arrows look great and I am sure he will give them the "air mail" treatment tomorrow.
The night was great, I got to hang out with a friend, pimp his bow, watch him shoot better than he ever has, and feel like a part of helping him grow in the archery game... I just don't know how it could get any better!

I have been shooting Bowtech bows this week. The first, a 27" draw bow set at 68.8 lbs but the owner has it set up poorly, with loose screws and heavy arrows. He claims it is how he likes it so I don't feel it is right to comment on a bow that produces almost 10lbs less KE than it takes to draw it! The bow I spent time with tonight is a 29" General set at 68.6 lbs, the maximum I could get. The shape of the bow was nice, the thin firm handle was nice, as it didn't stick to my hand and create torque as the PSE bows did. This bow is set up with a really neat fall away rest with a capture bar to hold the arrow in the deep V shape created by the fingers of the rest. The fingers move to 70 degrees upright by thumb pressure and then the line connecting it to the string of the bow pulls it to 90 degrees when drawn. It is then free and falls forward at the shot. I used my 370 grain Maxima 350 arrows for the testing. I drew the bow and wasn't impressed. The first 3" of string movement just pick up the slack in the string and only draw at up to 8 lbs, then as the dual cams start to roll the poundage quickly jumps to the maximum of 68.6lbs in only a few inches of draw. The pull is very long as you must pull about 9" at maximum draw before the cams roll over to a fairly solid wall. I tried to over flex the bow and wasn't able to create a variation in speed over 2 fps... that is really good when compared to the 15 or so bows I have done this on! The average speed of the 370 grain arrow was 295 fps, with the max a blistering 297. while I didn't like the length of full pull poundage (my Drenalin pulls about 2" less travel at max draw weight and has a 1/2" longer draw) the shot was smooth and quiet. I liked the bow overall. I did try to let down from full draw and was reminded why I don't like dual cam bows, it was better than the X force and the Monster, but it is also much slower than they are. The bow was nice to shoot, but I struggle with the thought of buying a slow dual cam bow if it is equal price to something like the Mathew's Reezen or PSE X force. I would choose one of those bows first and shoot it at much less draw weight while still getting better performance. If you win it, get it as a gift or are allowed to shoot a friends, enjoy it, it is a top end bow and it shoots like it. If you are spending $750 on it, save your cash as it is nice shooting but not worth the tough draw due to lack of performance. Mathew's Reezen is still the best hunting bow for the mature audience looking for a 60lb draw set up.

I wrote about another shoot at the Waltonian Archery Club in Toddville for this coming weekend, March 28. I was informed today that this shoot is actually April 4 and 5, I will be working on a hunting cabin, so I will be unable to shoot. I wanted you to know the correct dates in case you were going to show up! The club is always looking for more members and there is usually food going in the kitchen and guys around to help. Please think about attending, it will be a blast.... maybe you can beat Jody for me!

The Waltonian Archery Club held the annual "Cabin Fever" 3-D shoot this past weekend. Jody, Clint, Craig and I shot about 10:30 on Sunday. The weather was decent, cloudy with scattered showers, it never rained hard enough to soak us, but the timber was pretty mushy. The shoot was 28 targets, 2 arrows at each from differing distances and from a predetermined location. The farthest shot was 40 yards, and most of them were 28 or less. I will make my case right off the bat. I don't shoot unless I know the range, to the yard. I am addicted to a range finder, so blind shooting isn't a strength of mine anymore. I haven't shot this series of targets before, so I was a having a tough time with the perfect yardage. I will also admit, I put the sight onto the bow, shot less than 20 times and called it good enough. I had a new string put on, the cable was let out 3 twists, the yoke wasn't adjusted and the rest and knock height were lowered. I was lucky to shoot a 2" circle at 20 yards, and I was shooting against 3 guys who shoot league every Tuesday! I was playing follower to say the least. We all shot pretty well, I dropped 41 points, a large amount for a 560 point shoot, but I was happy considering my recent changes. Jody made some incredible shots, including a super vital on the antelope, but the next shot from Craig one upped him, as Craig pinwheeled Jody's arrow and shot the first Robin Hood I have ever seen outdoors! Jody's arrow was pushed through the target and it split about 8" down the shaft. The shoot was great, I took second in my flight behind Jody, but I can assure you, I will be on my game this coming weekend when we hit our second shoot of the spring season!

Craig showed his shooting skills as he crushed another one of Jody's arrows!

The Gang, Clint, Jody and Craig, at the Raptor target, a steep down hill 30 yard shot that we all took advantage of.

The Cedar Rapids chapter of the National Wild Turkey Foundation held their annual banquet this past Saturday night. It was a great banquet, the body count was a little down, but the spirit and fun was up. The Jakes sign up was over 50 this year, so the inclusion of young people is going great. Dave Reisner was the MC and did a great job. Dave is one of those take charge types that keeps the room moving, laughing and rolling in thier seats. My group took up a long table of over 30 people, it was great recognizing almost 75 people, many of whom I only see a couple of times per year. All of my friends won something, our table sort of cleaned up! Adam Boysen won a Bowtech General bow, I won the loaded turkey vest, the Reisner's won several things including a turkey fryer... even a couple that claims to never have won before, was drawn a couple of times. The excitement was electric! There was a great turnout, the sponsors and donors chose incredible guns and major prizes and the food was great. If you haven't been to a NWTF banquet, you owe it to yourself to find one, it is a super cause and banquet!

I am sorry, this month has been so busy that I am not able to be here everyday as I have been for a long time. Work has been overwhelming with my crews working 24 hours perday for several weeks straight. I have written a couple of stories, one was published in April and one is set for May. Shed hunting has gotten some of my daylight free time and my family has gotten the rest. I will catch up, so stick with me, it should be a great weekend. I am getting a couple of Bowtech bows, I will be doing some shed hunting and I have a National Wild Turkey Foundation banquet on Saturday night. My weekend should be fun and there should be lots to write about!

I spent a couple of hours with a PSE Bowmadness bow tonight and I am very disappointed. The draw was smooth, but that is required from a single cam bow anymore. The energy transfer was decent, a 27" draw, 336 grain arrow, set at 63 lbs, it shot 274 fps, no wait, 276 fps, no... 278.9 fps wait again... 280.2 fps. To me nothing matters if the bow doesn't have a dead solid wall at the end of the draw. When I took great care to draw to the turn of the cams and hold right there, I shot about 274 fps. When I just drew the bow and shot, the chrono bounced all over. After 25 shots at 63 lbs I was able to max the bow at 281 fps and minimum it at 274. I cranked the bow upwards one pound at a time and found that I could shoot the bow between 281 and 283 fps all the way up to 67 lb draw! The care needed to draw to that point each time isn't practicle and the thought of shooting a bow that varies this badly from shot to shot isn't either. Accuracy comes from consistancy... there is none with the Bowmadness bow. I had a much better time with the X Force, it has the best wall of all the PSE bows so far, but I wouldn't own this one and hunt with it if you gave it to me. Sorry Mr Shepley, this bow sucks.

I just got back from a trip, not just any trip, a MAN'S trip. I loaded some great friends into a big van and we took a road trip. Being a nonconsumer of adult beverages, I was the designated driver. I had organized, gathered and picked up 5 friends of mine, but they barely knew each other. I sat and watched the band of fools as they opened up and became friends amongst themselves. We finally got tired of driving around and stopped for the night. "Rat Bag Motel" was quickly my name for the cheapest motel in town... the old world block building still sported shag carpet, mini blinds, shower heads that were hung for people under 5' tall and the guy behind the counter smiled constantly but couldn't speak english. Who cares, for $44 bucks, I could sleep almost anywhere. The gang of 6 had to investigate each room, we were a train of laughing, stumbling and LOUD guys as we talked eachother into staying. I will admit, it doesn't get much worse. A couple of the guys tried to negotiate the price, which is much harder when the other half of the transaction doesn't understand drunken redneck. The small man was able to say "honey buns and coffee" when someone asked what breakfast was. That set the entire gang to laughing again as we rolled eachother back into the parking lot. The night passed quickly and we were again on a mission. We soon added another pair of wonderful individuals to the foray. The host and his friend, another local, were generous enough to allow us to walk several acres of timber and ag fields in an attempt to find cast deer antlers. The day was awesome, everyone got involved and as the 12 hour death march ended, I was tired. We managed to watch one of the gang pick up 2 very redneck horse loving chicks, did I tell you one had a tin of skoal in her overly tight blue jeans... he was a master and the pair asked the entire group out for drinks and an ameteaur band. Flattered, but out of my element I quickly turned down the offer (the others really weren't interested either) and the entire group met for steak and a slower pace.
Morning came too quickly Sunday, the much better motel and very tired feet left me wanting to stay in bed. The guys drug me down to breakfast and we added another 5 hours to the death march total. In the end, we found 25 sheds antlers and 1 dead buck skull with both antlers attached. The trip home was incredable and went by way too quickly. I feel really good being in such company for a couple of days, these guys were worth the time! It turned out to be one of those trips that you want to sort of hold onto, a treasure actually. It was so good I just can't put it into words.

My Drenalin was restrung last summer before my antelope hunt. I shot this bow 1000's of times and wore the string out. There were a few threads broken, a fair amount of fuzz and no matter how often I waxed it, it was hairy looking in just a couple of shots. The draw weight was down to 69lbs and the speed dropped to 290fps with a 370 grain arrow. I had a new string installed on Monday, a standard Zebra Barracuda. I shot the bow tonight and Wow, what a difference. The string was twisted a couple of times in an attempt to get the peep set correctly, but not enough to make a major difference. The poundage tonight is 74# and the bow is shooting 297.3 fps, with less than 1 fps variance in 4 shots. This is one of the most consistent bows I have ever used. I will be taking a twist out as the peep still doesn't come to center, then I will chrono again and start the shot count. I am going to shoot this string out before August and the 09 antelope hunt. I want to see how the string changes with temps and with shot count. I was pleased to draw such a smooth bow again, after the Reezen and the Monster, this bow is a dream.

I will make a side note that even though it is claimed to be a 320fps IBO bow, I have never gotten it to shoot that fast and other than the first few arrows off the bow,and it hasn't ever shot over 300fps with an IBO weight hunting arrow.

Well, today I finally got my hands on a Monster. It looks like the PSE X Force, with its curved limbs and short brace height. The hatchet shaped cams were noticable and obviously the power in this beast. The weight was fine, about normal for a Mathews, the camo was fine, but who really cares. The question of the year is HOW DOES IT SHOOT. I was handed a pocket full of arrows. Yes, I stuck the entire handfull in my back pocket so I looked sort of like a turkey in strut as I set up to shoot it! Fin and Feather had the cobra release I use, the hand held model with the finger groves, so this would be a fair comparison. The guys at the shop had done a phenominal job at setting the bow up. The peep lined up great, the sights were dead on (you can be off a bit when the bow is shooting this flat) and the center shot was perfect. I tried to draw it and WOW, this beast at 63# pulled longer and harder than my LX at 70! The cams came back very hard and the pull was LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG. When the cams finally rolled it was a slam that nearly cost me the grip on the bow. I have shot some rough drawing bows, and this was one of them. With an idea of what to expect, the following draws became better and better. The valley was clear back in the draw cycle and there was an almost weightless point as the cams rolled. The wall at the back was dead solid, but near perfection is expected from Mathews I touched the release and the arrow was too fast to follow. They claimed that it was shooting from 288 to 300 fps with a 28" draw, set at 63 lbs, but I think it was much faster. The arrow weight was the factor, energy was not in short supply! If you want power and speed this bow was designed for it, unfortunately the draw was not made for a guy like me.
Shooting this bow was smooth, mellow and lacking the jump I expected from other dual cam speedsters, but the thought of being in a tree, 10 below zero and shivering for 3 hours waiting for a shot, drawing this bow, even at only 63# and then being forced to let down and redraw as the buck clears.... NO WAY!
If you are an aggressive speed freak, one of those guys that just wants raw power and pass through shots at deer no matter what the angle. The kind of guy who wants to know that you can shoot through both front legs, at the joint! and still get a complete pass through... this is your bow. If you want to be the fastest bow at the shoot, this is your bow. If you don't want to worry about a 3 yard question in range, this is your bow. If you want to shoot one pin to perhaps 40 yards, this is your bow. If you want to shoot a pass through on a Block Target, this is your bow. If you will be standing or kneeling for most of your shots (I can't imagine drawing this while leaning over and then trying to sit up with it drawn)this is your bow. If you will be willing to spend huge hours perfecting your shooting form, truly working to get good with a tough bow to shoot, if you are one of those guys, the Monster is your bow!
I say this as a 210lb guy with a 29.5" draw who shoots 100's of arrows a week at 70lb draw! If you have followed me at all you will know that I only own Mathews bows, I have since 1997 when I bought my Z max and used my brother's Black Max. I am a believer in the technology and the superiority of this brand. Because of this following it pains me to say that I am not a true speed freak. I will not sacrifice that much comfort, not even for that much speed. Mathews has done it to themselves, I have grown so fond of the smoothest, best shooting bows, it is just too hard for me to move away from a single cam again. The Reezen is much more comfortable and will spit a hunting arrow at more speed than I have ever used. It is tougher on the draw than the round cam smoothies of the past 10 years, but I will accept that small percentage of comfort lost for another 20fps from my hunting arrows. My choice for the best bow at 60# will start with the Reezen from the Mathews camp.

OK, if you aren't anal then stop reading right here, this is going to be dry and boring for the story lover, but packed full of details and specifics if you are into that!

I have been working with Dave Reisner's 2008 model X Force compound bow. Dave is smaller than I am so keep in mind this is on a 27" draw bow! The X Force is a dual cam, split limb bow. The draw is fairly smooth, but that is partially due to the size and low poundage... that will move it up in the search for the best 60# bow. There isn't any literature with the bow so I don't know what the range of draw poundage is, so I consulted my arrow charts and made sure the arrows Dave was shooting would handle the max. The good part about shooting 27" draw is that you can shoot light arrows upto 70#, so I cranked down the limbs and got a baseline. Dave had it sighted in at 62.6#, that is what he is seen shooting on the Drury vidoes.

The bow would only go to 68# maximum and it made some funny noises to get there. I shot the bow 5 times to get a good, reproducable speed and I lowered the poundage 1 pound and checked again. I did this routine down to and including 62#. I was/am intrigued by the uneven power curve on this bow.
68# draw created 296 fps
67# draw created 293 fps
66# draw created 293 fps
65# draw created 290 fps
64# draw created 289 fps
63# draw created 286 fps
62# draw created 283 fps
These speeds are with a Radial X Weave STL Hunter 200 arrow of 27 3/16" weighing 332.8 grains with a 100 grain head included. This is a dip crested arrow with 3 2" blazer vanes.

I noticed that there were some flat spots in the draw. 64# and 65# had only 1 fps increase and again at 66# to 67#, there was no increase, obviously that is a point of ZERO return for the harder draw. I shot upto 7 times to verify these minimal amounts, and even went back to the scale, they were as real and reproducable as possible. This bow is set up exactly as I would set it up, a drop away rest, a multiple pin sight, a thin handle and nothing but a peep in the string. The brands might not be the ones I would choose, but Dave proves they are very deadly.

The object is to keep the poundage low for ease of shooting and draw, even when cold, but to get the most in energy transfer. At 65# there is a dip and to get to the next increase would take 2 pounds of draw for only 4 fps of increase, where as there is a 3 fps increase per 1# of draw up to that point. Running the numbers on the Kinetic Energy Calculator on the Bowhunting Info site, we see that 62# gives us 59.2 lbs KE while 64# gives us 61.74 lbs KE, an increase of 2.5 lbs KE. We drop to only 1.7 lbs KE increase at the 66# mark, a total of 63.46 lbs KE.

64# with this rig is the point of diminishing returns, and I will bet that is where Dave will be shooting it this season!

This bow specific, super detailed information is good information for finding the sweet spot of your favorite hunting rig. It took over an hour of shooting and tweaking, and I don't know of any proshop that does this, but you can easily do this your self with a few pcs of hardware. With some time you might find that you would get better results from a lower poundage on your bow.
I will soon be doing a piece about the magic number of draw weight to arrow length and how it might be costing you performance, sometimes less is more.

I drew my bow and the peep sight rolled, the string had been on the bow for less than 4 hours and it needed work. I have been taking my bows to a full service archery shop for years and I a tired of it. My bow was set up based upon how busy a store was, who was on duty when I brought it in, or to the level of the "mood" the guys were in. I had to have that brand new string messed with 2 times in the first week and it was never right. I hunted with a string set up that was so poor that I had to knock the arrow and then twist the peep 1 1/2 revolutions to get it to come back to the proper location. It would be perfect for that shot and I would repeat the motion after knocking each arrow, if I didn't do this, the peep was unusable as it rolled completely closed! I am taking my bows to 2 places now, one is in Iowa City and the other is Coyote Springs in Hiawatha. I am really happy with the guys at CS, they are knowledgeable and detailed, but aren't those kind of guys who only push what "they" use. I called the bow expert at the Iowa City location (he knows my face and is different in person) and he gave me his BS about less poundage is better, what he has been doing etc etc etc. The question was "what is the lightest arrow you have for 70lb draw, single cam bows" and instead of getting the answer, I got the speech about how I don't need that much, I should buy a new bow or only shoot 20 yard broadside shots... I was polite as I have heard his pitch many times, I now use CS because they will help you do what you want, with their professional touch, THAT IS SERVICE! Unfortunately the shop hours are not always the same as my desire to change things, so I am making a proshop at home.
Putting components on a bow is simple, anyone can do that, but getting those components calibrated to the others, everything working as one, is tough. Paper tuning is the best way to get as perfect as possible. Any arrow kick is shown, and fine details can be noticed by an experienced bow tech. I looked at ordering a paper tuning frame and roll of paper and was amazed at the $200 price tag. I want/need one, so I built one today for less than $40 including what should be a life time supply of paper. Using 1 1/2" heavy PVC, I built the frame and paper roll shelf. The primer and glue were simple to use and the entire frame was built in under an hour! I custom sized my frame as well, I made it tall enough for me, and also short enough for Jody. The feet do come off of the frame for easier storage, but I have the room to keep it set up at all times. I ended up using 6 "Ts", 4 "90 deg elbows", 20' of pipe, a small can of primer and glue. The pipe was quickly cut with my circular saw and the paper is masking paper 18" wide from the paint department. I spent $14 on the metal clamps alone, so there is room for cost savings even on my system.

If you are tired of average service, long trips to the closest bow shop or are just looking to be independent, a good tuning frame is highly useful.

I have written several times about the true love of my life, a petite black lab named "D". She captured my heart many years ago and was my closest or only friend for several of those years. Much more loyal and affectionate than my first wife, she was there until cancer finally took her. We sat for her last hours at the corner of my pond, the sun setting at our backs we looked over the pond and I wept as the suffering past. Her last few gasps touched me deeper than anything I have experienced, before or since. I held her close and inhaled her final breath, holding that breath as long as I could, I prayed that she would be part of me, in every muscle of my body, not just my heart. I cry even now as I allow myself to remember her. It is strange, I was blessed with perhaps the greatest dog I will ever know, at a stage when I wasn't good enough to deserve her. I cry out of sorrow, not that she is gone, but that I will forever know I wasn't worthy of a companion as pure as her.
My love for D is obvious by now. During her life she took only one mate, a beautiful black male of similar build and quality of bloodlines. She had a litter of 4, 1 little girl and 3 boys. The little girl was smothered during the second day of her life and was buried in my pet cemetary. The boys grew quickly, with one standing out. I knew I should keep this retrieving machine, but my heart was set on the only white pup. I ignored my head and went with my heart. The third son was donated to Pheasants Forever and he brought a great price, he went to a family that ended up getting a divorce and I heard he was killed by a car... the truth may never be known. The white lab, Orion, died during a mid morning thunderstorm of a lightning strike. His metal kennel touching the sidewall of a metal covered polebarn. The final pup, Spunky, was given to a friend. He has since created a family of 4, a high stress job as a police officer in Louisiana and no room for a dog. His mother took Spunky for a time, but lucky for me, she couldn't keep him anymore. I got the call and raced to pick him up. Spunky looks so much like his mother that my wife accidently called him "D" twice yesterday. He and I hit it off as though he never left. I should have kept him, but had I done that I would probably still be a waterfowl hunter.

I took his ball and gave him a shed antler this afternoon. I threw it and he retrieved it a few times and we went for a walk. I dropped the antler in some tall grass and he found it as he trotted by. I must admit, I was getting excited! In less than 40 minutes he found a very nice 4 point antler and part of another. I thought D was the smartest dog I have ever seen,but if Spunks finds a couple more antlers, he might be right there with her!

It's not huge, an 18"+/- main beam, but it was his first antler and perhaps the first step in training a shed dog!

I had a great day messing with archery stuff today. I shot the Reezen by Mathews again, I always draw bows with fingers as well as release. The finger test helps me feel any changes in pressure or jumps in pull strength requirements. I must admit, it rolled much heavier at 68lbs than it did at 60. I shot the X-force at home tonight and there was less difference than I remembered. Both bows have a hearty snap when those big cams roll over leaving me with 3" of almost "free" travel. For a single cam it is fast, and fairly smooth, just not as awesome as I might have led you to believe from last time I shot it.

Jody's bows were the subjects of attention tonight. His Parker single cam fishing bow got a tune up: we raised the knocking point almost 3/8" and the peep sight almost 1 1/2". The bow shot so much better now we were both amazed. He immediately started telling me that was why he missed so many fish last fall! I served in the peep and replaced the big rubber knock point with a heavy string loop. His main serving was showing signs of crushing from his Cobra release being attached directly to the string.

Jody's LX was the next bow for "pimping". He has gotten much stronger from routinely shooting, so we maxed out his bow at 66.7lbs. My guess is his string has stretched some so a new string might pep it up even more. We were able to move his speed up to between 259fps and 260fps. The chronograph couldn't make up its mind from shot to shot. I removed the peep and the long rubber tube, and installed my favorite G5 1/4" peep. I put it back at the same height and served it into place. Jody allowed me to cut off the rubber cat whiskers, the kind that looks like a spinner bait skirt, they don't help a bow this smooth and quiet anyway, then we chrono'd again... 269.8fps! We gained almost a full 10 fps just by eliminating string weight. Not all string acessories are as slowing, but on a Mathews, none are needed. Now his 27" bow is shooting almost 270 fps with an arrow that is 16 grains heavier than IBO, that is a serious jump in power and efficiency. Sometimes the more simple we make something, the better it is.

It has come to my attention that I am only able to hunt so much because my parents are rich. I can't believe that at 39 years old, this garbage still exists... I guess that petty jealousy is partially how the socialist views are in charge politically right now. Belief that someone has more because they cheat, steal, or are supported by means other than themself is as old as time itself. If you and I stood next to each other as kids and had the same dreams you would have had a tough time keeping up! It could be because my parents were so rich that they could only afford a 2 bedroom house with a single stall garage for 3 boys... It could be because my father worked a full time job, assembled ATM enclosures in his part time for extra income and was a LT Col in the reserves... It could be because my mother went back to work once Grandpa Tony was around to watch us, that hard earned few $ was saved so the family was able to take a 1 week family vacation annually. It could be because I was shown and taught and forced to be responsible for me and my family once it was started. When I couldn't afford diapers for my child and my wife and I hadn't eaten in almost 2 days, I swallowed my pride and went back to my FAMILY for help. I was supported enough to curb the edge but keep me uncomfortable and actively seeking personal advancement. I am the luckiest person alive because I was shown, taught and forced to be a productive part of society with belief that I only get what I earn... I deserve what I can create and I am owed NOTHING!!! This world is not here to give us everything, it is here to allow us to be anything. While you would be complaining that your day was too long, I would work another hour. While you were complaining that your union wages were too small or you were on the "bench" too much while still paying union dues, I would be getting commision on sales, because I believe I am worth only what I can create. While you are sitting there thinking you deserve more salary because your boss, the owner of the company, got a bigger house or new truck,I would be making another phone call to one of my crews to be sure our profit margin was a little better so I would be worth a raise. While you would be getting off of work, stopping at the bar to have a few drinks, then driving home after dropping $25 on something to help you forget your day, in a condition of diminished capacities, then get home and expect your family to avoid walking between the lazy boy chair and the TV, where you parked your drunk ass and told your wife to bring you another beer..... man do I know you or what? While that is your pathetic existance, oh wait, I forgot about the $4 pack of cigs that you bought today, as you do everyday. I will show you how I get as much done per day as I do, it is called motivation, cooperation, dedication, and coordination.
My day started late today, yesterday I ran a 6:00 foremans meeting, today I just started at the office before 7:00 I organized the crews, dealt with customers, helped on every job site we have, finalized payroll, took 20 minutes to check scouting cameras and shed hunt, grabbed lunch and ate it while finishing the daily log and did the last review for the week, I organized everyone for the morning and drove to the voting place in Alburnett to vote my conservative beliefs on more taxes. I made it home in time to spend 20 minutes with weights and 30 minutes on the treadmill, then I shot my bow, only 24 shots, but the last 20 hit the quarter sized target, my children came home then about 6:30 with my wife and we had a family sit down meal, the 5 of us. The bath water is running right now as I type and get ready to go back to work to motivate and help the night shift from 9 to 11, then they will continue until 6:00 in the morning. I will be available for calls or shop runs during that entire time. I also took the time to write this blog to help you remember that I have what I have because I got off my lazy liberal ass and I got active in my own life. I don't spend $20 or more per day on activities that hurt me physically, I take care of myself and my family and I arrange my life to give me a life. Your children will be like you probably, so as I know you are an over weight smoker, union voting, socialistic victim... is that what you want your kids to be and do you understand why I have the results that I have? Next time think before you show how stupid you really are, I don't want to hear it, but then again, you did motivate me to look into starting another small business in my free time. Hope to see you in the woods or at a shoot, I think I am going to show up at one of your indoor shoots this month. I know I can outshoot you, even though you are sponsored and shoot league... perhaps you will get motivated knowing I am gunning for you, but then again maybe you will think I beat you only because I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Thank you mom and dad, I wish every kid had you as parents, I love you most because you taught me to love the lord, my family and the options this great country was founded on!

I have been a serious fan of Cuddeback cameras, I have several and have written about them many times. I use the IR version, they are tough to judge size at night, but they don't seem to scare deer as often as the flash. Adam Boysen talked me into using a Reconyx so I tied it to a trailer in my yard where it would overlook a couple of gut piles from during hunting season. I set the camera and forgot about it until tonight. I must admit, when I pulled the chip today, a month since the last gut pile was eaten, I didn't expect to have much to look at. Much to my surprise, I had a couple of interesting pics. The Reconyx camera battery life was even better than any setting on any camera I have ever used. I had pictures of racoons, a doe and fawns, a night time buck I can't judge well, and a day time buck that was mere feet from the camera. I really can't believe anything was this close to the house, between my driveway and the south timber.

I will be checking the rest of my cameras this week, I hope to have something special to show you.

Sort of funny how it all works out... I called over 20 times during the past 6 weeks, and the phone would ring until I hung up. I sent a hunting buddy to her shop and she was never around. I called the DNR to investigate her license and line up the legal procedure for recovering the heads. I have covered all of my bases and got myself ready for the worst. I decided to call one last time Friday night, I had to work until after 11:00 in Cedar Rapids so the plan was to be in their driveway at dawn. I have the number on speed dial, so I hit the button and was amazed as the voice mail answered. I left a simple message and started to feel better. I called again early Saturday Morning and I got an answer! After a long call I was brought up to speed. She has 24 shoulder mounts to finish and then she is closing the shop. Her husband, the other half of the business. is going to be off (his day job is having a temporary closure) for a month so everything will be completed by April 15th. The conversation was good and we will hope for the best in mid April.