Top_Heavy's World

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!