Elkhunter1

Very well put!!!!!!!! I agree speed is critical to kinetic energy, but you are not comparing apples to apples. Take your comparison of gr/in to fps(1.31). The 400 gr example arrow would actually be 450 gr not 400. Your 380 gr arrow @ 290 fps = 71ft/lb ke while the 450 gr arrow shot @ 260 = 68ft/lb ke. Each of these are much more than what is needed for a easy pass-thru on any elk. An exagerated point would be to compare getting shot with a 400 fps bb gun (copper bb)and then being shot with a 600 fps airsoft bb (plastic). Which would you prefer? Unless you are a glutten for pain you would prefer the 600 fps plastic bb as it has much less MOMENTUM. Heavier arrows will gather more momentum. Now, my speedy flatlines (i.e. plastic bb's) shoot 307 fps and weigh 338 gr which produce exactly the same ke as your example arrow of 380gr @ 290 fps. They are great for short range kills on deer or antelope with perfect shots, but I would never consider them an elk arrow. The best part of the weight vs speed argument is EVERYBODY is correct! You only need around 30ft/lbs of ke to easily pass thru a deer and kid's bow can produce that! 40 ft/lbs for elk and most of us are shooting 60+. Your arrows are great, my arrows are great, their arrows are great. Shoot what you have confidence in and hit the spot you aim at.

I just bought some fletching and nocks for about half what I could from anybody else I found. If you have better please share with the rest of the class. Thanks!!

Ok I'll bite. I can honestly say my dads Springfield 03A3 30-06 sniper rifle from the Korean War with its 26" barrel can reach out farther than one can see a coues buck. He shoots a Sierra boattail 130 grain with Bal-C-2 powder with I think 53 grains. It flies at about 3150 fps. He plastered a good buck two years ago out at 311 yrds. I know I know it isn't that far, but you have to consider he is 73. You probably will say that round is too small for elk but he has taken several with it and didn't need a second shot. My niece has taken Elk with her 243 without a second shot. Shot placement is the name of the game. Now as for me I shoot a 416 grain death stick with the Swhacker out to 80 yrds. Some of you say that is to far, you need to watch the Olympic games. I used to shoot a Hoyt competition recurve at 40 lbs out to 90 Meters. They still shoot 90 m If they can do it so can I with my bow at 78lbs. All one needs to do is shoot him while he is calm and eating, or asleep. You all have fun with your "bang sticks" GOOD HUNTING TO ALL

It seems to me that you are looking at Vortex making the binos for Eagle, like Easton making arrows for Cabelas. That is what I am willing to bet on. If they are the same price buy the Vortex version, if you need it you might get better customer service from them vs Eagle.

Yes Mr Quimby sometimes it does feel like I need one. Especially after a long day chasing the grey ghost, and looking at a two mile hike back to the truck. It usually weighs about 35-40 lbs.

What do I have in the day pack? We'll start with the basics: 1250lbs flat rope--40' GPS 3 knives 3 flashlights 1 headlamp 8 batteries 1 compass 3 lighters 1 roll flagging 2 pair gloves 1 Bennie 1 tripod 1 pair 20x60's 1 70 oz water bladder 4+ nutra-grain bars 4+ granola bars 2 sandwiches 2 pair rubber gloves 1 set rain gear 1 camo jacket 1 extra release 1 film can of asperin 1 bottle scent eliminator spray (HS) 1 anti-perspirant (HS) 1 Wyoming saw kit 1 pair glasses (back-up to the contacts) 1 set contacts (extra) 1 signal mirror 1 digital camera 1 1/2 roll TP 1 pack of reflective ties 1 Allen key set 1 MRE spoon 1 18 round clip pudding packs fruit packs Outside the pack I have: 1 bow 1 release 1 range finder 1 pair 10x40's 1 9mm/18round clip All this for a day trip. Oh ya and more water, drinks, and food in the truck.

What year is it????? It looks like an early model. If it is as old as it looks that would be only the second that I have seen. My dad has one that clicks 5 times as you pull the hammer back, very old. Butch Jenson offered him a new superblack hawk and $25 fo his 30 yrs ago.

I run 12 volt (back-up) house alarm batteries and I don't have a second set yet for them. One of the batteries was dead when I got there. I like to move them about every 3 weeks and I have other locations to set them in. YES it was a hard decision to get them or not!!!!

Salt deposits like any other mineral runs in pockets and veins. It could run up the hill or along the hill. It could also run in the hillside and re-appear in another spot. When I was younger and Back in Tenn. I saw deer eating the ground and asked my uncle about it. He said they eat the ground that is high in minerals. Most of the area has low concentrations of the minerals they need. I can also tell you the soil out here is much higher in mineral ans salt than back east. It is also higher in alkalinity. Very funny! No its not the Salt River! The location of the salt deposits I saw would be too hard to get to unless the deer had gills or rappelling equipment, but I was wondering if the salt deposits would be worth looking into a few hundred yards up hill. Could salt run all through that hill side? Any geologists out there with any idea?

Everybody has sound advice. the best advice I can offer you is to handle and shoot as many as you can. Find one that is comfortable in you hand (not to heavy, shoots well,smooth drawing, and fits your wallet.) Once you find the bow that fits all of these, you have found the best bow for you!

My Whisker Biscuit is fairly new and you are right as the biscuit gets worn down you need to change it just like any sound dampening you place on your rest. From what I have seen the helical and whisker biscuits don't always work well together. The fletching already have a little bit of friction to them when passing through the biscuit. The helical makes even more friction between the two and can actually start to tear the whiskers up. It probably depends on the brace height of the bow as well but I am not sure. I have seen a lot of guys complain about the accuracy of their bow and you look at the whisker biscuit and it is all torn up. When we put drop away rests on these bows it usually fixes the problem. I does sound like Elkhuneter is using one with no problems however so it must not always be the case.

I truly believe it will benefit us all in the end. Only if they open it up right after the first rain. (for us hunters)

I have shot through a drop away rest and I now use a Wisker biscuit rest. My arrows are dressed with 3" right helical veins and shoot very accurate out to 80 yrds. As I stated earlier like a bullet an arrow will fly straighter and more accurately if it has the stabilization of it spiraling during flight.

i can't say on the Rage tests that have been done and I don't want to talk out of turn about them. However I do have experience when it comes to the Swhacker. This head was renamed from the Sonoran. This head like all others could break or bend a blade if shot in the wrong place, but I will tell you if you hit any animal in the wrong spot you will want the blades to be razor sharp cutting what arteries or veins you do hit. The cutting edge of this blade is protected by the farrel during flight and the initial entry. Only after the wing blades make contact with the animal do the main blades deploy and start cutting, and they are "cut your arm hair sharp." If you are still not convinced about the Swhacker come with me on a Javelina hunt during the HAM hunt next year and I will show you what they can do. In the mean time look on sonoranbowhunting.com site on the 2 page of the photo gallery at the Wt shot out of a stand. What ever you decide good luck with your hunts.

+111 The back side of Mt Lemmon has a good pop. of WT. I have seen some good ones in the Wetstones as well.

OK after having my wife read this post she pointed out that it looks like I want a pack mule. NO NOT AT ALL. I want someone to hunt WITH!!!!!! I want someone whose enthusiasm for the hunt equals mine. Someone to enjoy the day away from the rat race of the city with. I want a hunting partner.

My old archery coach Jack Pate said, It doesn't matter if you shoot broadheads or just field points you always have a right twist or helical. Just like a bullet your accuracy depends on the rotation! You should use a right helical, it will improve your long range accuracy.

I just saw this post and had to add my shots!!! Ok Ok they aren't all sunsets or sunrises but I wanted to add them anyway!!

The deer and others are still here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D Animals just like humans WILL REBUILD THEIR LIVES IN THEIR "HOME"

I have several trail cam shots of wt, grey fox, coyote, turkey in the recently burned areas of unit 34A. see my new shots, burned in the trail shots forum.

I finally get my wife to go with my son and I out to look around and place some cameras out and this is what we found in one of my areas. Are you SITTING DOWN? Here is a shot of my truck with my son. At least I can say some of the deer are still here! There is still hope! RAIN PLEASE

That fire is also not far from where I hunt in that unit.

Those shots are of the fire in 34A. I also hunt in units 33, 34B, 36A+B

+++++++++++++++1000 Now that I 've read all of this bulls#!t it is just that!!!!!!!!! GET OVER IT AND TAKE A YOUNGSTER HUNTING. In the end THAT is what we should b measured by "how much did we give to the sport of hunting"

I am getting there, cameras are out just got the first set back. there is a lot of deer and even got shots of Turkeys. Ive never seen them in this area and I am 41. Just got the new arrows set up, got to get shooting and tuning. GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO SET FORTH INTO THE ABYSS LOOKING FOR THE GREY GHOST!!!!