Deer Hats

E.B., Lansing, MI: “On the August 3, 2006, program, the guys on Bowhunter Magazine TV were wearing deer hats. I have searched and can’t find anything like it. Where did these guys get their hats? The hats obviously attracted rutting Sitka deer, but such a hat also would be the perfect touch with the camo tux I’m wearing to a friend’s wedding.”

Thanks much for watching Bowhunter Magazine TV. My friend Bob Ameen made those hats. I doubt that you’ll find any commercial versions. Go to a fabric store for material, a crafts shop for eyes, and build the hat on a regular baseball-style cap. You should be the hit of the wedding. Good luck.

Arrow Weight Per Pound Of Draw Weight

S.L., Windsor, SC: “With all the talk about arrow weights and ATA and IBO speeds, is there a specific weight per pound of draw weight that should be used for whitetails and other big game? My current arrows, fully rigged, weigh 391 grains, and my draw weight is 65 pounds.”

Years ago, the rule of thumb called for nine grains of arrow weight for every pound of draw weight. Under that standard, your 65-pound bow would require arrows weighing 585 grains.

Remember, that standard was formulated in the days of longbows, recurves, early-day compounds, and wood arrows. Things have changed considerably with the advent of modern bow designs, materials, and construction, and today’s bows can safely shoot much lighter arrows. A few years ago the Archery Trade Association (ATA) developed a chart listing recommended minimum arrow weights. The chart factors in draw weight, arrow length, and cam design. For a bow with 65-pound draw weight, 29-inch draw length, and speed cams, the ATA chart lists a recommended minimum arrow weight of 377 grains. That computes to 5.8 grains per pound of draw weight. Based on that standard, you’re well within safe limits.

Stinky Feet

G.C., Central Point, OR: “I need some advice. My problem? Stinky feet. I have tried everything — powders, creams, scent killers, unscented soaps. I wash and dry my feet daily, sometimes twice a day. I change socks and boots each day. I take so many boots on hunting trips, I feel like the Imelda Marcos of the bowhunting world. Nothing works. Got any suggestions?”

You probably aren’t alone. At the 2005 ATA Archery Trade Show, BioWild LLC introduced a product called Foot Odor Block that might help. Contact: BioWild LLC, 1-866-883-8684, www.odorblock.com. Also, some hunters report good results from spraying their feet with underarm deodorant. You might experiment with different brands. Good luck!

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New Binoculars Advice

G.B., Felton, PA: “I’m looking for new binoculars and have my eye on Swarovski SLC 10×42 or Zeiss Conquest 12×42. Thank you for any advice you can give me.”

I use Swarovskis, and they are fantastic. Also, I have owned several Zeiss binoculars and have always been very satisfied. You will not be disappointed with either. You must decide if you want 10X or 12X. You might find 12X a bit powerful to handhold. Most hunters handhold up to 10X and mount larger binoculars on a tripod.

Larry D. Jones’ Elk Bow

M.A., Bridgeport, IL: “My twin sons and I are avid traditional archers and great fans of Larry D. Jones. We are curious as to the bow he’s shooting while hunting elk on Bowhunter Magazine TV.”

On my elk and caribou hunts I was shooting a 64-inch, 52-pound Martin Hatfield takedown. On my whitetail and Sitka blacktail hunts I was shooting a 64-inch, 55-pound Hoyt GameMaster. This fall I hunted with the Hoyt and a 64-inch, 55-pound Black Widow. They’re all great bows that do the job — when I do mine!

Fall-Away Vs. Lizard Tongue Rests

R.D., Louisville, KY: “Which is more accurate — a fall-away rest or the lizard tongue variety?”

Many tournament archers use the lizard tongue and other styles of static rests. If you’re referring strictly to bowhunting, I would say it’s a wash, provided both are properly tuned. For practical reasons, I personally have switched almost entirely to fall-away rests. I like to shoot arrows with plastic vanes and lots of helical twist, and I love the total clearance a fall-away rest offers. Another advantage is that I can cover the fall-away with adhesive fleece to ensure total silence on the draw, and since it suffers no arrow contact I never have to replace the fleece or re-tune my bow. Fall-away rests are a bit more hassle to set up, but if setup is done right, the accuracy is excellent.

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Whitewater Outdoors Fleece Garments

Jeff Klippenes, CA: “Tell me about the fleece garments Dwight and Roy were wearing during their long hunt on Kodiak Island. I saw this on Bowhunter Magazine TV. Were those the new Sitka fleece garments?”

No. On that Kodiak Island hunt, Roy and I were wearing the Sherpa jacket and pants from Whitewater Outdoors. To view these garments online, go to www.whitewateroutdoors.com and click on Realtree Pro-Series. This is good stuff. We basically lived in these clothes during our entire three weeks on the island, and I’ve used the Sherpa garments with satisfaction on many other cold-weather hunts.

Buying A Good Recurve

C.H., Parker, CO: “I have shot recurve target bows for many years and am thinking of getting into hunting. Can you give me any advice for buying a good recurve at a reasonable price?”

Well, one great place to start would be right here at Bowhunter Magazine. Along with our Stickbow Hunting sections in the Mar/Apr and Aug/Sept issues you will find informative articles and many advertisements from traditional bow makers. Another excellent source for information on traditional bows and bowhunting would be at stickbow.com.

For a reasonably priced bow to start with, look at production models from Bear, Martin, PSE, Hoyt, Mathews and other major bow makers. Also, don’t overlook used bows. Many excellent traditional shops buy and sell used gear. Two such shops I can recommend are The Footed Shaft out of Rochester, MN (507-288-7581) and G&M Archery based out of Benedict, MN (218-224-3263).

Send your Ask Bowhunter questions to Bowhunter, 6405 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17112; bowhunter_magazine@primediamags.com