The Monster looks good, but nothing dead yet

It looks pretty, but there is no blood in the arrows. I'm heading back out for the beginning of the rut on Nov. 5th. Hopefully something unsuspecting will walk by.

Opening Morning

How was your opening bow season morning. I have been waiting for this day for what seems like forever. New lease, and the morning was filled with tons of activity. It started off with a doe, quickly followed by a buck and doe. three does followed them around 8:00. To my surprise i had a few turkey Toms come in around 8:30! Of course there is no turkey archery season.

FJ45 Short Wheel Base Custom Troopy

Proffitt's Cruisers

This is such a sweet build. Not only is it a FJ45, but to have it all rigged out with the diesel conversion is too much. Check out the pic's on the link. It seems that Proffitt's is the place to go for all of your cruiser needs. Frame up resto to Rock Crawler buggies, Proffitt's has it covered. They also have some great double swing tire/can back bumpers, and great looking Front replacement bumpers.

Proffitt's Cruisers
21474 Austin Road
Austin, CO 81410 USA
Phone: 970 835 3490

Wow Stokerized Stabilizers

Stokerized Stabilizers have really turned out some great products. Those of us that don't have one of the new Hoyt Carbon Matrix bows with the offset stabilizer can use the Stokerized "SS1". This is supposed to offset the balance problem brought on by a heavy sight and quiver. I always notice this when I actually have time to view my level before a shot. I think it is a great idea, and It has many followers. Why didn't I think of this!

Colorado Road Trip

There isn't much going on as far as hunting right now, but that will soon change in the upcoming months as we prepare for the new deer lease in Doss, TX. So we packed up the family truckster and headed for the cool temperatures of Colorado. We left for a 2 week vacation. The first week will be in Snowmass Village, Co, followed by a week in Colorado springs.

We left Fort Worth on Saturday morning around 8:00am, and reached our destination at 10:30pm. We saw a few mulies going up Independence Pass.


Leaving Fort worth


Reaching the Panhandle


Raton Pass coming up


Sangre de Cristos

So far we have done a lot of hiking and running with AA our 2yr old daughter. We hiked some of the Ditch Trail today and had a blast.


Look at that view!

Torqueless Grips

Over the last year or so, I have been having issues with the Mathew's grip on my Monster. So like i do with everything I went researching every replacement grip possible. There are some great companies out there, but it came down to the Mathew's Focus Grip, and Torqueless pro grips with a low wrist. I made the correct decision going with the small guy (Torqueless).




The process was so easy:

Step 1: go to their website http://www.torqueless.com/
Step 2: check out the grips they have for you particular bow.

Step 3: choose the grip you like

Step 4: make sure to buy the adhesive

Step 5: buy

Step 6: open package

Step 7: follow insturctions in the box (take you wife's hairdryer and heat up the front of the grip for 10 min, then pry the old grip loose)

Step 8: squirt the adhesive in the same place that you see on the old grip, but on your new grip.

Step 9: put the grip on

Step 10: go shoot after about 5 min

The new grip has dramatically improved my groups at long range (+40yards), and I don't have the occasional flyer. They are a great product. With the low wrist Torqueless says it has the same angle as the Bowtech grips, and it is sturdy as a rock! Update! I finally took a pic of the new grip on my Monster 6

Rockport, TX

The Fam, left Thursday for an extended fishing trip, and the Rockport Music Festival was happening also!

Friday we woke early, and hit the bay. Lead by Capt. Jackson we headed over the the north of Goose Island and kayaked Sundown Bay for Redfish. It turned up 2 keepers. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing and relaxing.


Saturday we woke again, and headed for Allen Lake. We wade fished to no avail, then decided to head to Estes Flats. The small trout were everywhere! We landed 3 keepers, and the headed in. During the course of the morning we went thru 2 whole packages of Gulps! by Berkley. I highly recommend the "New Penny" color.

Elk Draw update

Sad day for me, but my co-conspirator did draw! I now have my pref points for next year. Now to take him Bow shopping! I might have to pull the trigger with my refund from CDOW. I will be in the market for a day pack, and a less than $1000 spotting scope with tripod. Right now I'm thinking of the Vortex Optic line, I have seen some great stuff from them out of their binos and rifle scopes.

Taylor Guitars

I have loved my Taylor 12 string. I bought it in early 2000, and quickly installed a thin line pickup. Lately though I have been playing my Martin D-28 with Po Campo, due to the absolutely grandiose sound of the 12. So I am now looking at the Taylor 4114ce to beat up instead of my Martin. I love the thin necks and playability. Taylor has a new built in pick up called the Expression system. I'm sure the sound is great for live play, just like the 12. I spent way to much money last year piecing my Martin back together after 15 years of live play, so I need a good guitar that I am not so sentimentally attached to, and the Taylor seems to fit just right.

Colorado Elk Draw Results

click here

Species Date Posted
Spring Turkey March 8
Rcky Mtn Bighorn Sheep May 4
Mountain Goat May 4
Desert Bighorn Sheep May 4
Species Projected Post Date
Bear May 12
Moose May 13
Elk May 31
Deer June 2
Pronghorn June 15
Leftover Elk July 21
Leftover Deer July 21
Deer and elk leftover results are available for unsuccessful
applicants who marked the leftover-draw option on their
limited license applications. The list of leftover licenses
available after the limited drawings can be found on the
Leftover Licenses page.
Fall Turkey Aug 2

I am really putting this up here for me to use. I'm tired of searching through CDOW website for this page time and again. Grab your CID number, and plug it in. The Bull Elk draw should be around the 31st of May.

Scott Longhorn Hunter

I would love to experiment with Back tension releases, but I really don't want to kill someone in the process. This new release by Scott Archery seems to take care of one of my fears. The Longhorn hunter is attached to the shooter via wrist strap, so it wont go flying out of your hand in an unknown direction. I know that the worlds best archers usually shoot back tension, and this really doesn't happen. That being said, confidence in your shot is the #1 in archery. I think if i made the switch to a BT release i could find the Scott Longhorn Hunter very appealing.

Limbdriver Pro V Rest

A great looking new rest has been released by the Vapor Trail Guys. They are well known for their limbdriver rests in the 3D world, but now they have a full containment rest for us hunters. The benefit of the Limbdriver system is that the anchor point for the rest dropping mechanism is attached to the top limb of your bow. This achieves perfect timing with your shot. Every bow is different, but this anchor point is a great way to hedge your tuning job.

Dodge Power Wagon

This Power Wagon is about the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. The builder took a '60's Military Dodge and stuck it on a new Dodge 1 ton diesel truck.

Hemmings Find of the Day – Dodge Power Wagon at Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

K & K Archery Site is Up and Running

K&K was started last year by Kevin Strothers and his wife Kate. I have been wanting to post a lot of things about this company, but there was no website until this week. They will produce a limited amount of bows each year, but WHAT A BOW THEY ARE. I have spent sooo much time over the last 6 months or so reading and reading posts over at www.archeryaddix.com. The are producing 2 bows this year; The 30'' ATA Vingence, and the 35''ATA Vendicator. 7'' Brace height bows producing 338 IBO Speeds!, With a reasonable draw cycle! If you feel the need to step up and order one for your self, just sign up on their website www.kandkarchery.com

Countdown for Elk

I have been dreaming almost every night about This up coming fall. I find out about my first elk draw on May 31st. Along with that news I will also be switching over from Right handed shooting to Lefty. I haven't shot much this off season, but I hope to start up again on some of the great 3D courses at Cinnamon Creek Ranch.

5 Fingers Update

I have run about 50 miles so far on these shoes. I can tell that some "Strange things are A-Foot", but not at the Circle K. My legs are 10X stronger. The front of my calves are ripped. I cant ever remember having this amazing balance. I am also averaging 9:00min miles still. They teach you to run so efficiently, it is amazing. Of course pain is a really good motivator. I still can't believe that when I run the correct way there is no pain!

Now for the down side: The shoes tend to slip a bit when on a long run and you are climbing a steep hill. My feet are still getting used to the calluses that had to form on my front toes, which shed last week (booooo). I will have to come back at the 100mile mark and give another update.

Overall, these are the best running shoes I have ever owned!

G5 PRIME Bows

A while back G5 announced that they would be undertaking and constructing a new bow with the idea of eliminating nock travel and cam lean. They came up with a really good design to do a dual cam system. I cannot wait to shoot this bow. The 30'' ATA PRIME Shift looks like a good match for me.



G5 Prime Centroid Bow
IBO (FPS): 332
AXLE TO AXLE (IN): 34.25″
BRACE HEIGHT: 7.25″
MASS WEIGHT (LBS): 4.3
DRAW LENGTH: 27″ – 31″
DRAW WEIGHT (LBS): 50, 60, 70
MSRP $999

G5 Prime Shift Bow
IBO (FPS): 332
AXLE TO AXLE (IN): 30″
BRACE HEIGHT: 7.25″
MASS WEIGHT (LBS): 4
DRAW LENGTH: 26″ – 30″
DRAW WEIGHT (LBS): 50, 60, 70
MSRP $999

Colorado Elk Draw

Thank you Bud with CODW (Colorado Division of wildlife). I had to do some address changing this morning and checking up on my draws for this year! Many, many more post to come this off-season about preparing for this hunt. I put in for a Archery only elk bull tag in a wilderness only area of central Colorado. I also plan this off-season on switching up my bow to left handed. I am naturally left eye dominate, and this has caused me problems over the last few years. I have been shooting right handed for a while now, but if I don't fully close my left eye my sight picture changes as does my point of impact. Much more to come on this front as well. I thought this would never happen, but I'm looking towards the PSE EVO :O

Vibram 5 fingers

So I took the trendy plunge. We stopped by Backwoods, and so far so good! I bought the Vibram FiveFingers BIKILA LS on Sunday this week. That night I wore them around, and Monday went on a 2.5 mi jog. Yesterday I went on a 7.61 mi run, and I posted my best times ever with out even trying. I'm a 10 min per mi 5k pace, and yesterday with just the change in my stride I averaged 1 mile per 8:04! My feet don't hurt at all, and my knees feel great! The only down side is the loss of traction if you get them wet, and small rocks can really get you. I love them.

Strothers Archery SX-1

First Bowtech, then Elite, and then it was Strothers. Kevin has helped with the cam designs for all of these bow companies over many many years in the business. He has branched off one more time to start K&K archery with his wife Kate. But this is'nt about them, its about the Strothers' SX-1. Smooth with tons of power. My eye has been locked in on this bow since last year. The grip is very nice, and the draw is really smooth for the speed it delivers. I especially like the 6 and 1/2'' brace height on the bow. Fast but has a little forgiveness. Lord knows my Monster has cost me a buck due to my shooting form.

SPOT HOGG - Tommy Hogg Sight

http://www.spot-hogg.com/

Spot Hogg makes some of the best sights around. I have been using the Real Deal with the wrap kit for a few years now. I am really glad that I spent my hard earned money well by buying such a quality product. There really is no need for a light with the amount of fiber optic cable used with the pins. The construction is impervious, and I think the Real Deal would survive a blast from a 2000lbs. bomb.

This is why I have turned to think about switching my sight to an adjustable yardage Tommy Hogg or Hogg father. They have almost infinite adjust ability (3rd axis and whatnot). Spot Hogg values their costumers, and will always honor their warranty. With that said there is almost no reason for a warranty department due to the fact that these sight are so tough. So I think if i can scratch together the funds I need to take the plunge.

Birth of Artemis Technology

Last year I began to think about creating a new broadhead for hunting. This pursuit would be a compilation of many of my passions. It started as just doing research for my own self and what I wanted to tip my arrows with for the upcoming seasons. This has become an obsession. I have probably spent in excess of 200 hours researching design, material, and machining processes.

One of the first documents I ran across was a report that Dr. Ashby created a while back for hunting dangerous game. His conclusions from the data sparked my imagination, and fueled my desire to learn more and more. The single beveled designed blade is the .500 nitro for bow hunting.

One more inspiration is the company German Kinetics. They designed and created one of the best heirloom blades possible. They had a double bevel design on the blade, but their machining and steel selection was the best around. They are no longer around.

After trying for six months to find a person that could do the machining work I stumbled upon K & S Precision Blade in Fort Worth. I traveled with my hand drawn and plasticine models to twelve different shops before them. This is where the work began.

After I found the shop, I then had to find a designer. Not just any designer, but an Aerospace Tool Designer. This is by far the hardest quest out there. All of these guys are under contract for their companies not to do any outside work. (Lockheed does not like its secrets being used in other lines of work). Six months later, and so disappointed, K&S called me up and there was a man that does great work that was just laid off from Haliburton. He helped them with modeling prototype ball valves a few years back. Ya (that's his name)is great! I met with him, and I knew he could model my design. He began researching tirelessly also. In just a few weeks I had my models ready.

We now have the designs, and the models ready to go, the only thing left is steel selection. Our idea it to give the hunter the best blade for the application they need, It will not fail them! Our steel selection has been made. X15 TN is a steel that was developed by a french company a few years ago, but has seen little application. It is fantastic! It holds an edge better than 440 C stainless, and it does not corrode. We can also make it extremely hard. Jim at Metal Man was instrumental with my steel education, I cannot thank him enough.

The prototypes should be done by next month!!!!!!!!! I cant wait to show them off. Then the real work begins. I have to go into production. Thank you KAY.

KUIU

http://kuiu.com/

I am very excited to see what Kuiu produces. They are a performance clothing company that specializes in providing the correct gear for hunts anywhere in the world. So far what I have read from their blog, they are the real deal. They apply, hunt, and sleep in their gear. I believe that this gear could save your life if ever needed. The fabrics, and real world experience of this company will make a huge difference to the consumer.

Deer Season is Almost Over

Once again another year has come and gone. This year was one of the least bloody in a while, but I think i had the most fun. From the summer we started with our own lease, built our own blinds and feeders, and I took my bow hunting to a new level. So we begin the thought process of staying on the same lease, or moving down the road. this will be a process that my friends and I will encounter every so ofter to at least know the market and competition in the areas across Texas. I will be updating further this spring about subjects regarding this great lease search, and other BOOM POW TWANG actions we encounter.