COMMUNITY: PROFILE

Downloaded Outdoor Channel’s free iPhone app the other day from the iTunes store. After playing around with it for a few days, my favorite feature of the app is the up-to-date show schedule. It’s much easier than having to pull up the outdoorchannel.com website on my phone to see the show schedule. The news and video are nice features as well.

I don’t know what it is about the 4^th of July, but there seems to be trend with bow hunters. I’ve been involved with archery for nearly three decades and every year something triggers bow hunters to drag out their archery equipment right around the time we celebrate our country’s independence.

Just today (July 5^th), two bow hunters in our office brought their bows to work for me to look at. Over the holiday weekend, I myself even opened up the bow case to make sure “Deadly” was ok.

So what’s the trigger? Maybe it’s due to the lack of sports on TV? Can’t mow the yard since it’s already burnt up due to the dog days of summer. Most of the bass fishing club trails are finished until the fall, and the family vacation to Disney World happened shortly after the kids got out of school. Maybe it’s a simple case of just being bored.

Whatever the trigger is, like clockwork, we bow hunters act like a whitetail buck making a scrape, or a buck bass cruising the shallows. We are on a mission. The only difference is we all of the sudden get it in our head that we need to dig out our bow case. There’s an overwhelming urge to touch and hold the bow … maybe even draw it back a few times. Hopefully without dry firing it. I’ve done it and don’t recommend it.

I mean after all, it’s not too early. Most bow seasons don’t open for another three months.

While holding your bow for the first time in six months, your attention quickly moves to your arrow rest and sights. Those ads you saw in your favorite archery magazine last month have you wondering if some new gadgets will make you a better shot. I have no doubt they will.

Or maybe you’re down to only five arrows. Surely that won’t be enough, since you plan on practicing for three months, and harvesting your limit once the season arrives. Better get some new cutters while you’re at it. Those broadheads you used last year to harvest deer are outdated and will likely be ineffective, just like the flu shot.

By now you’ve probably noticed you need a new string for your bow. Man, the hassles of having to get a new string. Getting the peep sight and nocking point set up is going to be a lot of work. Since you’re already getting a new arrow rest, sights, arrows and cutters, might as well get the latest and greatest bow. After all, a good string and cable set is going to run around $100. It will surely be more cost effective to get a whole new bow.

While you’re on the phone with your bow hunting buddy asking him how he likes his brand of bow, be sure to schedule a practice shoot the Saturday evening after you both return from the archery shop with new bows. Remember, the season is only three months away. 

Don’t forget to get a new 3D target. I figured out a long time ago they only sell replacement vitals. In order to replace the shot up gut, neck and ham sections, you have to purchase a whole new target.

So maybe the trigger to start practicing with your bow this time of year is a combination of things. You might be bored and looking for something to do … could also be the new quarter change on the Outdoor Channel. Since you’re a bow hunter, you probably have at least a small amount of perfectionist in you and you’re likely a little bit technical minded. Most bow hunters love new gadgets and learning how to get them to work properly. It’s a good constructive way to pass the time until the season starts.

Though I wrote this like I’m preaching to an audience, I’ve really written about myself. I’m technical minded and a perfectionist when it comes to my bow hunting, and very proud of it.

I’ve officially kicked off my archery pre-season July 5^th. I can hardly wait to stand in the yard this evening, in hot, humid air so thick you could cut it with a knife. And those mosquitoes buzzing in my ears and landing on my legs, nothing but good times.

Good luck to all you bow hunters during your months of practice. Hope you bag a big one when the season finally gets here.

Stats on how much meat the average person consumes in a year

Beef cattle and swine dress out at around 65% of live weight.
 
64 pounds of beef (1/10th of a 1000-pound carcass)
50 pounds of pork (1/3 of a 230-pound carcass)
57 pounds of chicken (around 28 chickens)
14 pounds of turkey (one domestic turkey)
30 pounds of fish (this is a guess based on the limited data I could find)
 
Shrimp and other shellfish: Not too much consumption data to be found. One person can easily consume 3 pounds of whole crawfish in one meal.
 
Other processed meats, such as hot dogs and bologna … no data.
 
Breaking it down, what to harvest:

-big game animals to cover beef
            -1 elk, or
            -1 small whitetail and 1 antelope, or
            -1 mule deer
-1 wild hog to cover pork
-around 50 combined total of pheasant, dove, quail, grouse, ducks, geese
-2 wild turkeys
-1 or 2 king salmon and several small panfish would cover the fish 
 
Schedule for when to harvest

-July: Travel to Alaska to catch king salmon, or multiple red or silver salmon.
 
-September: Hunt dove and hunt elk
 
-October: Hunt for whitetail and antelope
 
-November: Hunt for upland birds; there are some turkey seasons in the fall
 
-December: Hunt for ducks, geese and pheasant
 
-January: Hunt of wild hog, ducks and geese
 
-February: Go to the southern costal states to hunt for crawfish, oysters
 
-March: Start fishing for crappie, tilapia in the southern states
 
-April: Start hunting for wild turkeys
 
-May: Finish up hunting for wild turkeys
 
-June: Travel to Alaska to catch multiple red or silver salmon
 
-Start all over again. Donate any remaining meat to help feed the hungry.

Mr. Zuckerberg, I’m ready to hit the road when you are.