Cowiche Archery

“QuestionsFrom A Newbie”

Dear Mr. Trimble

At the moment, I have 4 routes togo, and I'm still debating it. ha ha!

The Easy and lazy route

1) I'm looking at this bow on amazon The only thing that worries me is the customer rating that mentions the glued-on tip coming off and bruising that person's child.  Yikes!  I may buy that bow at a pro shop anyway because it truly is the one I won't have to push myself too much into buying.

PROS: Fastest to shooting route, Might be cheapest route. Ambidextrous. (I'm a right-handed person, but I'm definitely left-eye dominant. And this one gives me the option to try to find what I feel most comfortable shooting...then again, maybe I'm supposed to force myself to shoot left-hand, as the eye-dominance is more important?)

CONS: Might be a bad bow that can be harmful?  Might move on from this any how, and the money could have been better utilized at route #3 below.

The do-it-myself route

2)  I was reading on this site (poorfolkbows.com) about using red oak which I could possibly find at a Home Depot in my area to try and build one myself.  The only thing about this one is I'm not sure I'll be able to make a usable bow. hahaha.  I'm pretty meticulous, but then again, this route might test my impatience to really start shooting as soon as possible.  I chose this route thinking it might be the cheapest way to go?  I'm not sure.  I have to call Home Depot.

PROS: Learn something new.  Learn patience.  Be really proud of what my own two hands built.

CONS: Get an unusable bow.  Time it takes to make it, thus prolonging my 

More expensive, can't afford, bowroute

3)  There's a pro archery shop very close to where I live (5-10 minutes drive?) that also sells that cheaper fiberglass bow I mentioned in option 1.  It's a PSE Razorback, which I didn't realize was a take-down recurve (when I wasin the store... but have learned a bit more since then, research on the Internet about different types of bows).  I'm more of a traditionalist in things I like, so I prefer no-sights, and probably the longbow more-so than a take-down recurve even.

PROS: Might be the better route for a more quality bow.

CONS: Really, I'd be pushing it, to buy something at $129 (at the pro shop; online it's$105+14 shipping).  I don't know if I'll even like archery, and will be an expensive "test bow".

Look at classifieds like craigslist

PROS: Might get a great deal.  I just missed a deal for a longbow that was $60.

CONS: Might be a long time before any deals show up.  Might as well build my own bow.

Sorry.  I wrote a novel for you to read. ha ha.  Your input and recommendations, and archery tips are very welcomed, as I am a complete newbie.  Thanks!

My Reply:

Easy/lazy route, no such thing.  Poor equipment is not fun to shoot and is dangerous.  It's like buying the $1.29 steak instead of the three dollar one.   1.29 steak is tough, full of steroids and hormones and really has no food value.  Should have just flushed the money down the toilet.

Is that really inexpensive?  Better off not to buy anything, save your money.

Do it yourself route:  My friend, unless you have somebody that knows what needs to be known about bowbuilding to help you, it can take years to build a self bow worth bothering with.  Trust me, I've been building bows for 50 years.  It doesn't come over night.  I have spent thousandsof dollars and thousands of hours learning my craft.  If you are willing to put that kind of effort into building a bow, then I say gofor it. 

If not, don't, I guarantee you, you will give up real fast. 

Again,money down the toilet. 

Here's a short course in some bow building elements you need to know.  What is stack, what is kinetic energy.  How do you achieve appropriate limb mass ratios,  how many thousandths of an inch of limb thickness = 0ne pound of draw weight?  What is tillering? What kind of grain does a piece of wood require to make a bow that wont break?   What does wood mass to wood tensile strength have to do with wood type selection?

I could go on and on with this stuff. 

More expensive, can't afford bow route:

I can't even buy the materials for a bow for $129.00!  If that's what you want to spend, then I would say the Razorback is your best bet.

Just remember this, there's a world of difference between a Ford and a Maserati my friend.

At a Bow Shop the other day a person made the comment, "Custom Longbows are overpriced."

My response:

How much do you make an hour for what you do?  How long did it take you to learn to do what you do? 

How much of your own time and resources did you commit to learning what you do.

Adding up thousands of hours and thousands of dollars to learn HOW  to build a good bow, the cost of good tools ( thousands of dollars), materials, seven days of construction and finishing time for one bow, and backing up your work with a good warranty;  How much would you charge for a custom Longbow?

Kids, we live in a slot machine world.  We erroneously believe that if we put a quarter in a slot we will get something of value back.  

Michelangelo's Madonna

Old Michelangelo was workin, on a sculpture one day and a man came and stood right under it.  Looking up, the man said, "Mick the nose is way to big."

Michelangelo not wanting to offend the man, said,  "Go over there where people will be standing to see the sculpture and tell me how it looks from over there."

The man went over to where Michelangelo told him to go, and looking again at the nose of the sculpture, exclaimed,  "It's perfect"

Now there's a lot to be learned in that old story but I think the main point is, Michelangelo had figured out ahead of time just how big the nose needed to be to look right from the place people would later be viewing it; not from right under it.

As a guide, I've had the pleasure of guiding people into wilderness places they were not familiar with.  Ever once in a while I'd get one a them jokers that wouldn't listen to anything you told him.  Invariably the hunt would go south. 

You got to listen to your guide in uncharted territory.  He or she has already got all the bases covered.  Covered by many many days of trial and error.  A good reputable Bowyer is no different.  He's thought through all the parameters of the bow he builds and you should pay attention when he speaks.  Just because it works on that other bow you have, or just because "every body's doing it doesn't mean it will work in the new application. 

Give your Bowyer a break and listen to what he says before making up your mind.  If you don't you might just get what you asked for and experience can be a hard teacher.

The Bows and quiver I made for Todd and his son Michael

Todd Darling, a member of the MARSS 10 Aircrew sent me this flag from Afganistan.  It was flown in their aircraft on a combat mission on the 11th of September in remembrance of the people who died on 9/11. They also sent me a T-shirt and Ball Cap from the Afghanistan Athletic Club!  I am very proud to fly this flag over my shop.

The certificate they sent with the flag says: "As this flag flew, it symbolized the sovereign power of the United States and the unshakeable resolve to keep our country safe" There were some terrorists under that gunship that day that got some payback for 9/11

I'm proud to know Todd and to have the honor to build him a Bow!

Wild Game, heart healthy and probably the last good source of healthy meat on the planet!

My Top Secret, no more, Venison marinade:

1/4 cup of A1 sauce

2 tbs Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp Pikapeppa sauce

3 tbs Oregon Dan's BBQ sauce with Agave

Juice of one lemon

1 tsp ground Ginger

1/8 tsp Garlic powder

1/4 cup Raw honey

1/2 cup Water

1 1/2 to 2 lbs Venison or Beef steak (I like Backstraps)

Mix all ingredients in a zip lock bag for a minimum of 2 hours, more if your meat is tough. up to overnight.

2 hours works for me. Those Montana Whitetails are always tender.

Good as a marinade, barbecue sauce , or dipping sauce. Great on Pork and Chicken too. Since I can't take it to the grave, thought it was bout time to let you in on it.

My favorite side dish: Sauteed Onions, Peppas, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms

Julienne:

0ne Sweet Onion

One Green pepper

Chunk up;

One Tomato

slice up a passel of your favorite mushroom

Begin by sauteing the onions on low heat in butter and olive oil

saute the onions until caramelized (just beginning to turn brown)

Throw in the Green pepper, mushrooms, and tomatoes

Continue to saute until the tomatoes just start to breakdown

Add salt and pepper to taste.

It's Awesome with some Back Straps!

My relatives were there!

So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them,

 "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

And the fear of you and the dread and terror of you shall be upon every beast of the land, every bird of the air, all that creeps upon the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are delivered into your hand.

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green vegetables and plants, I give you everything."

Genesis 9:1-3

My family, going back to Doc and Rollie Burnham in 1927 have hunted Deer and Elk for food. I am sure my forefathers, going back to Jamestown,  did as well.  I don't think there were any Super markets then.  If they had not hunted, they would not have eaten.

My forefathers were at the First Thanksgiving feast in America.  John Rolfs was one of them. One of my relatives was with George Washington at Valley Forge.   Many fought in the Civil War.  They all hunted and foraged for food.

Today, I live on a very meager social security disability benefit that barely pays my rent and utilities.  Not being able to pay $8 a pound for hamburger, I hunt and fish and occasionally sell a Longbow or quiver for spending money.

I was 14 years old before I knew there was any other source of meat then what we took hunting and fishing.

Now, my forefathers, if you knew them at all, taught respect for all things wild.

If you went out hunting for any other reason than to feed yourself and your family, you received a quick and painful rebuke.

These men, my Hero's, lived through the Great Depression, they lived on what the land produced. They were grateful for EVERY provision.

Modern "Hunting" sadly, is for the most part not so. It is about killing for killing sake at the worst and at it's best, a competition to see who can garner bragging rights for hanging the largest trophy on the wall.  I know, I have guided those kind of men and women many times.  After field processing their game and packing it out of the mountains, we would take it to the local butcher to be cut and wrapped for them only to find out later they never picked it up!  All they wanted were the antlers.

Our Game Department has sold 5 to 7 doe permits over the counter to anybody that wanted them for the last 12 years that I know of.  The result, the Game Department of Montana made a lot of money and the once abudant wildlife in my home area is now depleted.

For me and many others here in Montana, hunting is a way of putting good, healthy , God given food on the table.

Just because "someone else" kills your food for you and brings it to a nearby market, and because you can afford $17.00 a pound Filet Mignon, doesn't make you any less of a meat eater than I am.  If you pay someone to kill your food for you, your still the killer.

The difference is, you think food comes from the Super Market, I know it comes from God.

 "Packin Out"

Packin out, the day After

I hadn't planned to go hunting this year but my nephew called me and asked me if I would take him hunting. I said sure!  Bought a tag, sharpened up the broadheads, and scouted out one of my old Honey Holes.

I'm 62 years old.  Five years ago, I got bucked off a Horse, while guiding in the Bob Marshall wilderness, rolled over a cliff and broke my back and neck.  It's been a long recovery. This year, I finally got back to where I could hike in the mountains again.

Long story sort, my Nephew didn't show up, so I decided not to let my tag go to waste.  I headed out to my hunting spot.

It's one of those places most people just drive right by.  The ground rises up about 30 feet next to the road; blocking the view for any would be scouters.  If you take the time to walk up that little hill to a view point, you are greeted with a scene any veteran mountain Whitetail hunter would give his eye teeth for!

There is a stand of Quaking Aspen, 40 to 50 feet tall, that run through a valley beginning near the road and trailing up the mountain into a dense conifer forest, mostly Spruce and Alpine Fir.  Somewhere high up on the mountain a spring headwaters a little brook that runs down through the Aspen and then secretively goes back under ground just before it gets to the road.

The browse in the area is lush and diverse.  In short, Whitetail deer heaven!  In all the years I've know about this place, I've both heard, and seen, hundreds of truck loads of hunters drive by on the road but never have I ever seen anyone else hunt this spot.  A Deer hunter's dream come true; beautiful country, lot's of game, and no competition!

As I crept slowly up to my stand, I thought about what a beautiful day it was. Sun shining intermittently with occasional flurries of big fluffy snowflakes. The wind blowing in my face as I approached my destination I thought, “How wonderful it would be to share this with someone.” After all the years of keeping it to my self, I was wishing for a hunting partner.

Continuing quietly through the emerald green conifers with my nose filled with the pungent odor of their pitch and needles, I thought back over my 62 years and all the hunts I had been on, the people I had met and known, and the sight of an old buck slippin through the woods, intent on an errand only he knew about.

One of those thoughts was of being on an Elk hunt back in the 70's when suddenly a big mountain snow storm came up. You know, one of those blizzards where you can't see.  Bout as soon as it come up, it moved on and was over as quickly as it had started.  It left a pristine covering of glistening diamond filled snow on the forest floor.

As I continued to hunt in the newly fallen snow, I came across a large deer track.

Now you know, that had to be fresh!  I followed it, out of curiosity, and in just a few minutes, I caught up to one of the biggest 5x5 Mulie bucks I had ever seen. I just stood there and enjoyed the sight until he disappeared in the thick Oak brush.

On another hunt, my first Elk hunt, 12 years old, I remembered Hiking with my Father, brother, and my old uncle Allie up to the Cement Basin up under Mount Rainier.  I can still feel my nearly frozen toes.

There wasn't all the hunting gear and creature comforts we enjoy now.

We didn't kill any Elk that year, probably because of us noisy kids being along, but my Dad and uncle seemed to be happy just to have us there and my brother and I had a grand old time.  Eight days in the woods with no school, nobody tellin ya to do this or that, and listening to old hunting yarns by the fire at night; sides splitting from all the laughter.  How could it possibly be any better!

I knew right then and there this would be something I would want to do all my life!

Those were just a few of the memories flooding my mind and my heart as I neared my stand.

As I got to the Buck crossing it was as if the Lord asked me if I would like one more hunting memory.

With tears welling up in my eyes I said, “Yes Sir.”

Well, I took my place and looking the crossing over I saw, not to far to my right, a fresh Buck scrape.

It was early for the rut to be in full swing but that was a sign the Bucks were cruising; looking for potential mates.

I made a few doe bleet noises and just as the woods returned to silence I caught movement. In my peripheral vision I saw an ear twitch. Next moment he came out into the open with the sun reflecting from his perfectly symmetrical 4x4 rack and the next thing I remember I was walking up on my Trophy!

My 2011 Buck

Well I guess you know, after that, the work began.  I tried to drag the Buck out of the woods but it didn't take long for me to realize I had done that for the last time.

I set about skinning and quartering that buck right where he lay. By the time darkness showed up, I had packed the hind quarters and the head back to my truck.

Happily exhausted, I knew I would have to wait for morning to go back for the rest.

Who knows, maybe this will be my last hunting memory.   Age, and the circumstances of life, bring an end to all such things eventually, but one thing I will always have, are the memories of great hunts, fine friends, and loving family; maybe, those are the best 'trophies' of all!

"Cheerily blow the bugle horn

In the cool green woods of morn;

Loose the hounds and let them go,

Wax the cord and bend the bow."

“SO long as the new moon returns in heaven abent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold of the hearts of men. You have but to mention an archer or archery to your friend, and immediately his interest is aroused.  He may scoff at the bow and sneer at the arrow; but he will inquire and show curiosity.  Hang a long bow and a quiver of arrows conspicuously in your hall or library, and you will soon discover that no exquisite painting or bit of statuary will receive from guests, more attention than will be accorded to these ancient weapons.”

Maurice Thompson,“The Witchery of Archery”

“Remember Him, A Message for Young Men”

“And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children,

And the hearts of the children to their fathers . . .”

Malachi 4:6

 I am now 62 years old.

 There was a time, when I was strong and could climb any mountain, ride any Bronc, draw and shoot a 100 # Longbow, throw a baseball 90miles an hour. I was known for being the roughest football player on the team.  I played both defense and offense and thoroughly enjoyed putting a good solid hit on someone. I ran marathons. I had all the money and all the toys. Women, well I wont go into that.

I was strong and arrogant.  I thought I was indestructible. I thought it would always be so. I didn't need God. What could I possibly need Him for?

Well kids, the truth is, I got old; You will too.

Yesterday, I went Grouse hunting up on the mountain.  I hiked up along Twin Creeks.  It's an old logging road that runs along the creek for about 7 or 8 miles; all up hill. I used to jog up that trail.

I had hiked about 2 miles, and could go no further.

Three years ago, I was bucked off a Paint horse up Gibson reservoir and broke my back in two places and the vertebrae at the base of my neck. Long story short, my back was hurting so bad I could walk no further.

I sat down on the edge of a little meadow and said, “Lord, I can't walk any further and I'd sure like to have a Grouse for dinner, guess you're gonna have to bring one to me.”  As I sat there, I began to question God about some things.

I was wondering about all the things old people wonder about, my health and my welfare. Then the Holy Spirit began to question me. He said, Do you have clothes? I said, “Yes.”  He said, “Do you have food?” I said, “Yes.”  He said, “Do you have money in your pocket?” I said, “Yes.”  He said, “Do you have a roof over your head?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Then what do you need right now?” I said, “A Grouse for dinner.”

Low and behold, about 3 to 5 minutes later a Ruffed Grouse walked out of the tall grass, about twenty yards, right out in front of me!

Needless to say,  tonight, I will be having my grouse dinner!

After collecting the Grouse, the Holy Spirit said,  “Darryl, sometimes you are so focused on what you want, that you forget what you need, I will supply all your needs according to my riches in Glory!”

It's in the light of experiences like that, I look back over my life and see that all I attained in my own effort was way less than it could have been if I had just remembered my Creator and availed myself of His abundance.

Ecclesiastes  11:9-10, 12:1-7

Young people, it’swonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything youwant to do; take it all in.

But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse toworry, and keep your body healthy.

But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.

Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop.

Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then, all their sounds will grow faint.

Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets;before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire.

Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

There are two kinds of success.  The kind the world tells us is the way to go and the kind God wants us to have.

I attained worldly success. There was a price.  I got all the money and the toys, but lost my family and my health.  Eventually I lost the wealth too. Today my children do not speak to me.

Worldly success will last for a time, but the price is too high. It will take you where you don't want to go, and in the end, cost you more than you want to pay.

God calls His success “Good Success.”  It's good, because it lasts and you never lose any of it!

“The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].”  Proverbs 10:22 Amplified

Take it from an old man kids, what seems important to you now, will change as the seasons of life pass by.  When once, in your youth, you sought fame wealth and recognition, later when you're old, you will seek your children. I hope they are there for you.

"So enjoy your youth and your strength while you have it. It’s wonderful to be young!   Enjoy every minute of it.   Do everything you want to do; take it all in but don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator."

Remember Him while you are young!

The Hebrew word for bless is barak, while the Greek word is eulogeo.  Both these word mean to endue with power for sucess, prosperity, fecundity (fruitfulness) and longevity!

God wants to give us sucess, prosperity, and health!

Jesus made a way for us 2000 years ago, on the cross, for us to live by his unmerited favor (Grace) to step into the realm of His blessings.

The Gospel (the Good News) is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes.  This means there is no other power for your salvation except the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Salvation does not just mean being saved from Hell.  The Greek word for salvation is soteria.  it means deliverance, preservation, safety, and health!  the Lord's salvation is complete and holistic and is based solely on depending by faith on His righteousness.  He exchanged His perfection for our imperfection!

The Good News of Christ is, He has the power to heal your physical body, cause everything we do to prosper, to bless every area of our lives, and to satisfy us with long life!  He wants us to have ALL of that!

It aint about religion (self effort) nor is it about being good enough.  Jesus was and is and will be good enough for us!  It's about a relationship!

He blesses us just the way we are.  He said He would perfect us.  He didn't say we had to do it!

Need some blessing today?  Try Jesus.  He's a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  He will never leave you nor forsake you and He will cause everything you do to prosper. 

Somewhere around 1960 my father heard there was going to be an outdoor film shown down at the local theatre.  A man name of Fred Bear was going around the country showing 35mm films of his archery exploits.

This particulr film was about Fred Bear crawling up on a huge Grizzly bear with his recurve bow, intent upon sticking an arrow into the vitals of that monster. 

Back in those days there were no sportsmans channels on TV and very few hunting films.  Go to Sportsmans Wharehouse today and you will find rack after rack of hunting, fishing, and outdoor video.  Not so in 1960. 

So you can imagine the excitement a 10 year old kid had.  I just knew this had to be the bravest man in the world.  I remember the bear was eating something, can't remember what, but I do remember hearing the bear crunching bones. To make a long story short Fred made that shot and I think that bear is now in the Fred Bear Museum.

I met Fred again around 1965 or so at a local bow shoot put on by the Natapoc Bowmen of Wenatchee Washington.  They held their shoots then in the Tumwater Canyon area just outside Leavenworth Washington.  There were no 3D shoots then, no scoring, no winners or losers, just a bunch of guys getting together to sling some arrows, tell some tall tales, eat potluck,  enjoying each other, and being in the woods. 

There was a running deer target, (A reasonable facsimily of a deer anyway), hung on a wire somehow.  And when they let the deer slide, we let the arrows fly.  It was great fun!  Standing next to me on the shooting line was Fred Bear.  He hit that deer every time.  I dont think I ever hit it, but Fred always had something encourageing to say to me.

As I shook Fred Bears hand that day,  I remember the gentle look in his eye, and the smile on his face, and as kids do, I knew he genuinely enjoyed shooting with me that day, even though I was "just a kid."

That's how this bow building all got started.  People mostly built their own archery equipment in those days.  There were no compounds and the terms "Traditional and Primitive Archery" had not been coined yet. 

There was no division between archers.  You either shot a recurve or a longbow.  We all had one attraction.  The mystifying and primordial gratification that comes from looking at the target, pulling back the string, and watching as somehow the arrow flew through the air to it's mark.

Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Ben Pearson, Pope and Young, Maurice Thompson, Art Laha, Chester Stevenson, Byron Ferguson, Glen St. Charles, The Stotler Brothers, and many others; these are my heros, and the men who taught me the joy of archery.  

Still can't hit that durn running deer target!