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Archery is the Number 1 webpage on Archery Hunting & Shooting in the World. It is a great place to advertise your product line and get reconized! Frank Biggs aka Bwana Bubba

Archery Talk - Posts, Hunting Equipment

Bwana Bubba’s Thoughts on being prepared!

June 30, 2013 Frank Biggs Leave a comment

This article is about being prepared for the un-expected in the field.

Then again on a well planned trip, you forget an important item that might just save your life!

Many years ago when I was leaving Vietnam after a tour with the 5^th Marines and got into the back to the Duce and Half, which was supposed to be heading to the airbase in DaNang a not so funny thing happened. As most know, since I was heading back to Naval Communications Station in the Philippines I turned in my M-16, 1911 and my M-3 Grease Gun. The driver a young Marine E-2 just in country forgot something very important, especially when you get lost and drive into enemy country. Maybe he thought he was in Conus and it was a trip into the countryside? We came under fire, with the yelling and moving into the driver’s seat, we all survived. His M-16 and bandoliers’ were still back at the command up on Hill 327!

In the modern day world I do not believe that anyone that goes out into the Great Outdoors should ever be in a situation of being lost and not being able to get back out on their own unless they are hurt and unable to move! One can be lost of course, but one should be able to recover easily from being lost in the moment!

Yet so many times we hear of kids, hunters, hikers’, cross country skiers, snow mobile riders, and mountain climbers getting lost for days. I wonder about the mine set of people, except the kids that should have help from guiding parents in the fundamentals of being in the outdoors.

Years ago mountain climbers were the direct cause of a National Guard Helicopter going down on Mt. Hood in Oregon, thus costing millions of dollars of equipment lose.

Just the recently there was a young man lost in the rugged Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. His comment after being found was “I am going right back out”, note that it was raining hard and the area is very steep and heavy timbered with many deep canyons of no return. Of course he did not have a GPS or any other type of communications that working in the field. I do not think he had a clue as to the cost, plus the fact he was a flatlander (from the Midwest).

Do you think this mountain really cares about who you are. As it has no feeling, but Mother Nature plays a role in it existence and she plays out the weather! — Do you think this mountain really cares about who you are. As it has no feeling, but Mother Nature plays a role in it’s existence and she plays out the weather!

Another one lost on Mt. Hood this week had forgotten this locating beacon. Everyone said he was a very experience mountain climber. Mt. Hood as any other mountain doesn’t care how experience you are, as Mother Nature is not forgiving! The Air National Guard in a Blackhawk Helicopter found his body! Terrible as he might have fallen and died on impact, but if not maybe he would be telling the story of the climb today!

I am firm believer of modern day GPS products such as Garmin GPS’s that have high sensitive antennas that will work in deep cover. Many do not realize that many GPS products that don’t have high sensitive antenna or WASS Enabled. If a GPS does not these features it will not record tracks or even pick up the satellites in deep timber.

Families that take their young children up in the mountains prior to Christmas to look for a tree for Christmas might think about having one of the Garmin GPS or similar products for dogs. Funny! Not really, as kids have a habit of moving fast and panic sets in. Many years ago (1998) in Oregon on such a trip a young boy was lost. I do not believe he was ever found, so the possibility of him being abducted might be there. The instance that the parent could not see him, they could have located him quickly.

There are also hand-held 2 way radios that will reach with line of sight for 25+ miles. Years ago there was a man lost in Oregon and the searchers were able to find him as he had a 2 way radio that he was sending out for help. It was picked up some 50+ miles away.

Persons that are going mountain climbing on such treacherous places such Mt. Hood, Mt. Lassen, Mt St. Helens or any other place with glaciers and changing weather at moment’s notice should have a locating beacon at all times with them. You can rent them on most mountains or just buy one. It is not required in the liberal state of Oregon. A few mountain climbing organizations’ feel it infringes on one’s right. Thou it is ok to bring out a team to find the lost souls and maybe lose a person in the search or equipment.

Have I forgotten about the cell phones, which have become so good with GPS and long lasting batteries? One can always have a solar cell and recharge the phone when there is some sun. I know it all about the weight when climbing, hunting or hiking right!?

For some it all about the money, yet how much does a pair of cross country skis cost, the outfit, the Weatherby rifle, and the mountain climbing goggles? Yet again is about being macho or just knowing you are the best. I feel the same way, but I know from being turned around a few times, that it better to be safe and make it back to camp then spend the night out. I have spent the night out in bad weather, not due to being lost, but because the conditions would put me at risk in treacherous rimrock of the John Day River Canyon!

Years ago while hunting in the Snake River Canyon I came out on the ridge road two hours after dark fell upon the Snake River and wondering where my horse was located. It was such a relief for me that Czar whinnied and I was able to get to him quickly. I never carried a GPS in those days, as they were new and I only packed a compass. I could have walked out as there was the ridge road, but how about Czar. A GPS in hand I could have plugged in the waypoint where I left Czar while I was elk hunting.

My thoughts are the following and if one ever wanted to hunt with me and I don’t have many hunt with me as I do not want the responsibility of them!

The equipment with the following attached is required!

1) Cell Phone – GPS capabilities if you not going to have a GPS.

2) A two way handheld communications device, similar to Motorola’s.

3) GPS – Colored with mapping capabilities – GARMIN is preferred.

4) Mapping to go with the GPS, such as Hunting GPS Maps that will give you private boundaries.

5) If in treacherous mountainous areas a locating beacon is required.

6) Some extra batteries for devices that are not using lithium batteries

7) Your own toilet paper!

In closing with just the GPS, one can back track to their original starting place and if the GPS has Topographic mapping, one could possibly figure out a direct route back if the terrain is manageable.

Don’t leave home with just your clothes, the basics and your bow or rifle!

Bwana Bubba

Archery Talk - Posts, Hunting Equipment

Optimize your bow hunting chances with the “Optimizer”

February 26, 2013 Frank Biggs 1 Comment

Bwana Bubba’s Newest Hunting Advantage

The Ultimate Bow Sight

” Optimizer”

Over the course of some 50 years of shooting bows, from the first re-curve to my latest bow, which is the fastest that I have ever had the privilege to shoot, I’ve also had a number of bow sights during this time span.

This article will be about the new bow sight that is now mounted to my new bow!

I now decide to go to more modern fiber optic 5 pin bow sight. I had it dialed in from 10 yards to 80 yards, using the 60 yard pin based on holding approximately a foot above an animal’s back to make the hit at 80 yards.

Ironic that during the 2012 deer season when I did a spot and stalk shot and estimated the yardage and did not use the pin for 60+ yards, but used the 40 yard pin as it was a different color and became the focal point on the animal which was later measured at 63 yards. I instinctively judge the yardage to be more than 50 yards and put the 40 yard pin above the deer’s back at approximately 4-5 inches over his back.

The point being I was able to focus on one pin as it stood out, I knew what it was set for, making it easy for me to make the shot.

As some of use get older it can be difficult to always make the right call on pins as they blend in with low light. In the State of Oregon lighted bow sights or pins are not allowed.

Another thing that happens when hunters get older the eyesight does change on most. Some have to have bi-focal, tri-focal, reading glasses, wear glasses for correction near and far. Then there are those that have to take off their glasses to see up close, causing with rifle sight and bow sights some conflicts when using.

I would have to say I have found an answer that will help many with the problem caused by the aging of the eyes.

At the first of the year I contacted HHA Sports Inc., on the recommendation of an old hunting partner who the year before had decided he needed a change. I sent a letter to HHA Sports and asked them about their movable sight. At first I thought I still wanted multiple pins on the movable sight. I am very thankful that a left handed multiple pin sight was not available. I thought to myself of the hunt that I had in 2012, said to C.H. “a single pin is what I really want.”

Thus a new HHA Sports Optimizer Single Pin Movable Sight shows up at my home. The sight is very easy to set-up on the bow with two (2) screws holding it on the bow and two (2) screws holding the fiber optic surround scope on the bracket. Another big deal with the Optimizer is that the quiver bracket attaches to the sight bracket and the screws were in the Optimizer packaging. Outstanding! One more thing to think about is the fact that only two (2) different Allen Wrenches attached the Optimizer to the Martin Onza 3.

The sight can be sighted in old school by marking the shooting yardages on the bracket as you shoot the normal yardages that one is shooting. Or you can use the scientific sight-in system that HHA Sports gives you in the package with sight-in tapes. One would shoot the bow at 20 yards and dial the bow in, then work your way out to 60 yards and dial the bow in. With the sight-in tape you would subtract the numbers on the tape and come up with the tape by number that will have you dialed in from 20 up to 80 yards depending on the bow.

Many of my GPS hunters are very technical and would have a great day setting up a new Optimizer sight on their bow.

After getting the first sight-in done at 20 yards it is very easy to understand the advantage to the single pin movable sight. First advantage is that you focus on one pin, without thought. It allows the perafel part of our eyesight to take in the object you are shooting at, yet stay focus at the point of impact aim.

Once the sight is dialed in, there are so many advantages to using the single pin movable sight for me that I will make the shots that I take count. If using a tree stand and have the target area sighted in for set-up of taking your game, you can set the single pin for the yardage. Thus you will be focused on a single pin and single animal, leaving nothing to distract the eye.

Now if I am going to do the spot and stalk method which I prefer, I will have the sight set at 30 or 40 yards, knowing what my bow will do from that yardage in or out on the target. Practicing at different distances with either yardage pin will give confidence on the shots that I might not be able to range finder in. Another words I will be back to being able to shoot instinctive when needed. Being able to be in combat mode without great thought one can get the job done. It is no different with the Optimizer sight than it is with a rifle scope with a duplex or mil-dot reticule. The eye focuses to the center of the reticule, with the Optimizer the eye centers to the pin.

Even with the younger generation, it is a plus to learn how to shoot instinctive for conditions that don’t allow the time to range find in your target. The Optimizer for bow hunters is just the solution to success in the field!

The HHA Sports Optimizer Bow Sight have been rated the Number 1 movable bow sight in the world for 9 years from the readers of Bow Hunting World. I fully understand why it is rated the Number 1 in just the ease of set-up and construction of the Optimizer.

HHA Sports does build the Optimizer with multiple pins for those that what to shoot with multiple pins. I suggest that everyone that is an archer or bow hunter to check out the HHA Sports web-page and take the Optimizer challenger and increase your success in the field. The Optimizer has a 100% Lifetime Warranty!

Whatever your needs are, HHA Sports has the sight that will fit your needs in the field!

In closing when using the Optimizer Bow Sight and having a great bow, if we miss it will always be operator error, as the equipment is without flaw in my option.

Video: HHA Sports Optimizer Bow Sight Made in the U.S.A!

Bwana Bubba aka Frank Biggs

Archery Talk - Posts, Hunting Equipment

Bwana Bubba’s Hunting Ethics – Big Game Recovery

January 28, 2013 Frank Biggs 4 Comments

Recovery of Big Game – Evening Hunting

This article will be more of requested of receiving comments from the readers. I have been watching a great deal of programs on the Outdoor Channel with both rifle hunters and archery hunters when I have the time to do so in recent years.

I have to say there are some great hunters out there both female and male that get the job done and make the shows real.

The following words, which I write in this story, represent my views on subject of recovery of big game at night.

Hunters choose various times to hunt which range from dawn to dusk, hunt the morning only, and hunt the evening only.

Today, I am going to talk about the evening hunt from around 1300 to dusk! So much game is spotted just before short minutes of ending legal shooting times. Shots are made during that time frame and there is what should be the recovery time. Recovery time includes time for the animal to exhaust from the shot and then we are into the actual recovery time which is darkness.

I am amazed at the technology of the knowing the animals whereabouts and their movements at any given time with the aid of trail cameras, boundary systems and GPS systems. This will tie into my words with the recovery of big game without saying anymore…

In my young adult years, my Dad (Bill) and Uncle Dave, taught me when you harvest an animal in the hours before dusk, that you make every attempt to recover the game before leaving the field. I continue to live by that code to his day. Only one time I have not been able to locate an animal at dark, though my partner and I spent more than 4 hours trying to do so, plus my son turned around some 60 miles away to help locate the deer (the deer is alive today). This just happened to be in 2012 during the general archery season and I have been bow hunting since 1970.

Present Day 01-2013 — Shot of the hit buck present day January 2013!

Entrance Wound Left Side — Entrance wound from 20 yards!

Exit Wound Right Side — Exit wound on the buck, no vitals hit and only a few drops for 100 yards!

I am appalled with many of the segments on the hunting channel and how game recovery is done. Many of the programs are highly sponsored and the names of the hunters are well known in the industry! The lack of not seeing recovery at night is disturbing! That is not to say I have not seen night recovery footage from the hard core hunters with segments on the Outdoor Channel.

On one particular program there was hunt in a Western State during an archery season for Antelope – Pronghorn. The hunter was hunting the afternoon prior to dusk and makes what appears to be a great and solid shot. On the video we all see the Lope go lay down and this was prior to darkness, it appeared to be about a ¼ mile away from the hunter and his crew. It almost broke my heart when the next part of the video showed the hunters going on recovery in the morning. Considering the light of the day, one would think they ate breakfast first before attempting recovery. What they found at the sight was just a skeleton of the Pronghorn that had been stripped of all meat and hide by coyotes. I was amazed it still had it horns as coyotes love the horn. This was a trophy Pronghorn that the meat went to waste, but fed the predators. I did not finish watching the program, as I could not believe the guide did not know or tell them a Pronghorn left overnight will be stripped. It is very hard for me understand why they did not go after the Pronghorn a bit later. Plus are we to assume that they continue to keep hunting and the horns went to the barn?

Years ago I lined up a hunter in the Silvies Unit of Oregon with waypoints for harvesting a Boone & Crockett Pronghorn. He found “thee buck” in the evening, shot the buck. It was not the best shot and he watched the buck head out into the sage brush and lay down outside of Riley, Oregon. It was getting dark and he decided waited until the next morning to find the buck, what he found was nothing but hair! It had been stripped by coyotes also. My comment to him later was “what were you thinking?”

This is not the first time on these programs that the hunters waited until the next morning to find their kill! Ok! We all can have a bad shot, but leaving an animal over night with the bad shot, the meat is not going to be premium quality. The animal was alive and the fluids of a bad shot still affect the overall meat quality even though it might freeze. Then again during general bow season it should swell right up from the heat. So was it just about the trophy, the kill or the amount of footage on the video? There could be the other side of the coin that they are showing what can happen with a bad shot and what to expect. I am one that doesn’t want to know or see that type of footage; it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

Lastly there is the shot on an animal that should have never been taken, such a Mountain Goat on a pinnacle at 1000 yards cross canyon and the goat is not anchored in his tracks with the shot and free falls 6000 or so feet to the creek bottom and no recovery can be done. Heck of a shot, but the judgment of recovery was not there no matter what time it was shot!

We all have lost game over the years and the more time you spend in the field it can happen via a bad shot, miss or a non-fatal shot. In Oregon during the general seasons of rifle a bad shot can be opportunity for the next person in the canyon… Archery hunting that is not the case, which is why most of us will bow hunt for solitude!

Maybe some hunters are afraid to be in the woods after dark as they might fear a predator or even the “boogie man.” Just maybe they can’t handle darkness and lack the ability to walk in the dark. A large number of hunters have never had the opportunity to run a night mission out of country (combat). Plus in many states it is legal to carry a sidearm during archery and rifle season for protection. Hunters will pack a sidearm for protection against the 2 legged predators, so why not four legged predators? Ok! Sometimes it just feels great to carry a 1911!

In most states which, doesn’t include my home state of Oregon, bow hunters can use lighted nocks which can help a great deal with recovery of a hit the animal, you can tell if the animal was hit, direction of the animal’s travel if it sticks in the animal for a while and if the arrow passes through the animal you can check the blood content.

There are number of the seasoned hunters on these programs that will seek until they find the game at night and I applaud them. We all know these hunters and those are the one’s I am going to tune into the future!

Bwana Bubba