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ENLARGE
Curt Mendenhall of Curt's Archery in Sutherlin works on a bow in his shop.
Editor’s Note: Curt Mendenhall, a 34-year timber faller and the owner of Curt’s Archery in Sutherlin, has been an avid hunter since his youth. The 51-year-old has been an archer and bow hunter since 1972, when hunters could buy an archery tag if they didn’t fill their rifle tag. When the state restricted hunters to either the bow or the rifle in 1978, Mendenhall choose the bow because “the challenge was so much more appealing.”
He shares his thoughts in the following article about getting into the sport.
He shares his thoughts in the following article about getting into the sport.
In Oregon, there are more hunter opportunities in archery.
You can pretty much hunt wherever you want. The season is longer than it is for rifle (Aug. 30-Sept. 28 for the early season and later in November and December for late seasons).
Hunting is a tough deal for kids. They like success, but with a rifle the odds are diminished. With a bow, it’s usually easier to stay focused, to be encouraged, because you usually see animals during the bow season and it’s (the first season) a nicer time of year. With a gun, it can be tough to even get a shot.
The early bow season is also during the time elk are in rut, so there’s the aspect of calling them and hearing elk bugle. That helps locate them.
Bowhunting is a physical thing that is no different than hunting with a gun. How physical does depend on the terrain.
With a bow, you have to have the right attitude, you have to be willing to give up opportunities that aren’t as good as they should be. If they’re marginal, you have to pass. You have to be mentally tough enough to stay focused and get closer for a better shot, get yourself in the right situation.
Nowadays, there is so much good equipment that something that is middle-of-the- road will get you decent performance. The main criteria is to be sure the equipment fits the hunter and that it can be shot with proficiency.
The advantage to the compound bow is that it’s easier to sight and shoots with more accuracy. The longbow and recurve require more discipline, more practice to be proficient. The longbow is a thin, straight limb and the recurve bends more on the end. You have to be more dedicated to them and have more strength to pull them.
With a compound, you can hold it, aim it and shoot it more accurately. Kids should have a bow they can comfortably shoot 20 to 30 times in a row without an issue.
Pulling a 40-pound bow for deer and 50-pound for elk are the minimums. Most 12-year-old kids can pull 40 pounds and half can pull 50 pounds. Girls do have a tougher time pulling those bows.
The low-end compound bow can cost from $400 to $650 and that includes the sight, arrow rest and quiver. The arrow release is separate and they cost $40 to $80.
Most people with compound bows shoot with sights and a release.
Arrow options are wood, carbon and aluminum. The high-end carbon are the most expensive. Medium carbon and aluminum are of equal price. Wood is more expensive than medium carbon and aluminum.
Wood arrows are still the most popular for recurve and longbow, but some of those guys are shooting carbon arrows. Seventy to 80 percent of the people shooting compound bows are shooting carbon arrows.
Good carbon arrows are about $64 a dozen but can run as high as $200 a dozen. Aluminum arrows are about $58 a dozen, but can go up to $100 a dozen.
Most every bowhunter goes out in camouflage clothing. There are all different styles in the clothing, including scent absorbing clothes that contains the body odor, keeps it at lower levels. But I’m still a believer in keeping the wind in my face.
A lot of people are now wearing head nets. That’s become more popular than painting your face.
One of the key things about hunting is to know who and where you’re hunting. Know what you’re shooting at. The safety aspect of it is most important. Make sure where your arrow is going, make sure nothing is in that direction exception what you’re shooting at.
More and more people in bowhunting are starting to use tree stands. If so, consider using a safety harness so if something does happen, you can’t fall. Tree stand hunting is becoming more and more popular here. It can be a very good technique. It can be a pretty effective way to hunt if you can muster up the patience for it. It can put the odds a little more in your favor.
The down side is you have to put time into scouting. If you’re not in a good place, you’ll wait a long time before anything happens.
There are more hunters using bows than we’ve had in a long time. People are getting into it due to the fact they don’t draw rifle tags, but they can get a tag if they bowhunt.
The main thing about hunting, whether with a gun or a bow, is to enjoy what you’re doing out there.
You can pretty much hunt wherever you want. The season is longer than it is for rifle (Aug. 30-Sept. 28 for the early season and later in November and December for late seasons).
Hunting is a tough deal for kids. They like success, but with a rifle the odds are diminished. With a bow, it’s usually easier to stay focused, to be encouraged, because you usually see animals during the bow season and it’s (the first season) a nicer time of year. With a gun, it can be tough to even get a shot.
The early bow season is also during the time elk are in rut, so there’s the aspect of calling them and hearing elk bugle. That helps locate them.
Bowhunting is a physical thing that is no different than hunting with a gun. How physical does depend on the terrain.
With a bow, you have to have the right attitude, you have to be willing to give up opportunities that aren’t as good as they should be. If they’re marginal, you have to pass. You have to be mentally tough enough to stay focused and get closer for a better shot, get yourself in the right situation.
Nowadays, there is so much good equipment that something that is middle-of-the- road will get you decent performance. The main criteria is to be sure the equipment fits the hunter and that it can be shot with proficiency.
The advantage to the compound bow is that it’s easier to sight and shoots with more accuracy. The longbow and recurve require more discipline, more practice to be proficient. The longbow is a thin, straight limb and the recurve bends more on the end. You have to be more dedicated to them and have more strength to pull them.
With a compound, you can hold it, aim it and shoot it more accurately. Kids should have a bow they can comfortably shoot 20 to 30 times in a row without an issue.
Pulling a 40-pound bow for deer and 50-pound for elk are the minimums. Most 12-year-old kids can pull 40 pounds and half can pull 50 pounds. Girls do have a tougher time pulling those bows.
The low-end compound bow can cost from $400 to $650 and that includes the sight, arrow rest and quiver. The arrow release is separate and they cost $40 to $80.
Most people with compound bows shoot with sights and a release.
Arrow options are wood, carbon and aluminum. The high-end carbon are the most expensive. Medium carbon and aluminum are of equal price. Wood is more expensive than medium carbon and aluminum.
Wood arrows are still the most popular for recurve and longbow, but some of those guys are shooting carbon arrows. Seventy to 80 percent of the people shooting compound bows are shooting carbon arrows.
Good carbon arrows are about $64 a dozen but can run as high as $200 a dozen. Aluminum arrows are about $58 a dozen, but can go up to $100 a dozen.
Most every bowhunter goes out in camouflage clothing. There are all different styles in the clothing, including scent absorbing clothes that contains the body odor, keeps it at lower levels. But I’m still a believer in keeping the wind in my face.
A lot of people are now wearing head nets. That’s become more popular than painting your face.
One of the key things about hunting is to know who and where you’re hunting. Know what you’re shooting at. The safety aspect of it is most important. Make sure where your arrow is going, make sure nothing is in that direction exception what you’re shooting at.
More and more people in bowhunting are starting to use tree stands. If so, consider using a safety harness so if something does happen, you can’t fall. Tree stand hunting is becoming more and more popular here. It can be a very good technique. It can be a pretty effective way to hunt if you can muster up the patience for it. It can put the odds a little more in your favor.
The down side is you have to put time into scouting. If you’re not in a good place, you’ll wait a long time before anything happens.
There are more hunters using bows than we’ve had in a long time. People are getting into it due to the fact they don’t draw rifle tags, but they can get a tag if they bowhunt.
The main thing about hunting, whether with a gun or a bow, is to enjoy what you’re doing out there.
