The Bowfishing Boat – A Different Option

We’d all like to have a 16-22 twenty foot fan boat set up for bowfishing, but that isn’t always possible on everyday budgets.  My friends Michael and Mike Adams from the Up North Journal recently did an outstanding job setting up their boat, the Fowl Mouth Two, for a weekend of fish shootin’ here in Wisconsin.  Although Michael already did a blog on it over at Hooks and Bullets I wanted to share this with Mostly Archery readers. 

In my opinion there are three key components of a decent bowfishing boat; a platform big enough to stand on and shoot from, a lighting system (including power) and a trolling motor.  To address these requirements they started with their already existing, basic 14 ‘ V-hull aluminum boat with a 51″ beam.  Bowfishing buddy Seth and I were concerned about the draft of a V-hull boat limiting how well it could navigate shallow water.  I can assure you it was not a problem.  I was being ultra conservative when driving, but Michael took us into water so shallow that the trolling motor had to be raised. 

Using 3/4″ Oriented Strand Board, or OSB, and 2 x 4s they cut and fit a shooting platform into the forward portion of the boat wisely leaving storage under it.  Mike, an avid fisherman, notes that the platform makes a nice casting deck and also says that he may add a bass casting seat to it.  They are considering installing a hinged addition to the platform which will extend to the rear of the second seat creating even more shooting space up front and further storage.  The entire platform can be easily removed if not wanted/needed.  The addition of some indoor/outdoor carpet or non-skid paint will help with traction and protect it from wet weather. 

The shooting deck.

Having shot from the platform I can tell you that it is stable and safe to shoot from.  It will accommodate one shooter comfortably, but Michael and I both fit while shooting at some rascally gar and doing some underway mechanics.  Near the end we started shooting in tandem; he from the front of the boat and I from the rear standing on the boat’s normal deck.  This actually worked quite well and allowed me to back him up on shots he either missed or couldn’t get into position for. 

Addressing the need for lights is where Michael’s genius really came through.  He attached mounts to the newly installed shooting deck and then formed PVC into a railing system for affixing the lights.  They added six 250 watt halogen work lights to the rail utilizing conduit clamps and ran the cords aft toward the expected location of the generator.  There is something going on with how the lights performed on the water that I can’t put my finger on.  Intensity seems sufficient, but I was often unable to see fish until it was too late to shoot.  I did experiment with angles and they seemed to perform better when angled further out than I am used to.  I’ll be posting some pictures on Bowfishing Country USA and asking for feedback to satisfy my curiosity.    

The light rail.

A detail of the light bracket. 

Here in Wisconsin we shoot a lot of lakes into the wee morning hours where houses are crowded along the shores.  Lake homeowners do not appreciate (nor would I) loud generators and will call the police to report a noise disturbance.  My buddy Seth uses a 3000 watt Honda rated at 49-58 decibels.  Michael and Mike borrowed a similar Honda generator from family rated at 53-59 decibels.  Both work well and we had no problems.

A quiet generator. 

Finally, they added a 55 pound thrust trolling motor.  Originally mounted on the stern this thing would scoot that boat right across the lake.  However, for bowfishing the optimum location for a troller is in the bow so that a shooter or shooters can control it.  Seth, Michael, Mike and I spent a couple of hours working out a solution to the problem.  First, we removed the control handle and rotated it 180 degrees on the shaft.  Then, we began fabricating a mount.  After one failed attempt on the port, forward side of the hull we looked toward the “pointy end”. 

With a little woodworking, lots of teamwork and no bad words we got it worked out.  You can see the result in the picture below.  Depending on the weight in the bow the entire trolling motor wasn’t necessarily submerged even with the shaft fully extended.  However, it was quite stable and performed well.  We originally wired the battery to the back of the boat, but a difference in battery posts caused us to move it all the way forward.  It worked well in that location, helped to add a little weight in the front and was very convenient.  The forward navigation light was operable, but isn’t quite set yet.  Michael is going to work on that.   

Trolling motor mount.

This is a very worthwhile project for anyone who wants to get into bowfishing at low cost.  In lake trials the Fowl Mouth Two performed well.  Both Michael and I took fish.  What more could you ask for? 

Insert a couple of fish taken from the boat.

You can download the Up North Journal podcast, Episode 112, where they discuss setting up the boat here and Episode 114, where they discuss their Wisconsin Bowfishing Adventure here.

happy bowfishing, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:

• Carp O’ Rama!
• Bowfishing – Preparing The Boat
• Anatomy of a Bowfishing Rig 

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See the general note about dv’s Gear Reviews.

Product:  JD Welding Arrow Spin Tester

Manufacturer:  JD Welding

The JD Welding Arrow Spin Tester 

Overall Rating:  ***** (5.0 stars)

Specifications:

- Four 7/8″ bearings

- Heavy duty aluminum

- 4″ wide x 12″ long x 1 1/2″ high

Cost:  ***** (5 stars).  $25.00 including free shipping.  Compare this spin tester’s price to commercially available, mass-produced models and I don’t think it can be beat. 

Performance:  ****** (5 stars).  Heavy duty with a wide base the spin tester sits on my archery bench well and performs well.  It certainly pointed out the flaw in that rotten #1 arrow that always hits three inches high. 

Manufacturer’s Customer Service:  Not rated, not used.

General notes:  Using a spin tester to check your arrows’ straightness and broadhead alignment is crucial.  Broadheads not properly aligned with the arrow’s axis will lead to unwanted flyers.  Usually I want to use something an entire season before doing a gear review especially if it is a positive review, but for some products I don’t think that is necessary.  This spin tester is one of them.  I don’t know what else you could ask for.  Great price, great product, good service.  ‘Nuff said.  Contact Joe to get yours.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:

• The Magnet Gun Caddy – A dv Gear Review
• Exciting New Products From The Cabela’s Archery Catalog
• ACE – A Source for ASAT, Sitka Gear and Wilderness Athlete Products 

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This past weekend outdoor buddy Seth and I had the privilege of hosting Michael and Mike Adams from the Up North Journal podcast for a few nights of bowfishing.  It was great to finally meet and get outdoors with this duo who keep me entertained in the treestand and while I’m running.  The action was rather slow and we hit some storm conditions on Friday night, but we managed to get them their first fish plus some.  You can dowload and listen to the Up North Journal discussing their Wisconsin Bowfishing Adventure here.   

Mike Adams poses with his first carp and Michael with his first quillback.

After a second night of shooting Mike shows off his first gar and sheepshead.

Michael’s second quillback on night two.

My shooting was off this night, but I managed to connect with this 13 pound carp and a 6 pound dogfish (a new personal record).

Sharpshooter Seth shows off his catch – look at that monster 18 pound carp (a new personal record).

Lexus helps me send Michael and Mike off after a great weekend.

happy bowfishing, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:

• Carp O’ Rama!
• Bowfishing – Preparing The Boat
• Anatomy of a Bowfishing Rig 

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In this blog I ask for reader participation.  Think of it similarly to some popular television programs and magazine articles where the shot is presented and critiqued.  

It was January 24, 2009.  I was in Texas to hunt the next critter on my personal list; the javelina.  In a target rich environment I was lucky enough to harvest my limit of two javis the previous two days. 

My first javelina.

Fellow hunter John and I pose with my second javelina.

Since baggage space on the return flight was limited and I’d taken a number of hogs on previous trips I asked the outfitter if it was possible to take a large (for me) hog from a ground blind.  That would be a new adventure for me that I didn’t figure likely to happen.  Therefore baggage was safe.  He thought we could accomplish it…

It was sunny and in the 60’s.  Rob put me in a Primos Groundmax Eclipse blind with the wind in my face.  The set up was perfect.  There was a feeder 25.5 yards directly in front of the blind with a tri-pod stand on the other side of it.  Hopefully the hogs’ attention would be on that.  Immediately to the left of the blind was a larger prickly pear cactus.  About twelve yards slightly to the right and in front of the blind was a very large brush pile.  The blind fit right in. 

I’ve hunted from just about every model Double-Bull blind and an Ameristep Brickhouse.  This was my second time hunting from the Primos Groundmax Eclipse blind.  In my opinion it let in too much light from the “peek” top windows, the nylon material was too thin which let in more light and the light streamed in the zipper.  I stuffed the “peek” top windows with whatever I could find to darken them.  I also put on my “black out” shirt, balaclava and “Michael Jackson” left-hand-only glove to help blend into what is supposed to be a dark blind interior.  

Having been “busted” in the past by various animals I prefer to leave blind nettings in and shoot through them.  I practice with my set up this way.  The Eclipse’s netting was much coarser than any I’d ever seen before.  It was so coarse that it was difficult to focus on an animal without moving your head around.  This is kind of like looking out your screen door at home.  You reflexively move your head around to focus on the distant object.  However, I had shot a small raccoon, about the size of a loaf of bread, at 12-15 yards through the netting the evening before at a different stand. 

The feeder was set to go off at 5:00 pm.  Just before that time I started to hear the grunts and oinks of feral hogs approaching behind the brush pile to my right.  A few visibly crossed from right to left, but quickly entered the cactus and brush near the tri-pod stand.

When the feeder went off five or more hogs rushed out to it from multiple directions.  All were black.  There were three in the 100 pound range and two larger in, what I would later learn, the 160 pound range.  I watched them closely with my rangefinder and determined that of the larger hogs one was a male and the other was female. 

I watched and waited for the male hog to give me a broadside or quartering away shot.  Eventually he was quartering away at the 9:30 or 10:00 o’clock position.  I picked a “whitish” looking area directly behind his leg and a little less than 1/3rd the way up the body.  I picked my bow up and tried to aim.  I couldn’t tell where I was aiming.  Since my head was stationary while aiming the coarse netting was preventing me from focusing on the target. 

I quietly let down and carefully studied the hog and his surroundings.  I pulled back up again, picked the same spot, took extra time to find my anchor point and released.  The hog lunged forward on impact and took off into the 11:00 o’clock direction.  I could see the fletching and the arrow looked a little low.  The other hogs came back in to feed.

I called Rob on the radio.  He started to head in my direction and asked me to check blood.  The radio traffic scared the remaining hogs off.  I found decent blood right away.  Rob believes in following hit hogs right away, especially on afternoon hunts, to avoid dangerous pursuits in the dark.  The following will reinforce his reasons for this. 

The blood trail was good and continuous.  Easy to follow.  However, I was concerned that it looked dark and red more like blood from a vein hit than lighter and frothy from a lung hit.  I found a small piece of unidentifiable fleshy material.  We found a pool of blood approximately sixteen inches long, five inches wide and just under one-eighth inch deep.  The hog just kept going. 

At what I judged to be about the 300 yard point the guide heard a noise in the brush.  Rob carried a 9mm Browning Hi-Power and the guide carried a Kimber .45 auto.  We circled the noise with Rob on the left; I and the guide on the right.  Rob could see the hog and thought he was expiring.  There was no opportunity for an arrow in the thick cover.  The guide and I could not see the hog. 

Next we heard a rapid succession of four shots and, “He’s got me!”  We could see nothing although we were within 8-12 feet.  However, Rob could still talk which we took as a good sign.  We crowded into the brush and found the hog still alive, but floundering.  There was no shot opportunity for the guide or myself as Rob was on the opposite side of the hog in a tree.  Shortly the hog expired. 

The hog had charged the outfitter.  Rob had kicked and shot at the charging animal with the remaining four rounds in his gun – he’d forgotten to reload after using it last.  Note the blood on his knee in the picture.  That is the hog’s, thankfully, not Rob’s.  The hog ‘missed the hook” with his tusk, but delivered a good blow to Rob’s left knee.  We found 2 of the four bullets had entered the fleshy, left side of the hog’s head from nearly directly above it.  Neither looked fatal.  The skull is currently in Texas so I haven’t had a chance to examine it yet.  To add another element of danger a porcupine appeared in a small bush a few feet to my right.

Rob and I pose with boar that attacked him.

We found that my arrow had entered much further forward than I was aiming, exactly underneath the chin of the hog.  The broadhead had lodged up into the point where each half of the jaw meets.  The arrow was broken in half, but the broadhead was completely intact and ready for use after resharpening. 

The hog weighed 162 pounds with smaller than expected tusks for its size.  In the end I was extremely relieved that no one was hurt and sorely disappointed in my shooting. 

Equipment notes:  I was using a 67.5 pound Reflex Highlander at 26.5 inch draw length and shooting 384 grain Gold Tip arrows at 262 fps.  The broadheads were 100 grain Slick Trick magnums with four blades and 1 1/8″ cut diameter. 

Experience/practice notes:  I shoot archery all year long; 3D and paper targets.  I’ve killed three hogs prior to this along with other exotic, pronghorn, bear, javelina, turkey, whitetails and small game.

Shot notes:  In retrospect I don’t believe the “whitish” looking area I was aiming for was right for a quartering away shot.  I believe I should have been aiming at an imaginary point on the inside of the far shoulder which would have put the facing side aiming point farther back.  This would be in an attempt to get both lungs.  I also wonder if I picked the wrong “whitish” spot considering the problem with the net.  There was likely another “whitish” spot on the rear, rounded portion of the jaw.  Did I focus on that?  I don’t know.

For an extremely high quality Texas hunting adventure contact Rob of Fair Chase from dv’s Links Page.  Additionally, you can find my trip report here.

Let’s hear your feedback.

happy hunting, dv

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Preparing a European Skull Mount

Last Friday night we headed out to participate in local Lake Tichigan’s Carp O’ Rama.  The homeowner’s association surrounding the lake pay us $1.00 per rough fish which really equates to gas money for the boat.  Seth and I had the privilege of introducing our friend Gary Martin, taker of the sixteenth archery Super Slam, on his first bowfishing trip.  Gary caught on quick (far quicker than I ever did I’m sad to say) and the results are below.

Gary poses with his first fish, a mirror carp no less!

Gary and Seth pose with our catch -$43 in gas money.

happy bowfishing, dv

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Boar Attack – Anatomy of a Hog Shot Gone Wrong
• Preparing a European Skull Mount

Fried Tag, mmm…tasty

Well, another Wisconsin turkey season has come and gone.  I’m left with a perfect record – no Wisconsin turkey….and tons of GREAT memories from afield. 

Wisconsin’s spring turkey season is really a series of six, five-day seasons which run Wednesday through Sunday in one of seven zones.  Permits are awarded from a draw, even for residents.  I drew first season which was a first for me and then I bought a left over sixth season tag.  Additionally I participated as a guide in my first Adaptive Sportsmen, Inc. turkey hunt. 

First Season

After the mind-melting experience of not even seeing a turkey near where I deer hunt at Camp Pug during the 2008 spring season, despite having a nice tom on the game camera only three days before my arrival, I applied for a zone closer to some friends’ hunting cottage further south this year.  Myself and friends Butch and Gary, all of us local West Allis Bowmen members, would be hunting together.  Gary and I had tags while Butch was our guide and primary caller.  I was excited to be hunting with Gary who recently completed the sixteenth archery Super Slam.  I wanted to see how a hunter of this caliber acted in the field.  What were his mannerisms, how did he use his equipment, what could I learn from him? 

With limited vacation I could only hunt Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  So, Friday morning we were out early.  Gary and I were in my friend Seth’s Double Bull Dark Horse while Butch sat up behind us to call.  He can do a mean excited cackle on his diaphragm call and we had lots of gobbling in multiple directions.  Eventually, though, another hunter walked into and scared off our most promising courter.  We set up again in another location for awhile without luck. 

That afternoon and evening were fairly uneventful.  We tried calling some birds to us on public land that liked lounging about at a bird feeder in someone’s yard.  They’d answer up as they traveled away, but we couldn’t bring them in.  Misjudging another gobbler’s location on a ridge we bumped him setting up. 

Saturday morning was our most exciting.  We set up where we thought the gobbler that the other hunter bumped on us the previous morning was strutting.  Two hens came in separately.  One of them is pictured below.  I got sick of listening to the gobbler in the distance so I started cutting him off with a weak excited cackle.  Eventually he got tired of being interrupted and came to investigate.  However, he stayed out about 45 yards in some brush and then disappeared into a cat tail marsh.  Butch and I think the B-mobile decoy may have been a little aggressive.

A hen came to see us.

After a while I saw movement in the cat tails and bumped Gary alert whispering, “Turkey in the marsh.”  Gary looked and said, “Turkeys don’t have bushy tails.”  It was a coyote.  From previous conversations I knew that both of us really wanted an archery killed coyote.  We tried lip-squeaking (which I am terrible at).  That had no effect.  I tried my best dying rabbit imitation with a turkey diaphragm.  Probably too low and raspy.  The coyote took a few tentative steps in the right direction, but then spun and left.  Mid-day included a nine mile run for me in preparation for an upcoming half-marathon (read Half Marathon Down, here), some excellent grilled brats and some time in the hot tub.  Saturday night was uneventful.

Our Sunday morning location was busted by some inconsiderate hunters driving past us on county property where vehicles are not allowed.  We moved elsewhere, but flushed a tom and four hens from the roost. 

Although I didn’t successfully kill a bird I had a great time and made GREAT memories with good companions.  Compared to 2008 I am a mentally enriched and happy dustyvarmint. 

Adaptive Sportsman, Inc Hunt

ASI provides outdoor opportunities to physically challenged outdoors men and women.  Among other events they have a fall deer hunt and spring turkey hunt at Badger Army Ammunition Plant.  As guides we help scout, set up blinds, escort hunters afield and call if necessary.  My Camp Pug hunting partners, Hunt Master and Gravel, are old hands at this who come prepared with grub hoes, plywood platforms and shims to make the wheelchairs stable on the often uneven ground. 

We’d had rain all night long and the day was chilly and blustery.  However, after a little blind calling turkeys started filing into the field.  Some would answer, but none would commit.  Eventually, though, one set his head and neck forward, wings out and back and started to charge in.  Closer, closer he came.  I followed his movements with my little tripod mounted video camera and finally set it up to catch all the action near the decoys while I continued some coaxing calls.  However, just as the tom entered the corner of the camera’s picture my hunter, Jeff, opened fire. 

Bam once!  The turkey flies up and tries to come back in.  Bam twice!  The turkey flies up and tries to come back in a second time.  Bam thrice!  The turkey flies up and is gone.  I later ranged the turkey’s location at thirty-seven yards at the time of the shot.  Jeff told me the night before he liked to shoot them at 100 yards.  I thought he was kidding!  Seriously, though, he said he got “turkey fever”.  It happens…

We had more gobbling including one bird that startled us with an answer only twelve yards behind the blind.  However, no more shot opportunities came that day.  We broke for lunch and headed back out later in the afternoon, but cut the evening hunt short to attend to some medical concerns.  The next morning we encountered a few hens and had a coyote visit us, but we saw no toms.  Another good adventure with GREAT memories.     

Adaptive Sportsmen Hunters and Guides gather for a picture.

Last Season

Late, or last, season can be somewhat unpopular.  Success rates, provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, plummet during this time when the mosquitoes and ticks make a vengeful emergence, the vegetation starts to become heavy and the temperatures rise.  I could only dedicate Saturday to hunting as Sunday night was a much anticipated bowfishing outing with friend Seth.  However, Mrs. dustyvarmint noted that if I got going soon enough I could probably hunt Friday night.  Who wouldn’t cherish a wife like that?  I was also excited to try out my new Horn Hunter Blind Hog for carrying the blind, chair, decoys and equipment.

The Horn Hunter Blind Hog loaded for business, turkey business.

Friday night I set up within 75 yards of a known roost on a logging road used by the turkeys.  It was uneventful without so much as a gobble, but sooooo relaxing.  I know some hunters can’t stand being stationary and would rather “run and gun”, but I enjoy sitting solitary in the comfort of the blind, listening to and staring out at nature.  I can nearly feel the burdens of life slipping off my shoulders.

Butch and I once again teamed up on Saturday to hunt near where we encountered the hens, jake and coyote during first season.  We heard some gobbling, but it was too far away to be of any use to us.  In hind-sight we should have at least moved closer, but if we had we wouldn’t have encountered the doe that come to see us.

This doe came to see us. 

Another shot of our visiting doe. 

She would come in nervously, settle down to feed, run out to a comfortable entry point, settle down to feed again and come in, run out nervously and then do it all over again.  I began calling like a turkey and scratching in the grass to give the decoys some natural back up and to calm her.  It was a great encounter.  Had this been deer season, though, we’d be eating jerky by now…

After that we didn’t have much luck.  I went to check game cameras and do some mid-day work at Camp Pug which is only a half hour away.  The mosquitoes and ticks were out with a vengeance in the evening.  It was gratifying to watch the mosquitoes fall to the ground in the blind once we had the Thermocell warmed up.  We heard no gobbling.  A tree fell in the woods and it made a crash.  We were there to hear it…

Again, no turkey, but great memories.  It is off to Kansas or Texas for next spring’s turkey season, but for now season is over and thoughts change to bowfishing and chasing pronghorn in Montana this fall.

happy hunting, dv

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Boar Attack – Anatomy of a Hog Shot Gone Wrong
• Preparing a European Skull Mount

The Planning Meeting

For a couple of reasons those of us at Camp Pug have decided to plant food plots this year.  One, supplemental feeding and baiting have been banned due to the discovery of a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) positive deer on a game farm in the next county to the east.  While I do use whatever legal hunting methods are available, I’m not particularly fond of baiting.  However, I really like to get pictures of the deer in the area using my game cameras.  Some of these cameras have extremely slow triggers that benefit from stationary deer utilizing supplemental feeding locations.  Second, this is just my opinion, but I think the current pool of hunters at camp see the benefit of food plots for more than just shooting deer.

We don’t know much, but we do know that something like this requires planning.  So, one recent evening we gathered together at my house for some snacks, a glass of red (huh?) and to watch Food Plots 101.  Read the rest of this entry »

Outdoors buddy Seth and I headed out for a short bowfishing trip last Friday night.  The weather was a little cool and shooting wasn’t fast, but we managed to stick a few.  I shot the largest quill back we’ve ever seen and Seth shot a pretty good carp, but we didn’t weigh either.

Seth poses with our Friday night fish.

happy bowfishing, dv 

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• dv’s 2009 Turkey Season Review
• Boar Attack – Anatomy of a Hog Shot Gone Wrong