One Lucky Cat & One Unlucky Cat

Some of us were just discussing bowhunters not being able to carry a pistola (CCW) while bowhunting in CA per DFG Code. One of the reasons many of us want to be able to carry a pistol is the chance of an attack by a bear or cougar. While the chances of one being jumped by these critters is remote you're much better off with a gun than a bow. The dude in the story below is lucky to be alive, he broke and tried to out run the cat. Major no no, running just triggers a cat's predatory response. It's one reason some call mountains bikers "Meals on wheels".

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=81991&TM=10497.15

What really made me a believer in letting bowhunters be armed was my buddy Pete getting stalked and almost et by a cougar at Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) a couple years back. He was able to knock an arrow but who knows if he would have even got that shot off had the cat not broke off the attack. The other problem Pete had was his jacket was stuffed in his quiver when he encountered the cat and reloading would have been tough. I'll take my chances with a pistol over a bow any day.

Pete near FHL the day before the cat encounter.

Another close encounter I've had with a big cat was 3 of us bumped into a cougar near Lake Henshaw CA a year ago while turkey hunting. That cat started to stalk the father I was with and finally broke off that attack when the father broke off a large tree limb and threw it at the cat. The father was also unarmed and regretted that decision later.



DFG should amend that reg to let bowhunters carry pistols for self protection.

We can't all have a miracle bumper slide up our sleeves.

Cherry Valley Bowhunters Jenks Lake 3D Archery Shoot Part 1

I shot this video at our Cherry Valley Bowhunters Big Bear 3D Archery shoot near Jenk's Lake CA, August 1-3 2008. I can't think of nothing more relaxing than to camp out in the high mountain pines and fling arrows, only to set around a campfire later and talk bowhunting and archery.

3D archery is a subset of field archery focusing on shooting at life-size targets of game. It is most common to see unmarked distances in 3D archery, as the goal is to accurately recreate a hunting environment for competition.

On these animals there are 4 rings, only 3 of these are used in ASA shoots. The one that isn't used very often is the 14 ring. This can only be scored if you call it before you shoot, and even then it may not be allowed. Next is the 12 ring inside of the 10 ring, inside of the 8 ring. Anything on the target that is outside of the 8, 10, 12, or 14 rings is a 5. If you miss the target, you score a zero or goose egg.

Though the goal is hunting practice, hunting tips (broadheads) are not used, as they would tear up the foam targets too much. Normal target or field tips, of the same weight as the intended broadhead, are used instead.

Competitors use recurve bows, longbows and compound bows. Arrows are made of aluminum, carbon or cedar wood.



More info about archery and bowhunting and 3-D shoots on our Archery and Bowhunting forum.

To find a 3D shoot in your area check out 3DShoots.com

Camcorder was a Canon GL-2 with Bogen 3130 tripod and head.

Big Bear Lake Carp Roundup 2008

This was the 5th annual Carp Roundup at Big Bear Lake put on by the Big Bear Lake MWD. As usual the "Zonies" (Arizona) boyz kicked our CA butts. 3rd was the best the state of fruits and nuts could do for both shore and boat teams.

The total tonnage of carp whacked was off from last year, 5,000 pounds, down from 8,000 last year.

A BBQ, prizes and raffle followed after at the MWD building at the boat ramp.

Huge thanks goes out to Big Bear MWD, Mike Stephenson, all the helpers and all the sponsors like Riverside Archery.

See you in 2009, the Big Bear Lake Carp Roundup is the first weekend in June.

Here's part 1 of the 3 part video series.



Part 2