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Primitive Archer Magazine | April 2006 Newsletter
www.primitivearcher.com
713-467-8202

Passing On The Traditions of Classical Archery

Don’t forget to go to www.primitivearcher.com to expand your collection of PA Back Issues !

In this issue of our newsletter we bring you:

• Blue Ribbon Article From Primitive Archer Magazine Volume10, Issue 2 - Using Your Bow to Trail Animals • Bow of the Month by Don Berg • Shoot & Knap-In Calendar by The Calendar Girl

Eskata looked up from the deer that Noche, the master tracker, took with his bow. His eyes blinking rapidly and his breath unregulated at the exhilaration of seeing his mentor at work. Eskata wanted to ask what he could not ask. He wanted to know how Noche knew the deer was there. Yet, in Eskata’s exasperation, Noche could sense Eskata’s yearning question, then he said, “Eskata, you are young with much to learn, and you have a strong heart. I will grant your desire. I knew the deer was there because I asked my bow.”

The art of successful bowhunting lies in the ability for you, the bowhunter, to know your animal quarry. To know your quarry, you must recognize some very important details pertaining to the life of each animal you hunt. These details include: What does the animal look like? What are the animal’s size, shape, and color? What is the color arrangement that makes this animal unique from all others? How does it live? Where does it live? When does it eat? What does it eat? When does it drink water? Where does it drink water? What are its mating habits? How many young does it have? Does the animal hibernate? If so, when does it go into its den, and when does it come out?

How long and wide is the front foot? How long and wide is the rear foot? Is the animal a toenail walker like the deer family? Perhaps the print was made by a toe-walking animal like the dog family? Is the track a little bigger and flatfooted like the bear family? What shape does the animal’s foot leave on the surface soil? How does the foot register on the ground? How does it walk? How does it run? What are its other gaits of movement? What does this movement look like on varying soils and through certain vegetation? Does the animal have toes? If it has toes, how many toes? Does it have claws? If it has claws, do the claws register when the animal walks or runs? When the animal walks, what is the outer stride length? What is the inner stride length? Does the foot pitch inward or outward or is it straight? What is the trough width? How old is the trail? What is the appearance of the overall trail and which animal from your knowledge does it resemble?

It is the answers to these kinds of details that let’s the bowhunter know the quarry animal as he knows himself. I know many of you have these kinds of details in your field notes, but most bowhunters do not. It is critical with this kind of information, that you transfer this knowledge to the ground, so when you see a behavior in an animal while in the bush you must go over and look at the ground for the purpose of correlating the behavior to the tracks and other sign left by the animal thus imprinting this in your mind for future reference. When you have seen the tracks over and over in relation to the same behavior, watching and logging everything, then you know the animal. This meticulous detail allows you to pick up the primitive bow and be in the right area, at the right time, and at the right distance to get “the shot.” The question then becomes, “How do I remember it all, while I am on the trail?”

NECESSITY FOR THE TASK AT HAND

It’s probably the cowboy in me that has led to my memory loss, which I brought upon myself from years of deprivation from the finer things of life, i.e. toilets and the like. Maybe, it’s all those years of sleeping on the cold ground. I really don’t know. Regardless to the cause of my memory’s demise, I hope you don’t have this problem; but if you do, you must have slept on the same cold ground or you haven’t sat on a toilet in a while. I will not ask which. I have heard it said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” As a scout tracker and bowhunter, I had a need!

I have trailed animals across most of the United States and Western Canada. Of all the trails I have been on, it has always been a necessity in one form or another to have some kind of measuring and logging devise to assist me with at least remembering the details of animal peculiarities. All animal families are unique in habit as well as in movement. Each individual member within each family has similarities and differences in the way they walk, and the way they walk registers on the surface of the earth uniquely by genus, species, and as individual animals. Not only do I need to know that the track before me is of the bear family, but I also must know whether it is a black, brown, or polar bear. Knowing the habitats of each helps and is critical; yet, this is not necessarily an absolute solution when habitats cross, which is the case at times between the brown and black bear for example.

It is always helpful to continue your trail analysis with more details. It requires the extra steps, for instance, of confirming whether the bear is a boar, sow or cub. Some animals within families are hard to tell apart when looking at the ground. Most foot registers are faint, rarely clear tracks (primary sign). If you see anything at all, it is usually in the form of minor disturbances, chewings, rubs, etc. (secondary sign). This evidence is just as good as primary sign (tracks) as long as it is confirmed by the animal’s trail pattern. Realistically, there are too many mitigating factors to read sign in a vacuum, thus the need for more detail. Sometimes trailing specific family members is easy. When I’m in Southeast Alaska on Admiralty Island, I am perfectly sure that the bear I am trailing is a large brown one. But I still must get to the details in the tracks if I am to know if the track maker was a young boar or just a sow. The better bowhunter I want to become depends on such details, the same details and time it took to develop the mechanics of my shot with my selfbow. Such details also keep me out of range of the long arm of the law, which problems none of us need.

The way I remember and verify that I am following the same animal I started trailing and the way I can keep all the information that I see in the tracks and trail patterns of all the various animals is to measure and log those details. I do this through the use of my tracking bow, which is used like its predecessor the tracking stick (I did not invent the tracking stick), so in order for you to understand my invented modifications using the tracking bow, you will need the details of the tracking stick.

THE TRACKING STICK

The tracking stick concept was invented some years back by a search and rescue group in Southern California when they were attending a tracking course taught by the Border Patrol. It was the Border Patrol, generally, who made the tracking stick famous in the profession of finding (they call this sign cutting) and following (step-by-step method, SBS) the trail of illegal aliens. It was the “old cowboy type Border Patrol agents,” like master trackers Ab Taylor (tracking instructor), Joel Hardin (founder and chief instructor of Universal Tracking Services), and Jack Kearney (author of Tracking: Blueprint for Learning How) who specifically made the tracking stick famous through their tracking training programs.

I first dabbled with the tracking stick in the military, but found, the tracking stick to be of little value when you’re carrying a rifle and relying on it to preserve your life.

The tracking stick is useful when I know that I am in no danger. There are many types and styles of tracking sticks of which only your imagination is the limiting factor. Some of the tracking sticks that I have seen range in size from 30 inches long by a 1/2 inch in diameter (like a switch) to 6 feet long by 1 or 2 inches in diameter (like a walking staff). The materials used to construct the tracking stick range from willow branches to manufactured metal. The most common form of tracking stick is the ski pole without the basket or the collapsible walking stick for hiking. Notwithstanding the differences in appearance, they have some common features.

To be useful the tracking stick must have a form of measurement to quickly reference length of track and inner stride length. This usually is in the form of cut marks or marker inscriptions at one-inch intervals, thus allowing the tracker to get precision quantification. Assisting the one-inch interval system is a moveable marking system. This consists of the procurement of an elastic, waterproof substance (“O” ring) that can be slipped over the end of the stick with the capability of being moved up and down for logging the trackers trail findings. Once the tracking stick has been set up they all resemble each other in purpose, whatever the configuration.

The use of the tracking stick is quite simple yet elegant. It all boils down to this main concept: “I see the track before me, but where is the next track.” The tracking stick with the proper markings logged on the stick, from the ground, will teach you where the next track will be. It will also show you where the tracks are not. Once the mechanics of the tracking stick are learned and mastered it literally becomes your greatest assistant. Another set of eyes and ears. The tracking stick focuses your eyes when you have doubts and tells you, “The next track is right here, can you see it?” The tracking stick does not have a mouth to speak but it does speak to your mind. Silently, it whispers the reassurances you need to keep looking and moving forward even when your eyes get tired from long hours on the trail. It provides loyalty to the trail. Telling your heart to keep persevering when it appears that the animal has grown wings and disappeared.

USING THE TRACKING STICK

Before employing the tracking stick in trailing a quarry, there are eight basic tracking rules (I will discuss the other rules in future articles) that must be understood. Rule number four, of those eight rules, must be understood here before you employ the tracking stick.

STAY BEHIND THE TRAIL’S LEADING EDGE

The Trail’s Leading Edge (TLE) — see Figure 1, is an invisible barrier that runs perpendicular to the Direction of Travel and the Line of Sign that you are following. The TLE separates the area on the trail that you have walked with the trail before you that you have not. On the other side of the TLE is where you are searching for the next step of the quarry animal. This is called the Prime Sign Area (PSA),-see Figure 1- which I adopted from my friend Joel Hardin of UTS. A collateral issue with rule number four is that it is always best if you can minimize the contamination that you cause to the trail you are following. It is very difficult to do this at times when the animal is moving through some pretty tight places. Even when I trail an animal as big as a moose, I am amazed at the brush they go through with such grace and ease. In other words, stand to either side of the trail and behind the Last Known Track (LKT) (see Figure 1) while you are searching for the next track.

I am never in a hurry when I trail a quarry. It’s the trailing and never losing the trail that matters to me, not just the end. Trailing is a patience game. If I see in the trail that the quarry has picked up its pace and I need to close the Time Distance Interval, then I hope that my fellow bowhunters know how to track so I can send them ahead by another route to do some Cut Trailing. If no one else is available, I just keep moving, the animal will bed down eventually. One thing I have learned on the trail is if I make noise and spook most animals, they can certainly move way faster than I. So what could possibly be the point of moving so fast that I make noise? Silence, patience, perseverance, tenaciousness and some stubbornness keep the tracker moving forward; and, at times, it is these very qualities that keep me in place to just observe.

This is how to use the tracking stick: (I am setting up this illustration as if I am going to trail a member of the cat family-see Figure 2).
1) Place the inner stride length measurement or your estimated stride length for the cat. Placing it from the tip of the stick to the first “O” ring.
2) Place the foot register (track) measurement from the first “O” ring to the second “O” ring.
3) Stand behind the TLE.
4) Put your hand on the tracking stick, behind the second “O” ring.
5) Hold the tracking stick above the ground just over the track, and to the front of the TLE. Make sure not to disturb the track or the vegetation above the track. That is where you might see the evidence of the next step.
6) Between the second and first “O” ring should be the last track of the cat. Between the first “O” ring and the tip of the tracking stick should be the distance between the cat’s steps. So the heel area of your next step should be looked for at the point of the tip.
7) After careful and detailed observation, if you still cannot see any evidence of the next step of the cat. You should pivot the stick on axis at the tip of the track. Arcing the stick slowly in both directions covering the Prime Sign Area in front of the TLE looking for the track evidence at the point of the tip (see Figure 3).
As you work with the tracking stick, experience will verify the exactness of its use. Your faith in the tracking stick as a tool will be your greatest trailing ally.

Sometimes all you will see are the cuts, scrapes and compressions left by the feet of animals.

FROM TRACKING STICK TO TRACKING BOW

When I tracked in the U.S. Army as a LRRP, I tried a number of variations of the tracking stick in order to streamline the product for the mission of trailing. I first used cut sticks; then I moved to weapons cleaning rods from the M16 rifle and the M60 machine gun and then to using the rifle itself as a measuring device, but my chain of command took a dim view of me cutting notches into the metal and plastic so I could keep my findings, so I had to stop. All of these tracking sticks were awkward when carrying a rifle, except the latter. So I devised a tracking quirt made out of 550 parachute cord (a thirty-plus-inch cord hanging from the wrist with stitch marks at one inch intervals). In this method, I also put “O” rings, which I slid up and down to adjust for measurement (a hint: the tracking quirt is great if you rifle hunt). I used this method for the next 10 years. It was functional.

Two-hour old moose tracks in the sand. Notice the water within the tracks, the dew claws, and where the moose stepped over the boot print.

When I’d go to the bush with the bow, I tried using the tracking stick, but that was ludicrous. Having the bow in my left hand and carrying a 30-inch stick was not practical. I then tried the tracking quirt; but having the 30-inch cord hang down was functional but still not perfect. A better way was necessary. I was still in the search for the ultimate measuring device for carrying the bow when I came upon an epiphany. In contemplating on the past, I came upon a remembrance from my military days. I used the rifle as a form of measurement. It was this remembrance, though, that led me to using the bow as a measuring devise. Why not, after all the bow is made of wood and so our tracking sticks for the most part.

When I’m scouting for sign I can leave my bow in a flat position (unstrung) which in essence is a tracking stick or I can leave my bow strung which makes my bow both a tool to find animals and a tool to take the animals I choose. I call this tool the “Tracking Bow.”

THE TRACKING BOW

The tracking bow is very similar in use to the tracking stick with some minor adjustments. It can be used like a tracking stick if you leave the bow unstrung. When the bow is strung the adjustments must be compensated for mentally. Mechanically, there is little change.
1. When holding the bow in the left hand with no arrow nocked, turn the bow so the string is skyward and the topside of your index finger, as you are gripping the bow, is parallel with the TLE.
2. On the upper arm belly of the bow, place “O” rings just as I have outlined in described. These “O” rings will mark the length of the track and inner stride length.
3. Use the upper tip of the bow as the point of the next track you are looking for.
4. From the first “O” ring to the bow tip is the inner stride length.
5. From the second “O” ring to the first “O” ring is the track length.
6. If the next track is not clear. Then rotate the bow on axis at the second “O” ring.
7. As you slowly rotate the bow, keep your eye just beyond the tip looking for any evidence of the next track.

Just because you may not see the next track right off, does not mean it is not there. If the animal has been keeping the same stride, and if you have seen in the trail no deviations, then you can be sure that the animal stepped just beyond the tip of your bow. Look harder with more precision. If there was a change in the animal’s trail pattern you would have seen the change and made the adjustments on your tracking bow. If you want to know how you found the animal, just ask your bow.

Side view of the TLE.	Once I find the trail, I establish the Trails Leading Edge and Last Known Track. Then I begin searching the Prime Sign Area.
Top view of following the trail with the tracking stick.	Notice the O ring measurements in relation to the tracks.
Notice the O ring measurements in relation to the tracks.	Another look at my tracking bow doing its job. This snow medium allows a perfect picture of how to find the next step of my quarry animal.

TRACKING VOCABULARY

Last Known Track (LKT) – The most recent sign that the quarry can conclusively be said to have been. It’s the track you have in front of you.
Prime Sign Area (PSA) – The area of correct size and location in relationship to other sign, in which the next print should be located. This area is the 12 o’clock side of the TLE in the Direction of Travel.
Quarry – The animal being pursued.
Tracking Bow – The tracking tool set up with “O” rings to assist the tracker in measuring the track length and stride. It also establishes the Prime Sign Area where the next track should be found.
Trails Leading Edge (TLE) – The farthest most point that you have gone on the trail. This is a perpendicular invisible barrier that you create at the Last Known Track. You will not go beyond this point unless you see the next print or piece of sign. Then you lift and shift forward establishing a new TLE at the Leading Edge of the next track.

Here I set up to wait. The trail I followed led me to an area of fresh sign. I wait for my quarry.

TRACKING EXERCISE

Self-Teaching Unit – Find an area of surface soil that is flat with a minimum of vegetation or none at all. This exercise will help imprint the fact that if animals walk on the earth they leave behind evidence of their passing. Make sure the ground is semi-firm, not hard and not real soft. This is a visual exercise to practice establishing where the Trails Leading Edge is located, where the Prime Sign Area is located, and where the Last Known Track is in relation to the other two tracking concepts. Set up your tracking area as outlined in Figure 4. Work about 10 Lines of Sign, using you as the quarry. Remember that you only have two legs and other animals have four. Then set up the tracking area again in a different location under the same specifications; then use your dog as the quarry. To set up the trail with your dog, hold the dog on a leash and have the dog walk next to you. Your own tracks will also act as a guideline to assist in trailing your dog. Until next issue... keep tracking

Next Issue: The Eight Rules for Trailing an Animal
Ty Cunningham is the founder & chief tracker of the Int’l Society of Professional Trackers, directs scout tracker training at his Lost Trail Ranch, serves as a Deputy U.S. Marshal in Alaska and is a Certified Senior Scout Tracker.

Those wishing further tracking training with an instructor can contact the Int’l Society of Professional Trackers (ISPT) who will link you up with the closest tracking school in your area.
ISPT/Track & Sign Linda Hunter
P.O. Box 654 Stevenson, WA 98648
(509) 427-4971 linda4@gorge.net

BOW OF THE MONTH – Don Berg

Congratulations to Gordon Ferlitsch (Muddler)
of Tigard, Oregon for
March Bow of the Month, 2006

Here's how Gordon made this truly primitive bow:
A friend of mine, Jimmy, asked me to make a bow he could take to some upcoming primitive shooting competitions. He stipulated that the bow had to be all wood and self-backed, no tip overlays or handle splices, no arrow rest and naturally colored and finished. I told him to pick a stave out of his collection and naturally he hands me the most gnarly piece of vine maple in the bunch. This piece of wood gave me fits throughout the tillering process and there were times I was ready to chuck it into the fireplace, but somehow I ended up with a bow that shoots okay. 66” ntn, 55# @ 29”, 1 5/8” at the fades to about mid-limb then tapering to 1/2” at the tips. Elk-hide handle wrap, light golden stain and finished with tung-oil. Here are some pictures. The quiver is made by Ron York. Thanks for looking!

Comments from readers:
Congratulations Gordon, That Bow is definitely worthy of the honors. That has to be the nicest vine maple that I've ever seen.Even though a three way tie would have been neat,I was glad to see one of you two pull into the lead. No tips or backing, just pure clean character, great job on a challenging order. – Keenan
Gordon no doubt one of the toughtest bow of the month competitions so far...great job on vine maple, you really did that wood some justice...well earned title bro...fine craftsmanship – Gut
That’s a nice bow Gordon, it is tillered good too. I just now took a good look at all those curves wow man. This bow is truly a character bow. – Chuck
Congratulations, Gordon. You did a fine job of crafting an excellent weapon from a challenging piece of wood. – Hillbilly

Shoots, Knap-Ins & Rendezvous

To view the calendar for any month or add your own event, please click here. You can plan out your year of shoots, knap-ins and rendezvous. To get information on the calendar or add an event just email marie@primitivearcher.com

Coming Events

MAY 2006

May 5

9th Annual Watercreek Knap-In
May 5-7
Yellville, Arkansas
5 miles form Buffalo River on banks of Water Creek.
Tomahawk throwing contest. Trade blanket. Raffle on Saturday afternoon. We are fortunate to have some of the worlds best knappers demonstrating the art of making arrowheads, tomahawks, spearpoints and Myan Eccentrics
contact: Bob Thomas pump1@yellvill.net

May 6

Traditional Tournament
May 6
9am-5pm
Carter's Grove
Williamsburg Virginia
Traditional English longbow and American flatbow tournament. Metropolitan Round for men, and Albany Round for women. Youth are also welcome. Wand shoot at the end of regular tournament
Contact Jay Gaynor
jgaynor@cwf.org
757-220-7525

9th Annual Tennessee Classic
May 6-7
Clarksville, Tennessee
Twin Oaks Bowhunter
Classes Recurve Bow*Long Bow*Self Bow*Ultimate Self Bow Challenge
Make your own Self Bow
Beautiful property and fabulous group of people
You will NOT want to miss this one!
Contact Mark Baggett
931-362-3717
markbaggett@detdist.com
This one is fabulous! Put it on your calendars and make the trek this year!

May 7

Bakersfield Monthly Knap-in
May 7
Bakersfield, Califonia
A monthly knap-in is held on the first Sunday of every month. The one-day event goes from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Hart Memorial Park.
For more information contact Gary Pickett (661) 444-6163 or e-mail: air-o-head@webtv.net

May 17

Fort Osage Knap-In
May 17-21
Booneville, Missouri
The new site is located right on highway70 just east of Booneville at exit 111. This site is very large and has shelters, large bathrooms, showers, food concessions, and most important, it is not a swamp. We will have room to spare, and all on high ground. There will also be a swap meet at the same time that draws 500 to 1000 attendees and a tractor pull.
for more info you can go to www.mrvsea.com

May 19

10th Annual Buckhorn Traditional Archery Rendezvous
May 19-21
W. Stockbridge, Massachusetts
for more information contact: TomPhillips at 860-824-7249
imdiablo62@aol.com

5th Annual Thomas Hollow/Goldendale Knap-In
May 19-21
Thomas Acreage
Goldendale, Washington
Flint-Knapping, Archery trail, Salmon BBQ Sat. evening (potluck), Pancake breakfast Sunday morning (potluck), door prizes, contests, auctions. This is a 3 day event, Friday through Sunday.
Ed Thomas
Puget Sound Knappers
feather@gorge.net
509-773-6461

Baltimore Bowmen Traditional Classic
May 19-21
Baltimore, Maryland
Lukas Novotny o fhte Sluki bow company will do archery demonstrations from horseback.
A Blue Grass band will perform Saturday night
novelty shoots, running rabbit shoot, running deer, swap meet, door prizes, three Ranges and over 80 3D targets
for more information call: Shooters- Mike Horst 410-882-4620 or 800-864-2629
dealers- Jerry Dewese 410-357-8248
**click here for more information on the Baltimore Bowmen Traditional Classic**

Southeastern Championship
May 19-21
Warrenton,Georgia
Ogeechee River Lodge
Presented by the Traditional Bowhunters of Georgia
vendors, fun shoots, coon shoots, fun range
For Information Contact John Wilson 770-603-6118
**click here for more info on this event and the Traditional Bowhunters of Georgia**

May 20

11th Annual Traditional 3-D Championships
May 20-22
sponsored by Traditional Bowhunters of BC Traditional
Semiahmoo Fish & game Club, Surrey BC
for more information Jack Ashworth (604) 541-1185
email: injectorjack@yahoo.com
Jim Turner (604) 476-1671
email: jimsturner@shaw.ca

20th Annual Stick Bow Round-up
May 20-21
Chester, Texas at Camp Ta-Ku-La in Chester, Texas
Camp Ta-Ku-La & Primitive Archer Presents
10 Divisions: Recurve, Longbow, Self Bow
Pre-Registration Fee $10 . On Site Registration $15
On Site Camping and Bunkhouse Accommodations with Dining Hall
California Start: 8:30AM Both Days Glo Stick Night Shoot - Saturday Night
Plaques Awarded to 1st-3rd Places Each Division
Bow Makers, Dealers and Archery Suppliers on Site For more info Contact Bill Decker
at (409)722-0177 or email bdecker@nederland.k12.tx.us

May 21

Womens Outdoor Survival Basics
May 21
Flagstaff, Arizona
for more info contact Tony Nester ant Ancient Pathways
anester@apathways.com
978-774-7522

May 26

Primitive Archery Rendezvous
May 26-29
Memorial Day Weekend
Wilder Creek Conservation Club
Battle Creek, Michigan
wildercreek@aol.com for more information

May 27

2nd Annual Western Oregon Knap-In
May 27-June 4
Illahee Flats, Oregon
hosted by Jim Hopper and Brad Baughman
for more info: contact Brad Baughman at 541-496-0211
bbb7707@yahoo.com

May 28

The 2006 "Original" Northeastern
May 28-June 4
Thompson Lake, Thompson, Connecticut
contact Fred Grasso Booshway or Crista Grasso Segunda
67 Pleasant View St.
Oakville, Ct. 06779
originalNEPR@aol.com

JOMO Monthly Knap-In
May 28
Pineville, Mo
JOMO is just a group of people who love flint knapping and sharing their skills. Beginners are MOST welcome to come and watch and try their hand at chipping if they would like. Several of the regulars are excellent bowyers and atlatl makers/throwers so if you are interested in those things, come on!
Beginners and wannabe's are especially welcome and Jim Spears is normally here to help you get a good a start.
contact: dbenson@juno.com or steve____mo@hotmail.com

May 31

8-week Summer Internship in Traditional Living Skills
may 31-July 26
North of Flagstaff, Arizona
This intensive experience is held at our high-desert base camp north of Flagstaff and includes participation in two fieldcourses along with an archeological fieldtrip in southern Utah. The cost is $1200 and covers meals, instruction in traditional skills, and all fieldtrips.
For more information, visit http://www.southwestsemester.com

We thank you for your interest and support. We are working hard to "Pass it On to the Next Generation".
713-467-8202