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.jpg "Welcome to the 3Rivers Archer's Den")
Welcome to the Archer's Den. Here you will find a gathering of traditional archery stories, tips and techniques, trophy animals taken with traditional bows, and plenty more. Stay a while and learn something. We hope you enjoy and even submit a trophy of your own, or leave a comment on a post.
Installing Leather Bow Grip
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery shows you how to install a Leather Bow Grip.
Longbow/Recurve Bow Stringer
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to string a recurve bow using the Thunderhorn Bow Stringer.
Mounting Arrow Points
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to mount arrow points on your traditional wood arrows.
Mounting Fish Points
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates how to mount fish points on your fish arrows.
AMS Retriever Bow Fishing Reel
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates installation of the AMS Retriever Bowfishing Reel.
AMS Safety Slide
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates installation and use of the AMS Safety Slide system used on bowfishing arrows.
AMS Traditional Mount Adapter
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery introduces you to the AMS Traditional Bowfishing Reel Mount.
Assembling the Cartel Youth Bow
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to assemble the Cartel Youth Bow from Greatree Archery.
Assembling the Mohegan Youth Bow
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to assemble the Mohegan Youth Bow from Greatree Archery.
Assembling the Polaris Youth Bow
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to assemble the Polaris Youth Bow from Greatree Archery.
Musk Ox String Silencers
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to install musk ox string silencers.
No-Glove Finger Savers
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates how to install No-Gloves on your bowstring. (No-Gloves are rubber finger protectors.)
Pocket Grain Scale
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to use the Pocket Grain Scale.
Right or Left-Handed Bow
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to tell if you have a right-handed or left-handed bow.
Riser Inserts
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery describes installing Riser Inserts.
Screw-On Reel
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates installation of the Screw-on Reel.
Cat Quiver
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to use a Cat Quiver.
Shur-Grip Bow Grip
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to install The Shur-Grip Bow Grip for your bow.
Weight Tubes for Carbon Arrows
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to install Weight Tubes to bump up the weight of your carbon arrows.
Mounting Woodsman Broadheads
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to mount Glue-On Woodsman Broadheads on adapters.
Dixon’s Broadhead Aligner
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to use Dixon’s Broadhead Aligner to align your broadheads and nocks.
Feather Choppers
The arrow experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to use feather choppers to cut full-length feathers for your arrows.
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to make the Flemish splice when crafting your bow string.
The arrow experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to glue on Trueflight Feathers using fletching jigs like the Bitzenburger.
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates how to use fletching tape, an easy, convenient, and useful way to attach feathers to your arrow shaft.
The experts at 3Rivers Archery show you how to install fur string silencers on your bow.
Great Northern Feather Grinder
The folks at Great Northern Bowhunting Company show you how to use their feather grinding system. Their feather grinding system (complete with helpful instructional DVD) is available at 3Rivers Archery.
The Hidden Hunter Blind
Made in the USA! The Hidden Hunter blind is one of the most convenient, easy to assemble hunting blinds we’ve ever seen! In less than 30 seconds, you’ll have a full 6 foot by 6 foot blind assembled and ready for hunting. No cumbersome poles or annoying hubs. And taking the blind down is just as easy. Comes in special D.A.T. digital camo or traditional Woodland camo.
Traditional Side Strap
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery shows you how to install and use the Traditional Side Strap for your back quivers. Dale also demostrates how to use your back quiver while holding your bow. Products featured include the Traditional Side Strap (item #6110), Royal Back Quiver (item #6107X), “TA” Traditional Archers Back Quiver (item #6099X), and the Rover Back Quiver (item #610005X).
Using Shaft Straightening Tools
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates how to use the Shaft Tamer and Ace Roll-R-Straight shaft straighteners to straighten your shafts. These shaft straighteners can be used on raw shafts prior to the arrow building process, or they can be used on completed shafts. Items used include the Ace Roll-R-Straight (item #5901).
Tru Center Taper Tool
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates how to use the Tru Center Taper Tool. This video covers how to assemble and adjust the tool as well.
Woodchuck Taper Plane
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery shows you how to set up and use the Woodchuck Taper Plane.
Sharpening 2-Blade Broadheads
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery shows you how to sharpen 2 blade broadheads using the Grobet Broadhead File (Item #6314X) and the Stubby JewelStik Diamond Hone (Item #7252).
True Angle File Set
Dale Karch of 3Rivers Archery shows you how to use the True Angle File Set (Item #4240) for sharpening 2 blade broadheads. Also used is the Stubby JewelStik Diamond Hone (Item #7252).
New Woodsman Elite Broadheads Demo
*WARNING – Please do not attempt this at home. This test was performed by professionals under controlled conditions. Attempting this test yourself may result in injury or death.
We’ve shot the Woodsman® Elite Broadhead into animals, through metal safes, and even into solid cinder blocks… and the Woodsman® Elite Broadhead took it all! Watch this video and see for yourself how the Woodsman® Elite Broadhead pummels this cinder block, penetrating and sticking in shot after shot after shot!
3Rivers Archery has developed an exciting new line of archery equipment based on the young adult fantasy novel, Noggle Stones! Handcrafted and made from the finest materials, these archery products are perfect for introducing your favorite young person to the great sport of archery!
Or show them off at the latest SCA event!
Noggle Stones is a series of young adult fantasy novels. A new fully illustrated edition of Book I: The Goblin’s Apprentice is NOW AVAILABLE, as is the sequel, Book II: The Tragic Empire! Buy your copies here at 3Rivers Archery!
While searching for the lost ruins of an ancient temple, the mad goblin scholar, Bugbear,
and his gambler cousin, Tudmire, come into possession of a most peculiar scroll.
It is through this scroll that the mystical world of Annwfn and the world of 19th Century humanity are suddenly and inadvertently thrust together. Allying themselves with the awkward human stage magician, Martin Manchester, and the fierce warrior woman, Maga, Bugbear and Tudmire must rally the frightened folk of the small town of Willow Prairie against the gathering evil…
an evil that has been awakened by the scroll… an evil that hungers for revenge! But cunning and shadowy adversaries plot against them, even as they struggle against their own weaknesses and faults. It is only when Bugbear and Manchester come to realize the wisdom held in an ancient rhyme that they are able to summon the courage to face their hidden foe and themselves…
“White, gray, and black stones Scattered ‘cross the board Now you must unite them To become the Noggle Lord!”
Product Demos/How-To Videos from 3Rivers Archery
Montana Decoys Eichler Elk
Our friends at Montana Decoy show you how to fold the Fred Eichler Elk decoy into a compact size. An extremely convenient and effective decoy, with design input from Fred himself!
Montana Decoys Whitetail Buck
The folks at Montana Decoys show you how to fold their Whitetail Buck decoy for easy transport and storage.
Easton Carbon ION™ Pink Fletched Arrows
Johnathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery discusses our new Easton Carbon ION™ Pink Fletched Arrows. These arrows offer Easton’s quality Ion carbon shaft 3-fletched with 4″ left wing parabolic cut feathers (white cock feather pink hens) on an Easton factory crest wrap for visibility and easy re-fletching. Pink H-nocks, inserts, and 125 grain field points installed. A great shaft for lady hunters and archers, or anyone who likes the visibility and easy recovery of pink fletchings.
Gold Tip Lightning Youth Arrow
Johnathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery introduces you to the Gold Tip Lightning Youth Arrow. This high quality, durable carbon arrow will build your young archer’s accuracy. Covered in a black matte finish, the Lightning Youth Arrow is fletched with three White 4″ Left Wing Shield Feathers. The shafts are cut to 28″ (valley of nock to back of point) with Gold Tip Nocks and 50 Grain Glue-In Field Points installed.
Trail Blazer Back Quiver
Johnathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery introduces you to the Trail Blazer Back Quiver! The Trail Blazer Back Quiver offers comfort, great style, and flexibility. Perfect for long treks in the woods, hours on the range, or some relaxing backyard target shooting. Made of top grain leather the Trail Blazer Back Quiver is great looking, very functional, and features high caliber craftsmanship.
Tomahawk Bows® Thunderstorm II
Johnathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery introduces the new Tomahawk Bows® Thunderstorm II! The Thunderstorm II embodies a maelstrom of speed, power, and performance that only comes from a carbon/foam combination! With surprising smoothness, the Thunderstorm II is like lightning in your hands! Available in the elite Diamond Series, this bow combines brilliant design with flawless workmanship to bring you a bow that is truly the “Best of the Best.™” Experience the beauty, and pure predatory power of a Diamond Series Thunderstorm II from Tomahawk Bows®.
Tomahawk Bows® Autumn Harvest
Johnathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery introduces you to the Tomahawk Bow Autumn Harvest!
When Autumn comes, will you be ready? If you have the Tomahawk Bows® Autumn Harvest Diamond Series Longbow in your hands, you will definitely be ready… ready to take that shot of a lifetime! This classy, top-shelf performing longbow was born to hunt! Available in the elite Diamond Series, this bow combines brilliant design with flawless workmanship to bring you a bow that is truly the “Best of the Best.™” Experience the beauty, and pure predatory power of a Diamond Series Autumn Harvest from Tomahawk Bows®.
Bohning Dip Kit
Johnathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates the Bohning Dip Kit, an easy, no fuss way to crown dip your arrows. This kit is designed primarily for carbon and aluminum, but can easily be used for wood arrows as well. The Bohning Dip Kit comes complete with a glass dip tube, arrow hanger, four Dip’N Plug Rings, two pints of white Acry-Lac Paint, and two pints of clear Acry-Lac Paint. This kit has everything you need to give your custom arrows a professional look!
Bohning Cresting Jig
In this video, Johathan Karch of 3Rivers Archery demonstrates the Bohning Crester, an outstanding cresting jig that allows you to produce professional quality crests on your arrow shafts.
Tim’s Taper Tool – Nocks and Points with a Sander
Tim’s Taper Tool allows you to create tapers using a table saw or sander. This video shows you step-by-step how to use the tool with your sander.
Tim’s Taper Tool – Nocks and Points with a Table Saw
Tim’s Taper Tool allows you to make nock and point tapers using your table saw. Watch this video for step-by-step instructions for using your Taper Tool.
Atlatl Fever DVD Trailer
Bob Berg from Thunderbird Atlatl shows you how to gather materials and make your very own Atlatl using primitive Stone Age tools. Bob also shows you how to cast the Atlatl, teaching beginning and advanced techniques to increase accuracy and hunting success. This is your chance to learn and be inspired by an Atlatl expert who has been designing, building, and using this amazing primitive tool for over 20 years!
Atlatl Dart Assembly
Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl shows you how to assemble an Atlatl Dart. The Atlatl predates the bow and arrow by thousands of years. Learning how to build and use this amazing primitive weapon is both a challenge and a thrill.
Hafting Pine Resin Tutorial
Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl demonstrates how to use his all natural hafting pine resin. This is a great product for primitive enthusiasts who like to build their own arrows, atlatl darts, knives, and other primitive tools. It’s all natural, and just as effective as modern adhesives and epoxies.
By: Dean VanderHorst
Let’s face it, if you’re tree stand hunting whitetails in the Midwest you’re most likely just a short hike from your vehicle or house. Most of us are. If you forget a flashlight or heaven forbid your knife it is just a short walk away. I grew up in southern Michigan bowhunting whitetails at an early age just a ten minute walk out my back door to my stand and most of the time I would have only my knife and bow. Every time I trudged back to the house however for a flashlight left an impression on me to be prepared and think ahead.
Every hunt begins with optimism and being armed with a few items in a prepared fanny pack or backpack is a great way to begin any hunt weather you are in the back 40 acres, down the road, or packing your stand into a dark cedar swamp for an evening bow hunt. Having the items prepared a head of time insures that you have all your gear and that you can be focused on your hunt and not be thinking of what you might have forgotten or should have taken. I find myself thinking of heading to a tree stand at every chance through October and November and by having all of my gear in one place ensures confidence that if I take off and climb up my stand I’ll be prepared for the hunt.
First I use a fanny pack primarily for one reason, it is small. Less space forces me to plan smart and keeps my pack lightweight. I’ve seen a lot of guys over the year use large backpacks or monster fanny packs just for tree stand hunting and put more stuff in there than is necessary just because they have the room. I prefer to keep it small, light and simple. My list includes necessities and some items of convenience developed over time so you have to weigh what is important to you and space constraints.
Here is my List:
All of these items kept ready in one spot will help anytime you get time to sneak off to your hunting stand this season. I keep mine in my truck all season with my safety harness so all I have to remember is my bow and quiver and I’m ready to go. Any successful hunt starts with good planning. Stay safe, shoot straight and make some memories in the wood this fall.
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| 3Rivers Haversack Hunting Pack | Ambush Wind Detectors |
By: Dale Karch and Todd Smith
Good Game Comes in Small Packages
What is THE most hunted animal in North America? The whitetail deer? The black bear? The elk?
Nope! It’s the cottontail rabbit! In fact, more hours are logged in the field each year by small game hunters than any other. Let’s face it; small game hunting is in our veins. Sure there are some die-hard big game hunters that don’t have the time to “waste” on small game. But they’re in the minority, and they don’t realize what they’re missing.
Some of the most exciting bowhunting action on the planet is found in hot pursuit of small game. Whose heart doesn’t skip a beat when he hears beagles on the hunt sounding off? Or, perhaps the thought of floating silently down a small river on the lookout for late summer, early fall squirrels is more to your liking?
Have you ever been jolted back to reality by a pheasant busting up at your feet, a flurry of feathers and a cackle that just about made you jump out of your boots? Or how about stalking the tundra and spruce in search of snowshoe hares, or ranging the arid desert for jackrabbits?
Dale and I have shared some great fun chasing the multitude of spruce hens that inhabit the Alaskan far north.
From East to West and North to South, we all have small game to hunt and we love doing it. It’s exciting, challenging, rewarding, and produces tasty rewards to boot. Small game hunting has a lot to offer the traditional bowhunter. Not the least of which is plenty of action!
Those of us who have taught Bowhunter Education are well versed in the discussion of how broadhead tipped arrows kill by hemorrhage resulting in blood loss in contrast to bullets which kill by shock and tissue damage. The small game point is, in bowhunting, the exception to the rule. These heads, like bullets, rely on converting the energy from the weapon into a package that kills by delivering a powerful blow packed with a heavy dose of shock and, at times, tissue damage.
Small game comes in many shapes and sizes, as do the points we use to hunt them. In this article we’ll cover the various small game heads available to the longbow and recurve shooter and describe their various strengths and weaknesses. You’ll also learn the subtle and not so subtle differences between heads, which should make choosing what you need much easier. Certain heads are better suited for particular situations and really, no single head can do it all. A few come close, but we feel it’s best to keep an open (and educated) mind as you consider the wide selection of options out there.
After kicking around the best way to present the different heads, we’ve decided to feature a selection of some of the most popular small game heads and discuss them individually. This way you’ll be able to get a good feel for different styles of small game blunts available.
Nail’em with the Hammer! Offered in a Screw-in Hammer and a Glue-on Hammer, they are devastating on all small game and sure to be your new favorite stump shooting blunt. The fluted design with scalped cutting edges grab into small game and keep the arrow from becoming stuck in trees or under grass. The recessed ballistic point delivers killing shock to all sized small game. Made from hardened steel to take hard hits and keep shooting. Offered in point weights of 100 up to 250 grains.
The Hammer™ Blunt features Scalped edges and recessed ballistic point for a powerful shock and hemorrhage option.
Jack Zwickey and his dad Cliff designed the amazing Judo. It took real ‘out of the box’ thinking to envision such an amazing arrowhead. They truly are perfect for realistic bowhunting practice. You can shoot into stumps, trees, cut-banks, and even open fields without fear of losing your arrows. The small spring arms that encircle the head prevent deep penetration in the stumps and ground and they grab tall grass and flip your arrows up so you can find them in grassy fields. Judos are the ultimate stump shooting head. Zwickey even calls it, The Unloseable Point. You’d be hard pressed to find a longbow or recurve toting traditional bowhunter who doesn’t have a Judo or two in his or her quiver. For that very reason they are often called to perform as small game heads and have many small game species to their credit. Zwickey Judos are available in several sizes and in both screw-in Judo and glue-on Judo versions. Be sure to check out the Judo’s big brother, the Kondor Screw-in point. We do recommend that you have over 50 pounds of bow force if you intend to use them for small game.
The Zwickey Judo is known as “The Unloseable Point,” thanks to the small spring arms that encircle the head.
What an attention-getter! This is one popular head, probably because of the four loops of wire on a steel blunt. This head has advantages and disadvantages. They’re heavy (200-300 grains) and wind resistant so they slow down your arrow. This makes hitting moving game, especially at longer distances, more difficult. When you see the big loops you think, “Hey, I’ll still get my animal or bird even if I’m off a little.” But the truth of the matter is, if you miss, this head is not going to get you rabbits and squirrels. You need a lot of power behind this head to take advantage of the wire loops. If you don’t have the power, you may hit your target with the loops but you won’t have enough power to kill them. We think the best use of these is on birds, and then specifically when you’re aiming for the head. In that situation, a near miss will result in a bird in the hand more often than not. When the wires connect on the head or neck of a bird, they’re very effective. Snaro Bird Points come in three wingspans; 2″ (200 grains), 3″ (250 grains), and a 6″ (300 grains). Offered in screw-in only.
Snaro Bird Points are most effective against birds.
Made of a hard hitting rubber-plastic. Great for stump shooting and small game hunting. The raised tips offer small game killing shock, yet enough to help prevent sliding under the grass. The Bludgeon blunt is 7/8″ wide at the tip and tapers back to 5/16″ at the base of the head. Offered in 125 grains screw-in only.
These points are still quite popular with bowhunters and they do a very good job at killing small game. The Flat nosed deals the shock and a small chamfer helps to prevent skipping. They are stamped with diameter and grain weight for easy identification. If they have any down side, it’d be that they’re small in diameter so they don’t pack as hard a hit as do the wider blunts and, when used on wood arrows, impacts on the sharp corner of the front flat will often break your arrow. The solution to that is easy though: don’t miss! But, of course, that’s easier said than done! Still, these heads are a great deal, they’ve been around forever, and they’re every bit as good today as they ever were. They’re available in both glue-on blunts and screw-in blunts, so they’ll appeal to any small game hunter.
Steel Blunts are a popular, effective, and affordable small game head.
The Bunny Buster rubber blunt is so handy it deserves to be included in every bow hunter’s small game repertoire. The basic concept of a hard-hitting rubber blunt has been tested and battle-proven for over 50 years. This one, with its one-of-a-kind parallel-to-tapered internal slot, can be slipped over tapered or non-tapered shafts or even over other points on wood, aluminum, or carbon arrows. There’s no tapering and no glue needed. Wood arrow users can give new life to an arrow that breaks off behind the head by pulling an extra Bunny Buster out of their pocket and slipping it over the broken end of the shaft for an instant small game or stump-shooting arrow. Make sure to always keep a couple handy.
The Bunny Buster offers more that just convenience; it packs a deadly knockout punch on small game, yet bounces off trees and stumps making it an excellent roving or stump shooting arrow as well. This is a distinct advantage over solid steel blunts. Glancing blows with steel blunts often break wooden arrows, the Bunny Busters bounce and reduce the risk of breaking arrows. Rubber blunts like the Bunny Buster have been successfully used on all sorts of small game, including; snowshoe hare, jackrabbits, grouse, pheasant, squirrel, and more. These blunts deliver a tremendous amount of shock to their target with minimal tissue damage. Whether you use the Bunny Buster as your first choice for small game hunting, or as a secondary head for arrow repair, you’ll be pleased with their power and performance.
Bunny Busters are available in sizes to match most arrows on the market and weigh approximately 120 grains.
A versatile small game head, the 3Rivers Bunny Buster, is great for hunting or stump shooting.
One of our most popular small game heads is the Tiger Claw Blunt. The Tiger Claw Blunt has a reputation for putting small game down for good. They’ve proven themselves time and time again as hard-hitting, quick-killing heads. They utilize a flat faced leading edge that transfers the shock to the animal followed by a sharp edged “Claw” that tears its way through soft tissue causing many small game animals to drop on the spot. The 3Rivers Tiger Claw is very effective on all small game. Available in a 145 grain glue-on version only.
The Tiger Claw Blunt is a quick-killing small game head.
Designed for the wood arrow stump shooter. The Head Saver keeps your field point or blunt connected to the arrow after the wood shaft has broken behind the point. Works great for stump shooting and small game hunting. Great money saver!
The Head Saver is a ‘life saver’ for glue-on points
We’ve included the field point because some folks just don’t know any better. In a word, DON’T. Don’t use field points for small game hunting. They don’t kill quickly and it’s not fair to the animal.
Broadheads are not intended for small game hunting, but sometimes they are used. Most of the time it’s a big game arrow used to shoot a small game animal when the bowhunter didn’t bring any small game arrows with him. We don’t really recommend broadheads for small game, but we have seen excellent results on game birds like grouse and pheasant. The risk of shooting clear through your animal is high and if using dogs, broadheads are strictly prohibited. Still, sometimes bowhunters will choose to use broadheads. Recommend you take a look at Zwickey Scorpio Broadhead Stoppers as they help limit penetration of broadheads. Good for turkey hunting too!
Like the birds and animals they were designed for, Bunts and Small Game Points are available in many shapes and sizes. From simple flat-faced steel blunt to exotic Snaro Bird Points and everything in between, there’s a head for every use and every bowhunter.
Keep Hunting
Dale Karch & Todd Smith
For more information contact:
3Rivers Archery
PO Box 517
Ashley IN 46705
260-587-9501
info@3riversarchery.com or check us out on-line at 3RiversArchery.com
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