My 2023 Bow Hunting Setup

[@jesseherbert2585]

As a PhD former scientist (now adjunct instructor) who has always been into the wild but only harvested my first deer by bow last fall (after half a century on this gem of a planet) and is now getting into traditional archery, your videos have been outstanding and highly productive/helpful! Having recieved some mentoring by the "neoaboriginal maestro" himself (Arthur Haines would never call himself that but he absolutely deserves that title) as well, I'm fortunate to be in decent enough form to hunt (close range) with my recurve this fall. Grateful is an understatement.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Awesome, good luck!

[@caseysmith544]

@@clayhayeshunter Have you ever thought about using Pine tar and Linseed Oil on the bow in a mix to get a Natural Waterproofing material for the bow that needs less reapplication?

[@chickimac1]

I’m trying a old mountain long bow this year in 50lbs. Wish me luck👍😎

[@CloudfeatherRusticWorks]

As a "fuck this is long winded!"...

[@dvidviehweg7099]

What is your shaft spine 20:35 20:40 d at for 55 lb draw on that bow?

[@ChavsADV]

I made a red oak bow a few years back and it came out bekow the minimum draw weight to hunt deer with. The same year I was lucky enough to stumble upon the oerfect straight branch on an osage tree. I have 4 perfect staves in my garage and look forward to buildong my next bow with the help of this channel.

[@jonathanbennison9220]

Thank you Clay. Another great video. I do love that you are proving that, one needn't use 60+ pound draws, to get the job done.

[@HuntZoneAmerica]

Hey Clay Hayes, just had a chance to check out your 2023 bow hunting setup and I'm thoroughly impressed! The attention to detail and insights you shared are truly invaluable. Your dedication to the craft and the wealth of knowledge you bring to the community is unparalleled. Thanks for consistently providing priceless information and setting the bar high for all of us. Can't wait to implement some of your tips into my own setup! Keep up the outstanding work! 🏹🍂

[@scoutfexoutdoors5242]

Hey Clay, have you ever tried to cover the broadheads with coconut-oil and put a litte bit on/in the foam of your quiver? this should help saveing the edge and also should help with penetration. also makes the arroheads kind of rustresisant. Greetings from Austria!

[@clayhayeshunter]

I haven't but I'll give it a go! thanks

[@anotheryoutuber_]

i use it on broadheads and blades, its definitely helped with upkeep on the high carbon stuff

[@gblan]

Andy at Addictivve Archery gets my vote for best arrowsmith out there. His attention to detail is off the charts ridiculous.

[@pescaaventuramass]

Hi, I'm Matías. I recently started a fishing and adventure channel, and with my son we always see your great videos, thanks for everything.

[@kylev.759]

Miigwech/thank you AGAIN, for a great tutorial. I've modeled a lot of my setup after yours over the past 5 years while pursuing public land whitetail in MN and building self bows. I've yet to make it happen but learn so much every year I'm out here so this year is the year. Good luck on your elk hunt!

[@quakslikeaduck]

I think I might have said this on another video of yours. But I appreciate the details you go into. Will try the velcro on the rest for sure. Happy hunting.

[@UniversalSovereignCitizen]

I use some fine grade wet/dry sandpaper on the inside of the plastic nock to loosen its grip on the bow string. I also use brush buttons as where I'm at there is a lot of close country.

[@gordie4059]

Out of all the bows you’ve made that Osage & Snakeskin is my favourite! Thanks for sharing & Happy hunting!

[@VicksasT]

Never hunted deer with a bow. I’m looking for educational resources and you have helped me!! Thank you man!

[@chadcook1862]

Very helpful. I've shot traditional for 25 yrs but never committed to hunting with trad. This will be my first yr.

[@huntman834]

Donnie's quivers are amazing and last along time! Couldn't recommend a better one

[@clayhayeshunter]

Couldn't agree more!

[@nels6548]

One thing I would add about the draw weight discussion would be that especially if you are building a self bow the draw weight isn’t as important as proper design. I could build a 60 pound bow with a poor design and three inches of string follow that casts an arrow of same weight the same distance as a 40 pound bow that has proper design and no string follow or maybe reflexed slightly. Thanks for all your videos clay there a pleasure to watch, there’s not many people on KZbin getting it done with self bows.

[@mikewolfe6496]

Good luck Clay! Looking forward to the archery elk video. I’m making the drive West next week.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good luck!

[@mattwhite9046]

I appreciate the reminder of using 2 nock sets. I couldn’t quite figure out why I was getting some vertical flyers. Tied that second nock set on the string & it tightened right up. Thank you. People love to talk about draw weight. But arrow weight is far more important. Ashby & Fred Bear had that figured out pretty well. Heavy arrows sink deep & break stuff. Light arrows punch shallow and even bounce out sometimes. I hear a story every year of a light arrow (usually tipped with an expandable) bouncing out of a deer, bear or pig. Light arrows on compounds are like putting a .223 sabot on a 30-06. Yea, you get flat trajectory. But it’s all speed and no punch.

[@MollyDogg1234]

I think your beard grew 1/4" during this video. You have alot of talent. You've got more talent in your pinky than ive got in my whole body. Those self bows are awesome

[@OneWheelLess]

This is a great time to pick up some of those tabs, maybe some other stuff too, the Harrison’s just got hit by that hurricane that rolled through! They could use some help with the rebuilding process.

[@thisiswhatyoutubedoes7505]

I also shoot with Omnivores tab. Very well built and can see it lasting a good long while. WAYYYYY better than any tab I have made. Can't wait to see this seasons videos of you and your boy wreaking havoc on some critters. Good luck out there.

[@williamboyd776]

Awesome information Clay, thanks for sharin your knowledge skill & opinion with us for free Sir. Love & respect W.C.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Much appreciated

[@ThomasMiller-e6i]

Brother, you are very motivated and all the videos you make are relaxing and I hope you will always be successful and have a peaceful life.❤️❤️

[@SAS-R2]

Amazing setup...It will help me in the up coming hunting season. Wish you the best for the hunting season

[@jonathangauthier3549]

😊 If it helps at all, I just took my intro to bow hunting course for the province of Quebec (among the most stringent provinces when it comes to hunting regs), and our laws are a MINIMUM of 40# draw weight and a 28" draw length to be able to humanely kill our top 3: deer, black bear, and moose. I'm assuming that elk and moose must be similar in resilience and stoutness, so that should give you an idea. If you can't draw a 40# traditional bows, try compound bows. Their cam and pulley systems help to reduce the strain of maintaining the full draw weight when lining up a shot. If you have time, you can also buy work out bands (basically big elastic bands) to build up your back

[@journeyman7189]

Looks like an awesome set yo Clay. Great points all around especially about the white and pink on your arrows. Hope you are having good luck out there in the field. Nate

[@Isaacmantx]

I used to use the soft side of velcro as a deadener on my compounds as well, but have switched to "Stealth Strips" from Stealth Outdoors.... They are SO MUCH BETTER than my old velcro jobs.

[@anotheryoutuber_]

i went the other way... loving the low cost of the velcro plus i feel like it holds less scent than stealth strips

[@frankgeimer5952]

Good luck on your hunts! May your larder stay full!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks! You too!

[@wrwarnerhall]

Good luck this season!

[@timvandusen4192]

Very nice bow and entire setup - wow!

[@jamescooper2618]

I like that you are using Douglas Fir arrows! I really like them. Shooting foam targets is much different than animal flesh. I dont believe arrow diameter matters much when it comes to penetration on an animal. It certainly makes a difference on hard foam.

[@captbrotato]

I started instinct as a young child, transitioned to compound with pins and sights, range finder etc. Around 16 my father purchased a cheap takedown, 50lb or so. After harvesting a deer with that i sold my compound and have shot traditional ever since. I saw your osage bow when you were on "Alone" and thought id like to make my own. I live in Florida and have done research on what wood i should use and have come up with a lot of answers. I tried to make a short bow for my daughter out of Camphor (relatively seasoned for almost a year) and failed on the tiller. I believe it was due to my lack of experience and patience, but wonder if you know/recommend a good wood for florida bow staves

[@kevinredford6688]

Thanks for sharing another great video, looking forward to your elk hunting videos

[@ML-ks2lj]

Yes i want to be able to hold my draw for at least 5 minutes. The weight at the tip of the arrow is going to give you penetration. The draw weight is going to give you speed at release. But penetration at the target isnt defermined by speed on the release. You need to have more foward center of gravity and a whole lot of more physics that go into it. You need clean straught flying arrows with heavy tips you can sling accurately.

[@LukeUtigard]

Good luck! Great video!

[@victorzaidan6493]

Thanks for the video, I'll try to apply the information in it

[@patdonoghue9230]

Great information as usual clay 👍

[@robertgraves3215]

Subbed awhile back, getting started back up again , Last week I scored a late 60's Bear Super Magnum 48 for SEVEN BUCKs(!!!) at a flea market . Woo-Hoo. it's near mint, and 45 lbs. Can't wait to shoot it , got a dozen Three Rivers woodies for it ($119.00 ouch) and strings are on the way. This morning I was like "This guy did something bad-ass" Then I remembered the Alone when you pinned that wolverine to the ground . Speaking of which, I am moving to central UP Michigan soon and am wondering if you know any bowyers or arrow smiths there. I have a ton of cedars on my lot , and I think ther'es some type of spruce , just wondering what they might use . (Haven't set foot on the lot yet). The last time I fletched arrows in bulk was C. 1995, and I paid like 100 bucks for 100 Rose City shafts . The fully Tru-flight fletched arrows came out to about 1.89 each. I use a lot of .38 casings for blunts, drop a halved .32 lead ball in there and smoosh it down. Pretty close to 125 grains, but I do need a grain scale. My "real" bow is a custom Bighorn Ram Hunter longbow at 55 lbs. That was two entire paychecks . I haven't shot it in awhile, took up road cycling , and this part of CT doesn't have a lot of deer anyway. I suck at sharpening broadheads , yeah might send them to some old bearded guy... I can at least get a Mora to cut carrots and stuff. Next is figuring out where to stump shoot without being doxxed by Karens. Your rigs look great, great form also , very fluid , relaxed. Like Howard Hill.

[@mattsmith7845]

Lower brace height gives a little longer power stroke as well. Slightly more oomph

[@_Mordion_]

Clay have you ever looked into playing around with composite horn bows? Long bows are cool but once I shot a horn bow I couldn't go back man. Pretty sure I'm the only guy roaming the hills in Montana with a horn bow but I kinda like that.

[@aidendelong5869]

Hey Clay, Love your work!!!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Hey, thanks!

[@keithhuckfield7783]

That is a beautiful bow

[@DS-vu5yo]

Dude. If you haven’t, can you do a video on your string silencer? If you have can you reference it? Amazing content. I’m addicted to this channel now.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@caseysmith544]

To everyone on here, South Dakota where I live since some time in 2000's has a minimum of 30 pounds at archers draw for Deer/Turkey that is for non compound including most Leverbows too light, 35 pounds to me is better for Traditional bows even including some older models of compound still made that can be used without a release device. Now then for most states a minimum of 45 pounds at archers draw for Elk/Mountain Lion is needed including South Dakota but that changed it to 40 pounds for 2023--2024 going forward. Only in Alaska is it where they have Deer/Tukey in with Elk type game so the people have to draw 45 pounds. Blades for South Dakota can now as of 2010's be even a single blade like the Crescent moon shape but must be on one blade, bigger then 1/2 inch long and 75 grain minimum without a barb, they can't be stone either to discourage Natives from using stone heads back when early bow hunting laws/seasons were made with barbs and laws on head size. This allows for some of the newer Plastic heads from Cold Steel though I would never recommend them unless you want to replace the heads every time, they hit anything at all but allows the archer to make own from hardwood, bone/antler, or other materials like Fiberglass that would be more durable then the Cold Steel plastic heads.

[@nickhorton785]

Good luck up there😀

[@brettellis423]

I'm gettn' excited for the hunt, and I'm not even participating, bro!! lol Wish I was there! I'd volunteer to be a backpack mule for ya' lol 😆 😜

[@DrewD748]

Velcro is also known and Hook-and-pile or hook-and-loop fastener. The hard part should be the hook side.

[@jonathanbennison9220]

If you can get to an archery range, or an archery store, perhaps a hunting shop, Or meet up with a hobbyist nearby. The math for arrows and hunting, seems to be more reliant upon FPS at release, and the arrow physics. Length and weight, etc. That should get a fairly accurate calculation for impact at 10/20/30/40/50 range, etc... Along with some helpful (IMHO) expectations for arrow drop over the distance. Take those numbers aass a baseline and fine tune in practice. But the arrow speed calculators online seem pretty decent if you can plug in the basic numbers.

[@UncleDanBand64]

Good luck on the Elk sir 👍

[@07huaste]

Great job

[@fgr5076]

Sehr schöner Bogen👍

[@johngentzel8567]

Clay, great video. Always enjoy watching. Great advice. Question for you. In an earlier video you used Grizzly 185 grains, now RMSGEAR Cutthroat at 190 grains. Why the change? Is the Cutthroat better?

[@scottnewby3925]

Where can one get a quiver like on your bow in this video, or better yet , you should make a video of how to build one.

[@alanjohnson1204]

I noticed that you use right helical fletching. I was always taught left wing for right hand bows and right wing for left hand bows. Is this just preference, doesn’t seem to matter, or something else?

[@richardquick826]

If u make a hickory bow, can a person glue glass (0.040) on face of bow for faster speed? Board bow. shoots 141 fps carbon 500 gr,, 136 fps cedar shaft 550 gr. 47 lb 66 inches. thank you claY for your work.. good man oh yeah i had it in the steamer for 3 hrs high than lowered it 1 foot up. light brown. i think it it should been darker.. i have raw hide on face. no sinew --r

[@ВасяПупкин-щ3п4ю]

Привет,всегда смотрю Ваши видео.очень нравится.много практичной информации.всем рекомендую.

[@billparr2634]

Great video. Thanks

[@jaredbrooks6280]

Are you still shooting the cutthroat broadhead? What other glue on single bevel do you recommend? I can’t find meatheads anymore

[@Cam-et9xs]

what should i use i live in a area where osage orange does not grow, maritimes canada so far i use sugar maple and beach but i feel i could do better

[@papsywho3035]

Another great video👍

[@mikebritt8934]

Hello Clay , does it hurt a selfbow to shoot it 3 under . I was told it stresses the bottom limb to much on a non glass bow and could cause stress fractures in the bottom limb .

[@djka8012]

What is too heavy of a point? I too have a 55# bow and 29” draw. bare shaft tuning is hitting overspined with a 200g field point and aluminum insert. Not sure if I should scrap the arrows?

[@jurgenheilbrunner3618]

Hey there, So my question would be what drawweight you use for practice or 3 d tournaments. Do you drop down in drawweight for heavy repetitions or how is your aproach. thanks.

[@shanek6582]

I used to shoot with a guy that shot three fingers under like you do. He'd put the point of the arrow in his vision dead on what he wanted as point of impact and for different ranges he'd "string walk" where he put his fingers/tab by counting the wraps in the serving by feelin them with his thumbnail. I can't remember the range but he was dead on accurate by counting down 14 wraps lol.

[@josegodoy9160]

Hola clay que bien me vendría un arco tuyo ya que todavía no e podido conseguir la madera con las que haces tus arcos osage Orange pero en algún momento se que la voy a conseguir saludos desde argentina

[@digitaldogs233]

You will have an amazing and unique bow, because they are not mass-produced by machine every one will have a slight difference, and I'm meaning looks not performance. Good luck, and i hope you manage to grab one of his bows. He's absolutely amazing how he crafts them to be sometimes better than a high class bow you would buy in an archery shop.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank ya

[@Ducky27645]

Hi Clay, I recently moved to NW Florida and I’m wanting to build a selfbow but I’m unsure of the best natural wood that can be found in this area. I’ve been following your old build videos and feel I’m ready to make the leap from Lowe’s Red Oak to something natural and self obtained. Thank you for your advise!

[@seanbyham4082]

Osage. If you are new to bow building start out with hickory.

[@Ducky27645]

@@seanbyham4082 Thanks for the advise Sean. I know Osage is the best option overall but I don’t believe it’s found in my area.

[@seanbyham4082]

Any types of hickory will work just fine, should be plentiful nearby anywhere on the east coast. Raw hickory is good to practice bow making skills on, however, if you want to make a really nice hunting bow out of it you need to fire harden it, drives out moisture and helps with compression strength of the wood. Clay has done some good videos on it. It’s probably the easiest way for most people to make a very good self bow as hickory is so easy to find and cut down yourself. Plus side is you can force dry it and start right away and you don’t have to wait to make a bow. Osage is obviously better but it might take a bit to get your hands on a good stave(for free anyway). I personally have not naught any staves and over the last 3 years have accumulated enough bow wood to last me a long while. If you ask people often will let you take stuff for free. I have even picked up some yew people cut down in their front yards for free. Just be patient and keep your eyes open and you will likely have an abundance of staves in no time.

[@seanbyham4082]

Any types of hickory will work just fine, should be plentiful nearby anywhere on the east coast. Raw hickory is good to practice bow making skills on, however, if you want to make a really nice hunting bow out of it you need to fire harden it, drives out moisture and helps with compression strength of the wood. Clay has done some good videos on it. It’s probably the easiest way for most people to make a very good self bow as hickory is so easy to find and cut down yourself. Plus side is you can force dry it and start right away and you don’t have to wait to make a bow. Osage is obviously better but it might take a bit to get your hands on a good stave(for free anyway). I personally have not naught any staves and over the last 3 years have accumulated enough bow wood to last me a long while. If you ask people often will let you take stuff for free. I have even picked up some yew people cut down in their front yards for free. Just be patient and keep your eyes open and you will likely have an abundance of staves in no time.

[@seanbyham4082]

Any types of hickory will work just fine, should be plentiful nearby anywhere on the east coast. Raw hickory is good to practice bow making skills on, however, if you want to make a really nice hunting bow out of it you need to fire harden it, drives out moisture and helps with compression strength of the wood. Clay has done some good videos on it. It’s probably the easiest way for most people to make a very good self bow as hickory is so easy to find and cut down yourself. Plus side is you can force dry it and start right away and you don’t have to wait to make a bow. Osage is obviously better but it might take a bit to get your hands on a good stave(for free anyway). I personally have not naught any staves and over the last 3 years have accumulated enough bow wood to last me a long while. If you ask people often will let you take stuff for free. I have even picked up some yew people cut down in their front yards for free. Just be patient and keep your eyes open and you will likely have an abundance of staves in no time.

[@Rob_Tradbowhunter]

Hey sir, how'd you get the black and pink stripes on your arrows?

[@marcdewilde518]

Very interesting video Clay! I might be wrong but shouldn't that be Flemish twist instead of flimish.( Flemish derived from Flanders the Dutchspeaking part of Belgium). ATB from Flanders

[@JuliaJulia007]

Happy September 😊

[@gregorychaney7604]

My guess is you have covered this in a previous video but I would like to know your thoughts about the pros & cons of using a bow mounted quiver. I used one on my compound but it's a lot of hardware to hang off a traditional bow.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I much prefer it. Keeps my arrows handy and these light weight ones don’t add much mass.

[@gregorychaney7604]

@clayhayeshunter Understood. If you were going to wear a quiver, what style would you prefer?

[@Rob_Tradbowhunter]

Awesome video clay. Just curious what total arrow weight are you running on your bow? And how do you like those cutthroat heads? I've heard they're really solid heads.

[@clayhayeshunter]

around 630 grains total weight. The cutthroats are solid. I've used them before.

[@Rob_Tradbowhunter]

@clayhayeshunter ok thank you sir. Good luck this hunting season 👍

[@aberdeencompassionsociety]

Are the heads glued

[@travispham8047]

Clay, long time watcher. Did you bring a tab with you on Alone? I found that l like shooting bare fingers. But reading about nerve damages has me worried. I see you shoot with and without tab. I want to hunt without a tab but practicing with a tab sound safer. Thank you sir.

[@Karlgh]

Awesome clay

[@spacecowboy4804]

Hey brother, have you even seen a self bow with siyahs? Idk I just think siyahs are cool.

[@LogicJab]

I like to tell people I see who crank up their draw weight at the expense of their accuracy that all they're doing is missing faster.

[@relleknoj]

Thank you.

[@chrisfonden6431]

How do you Mount your broad heads on the arrows? Glue ?

[@DirtbikerG63]

What longbow/recurve do you recommend for a lefty on a budget

[@pr1m3vil3]

16:00 i remember now

[@matthewpuryear8009]

Good beginner traditional bow? Shooting and hunting

[@timothyyoder7322]

Thanks Clay! Out of curiosity, what is your overall arrow weight?

[@clayhayeshunter]

630grains

[@adam1299]

Do you sell your bows somewhere? I have been trying to make my own but have failed at all attempts so far. Always fail during the tail end of my tillering. Pretty sure picking low quality staves and not being patient enough is my problem. That’s part of the learning process I know.

[@fredsoltveit8453]

I wish you good hunting!!😀

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks! You too!

[@4of333]

PA State law requires a 45lb bow and does allow stone broadheads for elk just fyi

[@stephenjackowski8773]

Hey Clay, did you modify that creekwalker quiver to a different foam material? If so, what material have you found best for holding broadheads without getting too chewed up?

[@clayhayeshunter]

No, it’s whatever came in it.

[@luissandoval4093]

Can you provide the link of the quivermanufacturer?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Creekwalkertrading.com

[@luissandoval4093]

@@clayhayeshunter thanks man!

[@anthonygarner130]

What aiming method do you use? String walking? Gap Shooting? Or Instinctive?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s kind of a combo of gap and instinctive. Split vision I suppose you could call it.

[@CaliforniaDreamer3208]

Nice bow

[@VHARDRADA]

Can you tell me Clay, which type of broad head the best on your opinion - 2 blades like in this video or broadheads in form of bullet, which you used earlier?

[@clayhayeshunter]

The bullet form are called Field Tips and are for targets. Broadheads have blades and are for hunting.

[@VHARDRADA]

@@clayhayeshunter Thank you

[@craig31jackson]

Nice set up ! Stay blessed

[@danielhuff1397]

What are your thoughts on leaving a trad bow strung for long periods

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glass laminate bows, it's fine. Wooden bows, no good. I leave mine strung while hunting only.

[@AruqueriaConMarco]

Hi Clay! What´s the ratio of final reflex do you have in your hunting recurve bows? Thanks a lot for your work Cheers from Spain!

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’m not sure what you’re asking.

[@andrewdouglas6325]

I enjoy hunting with a bow

[@spaceman61]

I have a bow like this, same materials in the build, made by Pine Hollow

[@PaulMCcormick-e6z]

Try shooting stone points!

[@clayhayeshunter]

That's in the works!

[@matttig]

What is the total weight on that arrow ?

[@zabitkhan2529]

Hey! Sir how can I get one of your bow?

[@jamesward479]

What are your arrows spines at?

[@clayhayeshunter]

These are 60-65 if I recall

[@floodo1]

lol I geek out on my 3D printer in the same way

[@pescaydiversion223]

how much does one of your 50 pound bows cost for Mexico