What's up gang! I've learned A LOT with your help, but something I can't seem to get a grip on, is how to install natural fur silencers. I know, by comparison to lots of things we do or make, they may be so simple, i'm asking how to breathe, but I really don't know how. Also, what I can use to make them Can I make them out of tails? Like squirrel or rabbit? I'm not a trapper, so beaver and mink and stuff like that may be out of reach for me.
Thanks in advance for your help with this gang.
If you want visiual directions check out Lost Nation Archerys web site, Larry has some good sketches. Its really quite simple once you see it. Keep it wrapped tight or you will create noise rather than dampen.
I started using them this year, and had my first experience with a hawk thinking it was prey. I don't know who was more startled! Fortunately the hawk flared away at the last second.
I had a little trouble getting them on, but they work very well.
I first start by removing the hair from each end(1/4") of the silencer then open between the two bundles of the string and slide one end in, close the string and wrap the silencer the same direction as the string twists, keeping it tight as I go, then tucking the other end back through the string bundles. Be sure the wrap is tight and them pull the tag ends to secure it. After the first I do the same on the other end and when all is done I brace the bow and pluck the string a few times to fluff up the silencers.
Fish drop me your address and I will put you a set of beaver silencers in the mail.
Just put them on like Pat said and you will be good to go.
Stiks
I've been using sheep fleece lately and love them. I also started cutting mine to 2" to 3" long. The end result is a more round ball on the string and it works just as well as the bigger one but it adds less physical weight to the string.
I have a couple old mink fur coats that I have used for silencers. My dad got them as parts of auction lots. He's a picker/Eeebaay Tycoon :)
Here's something that might help,,, I was bored too!
Extreme Coontail Silencer
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/ssscoontail.jpg)
Split and cut down the middle
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/ssscoontail2.jpg)
Seperate the sting where you want the silencer to begin and stick it through the string. Hemostats are a good tool for this.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/ssscoontail4.jpg)
Sorry,,, blury close up.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/ssscoontail3.jpg)
Start wrapping the skin around the string while pushing the hair out of the way and in the opposite direction you're wrapping the skin. Try and keep each wrap of the skin as close to the prior as possible.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/ssscoontail5.jpg)
When you reach the end of the skin, seperate the string there and poke you tweezers or hemo's through the string. Grab the end of the skin and pull it through the string leaving about an 1/8' peice of the skin sticking out when pulled through.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/ssscoontail6.jpg)
I admit, a little overkill for a silencer but, this guy never heard it coming! :smileystooges:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/TwoSnakes13.jpg)
o tree...nice tail!
heard of using zonker strips too...
-hov
He's a picker/Eeebaay Tycoon
:biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I had to smile when I read that.
Thanks for sharing
Mike
Thanks for the great info everyone. The knowledge you share is most appreciated.
O-Tree... I can only hope to be able to harvest such a fine animal as traditional as you did. Amazing bro.
speakin of which , where do i find those red arrowheads???
-hov
Hov I think you got to puit one in a critter to get it good and red like that. Sure does look good though don't it.
Stiks
Question, does it matter which direction you wrap the silencer with respect to your string?
osage tree
well after seeing your coon tail silencers, i went out clam digging last night, and managed to nab 2 raccoons on the beach, and am going to use their tails for silencers- s'pose i will tan them first.
did you tan yours.
they look really cool in your pics.
wayne
Jon, wrap them the same direction as the string is twisted.
next time im out near gander mountain , im gonna stop and see if they have any zonkers.
hopefully after the bunny stomp , ill be able to make my own.
-hov