So when I got up to hunt this morning it was raining. The rain changed to heavy snow rather quickly. I'm not always just a fair weather bow hunter, but I didn't feel like battling with Mother Nature today. I was sitting with my coffee and computer reading about Toelke Pikas. I just love the looks of these little bows and have been obsessed with them for a while. I ordered my first trad bow from Kegan at Omega about this time last year and learned that trad archery is something I truly enjoy and want to continue with.
Well, after 3/4 of a pot of coffee and lots of reviews and pics - I'd had more than I could take. I had to call Mr. Toelke. Much to my dismay I got his voicemail, so I left a message. I had just put a hind quarter of a whitetail doe on my kitchen counter to bone out when my phone rang with a return call from Mr. Dan. He chuckled and told me to call him back when I was able. I boned out the the deer as quickly as I could and decided I would trim it up later. I cleaned up and gave him a call.
He had just finished spraying a coat of epoxy on a batch of bows and brought a hind quarter of a deer in himself. We talked about what kind of hunting I did, my draw length, and wood selections. Dan recommended a 54" Pika for my draw length. I figured that he knows his bows best so I went with it. I also decided on a black micarta riser, black glass instead of veneers, and East Indian rosewood accents. I'll be sending out a tracing of my hand in the morning.
Dan was such a great guy to talk to. I asked him what arrow setup he'd suggest for the bow at that draw weight and he made a recommendation without hesitation. I plugged all of the numbers into the spine calculator and they were spot on. Once again, he knows his bows. I'm really excited about the new bow and will have a hard time waiting for it to arrive. I'll post again when it arrives.
Way cool.
I own a 2 pc Whip and a 1 pc Super D. They are spectacular bows in all categories.
It may be a hard time waiting but your only talking weeks not months :thumbsup:
Yup the short wait time is unbelievable, considering the reputation and popularity of his bows. I'm really looking forward to it.
I have heard nothing but good things about Dan and his bows. One of these years I would like to get my hands on a Toelke. Looking forward to seeing your finished bow.
You will be a happy man. :bigsmyl:
You made a great choice. The Toelkes are tops. They are so good you need never try another bow to be honest, though most of us end up with many. They are among the quietest and most well mannered available.
"You made a great choice. The Toelkes are tops. They are so good you need never try another bow to be honest, though most of us end up with many. They are among the quietest and most well mannered available."
X2 on this post and the others. Got my first Toelke (Whip HS) a couple months ago, based on what's been said, and trying my wife's a little (she's pretty protective with her Whip!).
I still get the itch for something a little different, but for now it would be another Toelke offering.
I decided to go with the black glass, even though I love all of the veneers, to save some money for new arrows and such. I just ordered this first bow and am looking a pics trying to figure out what I want on the next one. :biglaugh: In picking out what make of bow I wanted there were sooooooo many people that loved Dan's bows it just seemed like a no brainer. I have my Omega original and it let me know that I do love shooting traditional gear. It's a great bow for more than the cost, but things like the grip size ( I have smaller hands), 62" length in a tree stand and not being tillered for three under left me wanting something different. I am hoping and I believe that the Pika will be what I am looking for. I just hope that you guys on this forum aren't like the guys on the Fiberglass Flyrodder's forum - a bunch of enablers! :biglaugh:
I do appreciate all of the information and knowledge that all of the folks share here on Tradgang. Thanks.
I would love to try a Pika.
Can you image a 2pc Pika in the 54" length! You could tuck it in your back pocket :biglaugh:
I have seen some real beauties with black glass. Yours will be super stealthy.
I have owed a few of dans bows some of the best that I have shot I shoot a whistler now and love everything about it really great bows and dan and jarred are great guys
I've heard nothing but great things about Toelke bows. Would love to get my hands on one some day. Sounds like you've got something to look forward to!
I had a 56 inch 50 @28 pika and loved it. Had gorgeous mango veneers and A great fit / finish. The draw was silky smooth and shot like a dream. Don't let its "petite" appearance fool you. It's very well built and solid. The micarta and the bow bolt adds, A nice touch of mass. In the right place, in my opinion. I sold it and regret it ever since. Every longbow I've shot since I compare to to that bow. I will be getting another one , one day!
I ordered a 1 piece this time around, but if I'm like most Toelke owners it won't be my only one. So, I figure I'll get veneers and a 2 piece next time around. I am really looking forward to this bow and if it gets here in time, I might be able to do a little late season hunting with it. Thanks for all the replies. It's nice to know that a lot of folks think it's a solid choice.
This is my whip affectionately named "Slim Sexy". This Alabama buck succumbed to her powers last week! Can't go wrong with a Toelke bow!
(https://i.imgur.com/qtqXJ9y.jpg)
In 10 years and many different bows, I've never found one that is the total package as the Toelke. Specifically the toelke whip HS. They are light, smooth as butter, quiet, fast, beautiful. What more do you want.
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I have bought, sold, and collected a lot of bows over the years. Only one bow on the wall now and it has stuck around for several years now. Life is too short to have just one bow for long but I will always have a Toelke.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181119/8ea5a7aed2896a2ad812cd247639e127.jpg)
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You guys are killin' me with the Toelke trophy pics! I just ordered it last week. Go easy on me, please. ;)
I've been saying it for 12 years or so..."one Toelke is not enough."
Austin Brown, I notice the Super D in your photo. Dan has made a bunch beautiful well-mannered bows for me, 1 pc. & t.d. recurves and a bunch of Whips, first standard then classics. I only shoot Super Ds anymore and find there is something almost magical about them. I will admit that all things considered the H.S.Whips are the finest bows I've ever shot but here I am with 3 Super Ds, did I mention that I really like them?
Quote from: Jim Wright on November 22, 2018, 09:58:56 AM
Austin Brown, I notice the Super D in your photo. Dan has made a bunch beautiful well-mannered bows for me, 1 pc. & t.d. recurves and a bunch of Whips, first standard then classics. I only shoot Super Ds anymore and find there is something almost magical about them. I will admit that all things considered the H.S.Whips are the finest bows I've ever shot but here I am with 3 Super Ds, did I mention that I really like them?
Jim I really love that bow. I have been blessed to own a bunch of nice bows over the years and it is the only one that has stuck around. I have owned prettier bows, faster bows, and bows that finish cleaner but I have never owned one that shoots better for me. Like you say, almost magical. Tunes so easy and just plain shoots where I look. At the time I picked up the Super D I had a Northern Mist Superior and a fine Wallace Mountain longbow. I consider both of those top shelf longbows that I honestly tried to like more but at the end of the day they just didn't shoot as good for me.
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Shot this buck this year with my 40# Pika and a cedar arrow.
No doubt about it--- Toelke bows are the bestest.
Rifleman, that is one big bodied deer. I requested that mine have a draw weight of 40# @ my 26 1/2" draw length. From what I've heard Dan does an exceptional job of getting the draw weights to within about 1/2 +/- of the requested weight. I'm getting more eager as the days go by.
Austin Brown, what kind of broadhead did you pop that buck with? Looks as though it created some massive blood loss!
Quote from: Modad2010 on November 22, 2018, 10:18:14 PM
Austin Brown, what kind of broadhead did you pop that buck with? Looks as though it created some massive blood loss!
Zwickey Delta 2 blade. I have had really good luck with the Zwickey or Tusker Delta style heads. Pretty easy trailing with all the deer I have shot with those heads.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181123/a0a71f8af19f737bca2672172ee73c16.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181123/5c26c701aeddac917f8da6b47f8ec618.jpg)
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One more my Whip terminated (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181123/75f900cca6121b4e0097593d55e0cdc8.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181123/2c8f2eb5681f0ab2bdffc3b62857ad08.jpg)from earlier this season......
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Hey Guys just read thru this thread. Now Im fired up. I want to order one but cant decide between pika or whip (takedown) Anyone shot both and what are your thoughts. Thanks....Cant wait to see your new bow!
Thanks! I was really impressed with how the little bow performed on this size deer. That sounds like a great poundage for whitetails. I think that if shooting carbon a long 600 w some weight up front or a 700 will work.
PM me if you want to talk more about arrows that might work.
I've never owned a Pika. But have had 2 whips including the one I have now. Due to their light mass weight and slim limb tips some say they feel like a toy in the hand. I tend to appreciate that, especially after your shoot one and it hits like a jack hammer yet is so quite and draws/ shoots so smooth. I ordered my first whip after talking to Dan on the phone having never having shot one. Something I never do till Dan put his mojo on me. I was powerless, LOL! A few critters and hours upon hours of pleasured shooting later I'm glad I did. And after shooting my best deer to date on a hard quartering shot, the arrow entering behind the last rib in the liver and exiting between the front legs ending up 3" in the dirt I'm more pleased with them than ever.... keep us informed. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181123/2f6f938ac849e90a4600f8cfefe61b2b.jpg)
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Speedbump, call Dan and talk to him about what kind of hunting/shooting you do, draw length, draw weight and such. He will steer you to what you need. No one know Dan's bows better than Dan.
Rifleman, I asked Dan about arrow suggestions when I ordered my Pika. Dan told me that he has bunches of arrows and bare shafts that he tests the bows with. He recommended a Beman Centershot 600, cut to 28 in, 75 gr. brass insert and a 150 gr. point. I punched these numbers into the 3 Rivers arrow spine calculator and the bow spine and arrow spine numbers matched on the nose. Dan is a guy who really know his product and it's capabilities. Like I said before - I'm getting more excited every day. :thumbsup:
I agree, Dan is very knowledgeable. He has always given me great advice and Toelke bows are the best out there. You're really gonna love the new bow!
don't forget the Toelke troll, haven't shot my Striker bows since I got my troll! :notworthy:
what are the mass weights on his bows? Anyone have any ideas, just curious from the comments and what I have read before in other posts. Anything they are compared to weight wise? Thanks ahead
The bows are very light in mass weight, and that's usually the first thing that strikes me when I pick one up. Some like a bowbolt, or some micarta in the riser, to add weight there. I haven't shot any of that sort myself.
The bows are well mannered enough to be very quiet and stable, as light as they are, and I really like the featherweight feel and slim tips; they're part how nice it feels on the shot... for me.