Archived News

 Ashby Bowhunting Foundation Newsletter

November 2023

President’s Message

This is the kickoff of our long overdue newsletter and we thank you for your patience. As most understand, this foundation is run by non-paid volunteers that are exceptionally passionate about our bowhunting. Since 2017, we have come a long way with Ashby Bowhunting Foundation.

A few of our accomplishments are working with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department where we put on workshops on a regular basis for Hunter Ed Instructors, so they can take this information into the classroom to help educate future hunters. More projects are underway with TPWD and will be announced in the future. We also work with other conservation organizations, such as PHASA, DSC, HSC, and many others.

ABF participates in podcasts from time to time, and a big focus of our time has been directly assisting individual bowhunters preparing for their hunts with building/tuning their arrows, bows, and also the indian! Since starting the foundation a lesson learned is anyone will say anything to try to be someone in the archery industry – I thought that happened only in the oil and gas industry.

Good hunting and as always, have a nice day.

Rob Neilson

Events

• Testing on Buffalo was conducted from 2021 through 2023 to bring you additional outcome driven results supplementing Doc’s work, all free to you. We are now working with Longoria-Hosmer Foundation for people that want to hunt buffalo with select outfitters and partake in field testing so they can get a first-hand experience of the details and work that go into this type of testing.

• Our next scheduled public appearance will be at the Houston Safari Club Foundation
  Convention in January scheduled from January 19-21 and we hope to see you there where we continue to evolve and improve our message for all bowhunters.

• Upcoming Texas Hog Hunt with Troy Fowler and Rob Neilson in spring of 2024. Tickets go on sale December 1, 2024. See below.

• We are excited to announce David Neils out of Colorado has joined ABF as a volunteer Advisor. He is a true conservationist, educator and researcher. You can see his work at www.wildnaturemedia.com.

• The 2023 recipient of the Dr. Ed Ashby Bowhunting Award that was recently announced was Byron Sadler, more than earned. Nominations being accepted for 2024.

2024 Texas Hog Hunt - Two Donors Will be selected

Ashby Bowhunting Foundation is offering two hunters an opportunity for a two-day hog hunt in Texas with Troy Fowler, aka Ranch Fairy on YouTube, and Rob Neilson, AIC of Ashby Bowhunting Foundation. This hunt will take place near Columbus, Texas on a private ranch in early 2024 – dates and schedules to be determined. All meals, lodging on ranch, stands with pre-baiting are part of the hunt. Donors who participate in the fundraising for the Ashby Bowhunting Foundation General Fund are eligible.

More information

From the Field: Rare Bull Elk Call

Calling elk successfully is as much an art form as it is science. All of my elk hunting has been DIY. I much prefer this type of hunting as I like to scout an area thoroughly and annually. Scouting occupies 80% of my time afield. There is much satisfaction in getting to know a place well.

I prefer to call elk where they have to come uphill, cutting across contour lines at an angle, not straight up the hill. I make sure I have topography between me and the bull where when the bull is coming in I see his antler tips cresting a hill in front of me right at 20 yards or less. When I see the entire body of the elk, he’s going to be at my preferred distance of 16 yards. I hunt with a recurve or longbow, for many reasons.

The typical sequence when a bull is bugling is the following:

• Many times a bull will start with a location bugle, simply wanting to know where the other bulls in the area are.

• After a response, the call may change to a more aggressive bugle.

• This call is often followed by raking a tree or brush.

• After raking the bull will stop, lift his head, put his ears forward in the direction of the other bull and listen for 20 seconds or more.

Now for the rare elk call. When that bull is quiet and listening, the wind is slight or completely calm and the bull is within 200 yards, this call works exceedingly well. I keep a two liter water bottle full for this moment. Be sure and have an arrow nocked and ready before doing this. Lift the bottle about four feet above a flat rock and simply pour it onto the rock. The only animal that will make a similar sound is a bull elk urinating on the ground. The bull will be completely convinced you are another bull. Grab that bow and get ready. I’ve had them run over the top of me several times and the first time I did it I didn’t have an arrow nocked in time. Another advantage of this call is other hunters won’t hear it.

If you’re looking for more tips about scouting for elk or bowhunting, you can reach me through my Website below.

David Neils - www.wildnaturemedia.com

Newsletter Tip

While listening to any promotional hunter, be sure you see straight through their end goal of selling you a product so they can make a profit!

Donations

​The Ashby Bowhunting Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) education and research organization. 100% of your donation will go to the Missions of Ashby Bowhunting Foundation. No salaries are paid by the Foundation. We realize there are many worthwhile organizations out there, and greatly appreciate your consideration and support.

Doc’s Ramblings

Now, I’ve been pretty riled up lately by all the Keyboard Cowboys, industry-sponsored Promotional Hunters, and advice-giving want-to-be experts who haven’t hunted enough animals to even warrant an opinion, who are continually inundating our social media outlets with their prevarications. I view the false ‘truths’ they spread around as one of the greater threats to our sport.

Texas Parks and Wildlife estimates that the wound loss rate for bowhunted whitetails in Texas is in excess of 50%. I’m fairly certain that it’s similar in other states too. With their promotion of long-range hunting shots, touting the effectiveness of arrows and broadheads that don’t perform well, promoting penetration testing into foam and gel as valid, and peddling their sponsor’s products just to fatten their own wallet, these false prophets of bowhunting how-to information are directly contributing to the wounding and loss of countless game animals. The resultant waste of lost animals and the needless suffering of animals just fuels the coffers of the anti-hunting folks.

The Foundation has demonstrated that the use of proper equipment and ethical hunting practices decreases both the needless suffering of animals and the wound loss rate. The facts, and hard data that back that up, are all there on ABF’s web page. How well-versed are you in that information? Have questions of your own? When other bowhunters ask you questions, are you certain you’re passing along correct information? If you’re ever in doubt, you can always refer to ABF’s website. Part of ABF’s mission is to get the correct information into the hands of every bowhunter, and each of you can help do so. It’s the best way to counter the bad information and advice from the internet flimflammers.

Dr. Ed Ashby