GB-hunters axe

J

JW

Joined
Dec 4, 1998
Messages
386
I've had a GB hunters axe for a year or so. Very good for light chores, kindling, etc but I was not impressed when I tried the pollished poll in its intended role for hide removal. I decided I still had a good quality, handy sized axe and wasn't at all unhappy with it. I started carrying it more often in the field.
Last weekend while bowhunting alone (with my primitive longbow) I killed a large whitetail doe near an old gravel pit. She went about 75 yards and wound up in the nastiest, tangled mess of a ravine in 3 counties. I had the small axe in my daypack. Used it to clear some branches and even had to cut some limbs to wedge sideways for "rungs" on the steep trail back up. Used it to split the pelvis and eventually decided to "half" her for the hike up and out. I had a strap for a drag (since only the bucks have integral drag handles) which I used to secure one back leg while field dressing her on the rough, steep trail. I stuck the GB into a small tree and hooked her other back leg.
Tough job but was made easier by having this tool with me. Had a great day. I still haven't figgered out the poll thing for skinning- I can make faster work with a good knife.
 
All I have to say is longbows and axes go together like peanut butter and jelly. Just doesnt get any better than that!
 
JW said:
I've had a GB hunters axe for a year or so...

Tough job but was made easier by having this tool with me. Had a great day. I still haven't figgered out the poll thing for skinning- I can make faster work with a good knife.
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JW,
Sounds like one hell of a great hunt!.. I am puzzled about the poll skinning edge as well. I am guessing you use it like an Alaskan 'ew' or 'ue' (probably spelling that all wrong) if you know what I mean... Any chance of posting some pictures of the axe?... and hell, the hunt as well, with you the deer and the longbow!?..

I'm with you though, no axe is going near my deer's hide when I have got my Dozier hanging off my belt. :p
 
I inquired about the skinning poll and was told it is best to swing it with someone else holding the hide taut. seems like it would work well on big game like moose. Remember in Scandavian countries, they hunt alot of moose. I think their moose are about the size of our North American elk.
 
using this poll is like fisting the skin off. a slower meathod, but a better job as it doen't remove meat, and doesn't cut into the skin. as someone who tans the occasional deer, those slash marks look ugly, and can tear apart during working the hide. to keep the hide in good condition, don't use a sharp knife.
 
As moccasinman said, with the polished "flay" poll is rounded, you are supposed to pull the hide with one hand while whacking at the meat/hide junction, forcing the poll between the two. The hunters axe is about the same head as the small forest axe but the poll is polished and personally I like the handle on the hunter better- more curve to the handle toe and better gripping surface.
I can maybe get a pic in of the bow and axe but the deer is already in the freezer. I had to take her out in 2 halves. axe did a quick job of that.
For anybody that cares, the longbow is a selfbow I made from osage orange. Not fancy but shoots real well. 68" and 50# (at 28" of draw). Cedar shafts with turkey feather fletching. I went modern with the broadheads- old Zwickey black diamonds. some day I'm going to have to try flint.
 
JW said:
For anybody that cares, the longbow is a selfbow I made from osage orange. Not fancy but shoots real well. 68" and 50# (at 28" of draw). Cedar shafts with turkey feather fletching. I went modern with the broadheads- old Zwickey black diamonds. some day I'm going to have to try flint.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great rig. I have wanted to make an osage orange self bow for some time, but just never set down to do it yet. Been shooting Zwickey's for years and see no reason switch, except like you say, flint.
 
JW said:
I can maybe get a pic in of the bow and axe but the deer is already in the freezer...

For anybody that cares, the longbow is a selfbow I made from osage orange. Not fancy but shoots real well. 68" and 50# (at 28" of draw). Cedar shafts with turkey feather fletching. I went modern with the broadheads- old Zwickey black diamonds. some day I'm going to have to try flint.
Click to expand...

I for one would like to see a pic of you're very cool sounding selfbow, arrows and the axe. :cool:
 
dangit. I've got some pics but have been unsuccessful shrinking them to fit. Anybody help? I've got Photoshop 5.0-LE. I thought I had done it before but I'll be darned if I can do it now.
 
JW - re: photoshop pic reduction - load pic, go up to "image" on the tool bar and you will see the "resize" option. Reduce the # pixels for width or height and you can experiment until you get the right file size.
 
JW said:
dangit. I've got some pics but have been unsuccessful shrinking them to fit. Anybody help? I've got Photoshop 5.0-LE. I thought I had done it before but I'll be darned if I can do it now.
Click to expand...

If U want, just send em' to: veritas.group@att.net & I'll do it in you're behalf...
 
Thanks sunnyd, but I think I finally got it. thumbnail pic works OK for me.
 
Congrats on the hunt, man. My hat's off to anyone who goes after 'em with a stick bow.

I do have a question or two about this though.

JW said:
I had the small axe in my daypack... Used it to split the pelvis and eventually decided to "half" her for the hike up and out. I had a strap for a drag (since only the bucks have integral drag handles) which I used to secure one back leg while field dressing her on the rough, steep trail. I stuck the GB into a small tree and hooked her other back leg.
Tough job but was made easier by having this tool with me.
Click to expand...

You mean you split her in half lengthwise down the spine or something? Or did you just cut her into front and back halves? Did ya try using the ax for actually cutting open her belly for field dressing?
I don't like splitting the pelvis much anymore, 'cause I don't want to expose some of the best meat to contamination. Did you use the ax to split the sternum, or do you even do so? I've seen a number of different methods for field dressing, so I guess I was just trying to figure out how you go about the chore. I've never thought field dressing was supposed to be a "tough job"- I don't usually take more than 5 or 10 minutes for deer.
 
Hi Possum,
split her at the flank into front and back halves with the GB. Used a knife to field dress her. I don't think of field dressing as a tough job under most circumstances but this time was different. steep side-hill with heavy brush and everything below was worse yet. Everything I tried to do resulted in either me or the deer or both sliding further into that mess. Sharp edges and unstable work makes me nervous. Used the GB to alter terain and stabilize the situation. cleared a space to work and cut "rungs" with the GB otherwize not sure I could have got out with or w/out the deer parts. cutting the deer into 2 halves just ahead of the hinds was easy with the axe. could have done it all with the knife but would have been alot more work.
Usually, kill a deer, drag a short distance to a spacious, level work area if necessary, proceed to dress out. just not this time.
Thanks for posting.
I'm JW... and I approved this message.
 
OK. I think I see where you're comin' from now. I often gut them while they're laying on their sides too, but if she actually kept sliding down the hill, I can see where that would add some difficulty! Splitting her at the flank does make more sense to me than splitting her spine lengthwise, as I origionally thought you meant. Depending on how you carried her or attached the drag, I may have been tempted to trim her legs off as well, just so they wouldn't get caught up in the thick brush.

After working for your meat like that, I bet she tasted mighty good!
 
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