Mostly Archery with dustyvarmint » Blog Announcements

happy hunting, dv

dustyvarmint — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:05:06 +0000

A closing letter to Mostly Archery readers.

Three years and ten days ago, influenced by an advertisement on Mike Adam’s Up North Journal podcast, I wrote Hello from Mostly Archery with dustyvarmint on the Skinny Moose Network. I’d always liked sharing my projects, adventures and tips on bowhunting forums, but I didn’t like how this information got buried over time. While no journalist I felt I knew where a period went and could spell most words up to and including bowhunting (that doesn’t spell check by the way). I’m not sure what I was thinking when I named the blog “Mostly Archery”, but I almost immediately regretted it and wished it had been “Mostly Bowhunting”. Everything was set up, though, so Mostly Archery remained.

From the beginning my intention for Mostly Archery was a weekly bowhunting blog. One post reliably published each week that was “heavier” in content than the average blog’s more frequent entries. Now, any blogger knows that frequent new content, plus promotion, are the keys to a successful blog. So, with my “anti-model” growth was slow. Over time, though, dvMA went from about one “hit” per day to an average of around 199 per day. Not gangbusters, but at about 6000 hits per month. Only a very, very small number of weeks ever missed a post and those were more than made up for by “Mid Week Extras”. By my definition the concept was successful. One area I wasn’t successful in was followership. Rather than random drive-bys I wanted a regular readership. Repeat visitors are only about 21% of dvMA readership with subscribers being pretty low in number.

dvMA’s mission was to, “…help you avoid making the same mistakes I’ve made over time.” That included telling the truth in product and outfitter reviews, not just turning the other cheek to allow you to make the same poor purchase. When I dropped my bow, cam first, on the concrete floor I told you that too. I believe my How To – Make Your Own Turkey Friction Call is one of the best and FREELY shared resources on the subject on the internet. Additionally, I also believe my daily journals and other highly detailed posts about bowhunting Africa are some of the most informational resources for the aspiring African plains’ game bowhunter available anywhere.

There were bad times and good times along the way. Skinny Moose through three different ownership models was sometimes the source of serious frustration as was using the publisher Word Press. However, I also believe dvMA was my step onto a number of shooting and pro-staff positions. That in itself is an experience needing to be written about. dvMA was the reason I was able to attend the coveted ATA show in 2011 and 2012. I met some great people through those opportunities and blogged about them here.

I have often said that when I am with Mrs. dustyvarmint and my beloved dogs, Lexus and Maggie, that I’m thinking about bowhunting. And, when I’m bowhunting I’m thinking about Mrs. dustyvarmint and Lexus and Maggie. I’ve also said that bowhunting, to me, is a lifestyle not just a hobby. Having said those things here once again I’ve decided, among other life changes, to stop posting on dvMA. I hope the gap, if any, left in the bowhunting blog community is quickly filled by another new blogger who isn’t afraid to tell the truth on product reviews or about a company’s customer service. The Links page has several highly recommended resources to satiate your bowhunting information thirst in the mean time. I do not know what Skinny Moose may do with dvMA, but I hope interested readers will be able to access the information for some time to come.

Thanks for reading and… happy hunting, dv

Mostly Archery’s Top Ten Blog Posts

dustyvarmint — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:53:13 +0000

In case you missed them the first time around these 10 posts are the most popular on dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery.

1. The Bowfishing Boat – A Different Option: Here we highlight the bowfishing boat of the Up North Journal including an innovative and economical rail for lighting that I copied for my own boat project.

2. Bowfishing Boats – Yet Another Option: As the title implies, myself and Super Slam bowhunter Gary Martin set up an economical bowfishing boat using the Up North Journal inspired light rail and then we test it out.

3. Anatomy of a Bowfishing Rig: I go over in detail what my bowfishing bow set up is, include some lessons learned and a list of other items to bring along.

4. DIY $25 Bow Press: Yes, you can make a bow press for $25 or less. It is currently all I use.

5. How To – Prepare a European Skull Mount: Talking about cleaning up your trophy skulls for display and lessons I’ve learned over time.

6. How To – Make Your Own Turkey Friction Call: It is illegal, unethical and immoral in almost every southern state to share how to make a “pot” call. I boldly provide directions in a three-part series with step-by-step photos.

7. Overhauling a Hunting Bow: Discussing string and cable options as well as installation and set up, basic tuning, accessory selection and more.

8. DIY Wrist Sling for Your Bow: Make a simple, stylish and effective paracord wrist sling.

9. The Versatile Eberlestock X2 Pack: Carry a blind, carry a treestand, carry climbing sticks; this post discusses some not so obvious uses of the excellent pack.

10. Packin’ It In and Out – Treestands: See various real methods for packing your treestand and sticks to every set up as well as a few tips.

happy hunting, dv

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Mostly Archery Under Construction

dustyvarmint — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:27:01 +0000

By Jerry Long, July 8, 2011

dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery’s normal Monday posting will be delayed next week.

Dear Loyal Tens-Of-Readers,

dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery’s normal Monday posting will be delayed at least until July 13^th while the good folks at Outdoor Hub Media transform Skinny Moose into a whole new format. I guarantee it’ll be worth the wait and you’ll like the new look or my name ain’t dustyvarmint.

In the meantime how about leaving me a comment about what you like (if anything) and what you don’t like about Mostly Archery?

happy hunting, dv

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Mostly Archery Updates Move To Thursdays

dustyvarmint — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:41:49 +0000

By Jerry Long, June 14, 2010

I kept my word, see The Foundation Of An Outdoors Person, and returned to coach 4H archery this summer after a 15 year absence.

Every Monday and Wednesday night in the month of June is taken up coaching our next generation of archers. So, during this month updates to dv’s Mostly Archery will occur on Thursday’s. Hope to catch you on then!

happy hunting, dv

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Catch dustyvarmint on Beyond The Wild Episode 3

dustyvarmint — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:34 +0000

In dustyvarmint Joins Up North Journal Field Staff I mentioned there would soon be an exciting announcement. Well, here it is. Earlier this year outdoors friend Seth and I hosted the Up North Journal team of Michael and Mikey Adams for their first bowfishing trip here in the land of cheese. Michael has published this adventure in UNJ’s vidcast Beyond The Wild Episode 3. Check it out and watch me miss lots of fish, but tag my largest dogfish to date while Seth nails an eighteen pound hog carp.

Mikey and Michael of UNJ pose with their first fish.

happy hunting, dv

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dustyvarmint joins Up North Journal Field Staff

dustyvarmint — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:35:08 +0000

Lexus and I pose with Michael and Mikey Adams of the Up North Journal

It gives me great pleasure to announce that dustyvarmint has joined the Up North Journal Field Staff. Over time you’ve seen me reference the UNJ and its good folks. The father and son team of Michael and Mikey Adams explore Michigan’s outdoors and beyond then share their adventures with us via the weekly Up North Journal podcast. You can find it either directly from their website or via iTunes. It and its Skinny Moose blogging advertisements are the reason Mostly Archery was started. Additionally, Michael has served as a blogging mentor for me and the podcast has entertained me through hundreds of running miles, hours of treestand and blind sits and many a long air travel. I don’t fly fish or waterfowl hunt, but I greatly enjoy each installment of Mikey’s Game Bag. Family values, “Passing On the Tradition” and hard work are the central core of UNJ.

UNJ is growing rapidly. I’m proud to have been asked and proud to be a part of it. dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery will be appear on UNJ’s website with the other Pro and Field Staff blogs as well as here on Skinny Moose. Most recently UNJ has begun production of the vidcast Beyond The Wild. A soon to follow dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery blog will bring an exciting announcement about Beyond The Wild Episode 3. So, as Michael recently said, “Sit back, the ride is fast and furious, but has only just begun.”

happy hunting, dv

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RSS Feed Error Solution

dustyvarmint — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:57:10 +0000

RSS Feed Subscription Error Notice
It has come to my attention that Internet Explorer users may receive an error message when trying to subscribe. To fix the error go into the browser bar and delete the word and colon “feed:” from the beginning of the URL as follows: feed:http://skinnymoose.com/mostlyarchery/feed/. Then press enter and follow the instructions to subscribe.

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

Outfitter Reports – Why we should be doing them.
Overhauling My Bow
Outfitter Report – Javelina and Hogs in Texas.