Bowhunters? Archery in general?

[LINUS]

I gotta say I just had the best time I've had in a really long time sighting in my new 'toy'. I sort of thought about getting into this for a while, and the shop finally had my setup put together, so I got to shoot for the first time.

Now I have a good time shooting guns like anyone, but somewhere along the line either it got boring or I just got used to it all. Trapshooting is still fun, but I'm sort of bored of targets. There's a different feel to bow & arrow - I can't describe it, but you feel more in control of what's going on, not just the operator of a chunk of metal with a scope.

I decided a year or so ago that if I was going to kill animals, I was going to do it in a way that took a little more effort than sitting behind a bolt action rifle & dropping a deer at 200 yards. Unless it's purely a food thing, at least make a real sport out of it. Plus bow season gives you a lot of perks over rifle guys.

My muscles are all quivering jello, and I've never enjoyed it so much. I have a long way to go before I get to the skill to go out after an animal, but I was impressed how fast you get up to an accurate level. I shot maybe 3 dozen arrows all at 20 yards, and I placed 3 in the bullseye (4" circle) and only had 2 miss the paper target (16" square) as we were getting the sight set for me.

Here's my setup:




I'd take him with me, but he plays a game called "What's the biggest rock I can swallow without getting caught". Blockhead.


Anybody else here figured out that archery is cooler than just a kiddie Summer camp activity?

[whowhatwhere]

I have found that carbon fiber arrow shafts make great indestructable tail booms for my r/c helicopters.


I love archery.

btw: an aftermarket cf boom $30. a carbon arrow shaft $6

[LINUS]

Nobody else wants to play like Uncle Ted?

[Dave]

The only thing that bugs me about bowhunting is that there are too many people doing it that ought not to be. If you are good at it, I agree with what you are saying Ben it is more "sporting".

The problem is, there are too many buffoons who can't hit the animal well enough to have a good shot at a swift acting fatal injury, and then the animal runs off, injured, suffering and usually dies a painful death.

I think you ought to be able to pass a test of skill before they give you a tag during bow season.

On your other topic, you shoot trap? I don't, but my father-in-law does and is a past State champion. As a kid, I lived where they used to hold the Grand American, and I worked that event a couple of times.

[xLibelle]

Linus, i agree with you on the level playing ground idea... but we have a deer problem!
Deer are more of a threat than they are as a protected species. I say that only in the sense that there is a specific time of the year to hunt them.
The deer population has increased on an insane level. A point where they roam the country streets waiting for vehicles to hit them.
I think the hunting season should be extended to year round (at least here in the south) or more effective means of "clearing them out" should be organized durring hunting seasons.
:D

[joshh]

Not a hunter but I like the target shoot. Haven't done it for a few years. My bow is rotting....

[Ryan Stewart]

I was nationally ranked in Compound/Bowhunter Freestyle for a couple years. I kinda lost it during college.

Its hard to compete anymore, nobody really does it.