Any of you shoot Archery ?

[kirby999]

I used to shoot a lot ; I'm talking everyday . I shot a compound bow in competition from around 1980-1990 , shooting Targets , both indoor and field , as well as 3D matches . Then I went Traditional up and until a few years ago when the aches and pains told me it's time to slow down. Well, a few months back I bought a used compound from a yardsale and this past week , I made a new string for it and dug out some old arrows and started shooting again , using a wrist strap style release aide. I'd forgotten the pleasure I used to get watching the arrow fly . I'd also forgotten how fast an arrow drops at distances. LOL We're talking feet(at 50 yards ) , not inches as with a pellet . I tried one of my recurves too and it's a no-go ; can't handle the increasing draw weight , and no left off . But the bow with training wheels didn't bother me much at all and I got pretty good with it with a little practice. It's like riding a bicycle , it comes back to you. I searched on the net and found a 3D shoot in my area on the 15th and another the following week. I think I'll try to make one of them . Who knows I may get out one of my old treestands and go chase Bambi's dad this fall LOL

[TCups]

Have a MachFlite III I haven't shot for 12 years.  Had to pull a LH bow - no way to cross over.  Used to climb red oaks in the swamps of SE Missouri looking for big bucks.  Yes, have to compensate for the drop with a different pin every 10 yards.  And if shooting downward from a tree seat, compensate less.  Ever use a lighted pendulum  sight?  Never got one with a  bow, but lots of fun trying.  Unlike meat hunting from a tree  stand with a HP scoped rifle, isn't it?  Never cared much for gun hunting.  Gun season for whitetails in MO was when you did NOT want to be in the woods.

[riarcher]

Yup, Shot a lot of Bow for a lot of years. Long before it became "trendy" in these parts.
IBO, Field, National, etc. Hunted deer, bird, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, goose, duck, etc.
Mostly with Traditional equipment. Made some bows, all my leather goods, arrows for myself and others, Flemish strings, etc. did instructional, the whole bit.
One of my favorites for several years was a Dan Quinlan Bamboo Longhunter. 72# longbow. It was a brute! LOL Definately not good for an all day shoot. Excellent 3-D and hunting though. Most always shot Cedar, Maple, Northern Pine shafts. Many I would "foot" and Barrel taper for added speed.
Also played a lot with "Bare Bow" (compound with trad type rest, instinctive, no sights, etc.
Shoulders (like you) are not what they used to be. Now days pretty much stick with Bare Bow, It's an old Martin Cougar (before they became rediculously short W-W.

Thus; riarcher = R.I. Archer

Gary

[gamo2hammerli]

I used to shoot compound bows...a Bear Whitetail II and a PSE Nitro....that was three years ago.  Since I  hurt my back and shoulder five or so years ago...at work and doing other sports....I've laid off the bows. (   The pain was getting worst after each shoot.....and I don't have time to travel to the archery range...

[Big_Bill]

Hey David,

It seems many of us share many of the same interests. I started with a Howard Hill Longbow, and went for Hoyt Pro Target and Hunter, Then to the DARK SIDE of archery, THE COMPOUND BOW !!!! by Jennings.

I had to stop shootin Bows and arrows cause my doctor said so, he wouldn't let me play with my 12 ga. trap gun or my hi power rifles either. said I might shoot my eye out ! lol or somthin else ? So now I am shootin B.B guns

I did Field and Target, and loved the challenge of hunting with a bow.

Bill

[paul]

I don,t target shoot ,but my passion is bowhunting the whitetail ,infact i got started with airguns because each year ,i always wanted to go after squirrels ,but didn,t want to hunt with powder guns where i bowhunt,then on one of the bowhunting forums a guy  posted some pic of squirrels  he  killed with gamo hunter, and that was the beginning of another passion.I have not missed a year of deer hunting since 1964,250+ deer kills.

[longislandhunter]

Been bowhunting for a long time. Besides air guns bowhunting deer is my other passion in life I hunt with a compound bow, although some day I'd like to try hunting with a traditional bow. I have one of those full sized life like deer targets in my backyard and I used to shoot pretty much every day to stay sharp, but since I got addicted to airguns I don't practice anymore during the off season. I love the thrill and added challenge of using a bow to hunt deer so much that I haven't used a rifle or pistol to take a deer in about 10 years now. I usually hunt from a tree stand but I also like to bowhunt deer on the ground and try to stalk within range. I've taken an awful lot of deer from the trees but have only been able to bag 2 stalking on the ground,,, I'm very proud of those 2 deer

I never got into target shooting with the bows,,,, I'm a hunter at heart, but I'll bet those competitions are pretty cool.....

Jeff

[kirby999]

I used to be a bowhunting nut myself. The last few years i would get excited before the season opened and once I got to practicing with my recurve , because of the aches , I'd lose interest. I'd not really given the compound another true chance , especially using a release aide . I think a lot of the strain I was experiencing developed at the fingers as I drew my bow. Maybe I can keep the fire going enough to get back into the woods this fall . So far after over a week , my shoulder seems to be holding up. I think hitting that yellow center the size of a softball at 50 yards is cool . I'm hitting it around 50% of the time so far . Of course I would shoot at a live animal that far . I prefer mine to be less than 20 yards ; with maybe a 35 yard max. kirby

[shadow]

Bow hunted myself, no compound or add-on's just a old long bow which never failed me. Ed

[daveshoot]

Used to bowhunt plenty, back in Michiland. I hunted every season except waterfowl (just too many dang opportunities at once). I still get back with the buds every few years, but it is hard to fit in that time of year.
I retrogressed from gun (various), to pistols, to recurve, back up to compound (Darton, then an XI Impact), and was looking at a muzzleloader when I left.
If there was a rocket launcher season, I woulda lined up at Meijer's for one of them, too.
I whacked a mere 3-4 deer with bow, but it got to be my favorite season and favorite shooting sport. Back there you could practice in the back yard without the SWAT team showing up. Skewered a few fox squirrels and et 'em too.
I probably spooked more deer just drawing, or getting into position, than most westerners ever see in the wild. I left a very educated deer population behind. Turkeys were already smarter than me (due to their unfairly huge brains) but I tried them too.
Being in SoCal got me back to airguns and GS/jackrabbit extermination. Pleased to be of service, but I miss the food.
My other favorite target was grouse, but I don't see AGs filling that void soon.

Go Wings!

[Gene_SC]

The closest I ever come to shooting archery was shooting my mothers hair pins with a rubber band....

Gene

[fatback]

I am an avid bowhunter.. i have been bowhunting for about 20 years. my present bow that I hunt with is a Bowtech allegiance.
I have taken many deer with the bow and gun, but don't hunt with the rifle or shotgun to much anymore. I just like bowhunting better.  I think it is more of a challenge and much more up close and personal.
Chris