Thread: Any Archers out there??

I used to hunt with a bow many years ago. I started out with a recurve and later switch to Jennings compound but never really liked the compound. I do not shoot much any more but still have a Zebra long bow that Louis Armbruster built for me in the mid 70's. The model is the Super Grevy, its 69 inches long and draws58 lbs at 28 inches and its still a very beautiful bow.

I shoot an English Longbow made by Gerald Welch of Alaska. It's a 57 lb at 29" and I shoot cedar arrows at all the foam animals behind my house. I just find flinging arrows relaxing.Also have a reflex / deflex longbow that is laminated made by Blue Ridge Archery and a bit lighter draw weight at 48 lb

I am down to three bows. I used to be really into archery, especially setup, tuning, and arrow building. There was something fascinating to me about all of that.

I got bored with it.
I still find time to bowhunt; I like sitting in the woods and watching nature.

Man. I've been wanting a recurve for 2 years now. Anyone trying to unload one?

animalwithin -

Instinctive shooting takes alot of practice to develop the correct sight picture at different distances, lighting conditions, etc. By constantly challenging yourself with different shot situations your subconscious learns to make the sight picture adjustments. Beyond that it's muscle memory as in other forms of archery. I practice anywhere from 2hrs. to 10 hrs. per week at backyard targets, stump shooting, and 3D shoots. If you are consistent at 10 yds., increase your distance by 2-3 yds at a time. Shoot no more than 2 or 3 arrows at a position then change. Vary shot angles, shooting position (kneeling, standing, etc.), and lighting conditions and I'll bet you are ready for a 15 to 20 yd shot at a whitetail this season.

Originally Posted by southpawshooter

animalwithin -

Instinctive shooting takes alot of practice to develop the correct sight picture at different distances, lighting conditions, etc. By constantly challenging yourself with different shot situations your subconscious learns to make the sight picture adjustments. Beyond that it's muscle memory as in other forms of archery. I practice anywhere from 2hrs. to 10 hrs. per week at backyard targets, stump shooting, and 3D shoots. If you are consistent at 10 yds., increase your distance by 2-3 yds at a time. Shoot no more than 2 or 3 arrows at a position then change. Vary shot angles, shooting position (kneeling, standing, etc.), and lighting conditions and I'll bet you are ready for a 15 to 20 yd shot at a whitetail this season.

Interesting, I never thought of varying my shot angles from the same distance, I'll have to try that. I agree with what many have said, something about archery is very relaxing. I want to get into it more, like building my own arrows and get to hunting but I need my practice.

Costabro, I may be able to sell you mine, since I've been wanting a new Hoyt PM me!!

Originally Posted by animalwithin

Interesting, I never thought of varying my shot angles from the same distance, I'll have to try that. I agree with what many have said, something about archery is very relaxing. I want to get into it more, like building my own arrows and get to hunting but I need my practice.

Costabro, I may be able to sell you mine, since I've been wanting a new Hoyt PM me!!

Shooting up and down hill is quite the challenge! I got a range finder at one point to try and master it. Eventually it becomes "feel."

Making arrows is great fun btw... Not too much to it after you get started.

If any of you guys have takedown recurves, I can't see how the can come anywhere near the power of traditional recurves. Don't the places where you lock in the limbs possess a weak point in the bow since its not all one piece?

I got rid of my last training wheel bow a couple years ago. I honestly don't mind either compounds or traditional they each have their own ways. Having said that I have been shooting traditional bows for the last 10 years or so and use them for hunting. I shoot both recurves and longbows and at one time had 10 or 12 of them. To me trad is way more fun, I got tired of messing with things vibrating loose on compounds. I haven't had much trouble getting within 10 yards of deer on the ground and honestly, I just wear camo pants and a green and black plaid shirt, it's more challenging. If your shooting to have fun shoot either it's still archery. I've robinhooded a few arrows and split nocks off alot more but none of them were with compounds, I feel better about my shooting if it do it with traditional bows without the aids though.

Originally Posted by animalwithin

If any of you guys have takedown recurves, I can't see how the can come anywhere near the power of traditional recurves. Don't the places where you lock in the limbs possess a weak point in the bow since its not all one piece?

Not an expert bow builder, but in my limited understanding the power of the bow comes from the flex in the limbs. Whether on a take-down or a one-piece, the point where limbs meet riser acts as the fulcrum. When you draw back the bowstring, the limbs flex back against the fulcrum storing an amount of energy equal to the weight/length/flex of the limbs, which is released when the archer releases the bowstring.

The fulcrum on a one-piece is the section between joint and riser where flexibility ends and stiffness begins. On a takedown, that would be the attachment point of limb to riser. There are various takedown systems in use these days; one fixes the limbs against the riser with a horizontal screw, another I've seen uses a vertical bolt. Either way, these are not points of weakness on the bow, and do not adversely affect power or stability.

I have a very nice one-piece longbow, a decent one-piece recurve and a lighter takedown "training-wheels" recurve. My next higher-end bow will be a takedown - makes it so much easier to travel with! I'm looking at either the more modern Qarbon Nano or one of the more traditional Black Widow models. Both come highly recommended by bowhunting friends, and I don't believe that either has any power issues ;-).