..no, not THAT first time, but the first time that you went out with people of like mind (trad guys) and had a rip roaring great time? I did that yesterday up here in Calgary. One of the local clubs put on a 2 day 3D trad shoot. There were 30 targets in total, with a great layout.
I just had to post because I am excited! WHOOHOO....it was a blast. Today (Sunday is day two), but my kitchen pass expired Saturday night at midnight
I had never done a 3D shoot before. It was great shooting thru the bush and grass. Managed to make it around twice and only lost one arrow, but I broke 3 (one against a wooden backstop at about 30 yards, and the other 2 shooting at an alligator in the dirt). All sorts of 3D targets, elk thru alligator, with one 3D stump thrown in for good measure....lol.
First round I shot with a very nice fellow (who also makes self and board bows) his 12 girl and 7 year old boy, and their family friend (who had a person who had never shot a bow before with him)....although I spent A LOT of time finding those kid arrows in the underbrush, it was very relaxing and I had my ear talked off by those kids!
Afternoon round I actually headed out by myself. I found it was kind of a tough crowd to crack into, but I caught up to and joined up with 4 guys who decided that at each target, the first guy got to decide how he wanted to shoot it. Double the distance, half the distance, shooting from a crouch, whatever --- we giggled like school girls. Such a great group of people, and I learned about another local Friday night trad shoot.....and to toot my own horn a bit, was told by one old-timer, "...you do really well with that stick"
On Friday night at 9 or 10, I realized that I didn't have a quiver, so I quickly made one up in the Plains' style. Just folded over a piece of leather, tied it up with thongs and mounted a busted shaft for a stiffener - and it worked great.
Funny thing is, out of about 65 shooters, I think my self-bow was one of maybe 9 or 10 that showed up. The rest were all longbows (laminated) or recurve (laminated), and I'm pretty sure that my arrows were the only self-nocks, and sinew wrapped fletching.
All in all, it was a good feeling to hang around with like minded people. Now I just have to find the time to do it some more.
Things I learned:
- I'm not as bad of a shot as I thought I was
- wear sunscreen
- make a bunch more bamboo arrows (they are dang near indestructible)
- ditch the grey goose feathers (can you say needle in a haystack?)
- ditch the raw wood color shafts (see above)
- buy florescent fletches (done)
- do it all again
Sorry to talk your ear off, I'm just really excited by the whole thing.
J
