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Remember your first time?

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Diligence:
..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

El Destructo:
My first time was in a little Texas Panhandle Town called Alanreed, Texas....I was told by a Guy that I had shot 3-D Tournaments with for Years for Bowtech...that ...."there were a bunch of Good Ole Boys in Alanreed that made their own Bows...just like You do...You need to go down and meet them".....So I found out what Their Shooting Schedule was ...and went down to see what it was all about...the Ole Boy that put on the Shoot...was a Long-Haired Toothless Ole Cuss...and the rest of the Club looked about the Same....reminded Me of some movie like Deliverance.. ;D...I paid my entry fee...and got partnered up...and proceeded to Shoot this Course that meandered through the Pecan...Burr Oak and Plum Thickets down in the deep Canyons of the Ranch....As We shot...We talked about Our Equipment....and everyone of the Members of this Club has built all of their own gear...they Hunt and shoot nothing but Stick Bows...most are Osage...some were Hackberry....all were Primitive...with Cane...or Salt Cedar Arrows...and Turkey Fletches....and were they ever good shots...made Me want to go Home and practice more to play with the Big Dogs here... :-[....I have never seen a 3-D Layout like this one in my Life (until last year at Pappy's Place)...He has everything from Prairie Dogs to T-Rex out there...and the Target Placements were just so real....well except for ole T-Rex.... :P...I spent more than 6 Hours on the two Courses there...and was sunburned to a crisp...but it was one of the most peaceful and calming days that I have ever spent in the Wilds...with these People...they are a whole Different Cut of Man....and Woman..... ;D

zenmonkeyman:
I'm hopefully going to a 3D shoot next weekend.  Hopefully there will be at least 1 other selfbow there, but I won't hold my breath!  Man I wish I could go to the Classic.

aero86:
never had my first time

DanaM:
Yup it was about 1975 and her name was Sue... Oh dang yer talking about 3D shoots then in that case 2 years ago at Pappy's ;D

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