Archery time again...long overdue!

Chako · **on:** July 28, 2011, 03:13:07 AM

Last week, I had an HVAC guy come in to do the annual gas furnace check up. He noticed some of my old archery gear hanging on an 8 sword horizontal stand in my bedroom. He asked me a few questions about them, stating that he was just getting into archery, only trying it out at the local club on a few occasions. He did stress to me that he had a rough time finding a bow to use as he was a left hander. Well I told him that I am also a lefty shooter and that he was talking to the choir. I ended up giving him one of my father's old High Country bows, some arrows, a cable release etc. A complete outfit. It felt rather good and right to do so seeing that I had the bow collecting dust for years now. I still have a few of his other compounds, and a few of mine.

Roll to yesterday. That interaction got me to thinking about archery again. I used to belong with my father, in the Sault North Archery Club back in the 90s during my University days. Then I had to quite as I had to go elsewhere for the schooling program I wanted. My father hung around for an extra year or two. He quite in 2000.

After my father past away in 08, I got to thinking about all the great times we had out on the range. Some good father and son bonding. I then bought an APA Black Mamba and an Olympic Hoyt Helix Recurve all decked out. I joined the local gun club to try them out. It fell flat. I quickly found out that I had to drive almost an hour to get to the range. When I got there, nobody shot bow. So I had the indoor range all to myself. Sounds great, but no interaction and with nobody to shoot with, I quickly lost interest. I did not renew my membership. Thus a few years rolled on until that HVAC guy got me thinking again.

Well I called the Sault North Archery club yesterday. The President told me to come on up to the outdoor range and I could join up. Well that is what I did today, and I must say, it was great to see a lot of the old members still shooting after all of these years. Come to think of it, I haven't had so much fun in a long time. I spend more time talking then shooting, I did at least sight in my old PSE Nova. I took that one down because it has wheels and I figured it would be easier to pull. I was right. I was also happy to note that half the membership now shoot traditional. Back in the 90s, there were only a few of us.

So anyways, I am back into archery.

Here is a set of photos taken when I first got my APA. The sad thing, I only shot it 6 times at the other club.

I still have my old Martin Onza, an XI Legacy (the company does not exist anymore), A Martin Cougar Magnum, The APA Mamba, Hoyt Helix Recurve, and a PSE longbow. Time to go out and shoot some archery gear.

ducktapehero · **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2011, 03:43:59 PM

Sounds like a fun time. I used to play around with archery but my shoulders and back prevent that now.

Singh · **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2011, 04:15:57 PM

I shoot selfbows ( I make my own), and a few vintage recurves from the 1960s.

Lately, the weather has been brutally oppressive so I haven’t been shooting much. When the heat index is 105-110, it’s hard enough just doing the yard work.

Chako · **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2011, 04:37:08 PM

Well here is my Hoyt Helix. I am a bit sad to say that I only shot this once...then lost interest in club shooting. This winter, I will be fixing this sad state of affairs.

ducktapehero · **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2011, 04:52:34 PM

My Dad used to bowhunt a lot. I ate a LOT of venison growing up so I reckon he was pretty fair at it. He's just gotten out of it the last few years because he simply can't walk around the woods like he could in the past.

cerbera147 · **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2011, 06:15:35 PM

That was very kind of you Daniel

That Mamba MX1 looks bada$$

Is it heavy or awkward to use?

It would be a great skill to learn. I suppose like many sports / hobbies there is no limit on how much you can spend on gear

Sparky415 · **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2011, 06:26:46 PM

Quote from: cerbera147 on July 28, 2011, 06:15:35 PM

That was very kind of you Daniel

That Mamba MX1 looks bada$$ Is it heavy or awkward to use?

It would be a great skill to learn. I suppose like many sports / hobbies there is no limit on how much you can spend on gear

A lot of clubs have beginners bows that you can borrow when you are starting out Dan

If you want a go have a look around at clubs near to you and try to chose the club where the members are doing it for fun, some people take it very very seriously which (to me) takes the enjoyment out of the sport

Gareth · **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2011, 07:02:48 PM

Very good of you giving away the bow to the repair guy.

I'm also glad to hear you had a good time getting back into the shooting. As most folks around here know I own a traditional longbow and have done a bit of shooting. Never very good, and certainly not competitive, but still fun.

ryan1835 · **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2011, 07:17:50 PM

does that mamba really count as a bow?

it looks very techy

Chako · **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2011, 09:43:56 PM

Darn straight it does. In fact, on my 5th time out, I robin hooded a small carbon arrow. That was a few years ago, and I am a bit rusty if yesterday's shooting is any indication.

APA is Canada's only bow manufacturer. You bet, they are super techy. About as far removed from a stick and string as you can get. I like both ends of the spectrum.

Come to think of it, that Hoyt Helix is about as advanced for a recurve.

Dan, no it is not heavy or awkward to use.

Chako · **Reply #10 on:** July 29, 2011, 02:15:44 PM

I have been thinking...I might do a leather back quiver. If I do it, I will be sure to document the steps and post them on here. Still undecided on this project though.

Singh · **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2011, 05:41:19 PM

Chako, I've made a quiver using these plans and it's worked very well. I changed it a bit for my needs.
http://tradgang.com/backquiver/

Chako · **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:00:55 PM

Thanks for the link. If the weather wasn't so freaking hot and humid, I would get a start on it today. My tiny leather workspace is unfortunately upstairs.

Any photos of it shamus?

Singh · **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:18:33 PM

I can post some photos of the quiver later this weekend. I used a thinner leather, so the quiver molds to my back and the arrows don't rattle. But the down side is that the leather is a bit too thin and the it makes inserting the arrows into the quiver difficult (I have to take the quiver off to put the arrows back in). I think used 6oz latigo, irrc. I’d opt for 8-10oz thickness next time.

Quote

“Come to think of it, that Hoyt Helix is about as advanced for a recurve “

Here’s my hi-tech recurve.

A late 1960s Herter’s International Match Target bow, 69” long, Brazilian rosewood riser, black and gold glass limbs. The 69” length translates into a really smooth draw.

Chako · **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:28:18 PM

Nice recurve.

Yeah, I have plenty of 8oz tooling leather.

Chako · **Reply #15 on:** July 29, 2011, 11:26:03 PM

I am going to start tomorrow. My first back quiver. Should be interesting.

Chako · **Reply #16 on:** August 04, 2011, 02:03:58 AM

My second time out to the local archery club, and someone asked me if I could shoot the 3D archery course with them. I wasn't planning on doing it yet, as I wasn't wearing the proper footwear, and I felt I wasn't ready yet simply because I had only shot this PSE Nova once last Wednesday for sighting in purposes.

I agreed to go, and boy did I have a lot of fun. The course comprises of 30 3D targets ranging anywhere from 20 yards to 60 yards. They even have a velociraptor of all things. I did better than I thought I would at that. I only missed one target which resulted in losing a screw in field point that a tree wanted very badly. No damaged arrows, and my score wasn't all that bad all things considering. I had a great time. My fingers are claws right now, with all the leatherworking and shooting. I may need to take it easy tomorrow.

ducktapehero · **Reply #17 on:** August 04, 2011, 03:25:55 PM

Quote from: Chako on August 04, 2011, 02:03:58 AM

My fingers are claws right now, with all the leatherworking and shooting. I may need to take it easy tomorrow.

Be careful...years ago when I was a young strong man I gave myself tendonitis from using a bow too much. I lived out in the country and was just out of the military so I had plenty of money and lots of time. I was getting pretty good but after I developed chronic shoulder problems I had to quit. Bows are a LOT of fun. I wish I could use one now.

Chako · **Reply #18 on:** August 04, 2011, 03:27:59 PM

Singh · **Reply #19 on:** August 06, 2011, 03:16:06 PM

Quote

Be careful...years ago when I was a young strong man I gave myself tendonitis from using a bow too much.

You have to be careful not to be over-bowed. A lot of times, archers shoot bows with too high a draw weight.

I can shoot 70# longbows and recurves, but I shoot 50# because I don't want to blow out my rotator cuffs. And two of my recurves are 45#.

Farmman · **Reply #20 on:** October 03, 2011, 12:25:24 AM

I used to do archery as part of reenactment ( not very well but enjoyed it) a couple of weeks ago a neighbour moved and she gave me two very old long bows. On his last visit 50 foot tred gave me some modern arrows and so I have started shooting the scarecrow in the garden (our garden is very large). I have up until now always kept my arrows with my bows but they get damaged, so today being at a lose end I made this.

I used some of the leather I reclaimed from old motorbike trousers and some scraps of thicker leather for strengthening the bottom of the quiver and giving a opening at the top.
For my needs it works well.

Chako · **Reply #21 on:** October 03, 2011, 12:49:49 AM

That looks good Farmman.

Chako · **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2012, 01:47:31 PM

I thought this was an appropriate place to put this. I just took a chance and bought this off of eBay from Hungary. It is a Scythian style recurve. the photo isn't mine but the authors Osage6575 on eBay.

I also bought a leather handguard arrow wrest as this doesn't have any arrow shelf. I have always wanted to try this type of shooting. I can't wait to get it in...and hopefully in one piece.

thebullfrog · **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2012, 05:11:58 PM

Archery is something I've been wanting to get into for years, nut I've just never been able to afford a bow. Every used one I look at is either so expensive you may as well get a new one, or so beat up it isn't worth it. One of these days, though, one of these days.

Gareth · **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2012, 06:18:15 PM

I suspect it'll be quite a different shooting experience than you are used too. Enjoy.

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Archery time again...long overdue!

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