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I would like to thank the whole group for putting on a great first day at the Poke and Hope Shoot at the Durham Rod and Gun Club in Durham Maine, wow day one was great, the Warrior shoot was fun and i only broke one arrow, plenty of targets to shoot, it is just a great day when you go to one of these gatherings, i would like to personally thank Joe from Shooter's Highlands in NY for bring some of his Bear Archery items, his Bear items were my favorite items to look at and hold, he had 3 Bear File sets,one was signed by St. Charles, one by Scott and one was a original set, just to hold these and know that some of the legends of our sport had owned these was a treasure, he had a B-Riser signed by Fred himself and to a true Bear Archery follower was worth the price of admission, i got to shoot one of the new A-Risers and wow i know what will be my next bow purchase, meeting new friends makes these all a memory to behold, can't wait for day two tomorrow!
Posts: 203 | From: South Paris Maine | Registered: Mar 2003
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true, probably it is a great think everyone there keeps there clothes on lol!
Posts: 203 | From: South Paris Maine | Registered: Mar 2003
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Yes, the courses are nice. It's refreshingly cool to sneak through the shady softwoods on a picture-perfect day and just enjoy shooting arrows. Lots of arrows. BILLIONS of arrows. Well maybe not billions...but my arm feels like it was, lol. Not losing any was an added bonus, like opening your lunch expecting baloney and finding a lobster roll. Sweet.
I'll second the kudos to Joe and his lovely wife for coming north and bringing their BEAR archery wares...they had some fine bows available for demo shooting, and they are nice folk too. Also to Bob from Old Town Archery (Old Town, Maine), for making the trip south and providing 'off time' archery browsing entertainment, kibitzing and a chance to reload on supplies. With some yellow feathers and glue-on points my next dozen woodies are on the drawing board. Sure wish more vendors would come, that's a big part of a good shoot.
I always like the layed-back mood these shoots exude...walking past the tenting and eating areas, watching/shooting/talking with folks at the warm-up bales, goofball yells when someone makes a good shot (or bounces one off a tree), hearing people of all ages just plain having a good time. It somehow has a soothing quality to it, like you feel you belong there even if you don't know the next guy from Adam, lol. Aside from enjoyment and challenge I guess that's what traditional archery brings with it...a feeling of being part of a something bigger than just one person and one day's event. Life slows down and guards let down a little bit more here... that's worth something.
One thing I did notice, though. There's ALOT more fuss n'bother being made of having the fastest bows and arrows on the block. I must say, the peformance of new technology is pretty impressive, as are the shooters themselves. But I can't help but feel that something is being lost. Thankfully, there's still some wood arrows and old-style bows on the courses but they're getting to be fewer by the year. Have to wonder if the trad archery circle is starting to turn back against itself too far, that something critical to it's identity isn't slowly going away.
But, I digress. Good shoot, lots of fun, pleasure to meet new faces and suck in some fresh woodsy air. See y'all next year!
Posts: 1781 | From: Maine | Registered: Apr 2003
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wow i only got in 15 targets on Sunday, Joe let me shoot his #7 of #12 Kodiak Anniversary Special today, wow all gold plated hardware and his wife took my pic holding it, she laughed and said i looked like i was holding a million dollars, boy i sure thought i was, imagine having #7 of 12 bows made in the world, i brought my bow i brought back from Brazil back in the early 90's i had fun showing that and telling the history i knew behind it, that was the first time i met the guy from Old Town, i will have to make the hike upstate to visit his shop and let him know that we really appreciate his being there, I really miss all the out of state vendors that used to show up.
I felt proud walking around there with my (new) 1974 Kodiak Special and today i had my (new) 1974 Kodiak Hunter, Joe dated them for me and that was great, he was amazed at the shape of them and said i was lucky to have found a pair that were that old and un-fired being that old, I knew i should not of shot his little A-Riser he had because i will have a pair of Browning A-5's on Gunbroker this week and i will own one of those and maybe retire my new finds with the memory of shooting at this years shoot. well next its the State Shoot there and i will not miss that one.
Posts: 203 | From: South Paris Maine | Registered: Mar 2003
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This was my first year at the Poke & Hope; wow have I been missing out! Great group of people. I was one of those shooting actual wood arrows and those warrior bank shots took their toll on them for sure! All great fun though. Compared to the almost exclusive world of wheelie bows down here in RI, it was refreshing seeing all those sticks and strings; even if many did have some newer technologies like carbon and hybrid limb geometries.
-------------------- "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward Black Widow PSAV 42#@29 Howard Hill Redman 45#@29 Northern Mist Superior 43#@28 Blue Ridge Snowy Mt 51#@30" Posts: 676 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Nov 2004
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Hey, so who won the loot and warrior shoot off? Unfortunately I had to leave Saturday night.
-------------------- "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward Black Widow PSAV 42#@29 Howard Hill Redman 45#@29 Northern Mist Superior 43#@28 Blue Ridge Snowy Mt 51#@30" Posts: 676 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Nov 2004
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Suppertime turned out to be almost 8 p.m.! It took those lobsters a long time to crawl up the road after the delivery truck broke down; but the little buggers finally made it!
-------------------- "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward Black Widow PSAV 42#@29 Howard Hill Redman 45#@29 Northern Mist Superior 43#@28 Blue Ridge Snowy Mt 51#@30" Posts: 676 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Nov 2004
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Sunday was a scorcher in the sun there i didn't see much of the shoot offs, and watch the raffles everyone was sitting in the shade by the warrior course, Chet won the dot shoot-off for the L.L.Bean Gift Certificate, i will check out there website and see if they have any pics up yet
Posts: 203 | From: South Paris Maine | Registered: Mar 2003
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Glad to see a great time was had by all. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Although Friday night we camped out and it was a little soggy, but that was the only rain we got and i'll take it.
Posts: 180 | From: North Waterboro, ME | Registered: Feb 2010
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I will be a member as soon as i can, i have always enjoyed the shoot and members there, each one i have been to i have the fondest of memories
Posts: 203 | From: South Paris Maine | Registered: Mar 2003
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