Summer boredom...

[blacktailbob]

1longbows post about summer boredom causing our minds to wonder/wander around and about a lot of things pertaining to archery and patiently waiting for fall to come made me think...What are some of you doing to add to the spice of practicing and shooting during the dog days of summer?
Obviously midday shooting is out of the question for most.
So to avoid the boredom of just punching paper what do you do to liven up your practice sessions?

[Terry Green]

Shoot dandelions in my yard early in the AM with my High Noon Coffee.

[Cory Mattson]

We have decades of bowhunting Stingrays as our main way to bridge the end of turkey season to the beginning of fall bow season. Before that we hunted hogs every month of the year so June July August we hunted hogs.

Heat wore us down for hogs
SUN and some health issues of team members has disrupted our stingray hunting past few years.
Last couple of years we’ve been hitting the mountains for trout and smallmouth to get out of the heat.
Then nighttime Catfish mid July and August

Generally we are completely ready for next season soon after the season ends. Major purchases. Major decisions on which properties we will work this coming year. Just paid dues this week for one private club. We’ve adjusted which public a little. Just did a mountain scout trip last week. Turkeys located, trout for dinner.

I think we are ready and well positioned with ample opportunity and options.
I haven’t gotten “board” yet. Seems like we are always busy planning and scouting.

Shooting just a few times a week. Early morning. Sometimes evening. In the evening I burn a moist cold fire to smoke the mosquitoes out of the yard.
Good times and Good hunting <><
<————————<<<<<

[GCook]

My work is more seasonal but this is the season.  Even in the heat I like to sneak away for a pig hunt or two.  This year however we aren't covered up in them for some reason.  That's okay though.
This year is a little more focused as I got my main PT lowered in weight and changing up from split to 3 under has me building new arrows set ups, bareshaft testing and getting settled on my gaps before September gets here and I take a trip I never thought I'd get to go on thanks to Mike Yancey.  Then a week after returning I'll be on one of Kenny M's leases up in Missouri for the first week of season.
So no time for boredom.

[Bowguy67]

Idk about the boredom thing. I never feel that. My outdoors mentality is always relishing the moment and that hasn’t changed. Between foraging, running dogs, teaching archery, hunter ed, making arrows, mentoring someone, scouting, bowfishing, reg fishing, 3D, working on my house, splitting/stacking/dragging wood, repairing fences at my dog club, cutting brush, is there time to be bored?
Wow summer ain’t that long boys, get busy getting ready and yea you can scout forward by finding developing food sources. Plus while at it, document it on camera, just one more thing you can do that you’ll look back at all year next year.
If someone is bored go find a kid to mentor.  Be the best thing you ever did. Help him or her get ready, help w hunter ed, than take them to prepare sites.

[Sam McMichael]

I'm still working on two things: 1. better release, 2. accuracy out to 25 yards. So, for me it is either shoot in the heat or go out early before the sun gets too high. On the hot days a session may only be 20 to 25 arrows. Although I still have a long way to go to get "good", I at least am making a higher percentage of acceptable shots. 100 degree weather just takes the fun out of sitting in a hunting stand - funny thing is that when I was young I never thought I would say such a thing. The greatest accomplishment from this hot weather perseverance is that I can once again shoot my 65 # bow with complete ease, and it will once again be my primary hunting bow.

[woodchucker]

Well.... I'm packing up, getting ready for the "big move" this weekend!!

Once I get up there, and settled in, I plan on flinging Judos around my new 7 acre yard!!! 

[Bowguy67]

Well.... I'm packing up, getting ready for the "big move" this weekend!!

Once I get up there, and settled in, I plan on flinging Judos around my new 7 acre yard!!! 

 Nice where ya moving to brother?

[GCook]

I'm still working on two things: 1. better release, 2. accuracy out to 25 yards. So, for me it is either shoot in the heat or go out early before the sun gets too high. On the hot days a session may only be 20 to 25 arrows. Although I still have a long way to go to get "good", I at least am making a higher percentage of acceptable shots. 100 degree weather just takes the fun out of sitting in a hunting stand - funny thing is that when I was young I never thought I would say such a thing. The greatest accomplishment from this hot weather perseverance is that I can once again shoot my 65 # bow with complete ease, and it will once again be my primary hunting bow.

That's a good feat Sam.  I hope I can still draw 50lbs if I live to be your age. 

[Walt Francis]

Being a little blunt, but what the heck.  Where I live, if you are “Bored”, it usually means you are lazy, injured, or out of tags.  There are continuous big game seasons for ten months, the other two months are for fly fishing and recuperating.

[goingoldskool]

Tennis balls and Ace blunts.  Make sure you have plenty of room because when hit squarely,  the tennis ball will go!

[Bowguy67]

I'm still working on two things: 1. better release, 2. accuracy out to 25 yards. So, for me it is either shoot in the heat or go out early before the sun gets too high. On the hot days a session may only be 20 to 25 arrows. Although I still have a long way to go to get "good", I at least am making a higher percentage of acceptable shots. 100 degree weather just takes the fun out of sitting in a hunting stand - funny thing is that when I was young I never thought I would say such a thing. The greatest accomplishment from this hot weather perseverance is that I can once again shoot my 65 # bow with complete ease, and it will once again be my primary hunting bow.

String bow to help practice release

[kbetts]

Been shooting alot in low light at sunset.  My target is showing some use so I slip a golf ball inside the fabric at the kill spot on the deer outline.  Shows up nice and white and makes a great noise at contact.  Besides that, I've increased my practice distance to between 23 and 35 yards.

[kbetts]

I also have a new shooting partner.  My girlfriend has taken to the bow like a fish to water.  I was surprised how easily she picked it up.  I've shown a number of people how to shoot, but none have shown the form she has is in such a short time.  It's been five days in a row.  Last night she shot by herself.
I'm not sure how to rotate the photo.

[kbetts]

Thank you.
25# Bear Panda, cedar arrows by me.

[woodchucker]

Over to Franklin in Deleware County, Mike 

Little town west of Oneonta, north of Walton. About 400 folks last time I checked... 

[arrow30]

summer boredom at its best, ruined a perfectly good arrow shooting my selfbow at about 18 yds. 53@28

[GCook]

Nice!