GREAT DAY!

[CaliCreole]

I was finally able to get my first traditional bow. I went up to Bear State to meet up with dessert dude and a few other trad gang members. I would like fist to say what a great bunch of guys extremely knowledgable and willing to share that knowledge with a newbie.
DesertDude set me up with his Bushmaster 55# long bow,(which i later purchased) he measured my draw length and im pulling just under 27" we started off on the straw bail targets where he gave me a few pointers on proper form, after shooting a few targets at up to 25 yards we went on to the 3D range and started shooting at some targets. i think i did ok for my first time, I shot around 200+ arrows on the 3D range, I did not feel over matched by the 55# bow at all. the area i struggled with was mentally, loosing focus a few times about half way through the course then regaining and loosing again. I then went back to the straw bail targets and shot quite a few more arrows over all it was a GREAT day had tons of fun and do believe i am hooked now. and as if getting out into one of the most beautiful settings in california and having a ton of fun shooting i made it home just in time to catch one of the greatest football games i have ever seen and my saints are now super bowl bound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again Mark and the rest of the bear archers for everything!

[CaliCreole]

P.S.  I know what a lot of you are saying right now " I told him to start light! 35#-40#!, oh well its his archery funeral" lol but I just want to say that i am only pulling 27 " (actully slightly less but barely) so from what i understand that puts me in the upper 40's range in #'s and as i walked the course shooting over and over again, i constenly asked if i looked like i was overmatched for this bow from all the poeple in the group, as well as being asked several times by mark if i felt tired or over matched and i do have to say my brain was giving out on me before anything else. So i guess what im trying to say is that i am thankful for all of your advice, and im not being hard headed but after shooting several arrows for a few hours and then coming back for more and still feeling fine and after talking to some traditional guys and shooting witht hem I do beleive the 55# is the right weight for me. so thanks again everyone for your responses i appreciate and suck in all advice and knowledge i can get like a sponge

[Mudd]

You might just as well admit it.. you're a traddict.. I hope you never find the cure..lol Welcome aboard...enjoy the Journey with the rest of us.
Mark is a good one to get you going! No, Mark we've never met but we had dealings and talked via tradgang plus I'm a fairly good judge of character..lol
God bless,Mudd

[straitera]

Your setup is just fine IMO especially for future hunting considerations. Incresed draw weight confidence is just as likely from exercise as shooting lightweight bows. Welcome to trad archery partner!

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

ATTA BOY!

Now come on up to Sonoma and we'll see about chasing a hog... Oh wait, you've got DesertDude and Kingwouldbe down there... You'll be set up!

By the way, what ever happened to Kingwouldbe? Anyone know?

Juan

[CaliCreole]

Originally posted by NorthernCaliforniaHunter:
ATTA BOY!

Now come on up to Sonoma and we'll see about chasing a hog... Oh wait, you've got DesertDude and Kingwouldbe down there... You'll be set up!

By the way, what ever happened to Kingwouldbe? Anyone know?

Juan

I would be up for that once i improve my skills a bit. I want to get to the point where i can hit what im shooting at with my first arrow instead of my 3rd or 4th lol

[CaliCreole]

Originally posted by straitera:
Your setup is just fine IMO especially for future hunting considerations. Incresed draw weight confidence is just as likely from exercise as shooting lightweight bows. Welcome to trad archery partner!

any specific exercise you would reccomemend other than shooting a ton? Im an athlete and actually love to train so finding some weight or cross training to mix in with my archery practice would be GREAT!

[straitera]

Hold your bow as if to shoot. Draw 1/3 then hold & count to 5, draw another 1/3 & count, full draw & count, letoff 1/3 & count, another 1/3 & count, then total letoff. Do 10 reps. Then switch hands and draw with your offhand the same 10 reps. Do 2 or 3 sets each day. Takes less than 10 minutes. You'll notice a big difference in 10 days. The offhand is key. These are Howard Hill's exercises. They work great. PM w/?