Cloverdale. What can I say. It was hot, wet, muddy and one damn good time. This was my 10th time at the Cloverdale Traditional shoot since my grandfather first took me in 1995. I've been to the past 5 in a row and not one has been bad. Yeah the course gets muddy when it rains but any kind of bowhunter at all should be able to deal with some mud.
The course was amazing as always. Hats off to the club for all the work they did. Every target had at least 2 animals and most had more. Great scenerio shots that were a blast to shoot.
The vendors were down again this year but that's not why I go. I camp for at least 4 days there every year. I go to share campfires. I go to pass on what I love to my children. I go to see a childs eyes light up when they hit a target. I go to watch an arrow fly true to it's mark. I go to talk to people I only see once a year. I go to cook food and offer it to strangers. I go to get rained on. I go to sweat. I go to wear rubber boots and shorts. I go for my simple love of traditional archery and to practice for my true passion, which is bowhunting with my longbow.
It seems to be hip to put down Cloverdale these days. I'm not exactly sure why. I can honestly say that as long as my lungs will allow me to breathe, I won't miss one.
Thanks again to the folks of the Cloverdale Conservation Club for all the hard work they do and their continued support and promotion of traditional archery.