A young friend of mine got a 80# Doe last evening in the National Forest. Can't post a pic as it was with one of those other bows. However it brings out a good story and a great feeling for me.
I met (Chris and his father) out in the National Forest, close by, hunting, back when I first moved back down here from Maine. He was about 15 then, now he's 29. Not long after I met them I helped him get started on archery, at his request and with his dads support (wheelie bow). Real nice, country folk - he and his sister home schooled by his dad. Always pleasant and friendly. He and his dad hunt as often as possible with all means they can, right around here, and do well. I ran into his dad, Jimmy, at the grocery store Fri. and he said Chris wanted to switch to trad and a long bow (I had mentioned it to him in the past on occasions). I told Jimmy to bring Chris over anytime and I'd be glad to start him off, as I have a lot of folks.
Sat. AM the season started (I didn't go out as no sign anywhere near my stand). Jimmy and Chris surprised me by showing up at my door about mid-morning. I was tickled, since I was sort of bummed about not being out in the woods. I started him off with a 35# Browning Wasp Recurve I had picked up in a trade a few weeks back, for just such purposes. He said he'd had a fill of the weight and tinkering , etc. with the wheelie bows and had lost some confidence. After a couple hours of watching great form and, with very little corrections, seeing him go from not so good, to 3 arrow groups anyone of us would die for. I sent them home with the bow, a tab, an arm guard, and some arrows, with this advice, "From here on out it's just practice, Chris. I can point out some things to help you more and I would love to shoot with you anytime, and we might even help each other. Shooting is always more fun with two or more but basically the more you practice the better you'll get, with or without me." I told him to take the gear and practice until he felt confident to switch over, to give me a shout (he lives just down the road) anytime he wants to shoot, and if he feels like it we'd go out into the National Forest together and hunt.
I know this is long but the bottom line is Jimmy called me today to tell me Chris felt so much better about his shooting, etc. after yesterday's session (and some more practice at his house) that he decided to go out last evening, though he hadn't planed to. Of course he couldn't use the trad bow (must be 40# here) but he got the doe with his "other bow" and tomorrow they are going to show me a couple "new" places to go - close by - LOL.
Oh, yes, Chris is ready to get a trad bow as soon as he can - he loves it, and feels he'll do even better - with the "freedom" of it.
Topic: NC hunters? (Read 16007 times)
