Any archers here?

[1leglance]

Not really sure where to post this...
But my 11yr old son & I are now into archery.
Not really that interested in hunting although we will from time to time.
It was a christmas gift to both of us from my wife. And I didn't really think I would dig it as much as I do. My son & I can shoot at the same target side by side, we can talk about being calm, relaxed, at peace, we can have some friendly ribbing about misses and such..it is pretty cool.

As to how this relates to overlanding, well we plan to take our gear on trips. It will be something relaxing at camp. We can hunt & fish with our bows if we want.
Hey it another outdoor thing if nothing else.

 

[Colorado David]

Hello Lance, I am an occasional archer, but I work a lot with a friend and colleague that is pretty much a full-time archer's archer. He makes his living as a writer/photographer (or a photographer/writer, one or the other) but he lives for archery. Here is a book of his that you should consider; http://www.amazon.com/Bowhunters-Ac...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235828778&sr=8-2

He lived for many years in Alaska, Adak Island and Wasila and collected a huge catalogue of Bald Eagle photos. For years he published a Bald Eagle calendar.

Good shooting,
CO David

 

[outdoorsaddict]

I've spent a lot of time with archery

and still don't shoot that well. BUT I've enjoyed it. I shoot traditional equipment, recurve bows with cedar arrows. You might enjoy getting some judo points or making some home made blunt tips and you and your son just stump shoot or rove shoot. Pick a leaf,dead stump,pine cone,etc.. and shoot at it. That way its not static, you can exercise and shoot as you go. There are several weekend archery camping/shoots throughout the country. The attendees are normally family-oriented fun people to be with and the food at these shoots is always top notch. Good luck!

 

[jim65wagon]

:REOutArchery02:
I did ( and really need to get back to) traditional archery on a regular basis. 60# Cedar longbow and selfmade norway pine shafted arrows. Oh! Memories of when I owned some acreage and could roam around stump shooting and picking off the occassional woodchuck (when I could get close enough - can you say "loooong, slooow stalk?").

Archery is a blast, and if you can practice on rolling tires, floating balloons, and aerial targets it really gets to be a trip!

 

[silvergrand]

Archery is a rediscovered passion of mine. Traditional recurve/longbow. 3-D and hunting. I have set up a small (25 yard) range in my back yard within our sub-division. Typically shoot 8-10 arrows each day. Very relaxing! I must focus on my archery and this forces me to push the daily issues out of my mind for at least 20-25 minutes each day.

Be careful...as with our expedition interests there are many toys and tools available and the addiction to collect and complicate can be strong!

Enjoy your conversations!

 

[calamaridog]

I think archery is a wonderful sport to share with kids. Good job!

 

[Tanto]

Funny, I just dug out my old bow and my late father-in-law's bow and planned to teach my oldest daughter this spring.

 

[1leglance]

Thanks for all the great comments...
Wow homemade stuff..I don't even want to think about that.

We went to the outdoor club range (papago park has a city of phoenix range!!) and had a great time today.
$40 for the family to be members for a year! What a great deal and if you want you can just borrow the club stuff. Super cheap hobby if you want.

My son shoots a compound Mission Menace with a whisker bisket, trigger release and 3 prong site (hey I almost sound like I know what I am talking about).
I shoot a recurve bow so my wife & older son can use it also.

I don't want to get all weird but there is a zen quality to archery that I don't get as much with firearms. Maybe it is the quiet, maybe it is the lesser impact on my body.

We are having some great conversations about body mastery, calmness regardless of your surroundings, the importance of being a good winner and even more a good loser.
Of course now and then I challenge hit to $1 a shot which is interesting as he has better equipment vs my experience.

I will be bringing my archery stuff with me on future overland trips so all of you are welcome to join in a round or two with us.

 

[98dango]

Archery can be the greastes thing in the world. I have been only doing it for just over 2 years. Honestly I was not wanting to get started in archery but with A archery shop in my back yard literaly. My soon to be father in law is a great archer so I was tosed in it. Now we all go as a wierd family unit.

 

[Haggis]

...and selfmade norway pine shafted arrows.

Jim's being a bit modest. His arrows are works of art.

 

[silvergrand]

Zen?

I found it very interesting how you mentioned Zen and archery. I'm holding in my hand a 1953 edition of "Zen and the Art of Archery" written by Eugen Herrigel. It's a tough read if you're not up to the "mental" aspects of Zen.


Remaining calm is a reoccuring theme in most things in life!

 

[1leglance]

I found it very interesting how you mentioned Zen and archery. I'm holding in my hand a 1953 edition of "Zen and the Art of Archery" written by Eugen Herrigel. It's a tough read if you're not up to the "mental" aspects of Zen.


Remaining calm is a reoccuring theme in most things in life!

Thanks for the book info...I will try to hunt it down.
I am a big fan of "the greater meaning of life" type stuff...The Art of War, the Tao of Pooh, the Tao de Ching (sp?), the Bible and other works that teach me that what I am currently doing as part of a greater universe and meaning.

I had the family over to the house this afternoon including a cousin from Peru, we setup the backyard range at 10meters and all joined in the fun. It was interesting to see who could seperate themselves from being observed and who crumbled under the pressure.

I like that archery is a "quiet" sport, hardly any noise at all.

I also like that it is relatively "thoughtless", just setup my body position, site the target, breathe, relax, let all thought go and be suprised by the release.

For those of you who are old hats at this there is nothing new in what I say but at least you can get a chuckle at a newbies interest in this sport.

 

[THATSALEXUS?]

I hadn't shot a bow in years until a couple of months ago. One of my best friends' son is totally into it so I brought my old bow out of the mothballs. We shot at few different targets at varying ranges and what can I say...it is just like riding a bike He was a little surprised to see "uncle" Steve wup his butt with an ancient bow and tab (no release)

I would like to get back into it, but the bow I would want is out of my $ range (Matthews). My bow is too short for me now.

I also have a couple of really old Bear recurves.

 

[Outdoorsben]

I used to be big into it about 10yrs ago then stopped a bit and just picked it back up a few months ago. I'm a bit rusty lol.

 

[jim65wagon]

Another good read on the subject is "The Witchery of Archery" by Maurice Thompson. I should have a copy here somewhere if you want to read it. It's a reprint of a much older book. Very good read.