Trad Gang

Well I called in sick today. Basically I had a bad case of analvisualitis. That's when you don't really see your butt going to work that day!

This was the first time I went out in my own backyard and shot a trad bow. I spent about an hour and a half back there. The pics below are of my last group of 6 I shot before hanging it up.

I was shooting from 10 yards and my fingers got real cold and started hurting (I know I'm a wimp) so I shot this group with a mechanical release. The bow was my 1970 Bear Kodiak Hunter 60" 45@28.

Any suggestions? Are these OK? I mean I'm used to shooting 3 inch groups at 30 yards with the kind of bows I'm most familiar with (If you know what I mean)- so I don't think they're great, but I guess I do have to remember that I am about 2 hours into my "trad carear."

(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/trad003.jpg)

(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/migrabill/bows/trad002.jpg)

you may want to put feathers on your arrows, better overall arrow flight and consistancy.
Trapper
PS good luck and stick with it.

These are feathers. They are brand new feathers. It's just the first time they've ever been fired - rememeber - I'm a newbie - they haven't had time to look like feathers yet!

Hey, you hit the Block with all of 'em which puts you way ahead of me when I started!

Your do in good Bill and thats a real nice old KM.

Stick with it and the groups will tighten up, you're doing fine for just starting. Sux when its cold but your fingers will get used to the string.

I have shot worse groups from closer, so I would say thats some great shooting!!!

I have also missed work for less!!!

Nice looking bow too!!!

All in all you are on the right road, keep it
up!!!!!

Good starting point and very nice bow. Miss a few more weeks of work and you'll be another H.Hill. lol

looks good so far :0)

Cold? Heck you don't even seem to have any white stuff on the ground. I like shooting with leather gloves on (in place of tab or shooting glove) when its cold or there are cactus around. You are doing great. From the look of your group, I'd bet your arrows are not tuned to your bow. It makes a huge difference if they fly like darts instead of wobbling to the target. Also, if you get another trad shooter to practice with you they can help you with form - another big difference. Keep at it and you will have that other thing on e*** before spring.

I bet cedars would shoot real nice with that bow. (nothing against aluminum) Keep at it, you will be busting nock's soon.

Great choice of a first or second or third bow.
Decent grouping for a couple of hours with a recurve. 45#s a good weight for learning proper form and a legal hunting weight most everywhere.
Anal visualitis!!! :biglaugh:

Looks good Bill.

Its always a plus when you end your shoot with the same amount of arrows that you started with.

You are doing fine  :bigsmyl: .

I have also heard that referred to as glaucoma of the a$$. Keep your practice sessions short and focused. You might try shooting every other day to allow your muscles time to heal and to prevent injury.

THIS IS YOUR BOSS SPEAKING...... YOU"RE FIRED!!!  :bigsmyl:

Really, you're doing as good as me @20 yds, but I've been shooting for almost a year!!

:biglaugh:

First off, that bow is a beauty.

Excellent begining.

LV2HUNT gave good advice about shooting every other day at first. It will help prevent you getting sore anywhere.

Personally, when I practice, I usually only shoot one or two arrows at a time. This helps me maintain my focus, and I don`t get sloppy. Each arrow is the only one I am concerned with at the time of the shot.

Best of luck to you.

man never realized how similar that 1970 bear kodiak looks so much simiar to the damon howatt hunters....

yea i too have called off for less

nothing wrong with that but i would lose the release aid.   :biglaugh:  then try

:clapper:  

Bill, stop by, I have a shooting glove for you.

Looking good.  Note that arrows will behave differently when shot with a release versus fingers.  Fingers help initiate some flex in the shaft that allows it to "bend" around the riser with minimal contact...assuming the arrows are tuned.  A release won't do that, so get that glove or tab....then find someone to work with you to make sure your arrows are the right ones.  Tuning the arrow to the bow will make a world of difference in arrow flight and your shooting.

How were your groups when using a finger release?  I tried a release aid last year.  Once after I had carpal tunnel surgery and once after a run-in with an extremely large air conditioner belt/pulley.  Both times I shot like crap with the release aid.  Not sure whether it was the contraption or my messed up hands.  One thing for sure, I didn't like the feel of the aid at all...Mike

Nice group, but I would feel guilty for calling in sick when I wasn't.
So I never have and never will.

Dan- your self employed   :bigsmyl:

Were you using the release shooting instinctively or gap shooting? I was clowning with my brothers release last fall down to camp and couldn't hit anything with it instinctively but it was easier to draw the bow hold and gap.

That is a good job. But, however, I can help you a lot. You need a better bow. Box up that piece of junk and send it directly to my address. I will sacrifice and pay the shipping just to help you out of a bind. By the way, this advice has never worked for me. :>)  Happy Shooting.

I'm with OconeeDan
Burnsie

I hope not too many illegals got "in" on your day off!

I also have a '70 KH also, my only hunting weight recurve.  Some guy named Jon Voight used to have one too but his broke cause it was "loosing glass".....

(He did hit his target on the shot in which it delaminated, LOL!!!)

Rico-
   I have no clue what you speak of when you say gap shooting vs. instinctive -so - I don't know.
Steve-
Illegals don't get in when I take off. I don't work for Border Patrol. I work in Virgina - illegals never cross from any other country into Virginia.
All-
When I say call in sick, It really goes more like you call your boss and say "I/m taking leave today." No real dis-honesty involved.

Thanx for the compliments on the bow - I too think it is gorgeous.
I really appeciate this site - lots of help out there from knowledgeable people. Now if I ccan only figure out this "tuning" thing.

Bill, I thought you knew about the Tunnel. And parachutes. And swimming up from Cuba.    

What size shaft are you using? You wanna shoot tomorrow?

Killdeer

Killi-
    Tried to send you a PM - but it says your box is full. Forgot you are such a popular girl. The sharfts are 2016's (Easton XX75's).
    Can't shoot tomorrow - have to take my 2 sons up to Harford County for them to see their Grandparents. I would say let's shoot after work one day, but I guess it's too close to dark by the time you get off.
    Oh, just checked, tunnel, parachutes, and Cuba - all secure.

That sounds too stiff for your bow, but I don't know your draw and arrow length. I have some 145 and 175 grain heads we can try in them.

I usually get off before three, (Friday I was off at 2!) but have to get home and get the dog out before I do anything else. I live in Merrifield, and the range is in Clifton. Oh, I forgot, there are butts at Fairfax Rod and Gun in Manassas that I can use. They are boring, but they work.

If there were a place near work where we could shoot, I could do that for an hour and then get on home. Otherwise, a Sunday is good, or every other Saturday.

I gotta go clean house in my PM file.
Killdeer~I hate housework.