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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Wudstix on June 14, 2023, 03:42:14 PM

Title: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on June 14, 2023, 03:42:14 PM: How do you guys handle shooting in the heat. Especially, Texas heat!!! I can't seem to get more than a half dozen shoots and I'm shot!!!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Alexander Traditional on June 14, 2023, 05:22:33 PM: I go early in the morning,barely light. Because as you know it stays hot well after dark.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on June 14, 2023, 06:40:20 PM: That may be my only option!!! Getting out of bed like I was going hunting.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Alexander Traditional on June 14, 2023, 06:48:30 PM: Yeah that's what I do. I'll be up with the mutt drinking coffee,and just slip out back. We were fortunate this year and actually had a spring.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on June 14, 2023, 06:55:07 PM: Maybe I should back down about 15# so that I don't generate so much heat shooting!!! Naw, then I'd have to buy all new arrows! Definitely tab weather!!!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:

:biglaugh: :laughing:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Friend on June 14, 2023, 08:20:27 PM: I have often shot out of the pole barn while using an industrial fan which provided much comfort...
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: katman on June 14, 2023, 08:21:35 PM: Hydrate well helps. You acclimate to it after a while, but it is still hot.
AM its cooler but more humidity, PM hotter but lower humidity, I usually shoot late evening and hope for a breeze.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: STICKBENDER98 on June 14, 2023, 08:33:30 PM: Wud, I let my groups tell me when to shoot, we don't get a lot of heat..so to speak here in Michigan, but we get a lot of humidity. It was a nice night tonight, not hot, not humid, but my head wasn't into it, so I stopped before I was frustrated. I had a good night a couple nights ago, my job tends to dictate that I shoot later at night and weekends when I get them. I try to use my shooting as a stress relief but it doesn't always work, like tonight. I'll give it a go again tomorrow night. This is the joy of traditional archery. :campfire: :campfire: :campfire:

Jason
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: GCook on June 15, 2023, 09:28:51 AM: I too try to get a few arrows out in the early morning but I shoot most evenings too. Shorts, t shirt and bug spray because the mosquitoes are ferocious. Last night I shot after dark. Last two weeks doing heavy work with steel I was worn out and rested a couple hours after a shower. But then the need to shoot got me up and I got several good arrows in from 17 to 20 yards.
Heat is easier for me to deal with than cold. Neuropathy has changed things over the years. I'm sure working in the heat makes it less oppressive compared to office workers as well.
Bottom line is you love it enough to deal with it or you don't.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Pat B on June 15, 2023, 12:31:41 PM: Shoot early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it usually is slightly cooler. Also, even if you can only shoot a 6 to 12 arrows each session that should be enough to keep your ability up if you have been shooting regularly for a while.
I used to shoot 50 to 100 arrows a day and did so for a few years. After a while I found that by thoughtfully shooting a dozen or so arrows each session kept me is good standing with my shooting.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on June 15, 2023, 01:59:46 PM: Early mourning in the pre-dawn light is the way I'll have to go.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Alexander Traditional on June 15, 2023, 02:01:45 PM: Quote from: Wudstix on June 15, 2023, 01:59:46 PM
Early mourning in the pre-dawn light is the way I'll have to go.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:

Yeah that way you can work on your other thread about shooting in low light. Two birds with one stone,gotta love it!
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on June 15, 2023, 02:46:20 PM: :clapper: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: todd smith on June 29, 2023, 09:34:10 AM: Move to Michigan! :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: GCook on June 29, 2023, 10:37:43 AM: It is hot. But I'd live in hell and rent out Texas before I'd move to Michigan. :biglaugh:
Seriously though I was working out some wood shafts yesterday for my new Primal Tech two piece bow with my local arrowsmith/string builder/champion archer friend and I shot on and off for hours as we visited and he worked out shaft length until the flight was right. It was hot. His shop isn't air conditioned and neither is his outdoor range. But some water and limiting time in the direct sun vs shade, a decent breeze outside and a fan in the shop. For me it was comfortable enough. But real hot weather hasn't hit yet. It was only 105 yesterday.
For the record he did a great job. I brought the test arrow home and stuck a broadhead on it for the real test and shot a few this morning. From 15 to 25 yards those pinwheeling fetching flew perfectly straight down to and on target. Shooting in the heat ain't but a thing if you really wanna shoot. You know, instead of looking for a reason not to.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on June 29, 2023, 11:50:19 AM: I get up in the dark and shoot in pink light. Simulates hunting conditions for deer and hogs. That way the temp is below 80.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on July 05, 2023, 11:22:27 PM: Finally got some rain late this afternoon and it cooled to 88 by 8pm. So I went out the shot mv Big River D/R longbow from my new hunting chair. Took timr to enjoy the cool between shots.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on July 22, 2023, 09:52:09 PM: If you want to shoot you go early or late. Early is cooler (80) and late is usually under 100 right before dark.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: MCNSC on July 23, 2023, 04:40:01 PM: The little I’ve shot lately is right before dark. Then go in and get a cool shower.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 02, 2023, 11:16:49 PM: We've had a couple cooler evenings, sub 100 degree at 7pm. I've snuck out and thrown a handful of arrows.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Bowguy67 on August 03, 2023, 05:28:59 AM: Idk about Texas but heat is relative and you acclimate to where you live. In winter for example you go to Fla and I bet Texas is the same they wear winter coats and imo it’s still summer and wear shirts and a tank top.
I just plain and simple shoot during any heat. No drama, no thought about it. I’m an electrician though and if I’ve got to dig or backfill a trench middle of the day during a heat wave I just do it. If I’ve got to get in an attic to work on an air handler or recessed lights so be it, if I’ve got to climb to work on pole lights in a heat wave well that’s my job that day. Shooting when I get home with sweat still running down my nose after I worked out in that same heat is a relaxing, fun thing. Now super cold is much more challenging with numb fingers and lots of layers on plus beat up joints/muscles disagreeing with the cold.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 03, 2023, 08:40:03 PM: I don't think I'll ever acclimatize to 103-108 degree heat at 6pm. Then it finally starts to cool and might only be 100 at dark. You're right being from PA it never gets cold in Texas!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Captain*Kirk on August 03, 2023, 09:52:54 PM: Hasn't been too horrible here in the midwest, though some days recently the humidity has been so thick you can cut it with a knife. Generally, I try to sneak out maybe half an hour before sunset when the cooler breezes come moving in and get in 50-75 arrows.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 03, 2023, 10:06:39 PM: For us that cool is the last hour before sun-up, in pink light. Temps usually under 80 degrees.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: socalmonster09 on August 03, 2023, 10:25:10 PM: It's like that here in deer season, last weekend over 100+ July 6 to the end of July for archery
A zone you just have to deal with the heat, the deer are there, just have to find them.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: M60gunner on August 06, 2023, 07:56:20 PM: We got up and on range by 0630. Done with 45 targets in a couple hours. That was before I got old, 75. Now I don’t have to go out , our sportsman club has an indoor range. These past few years I have slowed down, 78 next month. Now I am on a heart med that says stay out of the sun unless all covered up. Maybe when it gets down to low 100’s next month?
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 06, 2023, 10:32:06 PM: I Mt Bike in the early light for a couple hours, then do a dozen or so just at dark in 100 degree heat.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 11, 2023, 09:39:00 PM: Just saw a statistic that Texas is number one in the country for heat related deaths. So I guess there is some validity to saying it's pretty darn hot here.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: GCook on August 11, 2023, 11:34:55 PM: I didn't die shooting this evening. But maybe a pig will in the morning if one dares get close.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 13, 2023, 10:19:29 PM: AMEN!!!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 15, 2023, 07:15:07 PM: Starting to cool a little, still a sweaty mess. Especially shooting 65#+
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: TKO on August 16, 2023, 06:02:24 PM: We’ve already hit 107F here and been I’ve 100 quite a few times this summer. We’re slated to hit 107 again this weekend. When the temps are that high it’s still too hot for me most mornings. I generally shoot through my living room, down the hallway and into the bathroom when it hits the mid 90s or so.
Title: Re: Shooting in the heat!!!
Post by: Wudstix on August 16, 2023, 06:09:04 PM: When I say, "a little cool" I mean less than 100 degrees!!! Shooting in my house is NOT AN OPTION, just ask my wife.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire: