Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: StanM on August 21, 2010, 03:03:00 PM
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As some of you know, I've had issues with my shoulder for a couple of years now. I was seriously contemplating surgery, but after posting here decided to give PT a try. I tried like heck to get into shape shooting my 53# River's Edge on a mule deer hunt the first of August and was getting there. Two weeks before season I just didn't have the confidence I normally do in my shooting. So I practiced more and WHAM, woke up and had trouble lifting my arm.
I ended up taking a muley, but it was with a compound. The hunt was one of my best ever because I got to go with my father-in-law for a week of camping, hunting and hanging out. My mother-in-law passed away two years ago from cancer and it was really good for us to spend the time together.
When I got home I glued up a 40# Hill style longbow. I haven't put the finish on it, but I've been shooting it for a week or so now. One of the first things I did was video tape myself. Wow, what a mess I was. Due to lingering pain that I wasn't even aware of my form had gotten really, really bad. Funny how your body seems to subconsciously compensate for pain to keep you going. No wonder my shooting was bad and my confidence was worse.
I've never been a great shooter, but before the shoulder thing I always felt really good shooting at game and did well. I always felt that one of my biggest advantages was confidence. When I pulled back on something I always had this thing in my brain that just said "you're dead". I'm sure you guys know the feeling. Well, I know believe a lot of that comes from having good form that leads to that kind of confidence. As my form eroded, so did my confidence to the point that when I pulled back on something HOPED I'd hit it.
Last Fall I killed my nicest blacktail buck with a bow with my River's Edge, but the shot was poor. It should've been an easy shot, too. I shot a turkey with my uncles 45# recurve this spring, but it was a really close shot and I still didn't have the "gotcha" feeling when I was shooting.
So, I'm starting over. Really, I'm looking forward to it. I started out in traditional archery shooting a straight limbed Hill bow and wooden arrows. As I got more and more into it I tried all kinds of bows and arrow combos.
For the past week I've been shooting that little 40#er with some wood arrows. I shoot a lot and my shoulder doesn't hurt. I actually find myself relaxing when I shoot, instead of tensing up. I'm having fun. Last night my last three arrows hit a Pepsi can from 15-18 yards and the best thing was I KNEW I was going to hit it before I dropped the string.
Elk season will find me triapsing about with my c-pound this fall. No way I'll be able to shoot accurately with a legal weight bow and I don't want to ruin the good thing that I've got going. But, by next season I feel really good about getting back to my beloved stick and string for big game.
The best thing about starting over is getting to re-evaluate form and shooting technique. I believe I will come out of this experience a much better shooter. Many, many thanks to the makers of Masters of the Barebow. I watched the videos a couple of times before I started shooting my light weight bow.
I can't wait for small game this year. I've never hunted with a 40# bow, but I'm going to spend a lot of time in the woods with her this season and it'll be my "go to" bow for coons and nutria after Nov. 15th. I honestly feel more excited about shooting that bow and hunting small game and stumping than I've felt about hunting anything for a long, long time.
Anyway, thanks for letting me get all that off my chest.
Stan
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I'm glad to read that you're starting to enjoy shooting again.
If you can't find joy or enjoyment out of something then its time for something different.
I appreciate your open honesty with us and yourself.
Do what you know you need to do and don't look back.
Good luck and good hunting!!
God bless,Mudd
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Many of us older hunters...if we haven't had issues before, we will before too much longer.
The key is to be "flexible and open-minded" in what you will do and how you can adjust to life's circumstances.
In order words...turn lemone into lemon-ade and that you have done my friend. Good luck this season!
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I had issues with my shoulder and switched from left to righthanded with great results. The shoulder is even gotten better.
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A young man named "Andrews" just won the Oregon State Archery Championship". He watched the DVD his Grandfather produced every day for 45 days. He beat the next closest competitor by 20 points. I watched it twice yesterday. I'm a very technical shooter (compounds and now recurves). I am thrilled with what I've learned from this Olympic archer coach and traditional bowhunter. I care about two things (archery-wise): 1). Shooting as good as I can and 2)Helping others do likewise.
I'm an archery instructor (I train adults to train kids).
I don't want to come across as a sales person for this fellow. I've already posted about his bow, his broadhead and the DVD he produced sharing 40 years of championship archery experience.
If you are interested please just send me a PM and I'd be glad to direct you to this fellow's website (yep, he's a friend of mine -- through archey).
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I've been a fan of low poundage trad bows for decades. Perfect for the deer, javelina and small feral hogs where I live in Texas.
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Bowwild... pm sent!!
God bless,Mudd
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I also had shoulder problems and lowered to a 50# Bear Comm. It's real comfortable to shoot alot of arrows without pain and my confidence is high for this season.Gettin old isn't hard it's gettin smart.Get well and good hunting.
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Mudd,
Back at ya!
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I have shoulder problems so I use a 42 pound bow and a 44 and I am also trying to work up in weight to 50 to 55 pounds and hopefully will continue to go higher. God Bless Ty
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Tyler2045 I'd advise to stick with the poundage you're shooting or if you do go up I wouldn't go above 50#.
If you're like me you'll want to shoot as long as you possibly can without injury or problems.
Lower poundage will allow for that and you don't give up deadliness.
IMHO
God bless,Mudd
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Stan, I'm glad you didn't give up. I have the same issues with these shoulders and find myself shooting tree or four arrows at the most before pulling and on some days one and pull, My draw cycle is slower and more deliberate as I listen to my body. I go for quality of shots not quantity and try to keep my form consistent. My bow arm shoulder just won't allow heavy weights. I'm up to 50#s now but still like mid 40's for most shooting.
Keep up the good work....
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Mudd, that the going up in poundage is actually what my PT recommended to increase strength in my shoulder. I have a permanently dislocated left shoulder until my rotater (?) cuff tares then they will fix all of it.
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Stan,
Good for you!!!!
If more people followed your lead,they would thank themselves later as you will also.I know i did.