My daughter and I went to a local archery shop yesterday and shot their dart archery systems targets. It is an interactive video screen. We shot it from 20 yards. It has actual video of animals in the wild with hundereds of different scenarios as far as angles, brush, other animals etc. Your scenario pops up on the screen and you have about 15 seconds to make your shot and you only get points if you hit in the unmarked vital zone. You have to use a special blunt tip that they provide for you, however you use your arrows. It is a very humbling expeirience I can shoot pretty well at a 3D target or a block that is setting still, but it seems like these animals move every time you get ready to release with this system. This is as close to a real hunting situation that I have seen for target shooting. I believe there is also a system out there called technohunt that is vary similar. Anyway we had a blast for a gloomy winter day and it was a lot more fun than shooting a bag or block target in our garage, however I still would pick stumping or a good 3D course in the woods.
I have shot them, and I agree That I would rather be outside. However, it is a cool thing to do and I hope to shoot it few more times this year.
By the way, the system I have been shooting is the technohunt.
I have shot them and it can be humbling. I think that is because a lot of the animals look as if they are further than 20 yards.
I am glad you were able to shoot the dart system with your daughter. I thought it was pretty cool when I shot one. That has been about 15 years ago. I don't know where one is in a reasonable distance to drive, but if I did I would go shoot every now and again.
God Bless,
Nathan
Our local shop had a DART system when they first came out (15 years or so ago). It was pretty fun when you couldn't get outside and shoot. They even held an "all trad" shoot one day. Lots of different games besides just the usual animal shoots. They had flushing birds, flying clay targets, and a bunch of other stuff......fun, fun!
Yea, the dart systems are fun. We have one at our local archery shop. The new wore off a few years ago but it's still fun to shoot it from time to time when the weather's nasty out.
My wife shot it for the first time with me last winter and really enjoyed herself.
I have shot both,the dart system I have shot
was in a enclosed room 20 yrd. like a semi trailer in shape. very realistic. also pricey,
20 dollars an hour. those systems run around
60k new.
I've shot the DART system and they are a lot of fun.
I've done it a couple times at an out-of-town friend's indoor range. The first time it was with borrowed carbon arrows the shop owner loaned me (heck of a nice guy - but they were overlong and spined wrong). They were also shooting about a foot high for me. I made up some cedars with the round blunt heads that have the reflective shoulder and the next times were much better.
Once I figured out if you treated the targets like small game at 15 yards I was bang on. If you think "moose" and the image is 15 yards away and only 12" at the shoulder you fool yourself. Shoot at the screen, not the animal (if you get my meaning).
But it is a blast on a crappy day. I wish we had one locally and a few trad shooters to attend.
The two of us usually impress the compound shooters. We did a "foresome" and as a joke we both tried shooting as soon as the animal appeared. The sight shooters couldn't do that. One guy took what seemed like two minutes to hold the bow up, look down the shaft, lift the bow to draw (so why look down the shaft if you then lift it?), get his face all plugged into the gizmos on his string, align the sights and eventually trigger his release. He timed out several turns. We'd step up and snap shoot as soon as the vitals came by.
My buddy was in a league using the Dart screen and that seems like it would be a lot of fun. He also went several times to practice on a species specific video before a Caribou hunt he went on. Seems like a great idea to get somewhat used to unfamiliar game.
As I remember you also get a chronograph readout so you can tell if you are drawing consistantly. Sure beats a styrofoam block!
Sounds like fun. May have to see if there's one close by
If your daughter had fun, take her again. That is where the real fun is.
I loved shooting the DART system. I started shooting it many years ago. It really helped my shooting improve during the season when regular practice time dropped off. The local shop here has one, but it is broke and they don't want to fix it due to the expense and not many people use it. I wish it was back up and running.
My son and I have been going to a Traditional DART league for the last 8 years. My wife comes with me now too! Not that good of practice but it's a great social gathering with other traditionalists and a good way to pass our long Canadian winters!
Have shot it and really liked it....
I always liked the techno hunt the best. But haven't shot at one for quite some time. They seem a little expensive to shoot.
QuoteOriginally posted by cyred4d:
I have shot them and it can be humbling. I think that is because a lot of the animals look as if they are further than 20 yards.
I agree with that statement. You are shooting at 20 yds but some of the animals are definatly filmed at distances than that. Regardless, it is a blast and can be great indoor change when it is cold outside.
The dart system here is set up at 25yds so it is a bit more challanging.
Lots of fun!!
Here in Coshocton we have a place w/the Techno-hunt..........kinda pricey to do often, but a whole lot of fun once in a while, esp.. with 2 others as the price is better w/3 or more......
best part------you don't have to chase your arrows down when you miss! :biglaugh:
I have, few years ago and was good fun, goto take it for what it is...dont expect real life cause its not.
But Still good
Every Wednesday night in the off season a bunch of us trad guys shoot "continuous play" mode, so it is one sequence after another no stopping for score.
I shot it years ago at a sport show. I only shot several arrows with a loaner bow but I liked it. jim
We shot it for the first time a few months ago. It was a blast. And it helped me quite a bit, as I'm a newer shooter. It helped the "pick a spot" mental aspect for me. Kinda helped bring some things together that the foam targets couldn't....
i have never even heard of those. WOW!! sounds like you guys have all the fun.
nope but i've seen what you're talking to. Here it is called technohunt.
We have one locally and it is quite alot of fun. My son and I went up not too long ago and shot the "wild hog" sequence and had way too much fun.
After an hour of that he wanted to try some of the others: polar bear, deer, and turkeys ended up being next in line.
The owner told me when it first came out there was a line every night waiting to use the thing but any more hardly anyone uses it.
It is fun to do when it is cold and crappy out. Once it get nice stumping and 3d is more enjoyable.
Yeah, I shot a Dart league years ago. It was a mix of Trad guys and compound guys. It was kinda funny watching those guys get all fired up cause "they didn't have enough time to shoot". That was the only place that had one, and they closed along time ago.
My wife and I joined a league at a shop about 20 miles away back when I shot compound. Now that I'm into traditional they have closed down. I wish I knew of a shop close to us now.
A buddy and I use to shoot the DART when the weather was lousy...lotta fun.
Well after five times of shooting the dart system we are both improving. My daughter Mack(8), Put 9 arrows in the 10 ring and 10 more vey close she had a couple of complete misses as we all do. The first weeks she really struggled with waiting for the shot and moving animals and not being able to take all of the time in the world to make your shot. I am to say the least very proud of her. I have improved my score also but more important my daughter is sharpening her skills as an archer.
There used to be a place locally that had the Dart target system.......it closed down, but I really enjoyed shooting the various scenarios. For me it is excellent practice for the real thing......even though the range is only 20 yards, the animals in the videos are sometimes much fartther away which reduces the "kill zone" on them.
I haven't had the opportunity to try the technohunt.....but it sounds very similar. For the ranges that I typically shoot here in WV and Ohio..........it is pretty realistic. I still enjoy shooting 3D and there isn't anything better for actual "different" distances, but as said above......it sure is a nice way to spend some time when the cold winds blow.
Winterhawk1960
We went to the one st Bass Pro in Atlanta. I was shooting a 75# Bighorn and 770 grain arrows. They made me stop. They were afraid I wass going to tear the backdrop.
I thought the BAD thing about it was the scale of the animals. The animal looked like it was 40 yards but you knew you were only 15. I thought that sight picture had to be bad for an instinctive shooter.
Dart board? I don't want to talk about it!
There used to be one in Corydon, Indiana that my dad and I would go to about once a week or so back in the mid '90s. We both shot trad then too. We had a great time! It's gone now though. :( I wish there was one close to home now but I don't know of any.
A group of my friends and I all shoot Dart on Friday evening throughout winter. It's fun getting together and shooting at the animals on the screen and giving each other greif.
Ive shot it in the past but it's been awhile. I really enjoyed it for something different.
I used to shoot the DART once a week in the shop I used to work at. I think it help me out for nailing a turkey with my recurve, but i like shooting outside more.
KHALVERSON gives me a lesson every week at 2:00 on Sunday. We shoot at 15 yards for our Traditional league. You just forget the visual illusion and shoot every thing for 15 yards. It is fun. We shoot 6 rounds of 5 arrows. We have 4 shooters and it takes almost an hour. $5 each.
I haven't actually shot DART, I've shot TECHNOHUNT a bunch . . . apparently there is a big difference between the two, I've heard DART is more realistic.
Our local shop has the DART, and the one up the road a little ways has the TECHNOHUNT, and they have a much nicer place . . . thats why we keep going back there!
I love it though, gives us something to do when its frigged cold out!
There is a range 2 miles from me that has the dart system. In the winter 4 or 5 of us shoot it every Fri nite. We have a good time. It helps me work on my form also.