I am a very strong believer in archery safety.
Now with that being said what are some of your thoughts on trick shooters. Someone posted a photo of a very good achery shooter with what appears to be someone down range tossing something into the air to be shot at.
I was taught and continue to teach archery safety that you NEVER shoot a bow when someone is down range yet exhibitions are being put on all the time with archers shooting at items in the air while the person tossing the item is down range.
A broken bow, cracked nock or a string breaks could and would cause the arrow to go just about anywhere to include injuring the person down range.
I know from a law enforcement stand point that if the person down range were to be killed the shooter could be charged with manslaughter even though it was an accident.
What are your thoughts on this. Am I out of line for my concerns?
Hopefully these people doing the shooting have check and rechecked their equipment,I agree with you 100% you should never shoot with people down range.
The show must go on! Whether it is Nascar, rodeo or archery. Just don't try this at home folks!
Professionals attempt things that we should not, how else can the masses be entertained?
You mean I'm not supposed to shoot the cigarette out of the lips of my lovely assistant or put the arrow through a playing card someone is holding?
You'll just love this segment:
Trick Shots (http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=XYmcFVxyEGs&feature=related)
Remember the Wilhelm Brothers - Ken & Walt. Hoo, boy. They did some hairy shots.
I recall a shot in "The Oldest Game" where Fred Bear shoots a piece of firewood (with a broadhead!) at the feet of his hunting buddy to startle him when approaching the camp.
In the movies Howard Hill used to shoot a wooden block on the back of a "cavalryman" as he rode by. I don't know who had more guts; only that I wouldn't want to be the shooter or the shootee! IMO, if the shooter and the shootee are both OK with it, go ahead. They're both nuts and if one of them gets shot out of the gene pool, is that a bad thing? Seriously, they both know the risks, they both know the consequences and if they can "live" with the consequences, it is (still, barely) a free country. I know common sense isn't common, but hopefully most people will be smart enough to not try this at home.
I allowed a trick shooter to do a demonstration during the awards ceremony at the NASP nationals several years ago -- around 2005. I didn't see the exhibition because I was busy. But when I heard about some of the "shots" I vowed, never again.
One of the least effective ways to instruct kids is to say "do as I say not as I do".
I don't know if this is real or not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_jO7w2EwMM
What a shame..............to lose a great dancing talent like that!