Laying in bed last night and thinking about Comptons and this scenerio kept running through my head.
I was shooting the blue course across the road on Saturday after the TradGang get together. Waiting at one of the target stakes while the group ahead of us shot. Heard a sound like someone banging two arrows together and all of a sudden the kid who was as full draw - wasn't. His lower limb exploded. The poor kid was in shock - unhurt, but in shock. Turns out he had borrowed his Dad's bow to go shoot (his Dad wasn't with him). It wasn't long and he was in tears, I felt so sorry for him - I sure hope his Dad was understanding.
Events like that seem to never leave your mind. Hopefully you'll see that young man at another shoot and you can put some closure to the situation.
That can happen. I am sure the kid wasn't doing anything crazy with it. Dad should be happy he was OK and not hurt. On the bright side his dad may have been in the vendors' tent later that day getting a new bow with a really great excuse for doing it.
I can see me explaining that to my wife, honest honey Erin broke my bow & I had to get another.
On a serious note I'm with xtrema312 in that more than likely Dad was glad that the boy was alright.
If the lower limb exploded during a shot, there was something going wrong there in the first place.
If it were my kid, I'd be really happy he was alright. Bows are, in the end, just pieces of wood. Completely replaceable. Family is not.
Do you remember what kind of bow it was? A good friend of mine's son had a limb come apart on his PSE Coyote Saturday. He's about 12 years old, brown hair, maybe 5'3" or so.
Yep. You can replace things. You can't replace a kid.
This sounds like a good opportunity for the dad to explain to the boy that a man's child is worth more than any object could ever be worth. We build our sons into men by helping them understand what is really important.
Bows come apart! It's a fact of Archery. His Dad should be Happy he wasn't banged in the head real hard.
Jason,
Yes, that was the kid. Bow was a PSE. Yes, I agree with all the comments but you never know how a parent is going to react and of course the kid felt horrible because it was his Dad's bow. I'm not saying the Dad was anything other than understanding - I just don't know him and I guess thought the worse.
Pete,
I'd have the same thoughts, aprehensions and concerns you're having. Reading this makes me thank God there are still other folks out there whose heart is not too hard to feel for a child (or anyone for that matter). Too many in this world are only motivated by what affects them personally. I hope the boy and his dad got a good laugh afterward. And as a side note, I hope others will take note of this post and use a little empathy in there day to day lives.
Pete,
The kid's name is Morgan. His dad, Kevin, is a good buddy of mine. You may have seen him around. He's the tall dark-haired guy who shoots a Spig 650 riser with black limbs and wears a necklace with a crucifix made out of two cut nails. He's a good Christian man with a wonderful wife and three of the best behaved children you'd ever want to meet.
When Morgan came back with the busted bow, Kevin made sure he was OK and never batted an eye about the bow itself. Honestly, he couldn't have cared any less about the bow. Later that day he scoured the trade blanket looking for a new recurve for Morgan -- almost bought a Titan riser with Winex limbs -- but never found anything just right.
Thank You Jason. It's a situation such as this that reinforces my belief in the quote that is under my signature.
Have a great day,
It sounds like Kevin is a good man and a good father. Morgan is lucky he wasn't hurt when the bow broke -- he is also lucky to have a good father.
Thanks, Jason, for letting us all know how things turned out.
I knew that being Trad folks the Dad would only be concerned about his boy, even before I got to Jason's explaination. As much as we love our bows, I couldn't imagine anyone that loves Trad Archery and embraces our values putting a bow over another person, especially family.
Morgan is Blessed to have a Dad that is involving him in Trad Archery. Thank God he wasn't hurt. He'll be telling the story of 'Blowin' up Dad's bow at Compton' for many years to come! :scared:
Do they need help replacing the bow? I might be able to find something around here for the youngin.
That would be scary for one of us.....let alone a kid...poor kid
As a father I would just be elated my child was un-hurt!
Glad everything worked out!
Josh
yep
Good to hear that the father's got his priorities straight!
Jason,
You warmed my heart with "the rest of the story." Thank you!
pm sent
I was shooting with Pete (we had just met the day before) at the time that the bow broke. We were wondering about the young man around the campfire that night and I am happy to see that things are working out. Pete, it was good of you to post your concerns and it's great to have met you. Can't wait to hear about that moose hunt in Quebec this fall.
I have a 17 year old son that I love with all my heart. We have a great relationship.
He isn't in to archery, hunting or fishing. I would give almost anything if he would shoot with me. He could break every bow I own if he would just join me...............................
Kev
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I met Kevin on the course at comptons about 10 years ago and they don't come any better than him.I have enjoyed our yearly visits and campfires each year since. A great family and a great family Man.
As a side note, Kevin is a heack of a bow shot and his set up is in the 70# range with arrows around 900gn. Thats his 3D set-up as well as hunting. Watching him shoot is a trip. He keeps pretty good company also,right Jason? ;)
Mainehunt,
Like you, I have wanted my kids to follow my interests and love the hunting, fishing, shooting, etc. For quite a few years my two boys did just that, be it, deer hunting, duck hunting, fishing etc. Then one year my oldest said with much trepidation "Dad, I don't want to go". He knew how much it meant to me and didn't want to disappoint me. My response - "It's my job as your Dad to expose you to all the things I hold dear. If you don't want to do some of them, THAT'S OK. I won't feel differently about you just because you don't." As I look back on it now, I was giving him permission to be his own man. And, isn't that what we want for our kids, to be their own person? At 31 years old he is again 'thinking' about getting back into some of the things we used to do.
None of my kids hunt or fish on a regular basis right now because they need to take care of their own families but they still have fond memories of the times we shared when they were younger.
QuoteOriginally posted by Pete McMiller:
Mainehunt,
Like you, I have wanted my kids to follow my interests and love the hunting, fishing, shooting, etc. For quite a few years my two boys did just that, be it, deer hunting, duck hunting, fishing etc. Then one year my oldest said with much trepidation "Dad, I don't want to go". He knew how much it meant to me and didn't want to disappoint me. My response - "It's my job as your Dad to expose you to all the things I hold dear. If you don't want to do some of them, THAT'S OK. I won't feel differently about you just because you don't." As I look back on it now, I was giving him permission to be his own man. And, isn't that what we want for our kids, to be their own person? At 31 years old he is again 'thinking' about getting back into some of the things we used to do.
None of my kids hunt or fish on a regular basis right now because they need to take care of their own families but they still have fond memories of the times we shared when they were younger.
Pete,
I appreciate your response. My son is almost 18 years old and is a good man. He would go with me if I ask only to please me, but I want him to go for him, not me.
Hopefully he will "come around" some day and come back to hunt/fish with me.
Kev
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