Found an active group that shoots 3D tourny's on a regular basis and Trads are well represented. Since FUN is the main objective, what do I need to bring out on the course? (other than the bow and potentially lost arrows)
:archer2:
Sense of humor and humility! As long as nobody takes it too seriously, great amounts of fun will be shared by all!!!!!
Seriously, I find that the less I bring, the better off I am....
3d shoots are a real hoot!
Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,
Rodd
I thoroughly enjoy 3D. It is a chance to shoot the bow in a very sociable environment. You will find some archers who are very serious score keepers, and you will find many light hearted shooters simply out for fun. But it is surely fun.
I don't really consider it a real preparation for hunting, because many of the shots are not designed to be totally realistic, plus the scoring rings are not always placed where you would want a field shot to go. However, picking a spot is still necessary to score well. Place your emphasis on fun and friendship.
When you go to the course, all you need is bow, quiver (with lots of arrows), and glove/tab and arm guard. Of course, take your sense of humor. Have fun!
Bug repellant and possibly a water bottle.
Thanks everyone. I've just picked up an arrow puller and was advised to get a bar of Ivory. Since I already have a side target quiver, I think I'll add a small pouch for LBR's bug spray and a bottle holder. Maybe even a towel.
One thing I found helpful was a piece of inner tube about 6" around. Pulling wood arrows out of the foam can be hard on the hand (and arrow). The rubber pad helped a LOT.
We (group or traditional bowhunters) were "run out" of a local club because our wood arrows caused too much damage to the 3-D targets, and it was stated "they are not for practice". IMHO your priorities ain't right if 3-D is NOT for practice.
QuoteOriginally posted by Stumpkiller:
We (group or traditional bowhunters) were "run out" of a local club because our wood arrows caused too much damage to the 3-D targets, and it was stated "they are not for practice". IMHO your priorities ain't right if 3-D is NOT for practice.
I've never heard this comment before, or that wood arrows cause anymore damage than any other arrows. Do you know what their reasoning was for this?
Bring Patience. If you have a heavy schedule afterward, might be best to stay home. sometimes you run into crowds, other days you will walk through.
I love 3d tourneys, I actually prefer shooting my bow in tournies and stumping more than Hunting.
3d is a sport/game to me, not practice for hunting. If your schedule is tight, try to be one of the first on the course, if you have all day (like a game of golf) it's one of the best times had with a bow and arrow. Plenty of jabs and general hard times given, lots of support and great company!
I like the sense of humor and humility. With the group I shoot with, a thick skin also comes in real handy. We rag on each other unmercifully but have one hell of a good time. No one in my group ever keeps score. Just a great social event. I have a feeling you'll enjoy yourself.
Killing is good practice for 3D shootin so hunt hard while time remains!
I try my best to be the first out on the course. Nice and quiet and no waiting.
All great advise, thanks y'all. I'm really jazzed to get going.
The most important thing at this point is to simply get to that first shoot...it will not take you long to sort out what you will want for the second one...one thing I try to do, at age 64 with a pair of eyes that may have seen better days, is to shoot with someone younger who can actually see what is on the score card and will do the scoring for me...there are those that will tell you not to keep score and I shoot sometimes where that is the case...still, as long as you keep it in perspective, there is nothing inherently wrong with the idea...the fact is putting pressure on yourself to make a good shot and a good score just helps one to be a better game shot under pressure...the other thing I just remembered is to get some advice on footwear...some 3D courses can involve some pretty rugged terrain
DDave
Thanks Dave, being a diabetic, taking good care of my feet is very very important.
I leave the bug spray in the truck and apply before going out. I do carry on my belt a water bottle pouch, a small towel, a locking folder.
In my pouch on my roving quiver I have a rubber "hand" arrow puller, Saunders point puller, extra glove, stringer, pair of miniature channel locks, baggie with extra points and nocks. I also have a bow square in the quiver. Most of these items are to help my more unfortunate shooting companions, not me. Yeah right.
3D is the funnest game on the planet.......because we get to play it with our stickbows!
Bisch
You need to pack your quiver full of arrows. That way after you lose a few, it still looks like you have a quiver full of arrows and are a good shot. You might be an awesome shot and only need to take a couple out on a 3D course, but people will look at you and think "That Dude must suck. He lost almost all his arrows."
QuoteOriginally posted by jsweka:
"That Dude must suck. He lost almost all his arrows."
Which might be a good thing for them to think. When I used to play golf, we had a term for that: sandbagger. That was the guy who usually won by one or two strokes, and then would say something like, "I can't believe it! I was playing way over my head today."
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
3D is the funnest game on the planet.......because we get to play it with our stickbows!
Bisch
There is nothing more fun(and funny) than seeing pictures like this.. (http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o795/wadebinkley/532_zps7ryzosmw.jpg) (http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/wadebinkley/media/532_zps7ryzosmw.jpg.html)
seriously, I love 3d tourneys, but I am one who takes it "serious". If I am going to do something, I want to be good at it. What 3D has taught me is, when I focus, I can shoot very well. When I don't focus, I can shoot very bad. lol. To me it completely reinforced, "pick a spot".
I have heard the complaint about the kill zones being different than the scoring ring, which is true on some targets; ESPECIALLY on african game. I have picked spots and hit them exactly where I wanted only to get an 8. There is nothing more frustrating to me than hitting exactly where I am looking, but not hitting the 10 ring. It is for fun, but when you're shooting with Bisch, Rusty, and whoever else, it is fun beating them, which doesn't happen very often!
I never take 3D seriously except when shooting against laxbowman (oldest son - always enjoy whoopin' his behind). Besides bow and arrows I make sure I have the following:
1) sense of humor - Shooting 3D and stumping are a couple of my favorite things to do. I want to laugh with and at like-minded others.
2) friends or friendly attitude - Sometimes I like to hunt alone but, for me, 3D is a very social activity and I have made or strengthened many relationships just flinging arrows with trad folk.
3) sense of adventure - Almost never turn in a score card so we "adjust" a lot of the shots by standing on one leg, facing away from the target, shooting between trees, etc. Shooting stakes? We don't need no steenkin' stakes!
4) proper supplies - Extra arrows due to misplaced adventurous shots, water if hot outside, a stout knife to dig out misplaced adventurous shots and most important of all - CIGARS!
Thanks y'all. I am so ready to jump in on this. I'm told that the Trad community is well represented, so I look forward to jawwing with others who love the stick and string.
QuoteOriginally posted by Hackbow:
I never take 3D seriously except when shooting against laxbowman (oldest son - always enjoy whoopin' his behind). Besides bow and arrows I make sure I have the following:
1) sense of humor - Shooting 3D and stumping are a couple of my favorite things to do. I want to laugh with and at like-minded others.
2) friends or friendly attitude - Sometimes I like to hunt alone but, for me, 3D is a very social activity and I have made or strengthened many relationships just flinging arrows with trad folk.
3) sense of adventure - Almost never turn in a score card so we "adjust" a lot of the shots by standing on one leg, facing away from the target, shooting between trees, etc. Shooting stakes? We don't need no steenkin' stakes!
4) proper supplies - Extra arrows due to misplaced adventurous shots, water if hot outside, a stout knife to dig out misplaced adventurous shots and most important of all - CIGARS!
What he said!
How you been Darren? All is well here in PA.
Miss you buddy.
Dave
Miss you too Dave!
I'm learning to love Texas for a lot of reasons, but haven't found a crowd that likes to get together and fling arrows for the sheer joy of it as much as the SW PA crowd. I keep trying to justify coming back just for the golf shoot, but it hasn't worked out yet. More fun than should be allowed by law.
We don't have many ground grizzlies out here, but I've seen nutria, gators, hogs and more than a couple rangy coyotes.
Been to a few 3D's but there are just not the same number of trad specific get-togethers. Tell everyone I said hi at the next SS shoot if the snow lets you make it over the mountain. ;)
Go for it. Missouri has some great shooters. You should have a blast.
If you are a type 1 you might consider a small fanny pack to carry yourself a few snacks in case you go low. My wife carries a few besides her meter and blood checking stuff.
Saunders makes a real good arrow puller. $12 from Berry Game calls. The soap trick is not as messy as the arrow lube stuff you can buy. A small towel is a good idea.
I like the Trad only shoots, Don't have patients for the wheel guys....
3D is a hoot for sure.
When I was shootin in a lot of shoots, I would just take 5 arrows, Makes ya concentrate, And it makes some people wonder why ya only have 5....
I love shooting 3D! It's even more fun when you can take your wife and kids, and meet some new people. Don't take it too serious.
shot my first informal round today. what a blast. only 2 clean misses out of 30 animals. good news was i found those arrows. can't wait to go out again.
Many times I am at a shoot somewhere I have not been before so I start looking for someone to shoot with. Usually there is no problem to find a fun group. Watch at the warm up target and that is usually a good place to find a group.
Once I traveled to a large 400-plus attended traditional shoot (McAlester, OK) three hours from the house to find my local small town police department had a group of trad shooters there. Another time I shot with a young family which included the granddad like me and we really enjoyed it and I made some friends.
As for taking something,take plenty of water. I sometimes pack a Snickers to recharge with and it helps if there is a large crowd and the waiting is slow. Some older shooters like me (pushing 69 hard)will haul around a small portable three legged canvas folding or a plastic three legged seat and cane combination. It helps when it is hot and a 100 degrees or more in late summer.