Denton Hill Memories

Last of the Breed · April 02, 2011, 09:45:00 PM

Last year was my first time there and met some really good people. Already have my rev for this year!

Traditional-Archer · April 02, 2011, 11:02:00 PM

The best memory for me was when I took my son to the shoot for the first time, they had some guys on horseback shooting horse bows. These horses were moving now, I mean scary speed. The archers were shooting and nailing the targets every time from horseback. I was thinking, these guys have got way too much time on their hands. Then they brought out the girls with the round targets rolling the round targets in the opposite direction than the horses were running, and these guys were hitting every target in the opposite direction from the back of the horse. Truly amazing, my son was hooked, he never wanted to shoot a compound bow. Long bow and recurve hooked Priceless.

hawkeye n pa · April 03, 2011, 10:10:00 AM

Have been to all of them. Fond memories of the begining years. When all 2 or 3 courses was located on cardiac hill area. One course was pretty much straight up and straight down the hill, rocks and boulders galore. The wind, rain storms, ufo's, bears. And my daughter was always along!

Wished the governor would have left the dealers alone also.

Craig · April 03, 2011, 10:47:00 AM

A lot of memmories have been left on those hills. I remember when we use to shoot across the hollow to the other side. No one was camping there back then. I also remember when all the top bowyers in the US were there. Boy did we have fun shooting there bows. You never had to go on a course to shoot. Just spent all day shooting there bows. Everyone trusted everyone, times have change. Blanket sale, there was always a great deal, Traditional Archers took care of each other, no one was trying to take each other over, Yes times of changed. Friends have stopped shooting, They just don't go anymore or they have passed. Don't know if we will be back this year and this will be the first in a long time. I wish time could have just stopped a few years ago. But, life must go on. "Keep those arrows flying"

VTer · April 03, 2011, 11:17:00 AM

We always have a lot of fun at Denton Hill. Its funny, sometimes we have to drive all the way to PA to see our shooting buddies that are spread out across VT.

JL · April 03, 2011, 11:57:00 AM

Cool thread! I have a few pic's I would like to share.

I wonder how many arrows has Turbo Pig devoured?

Young Nate drawing down on that elusive Potter county polar bear..

Greg doin his Zipper SXT justice nailing the standing bear at the sitting log shot on the Canadian course;

The PA boys always ready to hit a course...(left to right: Hutch, Dick and Ronnie);

Whitetail Archer · April 03, 2011, 12:41:00 PM

I have only been to Denton Hill once but it is one of my best memories. I intend on going again this year and was wondering where the best place to stay is?

vintage-bears · April 10, 2011, 08:18:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by the real bowdoc:
Phil maybe we can make a few new ones this year.I been working on the boss to give me a week off in july(see how things go).That would be so fun to do again.I know you know what I like to drink too right ? I ai'nt had another one of those since that day.That was the last time you and I stood together in the smoken hot sun getting rained on ? and getting rained on hard too like I never seen in my life it was a great time.Oh yeah buddy you interduced me to my first.I saverd those few minutes in time and like I said I have never had another since that day.Who would have ever thought a memory so good would come from one bottle of soda ? I would I guess bd

I hope you could make it! It's gonna be wild........Philip

jackdaw · April 13, 2011, 10:05:00 PM

Guys, I'm Jealous!!!!! My job is in the muzzleloading field and the biggest trade fair of it's type is in kempton, Pa. that same weekend as Denton Hill, only for the last 30 years!!!! I just CAN'T miss it......it just kills me reading these and looking at these pics, knowing I'm not going to be able to make the shoot.....enjoy it fellows while you are there, shoot a few arrows for those who can't attend so we can live it somewhat vicariously!!!!....John Getz

VTer · April 14, 2011, 06:14:00 AM

John, you should go to the Sawmill shoot then. Its a month earlier.

2fletch · April 14, 2011, 11:01:00 AM

We have been to the last 4 ETAR events. It's been great experience for Karen and I as vendors there. We stay at a bed and breakfast that's very historic and a pleasure to visit.

It's got everything for me, great environment, great people, lots of archery equipment to look at, and a lot of legendary guys who go back a long time. I love to talk with some of them about the days before the X bows.

One of the guys that I met a couple of years ago was Lenny Rock at Bob Lee. I ask him what he attributed his success to. He said something like "luck, hard work, and a particular tab that he'd been using. The tab was made of unborn calf hair and had an O-ring. He said that someone had been making it but that it was no longer available. I was making a few tabs and liked this one that he showed me. I told him that I would make a similar tab, and he agreed that it would be okay. What we make is not exactly like the one he had but we like to refer to them as the "Rock Tabs".

Fred Asbell and Byrun Furguson are two others that can tell and show us a lot. We both enjoy talking with them, or watching them in action.

This is Hope Gillete after winning the "Eagle Eye" competition last year at Denton Hill. Darn, can she ever more shoot! She hit the center of the orange dot on her first shot to qualify, and was near the center on every shot that she took to win.

April 14, 2011, 03:32:00 PM

I have not been to any "big" national trad events but really want to. I just retired in Feb and I hopoe to make at least one a year starting in 2012. Those on my list include; Denton Hill, Cloverdale, Howard Hill, and any others i can find out about.

Bisch

jsweka · April 14, 2011, 08:06:00 PM

Hey JL - I think my daughter, Gracie, put the stalk on that same Potter Co. Polar Bear Young Nate was shooting at.

Here's a couple more of us at Denton Hill.

This time of year I dream about going to Denton Hill. Once Denton Hill is over, I dream about opening day of bow season.

jackdaw · April 14, 2011, 09:10:00 PM

VTer....I went to sawmill last year and plan on going again this year....It's a great shoot...just not as big. Baltimore is great too!

JL · April 15, 2011, 01:02:00 PM

Yep, sure does look like the same bear! He sure does get around! I'll be at Baltimore and Denton Hill this year. Have to miss Sawmill due to another event I had to attend and I only have so much vacation time each year. We camp up the road when you head to the ironman course at Denton. Looking forword to Denton Hill again this year!