WI Bowjam

[Shaun]

Or Bradjam as I like to call it happened this past weekend. This is an annual event featuring a Friday night hog roast, Saturday night game potluck, flint knappers and lots of kids. But the main focus is building hunting bows from wood.

I went over early and found the scene set by hard work from Brad, Dwight, Andy and Hoots.

 

Friday the crowd started arriving and soon there was a flurry of wood shavings. This is one of the best venues I've been to for getting the next generation of bow hunters a real start. Here's a couple of younguns learning to do the twist

 

 

[Shaun]

Owner / editor of TradArchers World (formerly the Bowyers Journal) Tom Colstead worked up an osage bow blank into a fine shooter on Saturday.



Lewis checks out "first brace" of his hickory bow



And shows natural born killer form as he tries it out at the target butts while his older bro Fisher looks on

[Shaun]

First time bowyer Mona has lots of help



Next generation at the targets, Coyote Merkel at the left

[Shaun]

A clout shoot broke out on Sunday. What is the effective range of a self bow? Let Clay from Arkansas demonstrate



130 yards could be in range

[Shaun]

There was some good old time music from a band for Friday night and on Sunday some of the bowyers put down their drawknives and added some "Bowjam blues" to Sunday morning. Brad, Dave, Rice



It was a bow party to remember and I was pleased to be a part of it. There is a fine crop of young hunters here and a happy bunch of young at heart bowyers for the group photo.

[The Whittler]

That's nice, thanks for sharing.

[BowHuntingFool]

Looks like a good time had by all. Someone was doing some good shooting! Awesome that the youth was there in full force!

[Whip]

Sure am sorry to have missed it this year - looks like a fine group, and you sure had some good weather too!  This is one of the best events in our part of the country!

[Greg Szalewski]

You got that right Joe, the weather was perfect. Once again I took my nephews out to BowJam. David had gotten his bow shootable last year but Vinces still had about 10 lbs on it when we left last year. So his bow was priority. It was an ironwood bow with a gull wing shape to the grip/fade area. Got it close Fri. night to sounds of blue grass music.
 
 
By Sat afternoon we had it tillerd and to weight and Vince did the final sanding. He put the string on and got to shoot it.
 
 
My other nephew was more interested in flint knapping this year and who can blame him with all of the talent there to watch and learn from.
 
There were many lessons to learn from such as straightening this awesome osage stave.
 
Unfortunatly the boys had to be home early Sun. so we missed all of the activities. Can't wait for next year. Pretty sure a couple more young archers will be with me.

[UnderControl16]

Man looks like you guys had a great time i wish i could have made it.

[Dano]

Great pictures Shaun, thanks. I gotta make it up there.

[MountainTool21]

this is great stuff

[Pat B]

Cool stuff Shaun. Looks a lot like the fun we had at the Tennessee Classic but without the rain.

[Mark Baker]

Looks like a great time, Shaun...thanks for the pics.  That is one I'll have to try and make sometime.  

[Paul Mattson]

I sure wish, I could have made it.  I heard it is getting bigger and better every year.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

I've got to time my home place turkey hunting differntly so i can attend next year!