HH bug got me ... Part One!

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Very nice Mike, I bet she's a shooter.

[mikebiz]

Darn right she is.  I'll do a write-up of my impressions over the weekend.  Mr. Miller builds a tremendous longbow.  He's top of the line.

[joevan125]

Wait a minute does a Miller bow shoot better than a HH bow. Now im really confused on what to order. Nah i think i will stay with the Howard Hill bow.

Cheaper and i dont have to wait almost a year before i get my bow.      

[mikebiz]

joevan,

Stick with your order. I love my Ekin Hill.  Shoots beautifully, easy on the eyes and dead silent.  Craig builds a sweet longbow.  You won't be sorry with your purchase.

Originally posted by sunset hill:
.....the swing draw doesn't need to be alot...once you learn the concept you can adapt it to the situation at hand.  Hill didn't  swing the same as schulz for example.  And the swing can be very slow if necessary...but it always remains fluid.  And the shot sequence cadence includes the anchor and release...not just the draw.  There is no reason why a swing draw would turn you into a snap shooter.

I am glad to read this.....I spent a couple hours shooting today (cold) and had great expectations of emulating John Schultz and his son as they shot in "hittin em".  John shoots much more fluidly where his boy has a more deliberate "two step" variation of the swing draw.  

I alternated between my  69 Hill (54@28) and a 66" 59@27 NM Whisper Mudd sent me a couple weeks ago.

Even though I practiced for hours every day of the week on the focus and development of a "cadence" (without actually dropping the string)  I shot both bows much differently.   It seemed like in all of my shooting today it was nearly impossible to slow it down enough to be accurate.  

It seems that I must develop a relationship with one bow in order to learn the basics.  Gotta SLOW DOWN somehow...  

Anybody having trouble with this!    :(

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Joe, you won't go wrong with an Ekin longbow.

Tony, I never could get the hang of it.

[Nate Steen .]

Tony...
The swing draw isn't for everyone.  But before you get down...you probably don't realize that in your excitement to shoot you did not remember what schulz said...listen close....he said that for two or three weeks of learning this form you are not to put any target on the bales.(no aiming)...."to concentrate on form and try to hit a target just won't work".........two weeks of actual shooting for form is alot of arrows my friend....two weeks of not aiming yet still keeping your eyes open during the shot.

Remember when you learned to tbrow a ball.....accuracy came with practice...much practice.  Inmho don't try to hit anything until the form/cadence is ingrained.

[2treks]

Originally posted by Ontario Longbow:
My new (to me) Hill Wild Boar arrived today. Great shooting and very, very quite:

   

   


   

Nice looking bow Frank, Did you make that bowmans cap? I have a couple.

[stik&string]

This thread never stops amazing me. I've said it countless time but thanks again to everyone that contributes, I've learned so much and have become a better archery solely on nuggets I picked up from this thread and I am sure I am not alone. Keep it coming!
Here is one of my Christmas presents a new to me Hill Big Five, 64" ntn and 100 @ 28. Please excuse the few flyers this was from my first day with it!

[tradlongbow]

Nate-

Our ideas compliment each.

I believe that we can all agree; the more we practice the better we become, as long as we're making improvements when practicing and not continuing bad habits. When we think of swing shooting and cadence, it's important to remember that the more we practice the more naturally fluent we become.

I used to duck hunt all time; at any direction, and any moment, you had to be ready because ducks were so fast that they would just pop up. As soon as I would see the duck's coming, I needed raise my gun and move into the direction the duck is flying while leading him. Some of the ducks that I hunted were teal, and they are extremely fast, so I wouldn't have the time to think about the shot. It was all reaction, and because I hunted ducks so often, I became proficient and in rhythm when I would raise my gun, and lead the ducks in a quick second while pulling the trigger.

The guys that we admire like Hill, Pope, Young, and Bear etc. would shoot animals at much long distances then most of us shoot today. It was traditional archers that developed the game of field archery, shooting out to 80 yards. But, nowadays most folks only practice at 20-25yards and under, they tend to practice only in their comfort zone.

Shooting a traditional bow is a challenge, and it's a bigger challenge to shoot at targets that are at longer distances, up hill, down hill, and moving. By practicing we will build muscle memory, become more instinctive while shooting with proper/form and cadence.

Darren

[David Yukon]

Originally posted by swampthing:
Let the sequence emanate from a peaceful state. Beware, you cannot "FORCE" peace.
 

Can some one tell me who make this bow?? it look really good!

[deathwind]

Yukon,

Dave Miller made that bow for Swampthing. It's the concave/convex all bamboo model called the Hawk.

[David Yukon]

Thank you Deathwind! I'll have to look it up!!

Ben,
That is comforting. Actually, I am happy with my progress since July of this year.  I realize that, eventually, I will end up with my own recipe - a style that is repeatable, comfortable, and second nature which will provide me with endless blood trails through the hardwood ridges and and knuckle brush swales of the Northern Michigan.

Originally posted by sunset hill:
Tony...
The swing draw isn't for everyone.  But before you get down...you probably don't realize that in your excitement to shoot you did not remember what schulz said...listen close....he said that for two or three weeks of learning this form you are not to put any target on the bales.(no aiming)...."to concentrate on form and try to hit a target just won't work".........two weeks of actual shooting for form is alot of arrows my friend....two weeks of not aiming yet still keeping your eyes open during the shot.

Remember when you learned to throw a ball.....accuracy came with practice...much practice.  Inmho don't try to hit anything until the form/cadence is ingrained.

Hah!  I spent some time watching the vid again...(fourth time) and yes sir, I missed that point! I will not give up until I find the magic!

Gotta slow down a tad tho....but want to be ready for my new bow...silent and deadly it will be....ya think?      

[Berliner]

Gentlemen,

Over here in Germany we are counting down the hours for the new year to arrive.
I would like to thank everybody for the information and the inspiration received through this great thread. It`s a wonderful journey....
Take care all and looking forward to 2012!
Cheers from Hamburg, Germany
Vincent

[tradlongbow]

Guys,
I'll be working until 11pm tonight, so I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year that's filled with many adventures in the field with your bow, arrows, and good friends.

Darren

[NomadArcher]

Happy New Year to all    

[Eric Sprick]

Yesterday I was finally able to spend some time with my recently aquired Cheetah.  Up till now I had only been able to shoot about 7 yards in the house.

I'm used to my Mohawks and while shooting at the range I noticed with the Hill I have to be more aware of keeping my bow arm bent more than I normally would.

Doing so I was really impressed with how it shot.  The quietness and also the speed suprised me a little.  I guess I was thinking it would be a bit sluggish.

While not quite ready to take it hunting yet I think spending this next Summer with it I'll be ready.

Really appreciate this thread and look forward to learning more.

Eric

[David Yukon]

Happy new year from the north!!