Been thinking... About "re-thinking" it..... The magic number!!?

[Ryan Rothhaar]

My take...go hunting and don't worry about it. Every shot you take a million things can go wrong. Do your best and go hunting.

R

[woodchucker]

I have gotten a lot of strength back in my right arm/hand, and I decided today was the day to start shooting.
I took my 1969 Bear Grizzly (43# @ 28") and my Jack Bower Side Stalker quiver, with 6 arrows, and a new somewhat broken in Fred Eichler 3under tab. I set up the block target against the bank, anticipating the "flyers" that I was sure to come... I must say, that for somebody who has done this from about the time I could walk, It was a very humbling experience!!! Long story short, I managed to keep every arrow in the block target at 10 yards. I shot 5 sets of 6 arrows, 4 actually hit the 4" center bull. I did manage 1 "Robin Hood" but that arrow was in the top left corner of the block target, and I certainly wasn't aiming for it!! BUT!! I nailed that nock clean as a whistle

I was out here for about a half hour. I was able to hold at full draw for 4-5 seconds while I settled into my anchor. My release was about as good as can be expected, however I did not have a single time where my fingers locked up!? I will say this though.. After about 30 arrows, I was EXTREMELY fatigued!!!
Baby steps, I told myself... I'm gonna call this one a win!!

[glenbo]

Great to hear Chuck. Keep at it

[woodchucker]

Thanks, Glen!!! Shooting every day (weather permitting lol) is going to be part of my daily exercise routine
I am hell bent on hunting this year!!!!     

[woodchucker]

Been shooting every day... I've been shooting my Kodiak T/D as that is the bow that I will be hunting with this year. I strung it up with the stock fast flight (replacement) that comes with the bow that was set up a few years ago. It has brush Buttons and Bow Jax Silencers. The nock point is at 5/8" and the brace height set at 8-3/4"... I've been using a Fred Eichler 3Under tab, and I really like it!! I moved my anchor point down to my index finger at the corner of my mouth and I'm actually starting to get "groups" in the center of the block target at 10 yards. However... the bow seems noisier than it was before??
Now I understand that I have not shot in about a year, and that I'm actually "re-learning" things...
My release is far from consistent, and the tab is a change. I also understand the shooting 3under, little things tend to be more critical. I figured that when my body figured everything out, the noise would settle down.... Today, I tried something different. I had just put a new endless loop Dacron string on my 56" Grizzly. I took the string off the Grizzly and put it on my Kodiak T/D. I got my bow square and the nock height was 3/4" and the brace height was about 8-7/8". There is nothing on the string but 2 brass nock sets.
I took it out and shot about a couple dozen arrows and it is considerably quieter than the other string.
Now I understand that a Dacron string will always be quieter than a fast fight string!! I'm thinking that I'm going to run with this for a while?
Maybe as my release gets smoother, it will go from a soft "twang" to just a bump...

[woodchucker]

Well folks, I've been shooting every day!! A little at a time... Couple dozen arrows, then quit.
I'm just getting back into it and I don't want to hurt anything? More so, I don't want to develope any bad habits!! So, I've been tinkering with things to see if I can put the puzzle together again....
I have been trying to tone the noise down on my bow. The other day I tried the Dacron endless loop string off my old Grizzly. It was noticably quieter than the Bear D-97 string that is supposed to be on my T/D.
Today I was rummaging through one of my gear boxes that has a bunch of old strings, and I found an old string with a single nock set on it, from when I was shooting split finger years ago.
I strung it up, checked the brace height (8-3/4") and the nock height 1/2" to the bottom of the nock set, and 5/8" to the top. SO...? I nocked an arrow and crimped on another nock set above the arrow nock.
I took my bow out back to shoot it, and it was like you put a muffler on the dang thing!!!?? 
It appears.... That the "magic number" is 7/8" !! 

[rastaman]

Glad to "hear" you are back to doing what you love and continuing to progress Chuck!  

[woodchucker]

Thank you, Randy!!! I must say, that for years, when folks were playing with their gear.... That said "Stop playing around and just shoot it!!" Being the guy, who always did everything the same way because "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!" For being the guy who has done this for 60 years... Just as natural as walking, "Pull it back, let it go, hit the target".... This has been a  very humbling experience!!!

Last year my confidence was shaken... I just hung it up. Gave a bunch of arrows and broadheads, a Bear recurves and a Howard Hill longbow to my nephews. Last year, I planned on bird hunting, but the drive just wasn't there...  I shot my bow a little, and not very well
Over the winter, my hand got very bad from just not using it, and I had practically no strength in my right arm. I decided that I needed to just shoot my bow. If for no other reason than to try and maintain some strength in my right arm and hand....  I started shooting, and I was surprised how fast my strength came back!! Hitting the target? After all the years of this just coming naturely, I finaly understand how had it must be for my fellow TradGangers who are just getting started