Shooting in total darkness

[Mudd]

After church last evening a young man I've been working with on becoming a traditional archer came over. I have posted pictures of Josh shooting before so those that saw the post know he has great form for a beginner.

Anyway we shot until dark and Josh though we'd have to quit but I surprised him. I brought out the candle.

I hadn't shot a flame target in a very long time. I'd almost forgotten how much fun it is.

After about another hr of shooting Josh snuffed out the flame and he didn't touch the candle so that made him the winner for the evening.(game rules don't count anything but flame only hits).

It was 10 pm when we came in and had a cold drink to finish off the night. I asked Josh if he knew when he might expect to see what the nights shooting might do for him. The answer "No!" so I told him the next time he shot during daylight hours. I proved that point to myself this morning when I stepped outside to shoot and hit a dainty Banty egg sized target at 60 plus yards.(1st shot)

I took my bow and quiver straight back into the house and fired up the lawn mower.
I figured I should quit while I was ahead plus the grass needed it pretty bad...lol

God bless,Mudd

PS: Yes! I even had a witness, my father-in-law was out in my driveway doing something.

[lpcjon2]

Guess what Im doing this weekend.Thanks for the idea.Teach him well OB1 kanobe

[Mudd]

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
Guess what Im doing this weekend.Thanks for the idea.Teach him well OB1 kanobe

Just a heads up and most likely not even necessary but I'll say it anyway..lol Be sure to place your candle far enough away from your target that once the arrows are sticking out of the backstop no part of your arrow is hanging over the flame.

It can be hard on feathers, nocks and even the arrow shaft itself. Do not ask me how I know this..lol

God bless,Mudd

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Awsome Idea Mudd. I'll have to give that a whirl, sounds like a great time.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

 
Thanks Mudd You just saved me a bunch of arrows.

[Sarah]

Shooting in the dark is so great! As a beginner two years ago at 3D shoots it really helped things click in terms of focusing on the target and eliminating distractions.

You could also just put some kind of reflective sticker on a backstop and have your shooting buddy shine a flashlight at it. You'd be hard-pressed to lose arrows then!

[Mudd]

That's a good idea Sarah!

I have always liked burning stuff though so I'll stick with my candles..lol

Don't worry.. its most likely a man thing...lol

God bless,Mudd

[Corvus]

Go Mudd, you just gave my wife one more reason to think I'm nuts.

[tippit]

Mudd,

A group of us shoot the coon target course at Denton Hill way into the late night...but we don't use flash lights.  Only the shooter has a red light on.  No one can hardly see the target but with the red light all you see are the two eyes.  You'd be amazed how well everyone shoots.  Concentrate small     Doc

[Friends call me Pac]

It's a whole lot of fun. This was my 2nd night trying to snuff a candle last summer.  I wonder how many arrows I shot both nights before snuffing that sucker?  Don't really know but it was a lot.

[tkytrac]

I took a longbow to deer camp back in the early 80s.  Everyone there wanted to see it.  Heft it and some even wanted to shoot it.  We shot til after dark and had to plug in a lamp to see the target.  When my turn finally came to shoot I shot the first arrow and then ask for the light to be turned off.  I continued to shoot in the dark.  When the light was at last turned on, my arrows were grouped nicely in an 8" paper plate.(No real feat we were 12/15 yards).
I then brought out a candle and everyone had a go at trying to snuff out the flame.  Once when the candle was knocked down, someone set it up too close to the target and subsequently burned off some very nice turkey feathers, but what the hay.....we had a great time!

[Oliverstacy]

I shoot almost exclusively at night with the flood lights of my garage by the target...I love fact that I don't need to see anything on my bow to shoot well.  I'll set between my house and my neighbor's house at 1 am and just shoot arrow after arrow in the peace and quiet!

I find it amazing when I actually get to shoot in the daylight how much better I shoot...all the muscle memory from the nighttime shooting transfers over.

Josh

[Mudd]

Hey Pac,

Either I'm doing something wrong or you've made the shortest videos I've ever seen..lol

I was sooooooo looking forward to watching the flames too.

God bless,Mudd

[Friends call me Pac]

Mudd it's working for me.  It's 1:01 minute long.

[ArkyBob]

Hey Mudd, I saw the video just fine!  Maybe try again.  Pac, that's a great video.  You're not too excited are you!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks for sharing.

BOB

[Friends call me Pac]

Bob I kind of wish I had acted calm cool and collected.  That way everyone that watches the video would have thought I could do it at will and no big deal.

[Mudd]

OK, it worked that time.. I love it!! Way to go Pac and btw that's one sinister laugh you got going on there...lol


Thanks!
God bless,Mudd

[bowslinger]

I bet a smaller laser pointer taped to a stick or tripod would work very well.  May not be as fun as a candle though!

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

Very cool video!

You know Mudd, I shoot at night at a stuffed burlap sack and indeed it does wonders for the trust factor, which is - at least for me - the heart of trad archery. My best shooting happens when I'm not thinking about the shot but feeling all of the variables in the right place, a process which lately happens faster and faster.

The candle positioned in front of the target is an awesome idea, and should be a lot of fun to try. Thank you for sharing!

[Bjorn]

A laser pointer is a good substitute in a high risk fire area and works just as well.