Pootatuck Archers 3D

[tedicast]

Today was a gorgeous day. It was sunny, and mild, perfect for 3D. We shot Pootatuck Archers today. They had a surprisingly light turn out, only 35 shooters. It's too bad, as it was a decent course, and a very, very friendly club. We spent an hour after the shoot talking with some of the club members. We actually got invited to come shoot their field, or bag course anytime we want.

Today started off normal, until we got to target 11. We walk up, and I smell something burning. Thought maybe it was just the grill. I take the shot, and Jen is getting set, when I look down, and see flames. Some freaking idiot dropped a cig into the dry leaves. With some kicking and stomping, and the water from our water bottles we saved the day!! ;D It was good timing for us to be there when we were. The group behind us let us shoot through a few targets before, and they were way behind us. It wouldn't have taken long for that little flame to turn into something serious.

Then walking up a rocky trail a few shots later. I almost step on a snake in the middle of the trail. Now any of you that know me well, knows how that turned out...lol. I about had a heart attack. I spun around and took a couple quick steps, almost bowling Jen over in the process. She didn't follow that close the rest of the shoot.

Jen started off really good today, and then slumped pretty bad in the second half. She ended up with a 217, but she shot a lot better then her score shows.

I felt pretty good today, and ended up with a 258. I had a couple shots that really got me on yardage, and I ended up with nickels. When we left I was high score in BHFS, and a couple people told me with the guys that hadn't turned in cards yet, I should have it won. It don't matter, just felt good to shoot decent again.

The club used the hilly terrain to make some difficulty yardage judging. Overall it was a short course, with only 2 targets in the 40 yards or more range. It was a very realistic hunting situation course, and it was a huge improvement over last years 15 target course that you shot twice.

According to the club president, there are a few new younger key members, that are really trying to help turn the club around. They seem to be headed in the right direction, but I think the low turn out today had to do with the 15 targets courses last year.

Here are some pics from today...

Jen taking a chip shot at a Javelina...



Jen shooting a Lion through the Mountain Laurel...



Me about to let fly on another Javelina....



Me drawing back on a tusker, over a stonewall...


Jen on the same tusker...



Jen checking out a very realistic double...



Jen at full draw...



Me scoping out the double...



Me about to take the dream shot.....22 yards, head down feeding...



Cool set up on a downhill bear double. This was one of the tricky yardage shots...



Me shooting the standing bear...



Me about to let fly on the walking bear...



A cool uphill ram shot....




This one tricked us both on yardage. We slapped arrows up in the spine...lol. It was my only nickel on the second half of the course.

All in all it was a fun relaxing day, and got to talk to some new people.

[BT]

Sounds like you were lucky to see the end of the course between the forest fires and the snakes ;D

I liked that terrain last year but agree that the 15 targets would keep me from ever coming back.
Seeing as how they changed that part of it , maybe I will give it another go

As usual ... good pics and a few laughs make for a good post.

[tedicast]

Pootatuck has another shoot on July 22nd. I would love to got our whole crew together and show up. They would definitely appreciate it, and it was a fun course to shoot. Not a Paul course, but a good course none the less. they had a field shoot a couple months ago, and had 2 people show up! That really sucks

[BT]

Did you happen to notice how how the traditional stakes were set up?
If so....how were the shots? .... challenging?