Post by lockmaster on Jul 9, 2007 15:33:35 GMT -5
Just some notes about what CAN happen to a new archer..
I went to a friends house yesterday to do some serious practice with the bows. We had several targets set up and were having a ball. After about an hour and a half, a friend of his called and wanted to come over and "shoot with us".
The friend got there...a young guy, maybe 25-28 and pulled out a fairly new, nice "Whisper Creek" bow...short ATA, all set up and looking pretty good. Of course my first question was..."How long have you been hunting with a bow"? Answer..."Never...just got it a few months ago and have been practicing.
Anyway, he told me he bought it from ebay, took it to a local "pro shop" and got it set up. They put on all the "stuff, "paper tuned" it for him and let him shoot a few times at their indoor range, briefly explaining anchor, release and the common things,
and sent him home to practice.
Anyway, I laid my bow up, stepped back and said let me see the thing in action....HUH??? ...the first thing I saw was a draw length that was 1 to 1 1/2 inches too long and he was torquing the bow BADLY....and a VERY inconsistent anchor point. I went ahead and left him shoot and out of 4 arrows, at 20 yards, you'd need 40 gal garbage can lid to cover the four. His broadheads.......( 85 gr. Muzzys the shop had sold him) was hitting 3' high and 5 left after the shop "paper tuned" his bow.
I noticed the sight was way off after a few rounds of shot groups, and offered to help him. I shortened his draw length by 1 inch, got him to "hold the bow correctly without torquing, then got him to a good anchor point and "put his nose on the string". After that, aligned the sights and on the first few shots, his groups shrunk to 6-8 inches at 20 yards but off the "mark".
I set his 4 pin sight to 20 to get a good group ON the bull...., 30, 40 and 45, and we continued to practice as I kept an eye on the things I told him and he was very eager to make them all "habit". After about a hour, this kid was shooting 2-3 inch groups at 20 yards and no more than 4" at 30 yards. At 40 and 45 he was almost consistently in at least a 7-8 inch group.....and after REALLY tuning his bow (vane tuned), the muzzys were right on target with his FPs.
I determined that he was a natural, had a great eye and was VERY willing to learn. I was so proud to be able to help him and the repeated "thanks a lot" followed by "I NEVER thought I would be able to shoot that good" really made my day. Now he is pumped up waiting for season and vowed to continue to practice every day with the things I told him. Even wants to try "hogs".
I think we can ALL learn a lesson here if we don't already know!!Moral is...if you are seasoned and see the opportunity to "expand" on what the "pro" at the local shop has told a "beginner"...jump in and get him on the RIGHT track. This kid went from "slinging arrows" at a bag to a VERY GOOD marksman with a compound bow.....FAST!!
I just came away from that feeling great that I found a guy really wanting to learn to shoot, and that I was able to help him get on the right track and build his confidence by allowing him to prove to himself what he could do.....ALL within about 2 1/2 hours.
I went to a friends house yesterday to do some serious practice with the bows. We had several targets set up and were having a ball. After about an hour and a half, a friend of his called and wanted to come over and "shoot with us".
The friend got there...a young guy, maybe 25-28 and pulled out a fairly new, nice "Whisper Creek" bow...short ATA, all set up and looking pretty good. Of course my first question was..."How long have you been hunting with a bow"? Answer..."Never...just got it a few months ago and have been practicing.
Anyway, he told me he bought it from ebay, took it to a local "pro shop" and got it set up. They put on all the "stuff, "paper tuned" it for him and let him shoot a few times at their indoor range, briefly explaining anchor, release and the common things,
and sent him home to practice.
Anyway, I laid my bow up, stepped back and said let me see the thing in action....HUH??? ...the first thing I saw was a draw length that was 1 to 1 1/2 inches too long and he was torquing the bow BADLY....and a VERY inconsistent anchor point. I went ahead and left him shoot and out of 4 arrows, at 20 yards, you'd need 40 gal garbage can lid to cover the four. His broadheads.......( 85 gr. Muzzys the shop had sold him) was hitting 3' high and 5 left after the shop "paper tuned" his bow.
I noticed the sight was way off after a few rounds of shot groups, and offered to help him. I shortened his draw length by 1 inch, got him to "hold the bow correctly without torquing, then got him to a good anchor point and "put his nose on the string". After that, aligned the sights and on the first few shots, his groups shrunk to 6-8 inches at 20 yards but off the "mark".
I set his 4 pin sight to 20 to get a good group ON the bull...., 30, 40 and 45, and we continued to practice as I kept an eye on the things I told him and he was very eager to make them all "habit". After about a hour, this kid was shooting 2-3 inch groups at 20 yards and no more than 4" at 30 yards. At 40 and 45 he was almost consistently in at least a 7-8 inch group.....and after REALLY tuning his bow (vane tuned), the muzzys were right on target with his FPs.
I determined that he was a natural, had a great eye and was VERY willing to learn. I was so proud to be able to help him and the repeated "thanks a lot" followed by "I NEVER thought I would be able to shoot that good" really made my day. Now he is pumped up waiting for season and vowed to continue to practice every day with the things I told him. Even wants to try "hogs".
I think we can ALL learn a lesson here if we don't already know!!Moral is...if you are seasoned and see the opportunity to "expand" on what the "pro" at the local shop has told a "beginner"...jump in and get him on the RIGHT track. This kid went from "slinging arrows" at a bag to a VERY GOOD marksman with a compound bow.....FAST!!
I just came away from that feeling great that I found a guy really wanting to learn to shoot, and that I was able to help him get on the right track and build his confidence by allowing him to prove to himself what he could do.....ALL within about 2 1/2 hours.
