Any Archers in the house?

**Teufel Hunden** · 22nd March 09, 08:34 PM

So I used to be an avid gun person. But when I came home from my second tour in Iraq, I found I had all but lost the passion. I still own guns and occasionally shoot them, but not nearly as much, or with as much enjoyment as I used to. My family got me a beautiful recurve bow for Christmas in 2007, and I immediately fell in love.

Here she is.

It's a 50lb draw, and a great beginner bow. I can get lost for hours shooting arrows. It's just so much more primal, and I feel more connected to the sport of it. Plus, it fits into my hobby of learning and collecting all things medieval, even though that is a very modern recurve. To remedy the modern feel, I just placed an order for an English Warbow. 175lb draw for that TRUE sense of Olde English war fighting.

I'm building an unknown distance course in my back yard, and as my skill improves i might look more into traditional bow hunting.

Anyone else enjoy archery?

**fortcollinsjerry** · 22nd March 09, 08:46 PM

I too lost my passion for guns when I returned from South East Asia decaades ago. In time you may recover that desire - I know I did. In the meantime enjoy what you will and welcome home brother, and semper fi.

**KiltedSurveyor** · 22nd March 09, 10:57 PM

When I have the time, I too enjoy archery. In accordance with the do it yourself spirit of so many on this forum, I also make my equipment. As a matter of fact, I took the first deer I ever got with a bow I made myself. If you have the interest in more "primitive" gear, may I suggest "The Traditional Bowyers Bible" series of books by the Bois D'Arc press (www.boisdarcpress.com)? The satisfaction of using your own handmade gear exponentially increases the enjoyment of the sport.

**Teufel Hunden** · 22nd March 09, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by KiltedSurveyor

When I have the time, I too enjoy archery. In accordance with the do it yourself spirit of so many on this forum, I also make my equipment. As a matter of fact, I took the first deer I ever got with a bow I made myself. If you have the interest in more "primitive" gear, may I suggest "The Traditional Bowyers Bible" series of books by the Bois D'Arc press (www.boisdarcpress.com)? The satisfaction of using your own handmade gear exponentially increases the enjoyment of the sport.

Thanks, I'll be sure to pick up a copy. I probably won't make my own bow for a while, as i'm in the process of building a basic forge. This summer I hope to forge some basic railway spike knives (best place to start for amateurs

), and eventually work up to making my own arrow heads and swords.

**The Wizard of BC** · 23rd March 09, 12:18 AM

It's funny, in a sort of morbid way, how many of us who used to enjoy firearms lost the passion by actually having to use them. When I came back from Viet-Nam I put all my guns away for over ten years. Then later I was only interested in very solo afternoons with a rifle perfecting my accuracy. Just to see how good I could really get. It was sort of a meditation thing. Cutting the silhouette out of a "Dog" target at 500 yards.

But Archery was also meditative for me. Even as a very young boy with my father. He had a really old English Longbow. Probably over 4 generations in the family. One afternoon he and I went out. I with my fiberglass double recurve 60lbs pull and he with the Longbow that probably pulled 90 or 100 lbs. We had done this hundreds of times. He and I alone, target shooting on the stalking range at Cherry Point, MCAS.
On his first draw he was holding the aim when the bow exploded. It literally came apart into about a hundred pieces. He was left holding the bow string, leather handgrip and the still knocked arrow.

I always thought that one day I should try to replace that longbow. And once again enjoy that quiet, private and satisfying peace of archery.

**Teufel Hunden** · 23rd March 09, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

It's funny, in a sort of morbid way, how many of us who used to enjoy firearms lost the passion by actually having to use them. When I came back from Viet-Nam I put all my guns away for over ten years. Then later I was only interested in very solo afternoons with a rifle perfecting my accuracy. Just to see how good I could really get. It was sort of a meditation thing. Cutting the silhouette out of a "Dog" target at 500 yards.

But Archery was also meditative for me. Even as a very young boy with my father. He had a really old English Longbow. Probably over 4 generations in the family. One afternoon he and I went out. I with my fiberglass double recurve 60lbs pull and he with the Longbow that probably pulled 90 or 100 lbs. We had done this hundreds of times. He and I alone, target shooting on the stalking range at Cherry Point, MCAS.
On his first draw he was holding the aim when the bow exploded. It literally came apart into about a hundred pieces. He was left holding the bow string, leather handgrip and the still knocked arrow.

I always thought that one day I should try to replace that longbow. And once again enjoy that quiet, private and satisfying peace of archery.

Firearms never really carried the meditative qualities for me, they were always just a really fun hobby. It was more exciting than relaxing, and very competitive with my brothers and dad. I grew up with them, and learned to shoot by hunting small game.

Archery on the other hand, is very meditative. I literally shot arrows one day for nearly 5 hours, and never had any idea so much time had passed. At the risk of sounding a bit too cheesy, it calms me to the very core, something i've never been able to find in any other hobby. When i first came home in Nov. 2006, i was so high strung I could barely handle trips to the store. I wish I had discovered archery at that point. I'm not nearly that kind of person anymore (took me about 3 or 4 months to get back to normal, but I still am very solitary and prefer to be away from large groups of people), but still sometimes I need that satisfying peace you mentioned. Just me, the bow, targets and daylight. About all a man could need i suppose. Well, maybe throw in a cigar and a bit of 21 year old Glenlivet.

**Howard Clark** · 23rd March 09, 04:14 AM

I like shooting recurves a lot, and have three. I used to (been almost 20 years, they are primitive by today's standard) be into the higher tech compound hunting bow thing, but they are just too "gadgety" for me at this point. And I do not like shooting with a release, and they really are a necessity for many of the modern bows.

I get my meditation fix by playing with fire and hammer forging blades.

**budd4766** · 23rd March 09, 05:20 AM

I'm into archery as well. I shoot a Martin Dreamcatcher recurve similar to yours. Love it.

If you're getting into blacksmithing, here's a good website for tutorials and tips/tricks.

http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/

**Spc. Scott** · 23rd March 09, 06:34 AM

Most definitely! I shoot a Bob Lee takedown. I'll try to get a few pics tonight. If anyone out there is going to the ETAR this year give a yell. I'm really trying to make it again this year. What a blast!

**CDNSushi** · 23rd March 09, 06:54 AM

Bear & Jennings compound. Used to give me countless hours of enjoyment. Since I went off to university and then to Japan I haven't had the chance. Japan, of course is renowned for its traditional archery -- the sport is called kyuudo.

It would be nice to try sometime, but that's another one of those things that I'd have to get around to... For now, as far as Japanese traditional hobbies go, I'll just keep on studying tea ceremony...

Here's a photo I found on Wikipedia demonstrating a full draw.