Training Wheels
… for my bow.
That’s right. I went and did it.
I’m sure some of you may have read the last gasp of my struggling resolve to stick to the traditional bow, but a few hours spent today at my local archery shop, Archery Only finished me off.
Honestly, I was just there to look and ask some questions. I’ve been a little intimidated by the technology surrounding modern bows, what with wheels, sights, releases, and all that. Wayne, the shop owner, spent as much time as I needed to answer questions and point out some key considerations. He set up a couple of bows and let me try them… and that was really the spoiling blow.
Within a few shots with all of the bows I tried out, I was shooting reasonably small groups (4-6 inches or better)… even nicking the fletchings. And the speed… I’m used to releasing the string and then watching the arrow arc gracefully through the air. No more! These arrows zipped to the target so fast I could barely follow them… flat and straight!
I hemmed and I hawed, but it finally came down to the fact that, if I plan to bowhunt this year (or upcoming years), and I want to be ethical, then I need to have a bow I can shoot consistently and accurately. Without daily practice, that’s just not going to happen with the recurve… and even with daily practice, consistency is a struggle. A compound will give me a lot more control over the accuracy and consistency, and I can get away with a little less practice (no archer should hunt without regular practice…but it’s the difference between shooting daily or a couple of times per week).
So I’m now the proud owner of a Matthews Drenalin, complete with new sights, arrow rest, and release… as well as a dozen slick, carbon arrows. I’ll be shooting a lot over the next couple of weeks, in hopes of being ready to take the new bow deer and hog hunting on the 19th (our archery season opens on the 12th, but I’ve got other commitments). I’m also looking into a weekend trip back to NC when bow season opens there in September.
The recurve isn’t going into full retirement. I’ll still shoot it whenever I can. But until I can shoot regularly again, and rebuild my confidence, I’ll be sticking with the training wheels.
Well, after recently looking at bows myself, I think your wallet will appreciate my most sincere apologies for it’s loss. I’d send a sympathy card, but I’m not so sure it your wallet is in the mood for dealing with anything like that at this point. But, to you, I say, congrats and have fun!
July 7th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Matthews makes a heck of a bow. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
This post is funny to me because just recently I have been thinking of trying to shoot traditional, but I just don’t think I will have the time to devote to it.
I do love my compound though and hunt and practice with it every chance I get.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:17 am
At first I was a bit saddened by this decision, but after a bit, I must commend you and your choice to hunt with wheels. It was obviously made with much thought, and without pride.
Just remember, don’t fall for the gimmicks and utter speed argument. Keep those arrows heavy, don’t switch to field-points with razors strapped to them. Stick to single-bevel Grizzlys, Wenzel Woodsmans and the like. It’d be just as bad to hit a pig and nick it’s lung, where you know it’ll die far off. Make sure that the arrow will blast through (or at least very deep).
And have fun!
July 9th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Thanks all.
Joshua, it wasn’t a simple decision, but it was a necessary one. Under current circumstances, I think it was a choice between going to a compound or giving up bowhunting… at least temporarily.
Now that the leap has been made, I do feel that it was a good call on my part. I’ve found that I’m able to translate the form and discipline I learned shooting traditional to shooting the compound, and this has really shortened the learning curve. This new bow is brilliantly accurate, and I’m able to consistently put arrows into the kill zone at ranges well beyond where I’d really hunt… and that makes my confidence at hunting ranges significantly higher.
I agree with your warning not to get wrapped up in the bells and whistles or the quest for speed. WHile I am using carbon arrows, I’m sticking with the same Magnus Stinger broadheads I was using on my recurve… although significantly lighter-weight (100gr vs 150gr). In speaking with the shop pro, this is a good combination for my setup, and should be fine for most of my hunting. Later, I may step up a shade in both draw weight and arrow weight, but for now I’m gonna go with his advice.
I’m already having big fun, and hunting season doesn’t even start until Saturday!
July 9th, 2008 at 2:39 pm