Anyone here into Archery?

[BoidKeeper]

I picked up a bow last night for the first time at a display at the mall and I am hooked! I think Robin and I must be related. I seem to have some sort of natural ability for it. After just three arrows I was hitting all the ballons they had set up.
If anyone can help I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the sport before I commit to joining the club and buying gear. I want to know where I can find info and tips about getting into the sport.
Thanks,
Trevor
PS
Oh and by the way when I get into something I get in big and hard. Just look at snakes. I only bought my first snake Nov. 1st 2001. So with archery it will probably be the same I'll be wanting to buy the best gear and practice day and night.

[DragnDrop]

Ahhhh..... our BoidKeeper is now turning into Cupid on us ;)

I've often thought it would be interesting to try it, but never got past the thinking stage. Sounds like you're going to have a great time with the new hobby.

[BoidKeeper]

Thanks Hilde! This is how seriouse I am about it. I'm going to be selling all of my small boids. If I'm going to do this I need two things, time and money. So I think BoidKeeper will soon be with out his Rosy Boas, Sand Boas and Children's pythons.
Cheers,
Trevor

[aaron]

Me at a 3d shoot :D

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/540aaron_kings2-med.jpg

Aaron

[CarlC]

I have been shooting archery for about 20 years now. I find shooting a great way to relax after a rough day at work.

I shoot a Matthews SQ2. The choices of bows and equipment are endless. If you do get into shooting just make sure you visit a high quality dealer who can properly fit a bow to you.

Carl

[REH]

Well you have picked a great sport and pastime. I have been shooting for about 30 years. I would suggest you find out if there is an indoor shooting facility nearby, you can ask dealers in your area. Then take lessons so you learn the proper form. If you develop the correct shooting form from the begining it is better than trying to fix poor form. I was a level 2 instructor for many years and that was the main problem people came to me with.
What did you buy for a bow?

Richard

[BoidKeeper]

Nice pic Aaron!
I haven't bought anything yet. The group at the mall were the local club and the person who was coaching me owns the local archery supply store.
I was shooting a Victory recurve with a sight and I loved it. The owners wife told me that people normally can't even hit the target when they first pick up a bow. She said I hit everything I aimed at.
The guy coaching me taught me to pull the string back so that my finger was in the corner of my mouth. He found out that I'm left eye dominant so I had to close it and only use my right eye. He also made sure I was standing 90 degrees to the target. I was lining up the string and the sight on the ballon and pop!
How do I know a bow is right for me? You said the dealer should fit me with a bow. What will he be doing in order to do that?
Thanks guys,
Trevor

[REH]

The dealer will ask you a bunch of questions about what you hope to do with the bow. Olympic type shooting with recurve, hunting with a compound, target shooting with a compound or a combination. He will then find a bow that fits that criteria and fits you for draw length and draw weight. He will help pick you the correct arrows for your draw weight and draw length. The flex of the arrow changes has it gets longer and the draw weight gets heavier.

What do you want to do?

Richard

[aaron]

If your left eye dominant that means you should use a left hand bow even if your right handed otherwise you'll have to cross your head over the string to use the proper eye. What is meant by fitting you with a bow is that you'll need sometihing that is the proper draw length and draw weight for you. If your using a recurve then you most likely just have to worry about draw weight. You can also get a bow for hunting or one for target shooting the choce really is which do you want to do?

Aaron

[REH]

Check your mail for some links

[samurai]

youre really into it, i went on my first bowhunt this fall and i loved it i was shooting a compound but i mess around with a longbow, just that much harder.

[BoidKeeper]

I got the links thanks.
I want to Olympic type shooting with recurve. If your right handed do you hold the bow with your right hand or the string with your right hand?
Thanks,
Trevor

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

AARON:

Nice photo and bow gear.

Now to hit a target shouldn' t you be a few feet away from the target tree, joking :D

Tony

[Leviathan]

I used to do archery quite a bit a few years ago. Had a nice fiber compound bow, nothing too fancy. It was fun beating all the boys in our competitions when they thought I wouldn't do good at all. Mwahahaha. Something I'd like to get back into for sure along with all the mountain climbing, rapelling and caving I haven't done for three years either... hmmmmm.

Alecia

[Gary D.]

I shoot a PSE Thunderbolt compound bow. Not the newest or fanciest toy on the market, but solid fairly forgiving and fast.

So what was it you were shooting a compound, or traditional bow? My son has a recurve and my wife has a long bow.

GD

[REH]

I am right handed and left eyed I shoot a left handed bow I hold the bow with my right hand and the string with my left the arrow goes over my hand not my thumb.

Richard

[Gary D.]

Yes that is the general rule of thumb, but like in herpetoculture there isn't always one clear cut rule. I am right handed, left eye dominant and shoot right. Shooting left as convention would have me do does not feel comfortable in the least. And being relaxed and comfortable goes a long way in archery. Experiment with different bows, weights, left or right hand (if eye and hand dominance don't correspond) if you can. I just close my left eye or concentrate and use a peep sight.

[ravensgait]

Started out on a recurve then got into compounds and now I'm back to the old stick and string lol. The last Compound I owned was a Hoyt Pro Vantage. Now I have way to many stick bows.

You'll enjoy the sport !

Randy

[reptiguy]

Welcome to the wonderful world of archery! You're right, it is as adictive as keeping repitles!
I've been shooting for a few years now. Started shooting traditionally with a longbow then after a year or so got a compound. I was from a pretty small town so no clubs or anything to shoot at.
I did attend 2 or 3 week long archery camps though that focused on shooting style etc and then I ended up teaching those camps for 2-3 years.
Definitly get in with a club if you can. Shooting alone is fun for a while but you'll get much more out of shooting with experienced archers. You'll get helpful tips, invites to shoots and maybe even be able to pick up a good second hand bow if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a new one. It's also great if you can find someplace indoors to shoot during the cool months. I always hated having to hang up my bow for a few months in the winter.
Archery can be expensive to start out with but once you have your bow and basic accessories that's all you really need and there's not much expense after that, just general maintenance and club fees.
There are some great informational sites out there as well as some good books and videos. Using a resource like this forum should help too.
If you have specific questions then post them here as it will be easier to help you out that way.
Are you thinking about getting a traditional bow (longbow or recurve) or a compound? There are definite pros and cons to both but it boils down to what you plan on doing with your bow as someone previously mentioned. Find a good shop and they should be able to outfit you with a bow that will meet your needs.
Good luck and keep us posted on the new hobby!
-Reptiguy-

[CarlC]

Ya shooting with others adds more of a challange. I prefer 3D shoots since I also hunt. Great practice!

Carl

[BoidKeeper]

There is a club. They were the ones at the mall. I'm only interested in getting into it because is a people hobby. My snake room is fun but it sure gets lonely at times.lol
I was shooting a recurve and I want to stay with that for a while but I know right now I will be shooting both in a year. It's just the way I am. I have to have my hands in everything and I want the best I can afford when I get into something like this.
So far I've registared on the Hoyt forum and I'm looking at the Aerotec bow. I'm wondering what accessory kit to get.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Topaz]

Is there a basic club where you can rent a some bows to try out shooting? i remember doing it in high school and loving it! Of course you can imagine the basic equipment we had :P not much direction either. I actually didn't think there was much of a following but seems quite a few people love it! Anyone in GTA with any suggestions or information links :D?

[joey]

I love archery! My dad and I started getting into it about 10 years ago. I've got a Browning bow and it's awesome. It's so fun to take the bow out into a cornfield and set up targets and spend the whole afternoon there. I'm seriously considering hunting whitetail deer this Fall. I have a 13 year old neice who uses a crossbow and shot a buck larger than her dad did this past season. For X-mas she gave me four deer steaks!

Nothing better than deer meat! yummy.

Have fun!

Are you thinking of getting into it for target or for hunting?

[Dragonhood]

Hi I've been into archery for over 20 years. I've shot lots of whitetail deer, black bears,rabbits squrriels ground hogs , geese, ducks.

[Scales Zoo]

Sheila and I both have compound bows, but need to set them up for us.

I have had a 175 lb pull crossbow (compound, with scope) for quite a few years, but have not used it much in the last few.

It is a lot of fun, I used to be pretty good with a long bow when I was younger - and want to practise more with the compound, to be ready for hunting season.

Ryan

[gargoyle]

Archery is a great hobby/pasttime. I've been shooting for about 10 years at least twice a week! The best piece of advice I could give is start with a bare bones recurve! It'll let you get used to the sport and shooting stance without confusing the hell out of you with all the gadgets and gizmos that are available (I think I own one of everything by now). PSE makes a few really nice recurves that would do the trick (I use a coyote model for bird and deer hunting). Oh one other thing since I just spent 4hours in the Emergency room....buy a real, real good arm guard, apparently there are some pretty important veins in your arm you don't want to hit unless you want your lower arm to go without blood for a few minutes! Slapped my self dozens of times over the years (everyone that shoots does so don't laugh too hard) and never had this happen! Anyways don't by any means be scared of this, if it wasn't me, It probably wouldn't ever happen!

[Gary D.]

Gargoyle, what poundage are you shooting?!! The hospital you say!?! I bruised myself pretty good a couple times at 65# Found it still hurt like he** even with the guard so I ditched it and adjusted my grip. My accuracy improved and my forearm thanked me.

I may be wrong but the arm slap does seem to occur more often with a traditional bow than with compounds. Likely due to longet string travel. My wife made a couple cool gauntlet type guards out of leather that go wrist to elbow. They look great on a girl. perhaps a bit to feminine for a guy though.

GD

[bighillreptiles]

Well anyone intersted in a nice Bow i have this one for sale or trade for kings milks or boas Ball Pythons ,It is a Jennings Forked Lightning 70 lb draw and three brand new arows thay are Easton Game getter two 2018 all for 300 or trades comes with the sights and counter balance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/paulvanhooser/compoundbow.jpg
I dont hunt anymore so i don't need the Bow .Dont be shy make a offer

[munchy]

more of a gun fella myself. wait till i get my restricted firearms permit. can you say .50 cal smith n wesson revolver?

[Gary D.]

I put in for my restricted firearms permit in late November. Still waiting to hear back. I tell you I do prefer the archery lane to the pistol range though. A lot more relaxed atmosphere, usually wide open instead of little glassed in stalls and a concrete bunker. And WAAAAAYYYY quieter.

[gargoyle]

Gary D.: only shooting a fifty but it slaped it just right I quess, it swelled up just perfect to cut the circulation off to the rest of my are. from there because of the lack of oxygen in the muscle tissue, it spasmed, the my wrist popped out of socket later that day (that wasn't anything new). It was a compound but yes when I shoot with my recurve I do tend to make contact a bit more! Next time I'm going to remember my arm guard....

and for you restricted guys,,,,,try the new .50 GI calibered 1911 pistols, much better than the S&W 500 and a hell of a lot more fun. currently I shoot a .45 1911 norinco pistol, a .357 magnum Dan Wesson model 15VR revolver and a Ruger Mark II done to the nines...

[BoidKeeper]

Well tonight was my first time at the club. I started with a left PSE Optima because of my left eye being dominant people said I should be shooting left. Half way through the night I switched to right which is what I was using at the mall, then before the night was over I went back to left again. I felt comfortable shooting either so I can't decided which to go with.
I will say this much, I'm sore!
Cheers,
Trevor