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First Venture Into

Archery - Part 1

by Lenise 

“Our limited bow experience was so long ago that shooting with either hand seem to make no difference.” email: MsAdventure@abzorba.com

Researching General Archery

Knowledge

After getting beat out by hunters on ATVs and horse back, Kip and I looked in to how we could get a better jump on Elk. We found there were a lot fewer people bow hunting Elk. So late 2010, in preparation for 2012 Elk Hunting, we decided to look into Archery hunting. Neither Kip nor I have a lot of knowledge about bows.  I suggested that we go to several different places, talk to and have many contacts with people knowledgeable about bows and bow hunting. We decided to just look at bows and started at Gander Mountain.

Talking to people in the know

We talked to a gentleman named "Bill" at Gander Mountain on 31DEC10. He was shooting a bow on the practice range and we watched him intently and talked about what he was doing and using.  He owned a top of the line Mathews. He recommended a couple of things.    - Single cam easier to pull and quieter; double cams are faster.  - A peep hole without the tube; the tube effects the draw of the bow strings.  - A drop away (?-holds the arrow) and that the actuating string be attached to the limb and not a bow string; same reason for the tubeless peep.   - Spend the money on a good or preferably excellent bow and arrows; same reason to buy good optics and ammunition for a rifle.  - Decide on a bow because of the feel not by any recommendation.  He really likes his Mathews, but he knows others who own different makes of bows and they are very happy with them.

Reading and research

We also read an article about bow sights and how many pins are a good number.  The writer of the article suggested three.  - Only having one, means you need to get really good at knowing where to place the single sight at various distances.  - More than three may interfere with your sight lines. After reading the article, we looked at the various sights and tended to agree with the writer.  I think four may be good, because I also use a MIL-DOT for my rifle and have the calculations in my head of where to place the DOTs at the various distances. Good introductory article to bows and good all round website for information: http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowselection.htm After reading this article, bow speed is not necessarily the best way to determine a good bow. IBO (International Bow hunting Organization) rating used by manufactures is always high and after putting on accessories, more speed is lost.

Look, see and handle

We also handled two bows, Diamond and Parker, a left- handed and right-handed.  Both Kip and I shot bows at an early age and we both shot right-handed bows; we are both left-handed.  Our limited bow experience was so long ago that shooting with either hand seem to make no difference. Though Kip when he closed one eye, he found the vertical of the bow right in the center of his sight. I also found my arm very weak for holding the bow up for any amount of time.  There will be lots of exercising to strengthen the arms for bow hunting. As I think about what bow to buy, I would like the bow version of my Tikka and Hornady version of arrows.  Some more research will need to be done before I find out what either of those would be.

Part 2 - Shopping Around

We wanted to see what and who was out there selling Archery. Yes, Archery, not just bows and accessories.
abZorba Hunting - Camping - Fishing
© Copyrights 1988, 1990-1999, 2000-2006, 2010-2016 Leatrice Productions Unlimited, Inc

First Venture

Into Archery -

Part 1

by Lenise 

“Our limited bow experience was so long ago that shooting with either hand seem to make no difference.” email: MsAdventure@abzorba.com

Researching General Archery Knowledge

After getting beat out by hunters on ATVs and horse back, Kip and I looked in to how we could get a better jump on Elk. We found there were a lot fewer people bow hunting Elk. So late 2010, in preparation for 2012 Elk Hunting, we decided to look into Archery hunting. Neither Kip nor I have a lot of knowledge about bows.  I suggested that we go to several different places, talk to and have many contacts with people knowledgeable about bows and bow hunting. We decided to just look at bows and started at Gander Mountain.

Talking to people in the know

We talked to a gentleman named "Bill" at Gander Mountain on 31DEC10. He was shooting a bow on the practice range and we watched him intently and talked about what he was doing and using.  He owned a top of the line Mathews. He recommended a couple of things.    - Single cam easier to pull and quieter; double cams are faster.  - A peep hole without the tube; the tube effects the draw of the bow strings.  - A drop away (?-holds the arrow) and that the actuating string be attached to the limb and not a bow string; same reason for the tubeless peep.   - Spend the money on a good or preferably excellent bow and arrows; same reason to buy good optics and ammunition for a rifle.  - Decide on a bow because of the feel not by any recommendation.  He really likes his Mathews, but he knows others who own different makes of bows and they are very happy with them.

Reading and research

We also read an article about bow sights and how many pins are a good number.  The writer of the article suggested three.  - Only having one, means you need to get really good at knowing where to place the single sight at various distances.  - More than three may interfere with your sight lines. After reading the article, we looked at the various sights and tended to agree with the writer.  I think four may be good, because I also use a MIL-DOT for my rifle and have the calculations in my head of where to place the DOTs at the various distances. Good introductory article to bows and good all round website for information: http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowselection.htm After reading this article, bow speed is not necessarily the best way to determine a good bow. IBO (International Bow hunting Organization) rating used by manufactures is always high and after putting on accessories, more speed is lost.

Look, see and handle

We also handled two bows, Diamond and Parker, a left- handed and right-handed.  Both Kip and I shot bows at an early age and we both shot right-handed bows; we are both left-handed.  Our limited bow experience was so long ago that shooting with either hand seem to make no difference. Though Kip when he closed one eye, he found the vertical of the bow right in the center of his sight. I also found my arm very weak for holding the bow up for any amount of time.  There will be lots of exercising to strengthen the arms for bow hunting. As I think about what bow to buy, I would like the bow version of my Tikka and Hornady version of arrows.  Some more research will need to be done before I find out what either of those would be.

Part 2 - Shopping Around

We wanted to see what and who was out there selling Archery. Yes, Archery, not just bows and accessories.
abZorba Hunting - Camping - Fishing