here's a few from last weekends bow shoot..

mtnfolk mike · Jan 20, 2007

here's a few pics from last weekends shoot.... it was in pacifica, ca.. just outside of san francisco... my buddy bill's son eric, tok these, he has an awesome camera and takes some really nice photo's....

it was put on by the san francisco archers and it was at their range.... it was bloody cold.... look at the pond in the background, it was completely frozen...

my son took first place in the primitive class...he has been shooting since he was 4 and now he's almost 9.... he rocks... he as quite a collection of trophies...

i shot really well that day too... i think i was 5th out of 19 adult longbow shooters.....
my father in law, recently started shooting... he also came with us...

it was a great time....

mike

SkunkWerX · Jan 20, 2007

Great pics!
I love the last one, the close up shot, that is a face with some real determination on it! :thumbup:

tarmix101 · Jan 20, 2007

Looks like a very good time Mike! Up here in Easter Wa it's been damn cold lately. Nice to see some people out doors that aren't freezing. Thanks for sharing:thumbup:

Liam Ryan · Jan 20, 2007

VERY cool! I got into the primitive archery about a year ago, haven't made any bows yet, but my best friends fiancee's dad makes em, I would love to see him tillering and grab some tips, have you tried your hand at making some bows?
I do have a maverick heritage 35 lbs entry level recurve, but I havent shot it much. The 3/4 year winters have a lot to do with that.
Great pics too, I'm green with envy.

longbow50 · Jan 20, 2007

Nice pics. Looks like a frosty shoot for sure.

Tony Turner · Jan 20, 2007

Great pics. Our club does one in Dec here in ND and we call it the drippy nose tourny, it can be quite interesting. A couple of questions, you mentioned you placed 5th in the long bow class, up here both recurves and long bows are lumped together in a traditional class. You also mentioned your son placed first in the primative class, up here if you shoot primative, it has to be all primative (natural) material. Arrows have to be wood with bone or stone points with thread or sinew wrapped feathers, as for the bow, it can not be laminated. I like to see how other shoots and clubs do their classes or divisions because sometimes we get questioned on how we have ours.

TNRat · Jan 20, 2007

A Howard Hill style longbow, right?

Is it an actual Howard Hill, or one you made?

I have an inexpensive Jerry Hill brand name made in that style. Nothing fancy, but it sure shoots good.

What weight do you like?

I used to be caught up in that heavy is better race, but will probably just stick around 45 to 50 lbs. since that is easiest for me to shoot.

I figure as long as I am shooting that is all that matters. :thumbup:

Thanks for the pics.

mtnfolk mike · Jan 20, 2007

thanks for the compliments guys...

here's a few more pics.... the guy with the ponytail, is my father in law... who would ever thought from the pic, he has only been shooting a year or so.. he looks like a pro... the other pics are of darren(black jacket) and greg(green jacket).. check out the cool motion shoot of the arrow leaving his bow.....

tony-- your club sound pretty cool.... i wish a lot of the clubs around here, had more strict rules for their primitive classes.... such as yours...

terry-- my bow is similar to a hill style longbow.... it was maade by a bowyer friend of mine m=named steve abott... this one is 58 in. long and pulls 47#s... for target shooting i generaly stick with this bow or my primitve bow that shoots 43#s.....
the bow that use for hunting is a reflex-deflex longbow... it is 62 in. long and pulls 58#s... it was made by chaparral archery...this bow is a rocket and packs a mean punch.... you should see what it does to quail's...

mike

EmsRescueGuy · Jan 20, 2007

That looks like a great time,Nice pics

I havent shot much in a few years I have to start again. I have to find a range or a club near me in NJ.

JGarrison Knives · Jan 21, 2007

Very cool, it makes me want to go to my local range. Its so dam close I have no excuse.

TNRat · Jan 21, 2007

Some of the terminology is returning to me now. I have a Howard Hill style longbow in 68 inches and 55#. It is also a reflex deflex, and is left handed.

That is one thing I have always loved about primitive archery. Almost EVERYONE makes a left handed version of the same bows they make in right hand.

I am ambidextrous so I can shoot either way, but left eye dominant so I prefer the left hand.

I put together some cedar arrows with parabola and bananna feathers with the field points and blunts. Both worked great, but each has their good points and bad points.

I think the broadheads I had were STOS, and they were heavy. 160 and 180 grain are what I like for the penetration.

I never bothered finishing the shafts since I was in a hurry to shoot, and like the look of the shafts in the white.

I love the recurve your FIL is shooting. I tried to find one in a left hand, but never could.

I don't know what it is about the weights. I love the higher weights, but never could shoot everday so I never get acclimated to anything over 55#. I stopped in Nixa, MO at Black Widow bows once, and they had a 48# recurve that was zooming. I burnt up an hour shooting that bow. Did not bring it home since, IIRC, it costs around $700.

I found that I broke so many shafts it was best for me to stop trimming them to length. Leave them long, and just respine them when you broke the tips off. We have a lot of rock around here.

Keep those pics coming. If I ever get my stuff back out, and I hope to soon, I will have to get some pics.

TNRat · Jan 21, 2007

I just remembered. I noticed you and your son are using a shooting technique many call string walking, with the three fingers under the arrow.

I tried this but never had much luck with it. I have always preferred the "Mediterranean hold." One over, and two under.

Some people use the string walking to gain distance on the longer shots, but I always found it was easier to just hold the bow higher.

While I never had a problem with these methods I have read of many that felt it was considered cheating. I have never understood this, though.

Whatever works best for you is the route I have always believed in.

mtnfolk mike · Jan 21, 2007

Terry Newton said:
I just remembered. I noticed you and your son are using a shooting technique many call string walking, with the three fingers under the arrow.

I tried this but never had much luck with it. I have always preferred the "Mediterranean hold." One over, and two under.

Some people use the string walking to gain distance on the longer shots, but I always found it was easier to just hold the bow higher.

While I never had a problem with these methods I have read of many that felt it was considered cheating. I have never understood this, though.

Whatever works best for you is the route I have always believed in.

thanks for all the comments folks....

terry-- there is a form of shooting called string walking, however this isn't it.... we shoot 3 fingers under the arrow.. it brings the arrow closer to your eye and line of vision...... i started off shooting split finger, the vast majority of folks that i shoot with all shoot 3 fingers under as well... i've even had 2 custom bows tillered for that style of shooting...

mike