Traditional Archers of CA. Rancho Neblina shoot 2011..

[mtnfolk mike]

hey folks.. hows it going.. thought i would share some pics from the shoot we went to this past weekend.. we have been so crazy busy lately, i was happy to get away for a few days..

we look forward to it every years and are always sad to see it come to an end.. it is held on the beautiful Rancho Neblina(fog) in Petaluma Ca.. Petaluma is about an hour north of San Francisco..

my youngest son and I left here last wed. afternoon and made it to the ranch in 2.5 hours flat.. my father in law and his good friend Michael had already gotten there a few hours prior, and had most the camp all set up..

we always love crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.. it looked cool all covered in fog..

the ranch is beautiful, we camp along the back side, with its rolling grass and oak covered hills.. there were coyotes howling at night and turkeys out and about every morning, waking us up..

this shoot sets up 3 courses(A,B,C) of 25-30 targets, including some really cool novelty ones as well.. as i mentoned in the past, they also set up a 9 hole archery golf course, which has got to be one of the funnest things to do with a bow and arrow..
there were some cool shots this year.. the holes/targets were chunks and or the remains of a 3-d foam animal.. like golf, if you over shoot it you can spend quite a bit of time making up for it..

here i am teeing off.. i love shooting at these angles..

my father in law Al..

the little dude rocked. i think he played 5 rounds over the time we were there..

some putting..

wed. thurs. and friday were pretty warm during the day, so while were hanging in camp, we did some rabbit stick throwing.. endless amounts of fun for a kid..

our camp dog Timber.. she always loves going camping..

we had some overcast roll in friday night which made for nice cool shooting weather.. this shoot is usually perrty hot..

we all shot very well this year.. (we all shoot longbows)i did much better than i did last year and my wife took 3rd place, my youngest took 2nd and my oldest took 1st..

my crew.

Michael.. he is an amazing artist and great archer..

 

[mtnfolk mike]

more..

me.

our good friend Greg..

my father in law..

the misses rocks..

our older son shot really well, for a teenager who doesn't shoot that often..

and a parting family shot..

thanks for looking..

Mike and co.

 

[daug]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing. That reminds me, I've got a longbow collecting dust that I need to take out and shoot.

 

[sadiejane]

great report! and lovely scenery.
glad you were able to get outta the city and head for the hills.
nice family time too! cool that you all shoot.
thanks

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Awesome times Mike!! Thanks for sharing, I am really into the traditional this year...I have a feeling I am sunk! Forget knives being expensive, I am hooked on these things. There is a store not far from my house with around 300 longbows and recurves, dating back 50 years till the now...man, I go there and think I need to rob a bank!

Can you tell us about your bows? Maybe I would be the only one interested?? But I am! Is your oldest shooting a PSE?

 

[oruacat2]

I'm interested in the specs of the various bows you and your crew used, Mike. Interested - and jealous.
Many MANY years ago my uncle gave me his old Shakespeare recurve (yes, the same company that makes the Ugly Stik fishing rods) and I had a blast with that thing for years until I gave it back to him when I left for the Army. It's funny you created this thread because lately I've been thinking about that old bow and considering buying a new one for myself.

Great pics, Mike

Kenny

 

[mtnfolk mike]

many thanks for the kind words folks.. it was indeed a great time.. i am very fortunate to e able to share such great times with my family..

Gene and Oruacat2--

as far as the bows go, these shoots allow you to see so many different traditional bows, an almost all of them being handmade.. its awesome..

-i shoot a 58 in. 47# (brushbow) made by CA. bowyer Steve Abbott..

-the misses shoots a 62 in. 40# Martin Stick longbow..

-my older son shoots a 66 in. 35# Martin Venom longbow..

-the little dude shoots a 54 in. 25# Black Rhino longbow..

-my father in law is shooting 2 different bows in these pics, in the golf shots he was shooting a 64 in. 52# Chaparral reflex-deflex longbow. and in the other pics he was shooting a 64 in. 51# primitive (no fiberglass) longbow made by master bowyer John Strunk..

-our friend Greg (ponytail and hat) he shoots a 64 in 52# Chaparral reflex-deflex longbow..

-Michael(long goatee) also shoots a 64 in. 51## primitive (no fiberglass) longbow made by master bowyer John Strunk..

 

[C Bryant]

SOOOOO JEALOUS!!!! My bow needs a good workout!

Glad to see you guys had a good time. I promise we will make it up to this shoot someday!

 

[mtnfolk mike]

SOOOOO JEALOUS!!!! My bow needs a good workout!

Glad to see you guys had a good time. I promise we will make it up to this shoot someday!

right on Christian.. you definitely need to try and make this shoot one of these days, it is a lot of fun.. the archery golf is worth it all alone..

hope all is well... give me a call one of these days..

 

[TheGame]

Thanks for the pics, and the info on the bows you use. I haven't done any traditional archery, but I have thought about learning it to hunt with. It would be a good challenge, I think.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Thanks for the info Mike! Sounds like a great spread of nice sticks!!! How does your oldest like the Martin? I just bought a PSE Legacy, kind of an entry level centerline. I am looking into a Howard Hill right now. Tough to choose..there are SO MANY great bows out there, and only so much money.
I have to just go out and shoot and enjoy what I have now...which is great to!

 

[mtnfolk mike]

Thanks for the info Mike! Sounds like a great spread of nice sticks!!! How does your oldest like the Martin? I just bought a PSE Legacy, kind of an entry level centerline. I am looking into a Howard Hill right now. Tough to choose..there are SO MANY great bows out there, and only so much money.
I have to just go out and shoot and enjoy what I have now...which is great to!

very cool Gene.. thanks for the compliments bro.. definitely get out and practice as mush and as often as you can.. that is the key to developing muscle memory and becoiming a better archer..

my older son is liking his Martin so far.. they seem to be great bows, though a little on the pricey, for being factory made?? i actually traded a dude here on BF for 3 knives, for that bow..

if you ever want to come on over to Cali. for a weekend and attend one of these shoots, you're more that welcome..

Mike