Just look at that torque after the release, got to work on that too!
| Name: | Marius Bester |
| E-mail: | mjbester@mweb.co.za |
| Newsgroups: | neither |
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| Just a walkin in da woods! Just look at that torque after the release, got to work on that too! |
Been visiting the newsgroups less and less lately. The Sagittarius Blackboard and web-page is a much better source of information and most of it is also of great use in my traditional archery exploits. Thanks guys, keep up the good work!
Also as I am primarily a bow-hunter, I visit the Stickbow, the Bowsite and HuntAmerica.com much more frequently. Look for their URL's in "the places (links) I like to visit".
My favourate bow, and the first one I ever bought was a 55# PSE Marksman longbow...I shot this bow day in and day out, 100 to 150 arrows a day for almost 11 months and then it decided, on the 8th target of a local N.I.F.A.A. competition, to delaminate. Ruined the day for me.
So what is left on my bowrack, or is on it's way to the said bowrack?
Got a new PSE Marksman to replace the 55# one (see above). At 60# it shoots at a flatter angle than the 55#'er, making those longer shots slightly easier. What is also great about this bow is that it only starts to stack at exactly my normal draw-length (29") thus giving me a natural draw stop.
For the above bow I use Easton 2315 arrows.
Also have a custom made Derek Nourse #70 longbow on order. Cant wait for it to arrive!
Lastly, I've also started building selfbows recently, it is great fun, but hard work. There is also something special about shooting a bow that you made yourself.
Update:
I've switched to the Derek Nourse #70 longbow and started making my own wooden arrows...what a difference! I've also adopted a gap shooting method that makes those 80 yard shots a lot easier!
My target archery history is closely linked with one very special bow, i.e. the 55# PSE Marksman mentioned above. I bought it in February 1999 and for about two months used it to spray arrows all over targets untill I got used to it and managed to get the bracing height and nock positioned just right. Then, whilst this was going on, I also bought a Jennings Buckmaster Compound in March 1999, but sold it again in June as the let-off felt to much like cheating.
Concentrating on learning to use the Marksman I started shooting better and better scores. Then in July I started to overtake some of the lower ranked compound shooters in our local archery club. In August I went to a traditional archery competition and placed 4th in the Longbow devision, 9th overall. Then, with quite a bit of luck, in November I won the South African Broadhead championships in the Traditional equipment category.
Then this year, at my first competition, my bow broke, and being a little absent minded, I had left my replacement bow at home (about 3hours drive away from the competition site).
Future archery plans include hunting, hunting and more hunting. I aslo intend continueing with traditional 3D archery, something that I started with only last year. I will try and keep you updated on what happens next!
So far I've achieved the following:
1. First place in our 1999 local club challenge, traditional bows (not a big deal as only a few archers attended) - 55# PSE Marksman Longbow.
2. Fourth place for Longbows in the 1999 Bushmens Challenge (Traditional bows only). - 55# PSE Marksman Longbow.
3. First place in the 1999 South African National Broadhead competition for the "Traditional Bow" category - 55# PSE Marksman.
4. First place at the 2000 South African Hunters Society Broadhead shoot at Baviaanspoort Pretoria - 65# Martin Dreamcatcher Recurve.
5. Silver medal at SANIFAA South African National champs at Wolwehoek in 2001. Derek Nourse Longbow and wooden arrows.
6. Silver medal at Natal Chapionships 2001. Also a SANIFAA event and with the same equipment as in (5.) above.
Note: I think I'm finally getting over breaking my 55# Marksman.
There is nothing better than pulling of the perfect shot, shooting the perfect arrow, and then doing it again and again, one arrow at a time and under different challenging situations! Get the game, that is the aim!
Except beating a compound archer in a 3D competition, even if it is only hitting one difficult target when they miss it. Hehehehehehe!!!!!!
For me the pure form of archery, shooting with a bent-stick using no stabelizers, rest, sight or any other attachment to the bow except the string of course :-), is what archery is all about.
I'm a political analyst by profession and live in a wonderfull town called Nelspruit in the North-Eastern part of South Africa. The main focus of archery in this area is hunting and 3-D shooting (but the latter mostly as preperation for hunting only). Pure target archery (FITA style) is something quite unknown in these parts. Not that it matters much to me, because I'm a firm believer in conservation through utilization and the bow gives me a wonderfull opportunity to do my part and have fun at the same time. As such I do not view myself as a trophy hunter, nor do I think I'll ever become one. Hunting to me means meat in the fridge as well as money spent on conservation.
To be in the bush and to enjoy nature is a big part of the archery experience to me, to stalk your game untill you are only a few yards away....now THAT is a challenge!
