How Long have you been In Archery? & what do you shoot w

[Garden Gnome!]

I have been Shooting Bows for the past 28 & 3/4 years now 8) I have seen a lot of game taken with the stick & compound :shock: My first bow was a Fred Bear Recurve which I used for around 9 years then I used my brothers King George compound which I still have 8) , then moved onto the Bear Delta V Still have that too :!: then onto a Sherwood long bow, don't have that now :cry: , oh I forgot I have An Oneida as well :oops: Now I currently shoot A Badlands Longbow 64# as well as my 45# Doratoxilin forgive the spelling :oops: Selfbow on alternate weekends.

Thats enough for now its your turn :!:

Yours In Archery.

Gnome!

[bobzila]

i shot for a year when i was in yr5 then stoped and started agen nilly 3 years ago

[granty]

ive been shooting for about a year and a half now and i am shooting a pse synery 4 cam at about 55 pounds :)

[woodstoka]

iv been into archery for about 5 years now but only started getting serious in the last 2 years
i started on a crappy fiberglass bow and thena 20lbs compound now a pse nova synergy 4 cam at 5olbs and i still own all bows

[Garden Gnome!]

Great to see guys. what about the rest of you out there or is you shy :P

Yours In Archery.

Gnome!

[ricochet]

Have been into archery/bowhunting for well over 30 years now, started many years ago with a 35lb recurve target bow, (which i still have),then a recurve 55lb hunting bow,i sold this (i should not have sold this one),my first compound was a Martin (kit bow) compound at about 55lb, (still have), i then purchased a Bear whitetail hunter at 60lb, but the problem way back then was i did not know much about bows (still don't), and this bow had a draw length 31", slighty to much for me, gave that bow away to a friend, and i have now a Buck (champion bows Canada) Saber at 54lb, with a draw length 28",every thing i know about bows has been self taught,(this has been a big problem), as all the bad habits/mistakes you do not pick up on so fast as now adays , still love the chance to get out, sometimes very frustrating, but still great to get out,i have learnt more from this site over the past 5 years than all the 30 years by myself :)

Rick

[Warlocke]

First started shooting self bows when I was about five (got a few cats and a few neighbours with these bows).

Mum was always confiscating them, so I had to make a new one.

Always been interested in archery but had to wait until I went to work, about 36 years ago, to buy my first commercially manufactured bow, a long bow of about 55# (can't remember the name).

At that time guns were more important so I didn't buy another bow for about four years, another long bow of 65#.

This I sold, about 20 years ago, to buy a 40# York recurve that my son and I could use together.

Still got it.

I took up compounds about four years ago and had many different bows until I settled on my first Hoyt Ultratec, a 2001 model.

Had a few others to try out along the way as well, Martins, American Archery, a couple of Reflexes, Brownings, Bears and a few others that I can't remember the names of.

Bought a 2004 Ultratec, sold it then bought a 2005 Mathews Outback and upgraded the York to a Samick Talon recurve, these I have to this day.

When I look at it archery has been a part of my life for about 45 years and will probably still be a part of my life for another 45 or more

[Puk]

I got an old 50lb Darton compound with a timber riser from a cousin when i was in year 11. I sold it again to another cousin and stuck to fishing as i have always lived near water.
I moved to Pinnaroo 4 years ago and was 104km away from the closest fish, so i bought one of those cheap crappy Ebay bows, remembering that i had a 28 inch draw in year 11. Apparently i have grown. :oops:

I sold the bow on Ebay for $30 more than i paid for it and bought a Darton Renegade from an online Archery Direct link from the states. This was after finding out that my draw had grown to 32 inches (I know, inspector gadget arms!)

I was hooked again, the fishing gear has not come out of the cupboard in a year, i bought a second-hand Martin Phantom 2 last year and am having a ball. I get away whenever i can, and having goats, rabbits and foxes within 30km of me is great. Bowhunting is good to keep you walking when you drive a desk all day.

Bowhunter for life? Absolutely!

Puk

[Hefty]

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. When Puk bought his compound in high school, I was in primary school and thought it was cool coz he was doing it. So, when we happened to find an old fiberglass recurve one time (I think it was literally lying by the side of the road) I gave it a go. It lasted about 3 weeks before the ends of the limbs split beyond repair.
*fast forward to present day*
I've been shooting for about 1 year now and again it's thank to Puk's influence. I shoot an old Martin Lynx Magnum I got off Ebay (and I'm saving as fast as I can for soemthing a little newer :shock: )

Jono.

[XTfreak]

Guess I started about 16 or 17 years old, Thats about 25 or 26 years in Archery. Started with a recurve, couldnt hit anything so went to a compound. Pretty much stuck with it except for 2 years I went and did my duty for Uncle Sam.
Now if you look down you will see what I currently shoot.
Bill

[Howling Dog]

I started a long time ago! :shock:
Started with a 35# fibreglass recurve & then moved on to numerous Darton compounds & followed by 3 different Damon Howatt recurves, a Hoyt recurve, this was then followed by some PSE compounds & then back to Darton, I then moved onto Hoyt compounds for few years. Then when I was shooting for Eagle Archery I shot Jennings compounds & later shot a few Reflex compounds. Phew it was then back to Hoyt, now I shoot 3D with a Mathews Switchback XT & hunt with a Mathews Ultra 2.
I think that covers them all :?
But I have never had a longbow :cry: , maybe one day.
Ken :D

[Garden Gnome!]

Thanks guys there is certainly a diverse range of bows being shot over the years.


Woodstoka, Granty, bobzila you guys are the future of this great sport keep it going 8) :D

Rick, know what you mean when you find it hard to break old habits, & yes you can lern so much via the info highway now.

Ken, it dose get a little confusing remembering :oops: someday you will shoot a longbow, who knows it could become your new hunting stick :P :wink:

Bill, nothing wrong with that :wink:

Jono, It's great to have a mentor & friends like Puk I only wish I had that When I was young 8)

Puk what can I say, except I'm enviouse of your oportunities to hunt so near 8) :)

Warlocke, keep the good times a rolling 8) :)


Yours In Archery.

Gnome!

[Scott]

G'day Gnome. I first picked up a bow when I was 20, a nice little
45# tru-aim recurve. The first thing I took with it was a rabbit, then a pig. And that was that, I never shot another thing with it. I guess I had not finished shooting with the rifle because that became my chosen weapon. Then in 1986 a good mate (Derek Starr) turned up at my house with a new beaut compound. That was it, I was hooked and have never went back. So I could say this is the 20 year mark for me. I shoot a Reflex Grizzly set on 65# Cheers. Scott

[HOOD]

I started shooting years back when I was just 6-7yrs old, I made my bows from tree branches and fishing line and mums plant stakes (got in trouble alot for pinching them :twisted: )
And when ever we went to our friends farm at Renmark we would do the same.
Then a really really really long break from it until 4 years ago when a mate invited me to go and have a shoot at a local club. After 3 hours of shooting I went home and told the wife I was going shopping grabbed the credit card then I was hooked.
First (real) bow was a ProLine compound at 55# (sold it) then a 2000 Hoyt Magnatec 50-60# (still have it). Then got a 30# Yamaha one piece curve from "Crime Converters" (still have it) and then got a Samick Mind-30 55# curve. (still have it)

Hooked for life now. I love archery and hunting. And will do it until the day I die.
:D

I got started early when dad made my young brother and I bows out of willow and a bag of bull rush arrows wrapped in copper wire , we lived near the beach and we would draw circles in the sand dune faces and put shells in the centre then go to town on them from sun up to sun down most days.

I was seven when it started and next birthday I will be 40 , there would be but a few days between arrows from that day to this , calling it a passion would only just do it :roll: I have and still do hunt with all bow types and when pressed and pressed some more to tell which I like the most I will probably still avoid the question I really do love them all.

Along the way I have owned quite a few bows , at age 14 I got my first Compound it was a Hoyt Pro Medalist I have had 9 others to date all Hoyts , for no other reason than that they have always been great bows and I have never had a moments trouble with any of them.I shoot a 2006 Trykon at the moment and have a 2007 Vectrix XL on the way.

In the past three years I have spent a kings ransom on traditional equipment and I get a great amount of satisfaction when shooting and hunting with them.

I have a Robertson Montana Falcon recurve that is 63@28
A Black Widow LAG long bow that is 63 @ 28
And A Wes Wallace Long bow that is 60 @ 28

I purchased each of my Traditional bows second hand after shooting them with their previous owners , I have learned that in the realm of traditional bows there is a great deal of variability in performance and individual shoot ability , it is far better to shoot before you buy and get a bow that suits you than to change your style to suit the bow you just purchased.

I shoot one or more of my bows almost every day , my son Fraser and I shoot together and that is really enjoyable in its self.

Simon

[NormGunston]

G.G- your thread is a great way to get to know people quickly (outside of the interviews already done), nice idea. Started in Grade 4 with the humble stick of tea-tree, a random length of builder's twine, a couple of mum's bamboo tomato stakes model. Just loved watching the arrows fly. Had a lot of different bows and archery experiences since then, and the collection is growing. Still like watching the arrows fly.

[Garden Gnome!]

Hey Scott,

Better late than never to pick up the bow :) and don't time fly,
it's good that your mate Derek got you back into the sport, nothing wrong with rifles though, I love them just as much as my bows.

Hood, I too did get in trouble taking the plant stakes :roll: , got a couple good floggins to for shooting th car tyres :twisted:

Simon, I'm like minded like you when it comes to pressure on which i like the best & like you I love to shoot with them all. Also sound advice on buying secondhand trad bows. I too shot with my three kids and spending time with them.

NormGunston, thanks mate 8) :D Someday we all might get together & watch the arrows fly, that would be great :!: 8) .

Keep it coming guys, I haven't herd much from the girls where is ya :!:


Yours In Archery.

Gnome!

[wazza_X force]

hey guys...

im 17.... and will have 12 months of bowhunting expertise(if you can call it that!!!) under my belt... i started off with a reflex gamegetter 2, with dodgy sight, dodgy quiver and a carolina whisker biscuit that i loved...

from that i upgraded into the hoyt SENSATION and have now, as my name suggests a 75th anniversary powertec with the full hoyt accessory kit..

i shoot hoyt axis 400's and the true blue supremes and hunters from woody...

went out for a shoot today after having withdrawals and im still greatful to have such an awesome set up...( that last comment might be a bit biast... :D :D :D

[Glenn]

I started bowhunting in 1974 when I was 21, my first bow was a Bear Kodiak Hunter which I still have, after that I bought a John Schultz longbow, that bow blew up but I still have the riser from it as it was a very good bow, I did by a compound in 1981, shot two hares with it but hated it, sold that one. These days I only shoot the bows I make myself but what I enjoy the most is taking game with selfbows, that's the most rewarding bowhunting I have ever done over the years...Glenn...

[Willy_R]

5 min and I know everything :)....sorry archerholeisum is setting in again :oops:

Well not long enough to know everything, but to long to remember all my bows except my First commercial made curve was a Kodiak Magnum ( Goooooooonnnneeee), first Compound a Darton MC5000 magnum (Gooooonnnneeee ) after that it gets a bit vague.... bit like me
:) ?
One thin I don't get is a sentimental attachment to such things...

[jpbon]

Been in archery and bowhunting for around 4 months now. Started off with a fantastic, little dynamite bow called a Fred Bear Buckmaster G2 (refer to the Classifieds :D :D :D :D ) but now have a Diamond Victory that i am loving, can't wait to harvest an animal with it :D 8)

[Viking]

Just getting back into bows, having been on a looooong sabbatical since having my first bow, a pretty ordinary 35lb fibreglass recurve in my teens. 20 years later and I've been given a Browning Summit II for nix, complete with Toxonic fibre optic sight. I've set it at 62lb, complete with a dropaway rest, and am keen to give it a whirl on a target other than a bale.

What's the consensus with stabilisers? It seems most people featured in magazine articles are using them. Do they make a big difference, or do they just make a good archer better. At the moment I'm just getting the hang of it all, and as such I've got a bit of practise to do before I can consider myself good.

Also; do the Tunerz make a big difference to noise?

Cheers,

Steve

[Stray Jay]

Started pluggin targets in year 10 after the old boy baught me a Jennings Black Lightning at 60# and bare. Could shoot alright with it untill the little flicker tab type arrow rest broke and I put it away and forgot about it for about 9-10yrs.
Work commitments had me camped on quite a large station up north for a little over a year and within the first couple weeks it was evident, I was addicted to hunting. This lead to the digging through of the shed, a little stop into Nimmos to find out what I could do to my bow to get it working and how to make me own arrows and off I went with a large mischievious grin.
Not a weekend was wasted with many a pig escaping from the loud newby chasing em, but as the weeks/ mths rolled on the hook tally and confidence started to increase.

Work finished up there early this year and the boss decided it was time to visit Blackwater in central QLD. Quietly quietly I managed to gather a couple rabbitin properties but couldnt find pigs. Decided to spoil myself and got the Matty Switchback XT through Dave at East Coast Archery (very friendly & healpfull bloke). Finally found some pigs in C.Q and got sent home to Cairns.

Really looking forward to joining a club and learning some of the finer points of form, well all the points and maybe getting into some traditional or wood bows.

[Garden Gnome!]

Wazza_powertec,

Go the Hoyt :!: :wink: 8) 12 months expertise will turn into 12 years then before you know it 24, keep the sport alive. You have a very nice setup there as well take care of it as it will look after you.

Glenn,

It sure was nice to meet you at the Caboulture Corival this year. I too love to hunt and take game with my selfbow and also enjoy making them to. Hope to see you at the next one and i will bring a coulple of mine to show you.

Willy_R,

You crak me up :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jpbon,

The Fred Bear Buckmaster G2 is a nice bow as is the Dimond, time will tell for taking game and when it dose they just wont stop falling for you :D Let us know so we can enjoy in your triumphs.

Steve,

20 years flys by quick don't it :wink: but it sure is nice to get back into it :wink: Stabilisers take or reduce shock from the bow as well as help to quieten, as to weather or not they make a good archer better is up to the individual, I have not used Turnerz, but I do believe that that they do, I hope this is of some help.

Stray Jay,

Farms and large properties are great aren't they :wink: You get the best of both worlds 8) Try contackting John Tietzel from Tusker Broadheads he will be able to give you contact numbers for Tully club they are a great bunch of guys who will help with form as well as give you the run down on the Trad Gear.

Keep it coming guys, but where are the girls I know your out there :lol:


Yours In Archery.

Gnome!