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Are you interested in archery? Considering giving it a try? A favorite past time tradition of ours has been the annual bow shoot. Every year, since the kids were little, we'd pack up our tents, bows, arrows, and head to the range. It was a great way to getaway for the weekend, a time to meet up with old friends, take a break from work, and relax with the family.
An archery shoot can be the perfect opportunity for you to meet with other people who share similar interests and who can show and teach you new things. We can't tell you how many new things we've learned, or the number of friends we have made over the years. But if you want to learn a little more about archery or are just looking for a little bit of fun we highly recommend you pack up and go to a bow shoot!
We were first introduced to archery years ago by a friend. We'd always been into hunting and fishing and had dabbled in archery (who doesn't want to go fling sticks around?) but had never really gotten into it until the first shoot. A friend invited us to a weekend shoot at a local archery club set up by some archers with a passion for shooting. They had a range with about 50 targets where you could go and score yourself, participate in competitions, and receive prizes. Let us say, the first time we went, we we're hooked.
As the day progressed we learned a few things (mostly how to find lost arrows and to hit the stake) but also began to realize what fun this could be. Hanging out with friends and just spending a day outdoors was a fun way to get out! Our two kids both learned how to shoot a bow and pull out arrows, and we learned about traditional archery, hunting, and most importantly when the next shoot was!
After a long day on the course we all went and sat down around a campfire. The kids roasted marshmallows and the rest of the crew ate brats and hamburgers. Looking at the group we noticed that the people sitting around the fire were people of all ages. Young couples out with friends, grandparents who had brought their grand kids with them and us with our family. It couldn't have been a more diverse group, but the one thing that was completely mutual was the smiles and laughter. The evening was filled with jokes and stories, and everyone had something new to tell. What we were beginning to realize was that archery was much larger than just a hunting style, it was a community of people, young and old, wanting to share this lifestyle with everyone. Every person there wanted to tell you about the latest hunt and asked you about yourself and your family. All day long on the course they had stopped the kids when they made a bad shot and gave them a small bit of advice, and by the time the evening was over almost everyone there sincerely said,"See you next weekend!" It was a wonderful time and, needless to say, we were there that next week.
From that first one we were hooked and have been going to archery shoots ever since. We learned more from those veteran archers than we ever have from a magazine or book. Since then we've learned how to make bows and knap flint, been invited to archery golf tournaments, pow wows, and the kids have even learned basket weaving. Half of this we would have never even known existed had we not first gone to that bow shoot. The friends and people we met over the years have come and gone, but their stories and skills will be kept with us forever, passed on to our children, and generations to come. We are thankful to every one of those people we met. Many believe archery to be a dying trade, but after discovering the archers community and all it has to offer, we know that it is still alive, if only among a select few.
Here are a couple links to finding shoots in your area:
http://www.3dshoots.com/ -find a 3D shoot in your area
http://dmtargets.com/archery-clubs -find a local archery club
From that first one we were hooked and have been going to archery shoots ever since. We learned more from those veteran archers than we ever have from a magazine or book. Since then we've learned how to make bows and knap flint, been invited to archery golf tournaments, pow wows, and the kids have even learned basket weaving. Half of this we would have never even known existed had we not first gone to that bow shoot. The friends and people we met over the years have come and gone, but their stories and skills will be kept with us forever, passed on to our children, and generations to come. We are thankful to every one of those people we met. Many believe archery to be a dying trade, but after discovering the archers community and all it has to offer, we know that it is still alive, if only among a select few.
Here are a couple links to finding shoots in your area:
http://www.3dshoots.com/ -find a 3D shoot in your area
http://dmtargets.com/archery-clubs -find a local archery club