It has been quiet for the last few weeks. Last week, I set up a course for me and Jacob to shoot so he would be ready for the third leg of the national triple crown. I wanted to test his skills in a variety of situations so he would be prepared for any tricks that he might encounter on a tough course.
Barry and I busted our butts on a brutally hot day last Friday to get the targets where I wanted them. I haven't touched any of my targets this year. I'm not sure if it's laziness or lack of interest... or maybe it's because the 4-wheeler has been broken, and I haven't wanted to carry the targets on my back to set them out and move them around during the week. The wet spring/early summer hasn't helped matters, either.
As the year is winding down, and I look back on it, I'm disappointed in myself that I have so many targets and haven't used them at all to better myself. I've been putting in the work behind the bow at the house, and it has been really discouraging. I just can't seem to shoot any type of groups on dots. I think I've been trying to hard, and the wheels have fallen off the bus with my spot shooting. That's why I decided to stay away from shooting at spots for the week.
Jacob came up early last Saturday, and Barry and I headed onto my course to shoot with him. We had a great day and enjoyed each other's company. We discussed a lot of things about archery and tried gaining what we could from the course. When all was said and done, Jacob only shot one 8 on a Rinehart target, and it was the very first target of the day. It was a 50 yard white ram over a hump an in a little hole that eliminated being able to see all of its legs. After shooting one 8 on 40 targets on a course like that, I knew he was ready. I also felt ready. Although Dad wanted to go to the third leg, I really didn't feel like traveling, but I did want to make sure I had everything lined up.
I went to Dad's to shoot every day of the week and spent a lot of time shooting my targets and judging the yardage on them. I shot them from both sides and every angle imaginable. It felt good to get that kind of practice since I hadn't practiced like that all year. I've had a good year by most people's standards, but I've battled some bow issues, and I also haven't put any time in on the 3D range. The only time I've shot 3Ds is when I've gone to the shoots across the region, and I didn't shoot as many of them as I normally shoot. That's on me. I need to get the wheeler fixed so I can put the time in. I know it's important. I also need to stop shooting so much at dots. It hasn't done much good for me this year.
The Third Leg Begins
Dad and I drove through the night on Friday after I got out of work. We got to the hotel around 10:30 and settled in for the night. When the alarm sounded at 5:30 a.m., I didn't want to get out of bed. I had battled low blood sugar throughout the night, which made it impossible to get good sleep. I was running on empty when we left for the tournament site.
After waiting in line and getting registered, I headed to the target butt. The few arrows I shot at the butts didn't hit as I expected them to hit. I had a few low ones, and a few in the dot. I shot three or four ends of arrows and got no type of consistency until I shot at the 30 yard bag that had the huge yellow bullseye in the middle. I stacked all of my arrows in it, pulled them and headed to the range.
It was a little dark in the woods when I started due to the canopy. Luckily, I started on a caribou. I exchanged pleasantries with a few people as I walked down the trial to the first target. After the cards were drawn, I learned that I would be the last shooter in the order.
When I settled in and began aiming, the bow fired, and the arrow hit behind the pin -- 11. I was a little anxious on the first few targets but not too terribly bad. I've had it affect my aiming in the past, but on this day, I could feel it on the inside, but it didn't affect the outside. Since it was dark as I made my way through the first course, I did my best to hold well and execute good shots. Unfortunately, I did shoot an 8 on an uphill mountain lion a few targets into the range. I had the right yardage but lost the pressure on my bow arm right before the shot broke. I hit a little bit low and accepted it for what it was. As I moved along, my shot started feeling really good. The yardage was standing out to me like I was shooting marked yardage, too. I never encountered a target through the course of the day that I felt the least bit worried that I had the wrong number. When I got off the first 10 with a 103, I was happy, but I knew that I had actually left a few points out there for the way I was shooting. I barely missed a few other 11s, and I knew I should't have shot the 8 on the mountain lion because I had the right number.
Round 2: A-Course
I felt confident when I got to the second course, especially when I saw a bedded elk as the first target. I executed a great shot on it and began my journey up the hill. The first few targets on this course tested shooters' skills on side-hill and uphill shots. When I got to a howling wolf, I felt lucky to see the group in front of me at the target. When I saw them there, I adjusted my number and set my sight. A few of the guys in my group shot before me. One of them was in the bottom of the 10 and one was just under him in the 8. I settled in nicely and executed yet another great shot. When it broke, I figured it would land in the 11. The guy's arrow as low in the 10 but the nock was higher than the arrow -- I aimed right at it.
When I heard a clanking noise, I figured I was solidly in the 10, as we all though I tubed his arrow. When we got to the target, I was disappointed to see that his unibushing and nock were destroyed. Then, looking at my arrow quickly, I hoped with all my might that it hadn't ricocheted into the five. Luckily, it barely caught the 8 line, but unluckily, the arrow was probably headed into the 11 before the ricochet wrecked the other arrow. There was no doubt I had lost two points that I had clearly earned. The way the rule stands is not fair. If an arrow is unshootable due to another arrow hitting it, the arrow that hit it should receive the same score. At least that's the way I feel about it. I've now paid the price for this on two separate occasions at national events.
As I got near the top of the hill, I donutted a coyote and felt good about it because my aim was a little unsteady due to the footing and uphill grade. I was glad to take my 11 and move on to the next target. When I got to the next one, I was the African blesbok that I haven't seen too much. Everyone in the group had a quarter group size on the left side of the 10/8, with less than an inch between the 10 and 5 on the left side.
When I drew my bow on that target, I feel incredibly weak and dizzy. I'm not sure what was going on, other than my blood sensor and monitor weren't agreeing. My monitor was telling me my blood was really high, in the 200s, but my sensor was telling me my blood was 87. Either way, I suddenly didn't feel well. My sight picture got really shaky for the first time of the day, and I couldn't hold the bow. I also couldn't feel my back at all. When the shot broke, I knew it was going left. I didn't feel too badly when I saw it hit in the group of arrows at the target. When we got to the target, two arrows were 8s and one was a 10, and my arrow was less than a half inch from those arrows, but it found its way into the 5.
Moving to the next target, I put it in the back of my mind and didn't worry about it. But when I drew on the brown bear, I couldn't hold steady again, and I was really lightheaded. Luckily, I made a good shot and moved on. When I got to the white ram, I knew how far it was due to the all of the holes under the 10-ring. I knew I couldn't leave it short because that's what everyone else had done for the last two days. The proof was in the pudding. Still unable to hold steady and feeling lost in the head, my bow fired, and the arrow hit in the core line, just out of the 8... my second five in three shots. The wheels were falling off the bus, but I didn't acknowledge it. Instead, I put my head down and tried to make good shots. I did the best I could to stay afloat.
I led off the last target of the range, a black bear. The arrow hit behind the pin, and I figured I had an 11. I put a good marker for everyone else, and they all 11d it. I had to settle for a 10 on one I firmly believe I would have gotten if someone else led it off. That's the breaks sometimes.
When I got off the range, I knew I could salvage a poor round due to the start I had on the first course. That's what I would have to do just to feel good about my trip to the shoot. I knew I was down five going into the last 20, so I figured I would set a goal of getting out of the hole and back to even. If I could get back to even, I would call it a success. You always have to set goals and reset goals as you go through a range. You have to learn to manage your round and do what you have to do to stay on pace. I've shot enough of these to know that you're never beaten until you give up. Most people would have cashed it in after two fives but not me. Going into the last 20, my blood level was back to normal and my monitor and sensor were matching again. I'd say the rough stretch had to do with the sudden rapid increase in my blood sugar. I'm disappointed with that, but that's what happens when you deal with a disease like this one. I've learned to do the best I can.
The Last 20
The first 10 targets of the last 20 were all uphill, not my speciality. I knew I had to get the shot in my back and make really strong shots if I were to have any chance of somehow getting back those six points and getting over even.
I kept my head in the game and focused on making good shots on every target. It was tough at times because I was having a hard time holding steady due to the uphill grade. Although I wasn't holding like a rock, the pin was still sitting relatively okay. This brought my concentration to a high level, and it remained there until the very end. When we made the turn and got off the uphill part of the course, I had gained all of my points back and was back on the plus side. Since the rest of the shots were downhill or on flat ground, I figured I wasn't done. After making the turn, the pin locked on, and my shot has never felt better. The shots were effortless, and I was seeing every yardage. Shooting seemed so incredibly easy over the course of the last 10 targets. Although I battled with everything I had through the first 10, I felt calm, free and easy on the last 10. Draw the bow, aim and the arrow was on its way. I began feeling like I did during the few incredible years I had back in the day in SPM and MBO: shooting was easy.
When I got to the last target, a bedded buck in an open area, I just wanted to stay in the 10-ring. I made a good shot and the arrow hit the 10-ring at 6'oclock. My round was done, all 40, and I walked off the last 20 targets with a 212. On the last 20 targets, I stayed out of the 8-ring and just missed five more 11s by less than an inch. I had found my old self, the self from 20 years earlier. It felt incredible. Here's the card for the day. The ranges aren't in order that I shot them.
My Take on the Weekend
Plain and simply, I shot great. I had a great group of guys to shoot with for the day, too. One thing I have to say is that I shot with the guys from Rogue Bowstrings. These guys were probably the most professional guys I've ever shot with as far as running a business. They never said a word about their products or pushed any of their sales skills on anyone in the group. They talked highly of all other string makers, and these guys were a joy to shoot with. While I've always supported GAS strings because I've known Eric for so long and support his endeavors, I wouldn't hesitate to do business with these guys, either. They were genuine guys, and they are good for the sport. I love people who don't push their stuff down people's throats. I enjoyed shooting with these guys. Joe and Justin, thanks for the great day. I appreciate being around people like you guys. I was glad to share the stake with you.
After having many talks with Jacob about holding weight, I've come to realize that I shoot much better with more holding weight. I think I only let down a few times due to not being able to get the shot off. I had to let down a few times to change the lighting on my pin, but besides that, I didn't let down too many times. My aiming was phenomenal for everything except the uphill shots, and even then, it wasn't too bad. I could clearly see where I wanted to hit on these targets. That has been a problem for me all year. The lighting was great for me, which allowed me to put the arrows where they needed to be.
After spending a lot of time behind different bows over my career, and this year, I've come full circle and am back to where I started. I've been shooting PSE bows really well this year. While they haven't been the easiest to get to where I needed them to be, both my Supra Focus indoors and Evoke 35 outdoors, have pounded when I got them where I needed them. I'm still searching a little bit with the Evoke, but it proved it can pound under pressure. I just need to figure out how to make it more forgiving on bad shots. If I figure that out, I will be all set. Until then, it will still be in the back of my mind. I seem to shoot the Evolve cam system really well. I just break better shot with it than I do with a limb stop bow.
My trips to my dad's house every day to shoot 3Ds, especially Rineharts, made a huge difference this week. If you want to excel, you need to put in the proper practice, and that is shooting at 3Ds when you want to do well. I know I can compete with anyone if I just stop being a backyard bowhunter and weekend warrior on the 3D range. The guy who beat me is one of the best 3D shooters to have ever shot in the IBO in the amateur classes. The guy is the guy to beat and always has been. I won't lie and tell you I'm not salty about getting beat -- because I am. If I get beat by someone I don't mind at all, but when I beat myself, it doesn't sit too well. I just wish I didn't beat myself for a few targets in the middle. I guess I'll pass it off as a health-related issue and move on. I just had some really bad luck again at a national event. It didn't cost me a podium finish, but it definitely prevented me from winning. I still had a winning performance.
I finally got to shoot with Ethan Jaskulski, and I had a great job. He shot really well, and I was impressed by his form. He's a solid shooter and can go places in this sport if he keeps pursuing it. Watching you shoot, Ethan, you're a shooter I would swap form with. You have great form and look good behind the bow. It was a pleasure to watch you shoot and execute good shots. It motivated me to make good shots.
I could spend all night congratulating all of the other regional people, but I just want you to all know that I extend my congratulations to all of you. Kathryn on her podium finish, Jim on his triple crown win, Scott on his first-ever team triple crown championship, the super freak on sweeping all three legs of the triple crown in SPM.
My Teammate: The Superfreak
Jacob gained my respect the first time I saw him shoot at Guan Ho Ha when he was a kid. He was simply awesome. He puts the work in, and he's close with his dad. His dad goes everywhere to shoot with him, just like my dad goes everywhere to shoot with me. It's mind-boggling to watch him shoot every week. I have become numb to how incredible it really is. He is clearly one of the best and compete with anyone in the world in any venue of archery. The best part about it is that he is just a normal guy. Nothing goes to his head, and like me, he just likes to shoot his bow. People don't realize how much work he puts in. If you knew half of what he does, you wouldn't call him a natural. He works his ass off at it to be good. He has a plan, sticks to it, and does what he has to do to address the weaker parts of his game. Oh, he also threw down a score at this shoot that only Levi Morgan beat, and they shot the same range. Unlike Levi, he never left the 10-ring.... and he did it with a backup bow, a short axle to axle hunting bow. He blew away the field with a hunting bow, a bow he has only been shooting for a few weeks. It's simply awesome. If people truly want to know why we have been able to shoot well together as teammates, the two pictures I post below are the reason. When we are both on, we can shoot arrows in the middle. When we have shot these team events, we seem to gel really well together. We shoot in the team events like we both shot this weekend. We were both lucky enough to shoot 21 11s out of the 40 shots. Unfortunately, I had a few incidents that kept me from standing atop the podium, but I'll take what I got. I'll see all of you soon.
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