Royalston Team Money Shoot

 

 

 Another summer of archery got put to an end this weekend at the Royalston team money shoot. It's a fun shoot that I look forward to participating in every year because I get to see all of my closest archery friends and say goodbye to them until winter. There are always a lot of smiles, laughs and ball-busting that  is shared amongst all participants. There are the same teams that return every year. There are people who try different partners every year. Every year usually sees a few new people come out to the event to see what it's all about, and we welcome them into our New England family of archery. There's no drama or complaining, and everyone who comes enjoys the day. It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, and it doesn't matter if you hit one 14 or 10 of them. Those 14s are like a perfect drive on a golf course. They are unforgettable, and we talk about them for years after they happen. Sometimes, we even get to talk about the ones that got called out. Jacob and I will always remember this one.

 This might have been the first time I saw Jacob throw his subconscious mind into kill mode. As we walked away from this 55-yard antelope that year, he told me he would not allow another one to be close enough to be called out. I believe he shot seven 14s in a row after this one. Do you remember that Sean and Josh? It's one of those things I will never forget. I looked for his Superman cape, but I could never find it. Instead, I saw Jacob walking down the trail in front of me in his jeans and t-shirt. He didn't have a care in the world. He just put on a show for all of us to watch. I figured I would never see anything like it again. It took a few years, but I saw it again. 

  As we were walking to the second half of the course a few years ago, we were notified that we were behind by a wide margin. He said, "Not today. Nobody is beating us today. Let's get this done." Then, he got it done, hitting almost every 14 from there to the end. I think he 17 of them that year, and there were some absolute bombs. That's why I love this event. I will always remember different things about every year. This year was awesome watching Barry Gates shoot a few 14s. Barry puts in more work than most people and has been plugging along for a while. He has finally started getting over the hump, and it is awesome to watch it and be a part of it. I love to watch other people succeed, especially when they put in the work. 

                                                            This Year's Event

  Jacob texted me on Thursday and told me he was having some issues with his bow and had somehow lost poundage, which caused him to lose his marks on his sight tape. He didn't know if he would have time to get something together for the team shoot. Although I was disappointed, I felt confident he could figure something out. He decided to take out his hunting bow and set it up to see how it would work. He got it close on Thursday night and sighted it in Friday night and decided to head out with it. We would take the good with the bad. 

  Barry was on vacation with his family in Saratoga, so I picked him up at 5:15 and we headed on our way. Since Jacob hadn't committed to anything due to the bow issues, I didn't know who he was headed over with. At the last minute, when he decided he would be going, I told him I would pick him up and cram him in the truck with Barry's stuff. 

  When we got to the club, many people had already gone out. I shot four arrows at 40 yards. There was a small black dot and I stuck three arrows on top of each other and another one less than an inch to the right of them. It was an x-sized group on a 5-spot. I felt good about my shot and the day ahead of us. I shot four more arrows at the 20-yard butt to feel my shot. 

    As we headed across the field to the first target, I felt good about the day. I had decided to shoot my PSE Evoke 35 with Gold Tip Pierce Platinum 500s going 289 fps. It's definitely not an arrow that will get you many lines, but that arrow shoots really well out of that bow. A few weeks ago, I shot a K-50 ASA course in New York with the boys from Massachusetts. I shot a 326 and felt good about the way the bow performed. I figured I wouldn't do too much practicing after that as long as I knew the arrows were hitting behind the pin.

  When I drew on the first target, a standing bear, I had a hard time keeping my bubble in the middle. There was more of a grade on the hill than I thought would show up in my bubble. Amazingly, the pin sat still. Dave Allard had hit just under the 10-ring, and I had a hard time getting my pin off his arrow. My bow sat like a rock, though. However, I became an aimer and not a participant. My shot was in my back, but I wasn't increasing pressure on either end. When the bow fired, it caught the top of the 10-ring. I believe I just held too high after I got my pin off from Dave's arrow. I made the adjustment, and the adjustment was a little too much. Jacob nailed the 14, and we were on our way. 

  When I got to the second target, I had to lead it off. I wasn't overly happy when I saw a strutting turkey  in front of me. Although it wasn't a very long shot, it was dark and I couldn't see where I was on the target too well. The problem came about because I changed my setup to a small peep and more power in my lens so I could see exactly where I wanted to hit on the longer targets. If I can see where I'm trying to hit, I can usually hit it. So I made that change for this year, and Jacob made a change this year too. He decided to shoot a lens for the first time so he could see the pink rings on the longer targets. 

  When I drew the bow on the turkey, I couldn't make out a good aiming point. I put it where I thought I needed to be and pulled. The arrow landed just above the 11. Jacob once again got the 14. When Barry placed an arrow in a good spot on the mountain lion after the turkey, I felt good about it. When I hit full draw, the pin just sat on the 11 ring. The bow fired and the arrow found its mark. It was a good shot, and I had it in my back from start to finish. It was that perfect golf shot that we all search for. 

  After our first five targets we were plus 14 and I had shot three 11s. Although I was struggling a little with letdowns, I was making good shots. I think it might be because I was shooting with a little less holding weight than I had over the last few years. 

 When  we got to a long downhill ram, it got really dark and we could hear thunder banging in the skies above us. The target became very difficult to see, and my small peep made it even harder to find any type of spot to hold on. I struggled mightily but couldn't come up with anything. Finally, I followed the advice of Terry Wunderle from many years ago, "If you can't see the target well, put it where you think it is and make the best shot you can make." So that's what I did. I didn't miss by much, but I did miss the 10-ring.....barely. The arrow hit a hair to the right and just out the bottom. Jacob couldn't see the target much better than I saw it. His arrow struck on the outside line of the 10-ring. We felt fortunate to walk off with a 10. There was a lot of luck involved. It was just bad timing between the dark skies from the passing storm and the target in a dark area. When you encounter those things, you just need to make the best of it and move on. That's what we did. 

  As we continued down the trail, we were both making good shots. I made a perfect shot on the 70-yard mule deer down the power line. It hit in the bottom of the 10-ring. Jacob made a perfect shot after my shot, and we all thought he got the 14. Unfortunately, it was less than 1/4 of an inch out. In the meantime, Chuck Weeden lost his rangefinder and thought he had dropped it in front of the mule deer. He waited for us to finish and walked down to the target to find it. It wasn't there and couldn't be found. As he walked away, I felt really bad for him. He had a rough week at work, and I knew losing an expensive rangefinder probably wasn't helping matters. I led off the bear on the stump after the mule deer and made an absolutely horrendous shot. I had let outside thoughts into my mind and they took over. I was thinking about Chuck and feeling badly for him, and I momentarily lost all focus. I shot an 8 and Jacob followed my 8 with an 8, our only 8 of the day. We both lost focus for a minute and lost track of what we were doing. Neither one of us gave it any more attention than the few minutes we dealt with it while pulling our arrows out. It's 3D archery and 8s happen. 

  Meandering through the rest of the top half we held our own. Jacob started hitting low on the really gettable 14s. When we missed the 14 on the woodland javelina, we thought we were headed for trouble.We missed three 14s in a row that we should have gotten and would have gotten on any other year. Sometimes, you just have to take what you get and keep moving along. That's what we did. We didn't get down about anything and enjoyed our day in the woods.

   When we got to the last 10 targets, we knew we had to find a way to rack a few points up. We thought we sealed our fate when my pin drifted to the right on the 46-yard medium deer before the elk. It wasn't a bad shot, it was just one of those things that can happen from time to time. I expected it to be in the center of the center of the 11. As good teammates do, Jacob picked me up, and I gave him an opportunity to shoot at the next three 14s. Unfortunately, we battled some pretty good wind gusts when we were shooting the elk, rising boar and antelope. I managed to shoot a few 11s, and Jacob centered the 14 on the rising boar. 

  When we added the card up, we like what we saw, but we weren't sure if it would be enough. We both knew that we didn't capitalize on the majority of the closest targets on the course, and they were all gettable for every shooter. We figured we would wait it out and see what the cards dealt when they were all laid on the table. 

  I couldn't have asked for a better day. I believe I ended the day with 18 11s, one bad shot, one shot that probably hit where the pin was when it fired, and one shot that drifted to the right and missed the 10-ring by the width of a fingernail. This bow shoots well, and I'm glad I decided to give it a whirl with the micros. The 11 count shows you that the size of the arrow really doesn't matter a whole lot if you're making good shots. 

  It was really nice to see so many teams this year. Chuck Weeden and Todd Sargent, who usually shoot 35-yard max tried their hand at it after I convinced them to go to the shoot, and they had a great time. Mark Myers and Brett Powers came for the first time and laid it down. Those guys can shoot and showed some of their game on Saturday. Congratulations to them for such a strong showing. Rick Baker and Karla DeVincent proved that co-ed teams can never be underestimated. 

  Rob D'Alfonso and Matt Baer came from six hours away and had a great time. Rob came to our region to support something that brings all of us friends together. The reason he came is because so many of us have been able to support him over the last few years. Whole some of us haven't been to his shoots, we still support them and tell others they should attend. So next year, try to support the stuff in his region, so we can hopefully grow our little event and get some more of his people to come along next year. If you need any information about anything he's doing, send him a message on Facebook or reach out to him at Ram Archery. He holds some indoor tournaments at his place in the winter, too. 

I've attached a photo of our scorecard and the results for the day. I also want to thank Shawn Couture for  running the event this year and always being gracious. It seems like yesterday when he and Wendy were still teenagers and attending all of the events in the region. He has mastered how to set a course to make it fun for everyone and allows everyone to feel good about the day and competing. I really think this was his best work for the entire crowd, so we can make it competitive for everyone and make people feel good about how they shot. Great job, Shawn. 

                       

Northeast ASA at Baypath

    This year has been a battle with my own mind. It seems that random thoughts come and go in my mind while at full draw, causing me to have to let down and regroup. Although I've encountered issues like that in the past, I'm battling them almost every time out this year. I'm convinced that it's because there's no rhythm to shooting this year. I've only attended a few shoots, and my mind is overloaded with other things that take priority over archery. It has been a challenging 3D year.

  On Saturday, I headed to Baypath Archers in Southbridge, Mass., to participate in the ASA federation tournament. I didn't expect much since I haven't shot at any lower 12s since the days I participated on the national ASA circuit with my dad and friends. Although it was so many years ago, the feeling came back quickly when I got on the course.

  When I took a glance at the first target of my day, I saw a brown bear in a dark hole. Jacob and Donny both had arrows close to the 12. I couldn't' tell if they were in it, but they gave me a good reference point. I put the pin between their arrows and executed a good shot. The arrow hit behind the pin, and I started my day with a 12. That's when I realized that it's hard not to aim at the highest scoring ring on the target, even when you're guessing the yardage. Although I haven't shot much this year, I have put the work in at home. I've practiced my shot and my yardage regularly. I need to spend more time on my mental training. I've let that slide this year due to the lack of tournaments.

  As we pulled our arrows and began the march to the next target, I felt like I was looking back in time. Rick Baker and Bill Romanchick were waiting in the group behind us, and Don Doherty was in my group. I've always loved shooting with these guys over the years, and I'm glad that they have all stayed in it over the years. I've had a lot of great laughs with all of them, and we have some good memories over the years. I can still remember shooting with Billy at the Vermont IBO State Championship in the mid '90s and again at the first leg of the Northeast IBO Triple Crown in Nashua, N.H., one year when he and Bryan Hunt shot with me and my dad. Billy has always been a fierce competitor, but he always keeps it light along the way. My dad nicknamed him the Mayor of Middleburgh many years ago and it stuck. I always like the Back-Brace Billy moniker we tagged him with. He has always been a good sport about it, too. I'm glad to call him a friend.

  Ricky and I have been at this as long as anyone in New England. We both started as kids and are still at it today. Archery is a part of our lives that has always been there and will stay with us until the end. Although I'm in the senior class now, where our heroes were when we were growing up, Rick will be with me in a few years. It doesn't seem possible that I've reached that class so quickly. Where does time go?

  It seems like just a few years ago when Pete Lucas was running the ASA Trifecta, a three series shoot, in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, and I was in a group with Scott Tozier, Brett DuFour and Rick. We all gunned at the lower 12s and had a good time doing it. When the dust settled, I came out on top that day in Sturbridge, Mass. I'm thankful for having competition like that in the old days and still having it today.

  So as I walked to the next target, I thought about the experience surrounding me. Everyone in my group had won IBO National Triple Crowns and IBO World titles and everyone in the group behind me had made the cut at the IBO World. It's pretty impressive when you realize all of the people are your close friends. It makes you route for your friends and competitors. It's also pretty cool when you know you're shooting with one of the best shooters in the country.

  As we picked our way through the course, we tried adjusting to the McKenzie targets. I didn't have that many problems with them. My yardage judging went well, and I really only got fooled on one target. It was a medium buck with really big antlers. I thought it was a large deer, but Jacob warned me that the target was small. I shot at the 12 and still shot out the top of it, hitting the 8 line. If I had shot at the middle of the 10, I would have surely gotten a 5... the benefits of a misjudged target in ASA when you judge it as longer than it is.

  I felt like my judging carried me through the first half. I got a few 12s and missed a few, too. As an unmarked shooter, I try to play relatively safe and only aim directly at the ones that I think I'm absolutely sure I have the yardage pegged. I thought I had one pegged halfway through because it was long. I put the pin right on it and executed a good shot. The arrow landed pretty low and barely caught an 8. That's the disadvantage of a missed number on the low side in the ASA. You just have to stay in the game and have a plan as you continue through an ASA course, whether you're shooting known or unknown. You must have a plan and stick to it.

  As we headed onto the second half, the heat had turned up a notch, but I didn't sweat. It was nice with all of the canopy in the woods creating a lot of shade. My numbers stayed good throughout the day, but not quite good enough to get many 12s. I got the close ones that I aimed at, but there weren't many close ones as far as unmarked yardage goes.

  When I got to the chamois up near the solar panels, I had a hard time getting a number. The target was lit up in bright sunlight and looked really big, but the ground distance told me it was a lot farther than it looked. When I settled the pin down around the 12, I didn't feel comfortable with it and had a hard time committing to the shot. When the release finally fired, I watched the arrow hit about an inch over the 10 ring. I knew it was going to go there before I shot it. That's all part of the game.

  As our day was coming to an end, I had to lead off the last target, which I think was a warthog. I had a great aiming spot, as the 12 was lit up by a sunspot. I thought I had a perfect number, so I held right on it. The pin sat nicely but dropped right as the bow fired. My heart missed a beat when the bow fired, and I thought I had my first five of the day. Stepping away from the stake, I saw that the shot wasn't as bad as I had thought. The arrow was sitting just underneath the 12, putting me at 2 down for the tournament. I'll take that for not shooting at lower 12s in almost 20 years.



                                                    My Take on the Day

   I was happy with the way things went. I had adjusted the trigger on my release the night before the shoot. I made it stiffer and shortened the length of the strap on the release. These things allowed my shot to go off a little better, but I struggled holding the bow steady because the shot felt a little different. I think it will be much better as I get used to it.

  I enjoyed the course, as Baypath always puts on a good shoot. It's a good location because it's somewhat centrally located. It only takes me about 2 1/2 hours to get there. They have a lot of terrain, so you get everything you want to test your 3D shooting skills. There are downhills, side hills, uphills, flat shots, shots into tunnels and shots in the open. I thought it was one of the best IBO-type sets I've seen in a while. The yardage was really well hidden, and it was extremely tough to judge.

  Being an ASA shoot, I kind of wish it had more of an ASA feel. Now that we have the two organizations in the same region, it's a great opportunity to express the differences in each and show the people how both are run at the nationals.

  I've always enjoyed both types of tournaments. I enjoy the walk through the woods and never knowing what's coming next with the IBO shoots. I always feel like I'm hunting. I also always liked the ASA events because they were like a big social gathering while shooting. You could see everyone because you were all on the same road together and you would pass each other on the road. If someone was on the course, you would definitely see that person. I liked it because you never had to walk very far either. I'm hoping that we get something like that as time goes on. I don't mind it this way, but it would be cool to get that social gathering type of thing at one or two of them. I used to like the lazy-man tournament where all targets are side by side and you have to wait for shooters on each side of you to finish before going to the target to pull arrows.

  With all of the chaos going on about the IBO World being canceled, there's a possibility that I've shot my last 3D tournament of the summer. In all reality, it wouldn't bother me if that's the case.

Second Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown

   That pictures sums up my weekend. As I hemmed and hawed about what day to head to Pennsylvania to participate in the second leg of the national triple crown, I finally decided the rain wouldn't be too bad, and I would shoot all 40 targets on Saturday. Heck, I've always shot well in the rain, and the forecast called for intermittent showers. As the week wore on, the forecast changed multiple times, and I just gave up looking at it. I figured I would just go and shoot my arrows and come home. So that's what I did.

  While Jeff and I were traveling to the shoot, the temperature climbed so high that I could feel its effects through the windshield in Buffalo. We watched the thermometer go from 94 to 100. It never got above 100, but that's where it topped off.



  When we got out near Erie, Pa., the temperature started to drop, and by the time we arrived in Franklin, the thermometer hung steady at 80 degrees. We picked up our cards and headed to the motel  for the night. After watching Vozzy trying to get some net on the hoop at the hotel, we went inside and got a good night's rest. Oh, the Vozz looked awesome on slow-mo video. He was only 16 inches short of touching the net. We are hoping he might break out his high-tops from the early '80s for his next try. Stuff like that is what makes the traveling to archery tournaments worth it. You can share memories with your friends that will last a lifetime. I'll be forever thankful for my ability to go to so many tournaments over the years.

                                             Saturday Morning

  When Jeff and I got out of the car and put our bows together at the target butt, we figured we were going to have a dismal morning to shoot. Although it wasn't raining, it was dark and dreary. Within minutes, all of that changed and the heavens let loose. The rain came down in buckets.

  Walking to the tent for our range assignment, we readied ourselves for what was ahead of us. The rain has temporarily stopped, but the woods were so dark you could barely see 30 yards. Some of the Heritage Archery Academy shooters on the youth range said they could't even see some of the targets they were supposed to shoot.

  Standing under the tent, I caught up with Brian DiBona and Dave Ferguson. They had shot 30 targets the day before and were looking to finish their last 10. Within a few minutes, any chance of that happening was washed away as the rain started coming down again and the woods became even darker. Dave said there was no way he was going out. I didn't blame him one bit. Unfortunately, Jeff and I didn't have a choice. I only had the hotel room for one night, and we had already used that night. We had planned on shooting all 40 on Saturday, and nothing was going to prevent that from happening.

                                                 The Tournament Begins

  Finally, we found someone to accompany us onto the range. We shot with a crossbow guy named Joe. I had shot with him in the past, and he's a nice guy. He was from Kentucky but had moved there from New York. After walking a considerable distance to the first target, the rain started coming down again.

  Looking down the hill, I could see a coyote on a log. What a way to start! I started it off and caught a 10 on the left side, perfect height. I made a good shot and it broke smoothly, even though I had a few shakes going on due to the adrenaline of the beginning of the tournament. I also had the shakes because my blood sugar level was at 49. I had walked a long way from the target butt to where I was at that point, and my blood sugar was plummeting. I sucked down a small bottle of apple juice and figured I would be good to go.

  Unfortunately, we wandered our way through the range, and my blood sugar would not come up no matter what I did. A combination of everything finally caught up to me when we got to a long uphill white ram. The rain was coming down in sheets, and I could feel a steady stream of water running down my back, into the crack of my ass, down my legs, and into my boots. It was't a comforting feeling, but I ignored it. My aim quickly deteriorated on the white ram and my blood sugar could't keep up with my activities for the morning. Not being able to hold the bow or see the target due to the rain, the shot fired and I hit the target in the middle of the rear ham, about 13 inches from the back of the 8 line. My chances of doing anything at this tournament had faded with my blood sugar. When I got to the last target on the course, my level finally reached 92.

  When we got to the bedded ram to start the next 10 targets, the rain was coming down in sheets. I couldn't see through my scope at all, so I held it in the area I thought might be okay and pulled. When the arrow came off the bowstring, water parted on both sides of the tube as it plowed toward the target. It looked like a vapor trail behind a jet, but it was a trail of water behind my SuperDrive 23. The arrow found its way into the 10 ring. I'm still amazed I even hit the target when I look back at the conditions at that moment in time.

  The rain didn't let up, and we didn't stop marching through the course. When I walked up to the black panther at the next station, I just shook my head. It had a bit of an angle on it and it was anything but a chip shot. I made what I thought was a perfect shot, and I watched the water part on both sides of the arrow again as it made its way into the black foam. I hit it just barely out of the 10-ring on the top side. I'm fairly certain the arrow hit directly behind the pin. Standing at the stake, I thought I had pounded the center of the 10-ring. I was disappointed when I got to it and realized I had shot an 8.

  I was beginning to feel my shot at this point. I stroked the next target, and impala, and felt good about my shot on a downhill bedded buck and a fallow deer in a swampy area. The fallow deer was almost impossible to shoot. The rain had made the area feel like ice. The mud was so greasy, I could barely stand up. I fought hard to make a good shot, and I did it well. It might have been one of my best shots of the day.

  The rain didn't want to let up, and I began battling my blood sugar again. It had risen quickly when we finished the last course, so I took a dose of insulin to counteract the rise. Well, it started falling like a rock again due to the dosage. The first 20 targets gave me a battle unlike I've ever experienced while shooting. Although it was warm out,  being soaked can make you get chilly quickly. As we neared the end of our second 10, my hands were shot. They felt and looked like raisins.



 When we finally finished the first 20, I wasn't too terribly happy. I was down 16 points, and every lost point except two were due to poorly executed shots. I felt like I held my own under the conditions and made a vow to somehow try to minimize the damage the rest of the way. I figured I would be somewhat ok if I kept my score around 380. I knew most people had shot on Friday because we didn't see hardly any people on the course. I would just have to do the best I could and accept the results. I made sure to never cave in and become defeated. When you do that, you are done. I always fight and claw until the end. I always look at it with the mindset that if I'm struggling, the other good shooters will probably struggle too. We parted ways with Joe at the end of 20 and waited for two hours to find someone else to shoot another range. I highly recommend the bow umbrella. It helped keep my bow dry one year during the IBO World, allowing me to win, and it also helped me this time. It's important to keep your strings as dry as possible. Unfortunately, I watched Jeff's strings become waterlogged, and he lost about 4-5 yards off his sight. It made for a very unfortunate situation.



                                                              The Last 20

  After waiting two hours, we finally got paired up with a young lad who was shooting in the MBR class. He was a good shooter, and it finally gave Jeff and I some arrows to aim at. Unlike our first 20, we could now use this kid's arrows for markers. It made my life a lot easier.

  I changed releases for this 20 targets. The release I shot on the first 20 wasn't breaking cleanly, and I felt like I was getting hung up on it and my aiming was suffering. The attachment is a hair longer on that release. With the hills and the rain, I changed to a shorter release. I could see the change on the first target, as my shot broke perfectly. I was excited to get it rolling. When I got to a javelina that was  straight up the hill near the end of the course, the rain was pounding off the trees -- and us. I just looked at everyone in the group and laughed. Somehow, I smoked the 11 on it and continued to the end. I'm still not sure how I got the 11 on it. I guess it's true when Mark Meyers tells me that a lot of my success comes from my ability to concentrate far more than most people. When we added the scores for the 10 targets, I had a 101........I was holding on to a miserable day. I had saved the light from fading into nothingness, but I still had 10 to go, and the rain wasn't helping matters.

  After waiting another two hours for someone to go out with us, a group finally approached the tent. There were five people in the group, and one of them was Mike Guraly, a great shooter. I was happy when he decided to go out with us. I knew I would have good arrows to look at, and he's a nice guy who is as passionate about archery as me. He has a list of accomplishments in archery as long as anyone I know, and you would never know it by talking to him. That's my kind of person. He just shoots his bow and lets the rest speak for itself. The few times I've been around him, it has been a pleasure.

  Dealing with the day we had, my nerves and body were about shot when we headed onto the course. I knew I would have to dig deep to stay in the game. I started off with a few good shots and managed to pick up an 11 or two along the way. I was a little perturbed when I made a perfect shot on a leopard and a strutting turkey and shot out the top of both of them, barely missing the 10-ring. The arrow on the turkey slapped Mike's arrow, which was nicely placed in the 10-ring. The arrow on the leopard was no more than 1/4 of an inch out.

  When I pulled my bow back on the gator, the last target of tournament for me, I was happy when I executed a shaky shot and the arrow found it's way into the 10-ring. I couldn't have been happier. Somehow, I had survived the day after getting walloped in the beginning. I held on with everything I had and refused to quit. Although my score wasn't great, I was proud that I stuck it out through the entire day and made a slight comeback. When all was said and done I finished in fifth place. I guess I'll take that since I'd imagine most others in the class didn't shoot in torrential rain. I've always done well in inclement weather. I never let it bother me. I just shoot my bow. Mike moved on to shoot another 10 targets, and I knew I had done ok on that loop. Mike and I finished within a point of each other, and whenever I finish close to him, I consider it a success.

  When I got back to the car, my boots were filled with water and my clothes felt like they weighed about 10 pounds. I rung out my shirt and shorts and changed in the parking lot. I didn't give a hoot about standing bare-assed in the field to change. It felt incredibly refreshing to put on dry clothes and get into the car to begin our eight-hour trip home.


  I'd like to give a shout out to Rob LeLacheur. He shot all 40 in the same conditions I shot in, and he brought home the bacon, getting his best finish ever at a national event. Way to go, Rob!! I'd also like to congratulate Sara Kay. She's on a roll this year. She notched her second victory of the year. I sure bet she and Ted are glad they decided at the last minute to attend the triple crown. Sometimes that's the way it works. Things just have a way of coming together. And last but not least are the Thygesen boys, father and son, as they flat-out pounded and made a statement for New England. Thank you guys for holding our place on the map as good shooters. There's a longstanding tradition in the IBO for great shooters out of New England. I'm glad you guys did your part in keeping us relevant. These guys attend their first-ever IBO national and Tyler brought home a win, crushing the rest of the competitors in the class.


 


I'm sure that was a good feeling, as I can remember my first trip to a national many many moons ago. There were 1,250 shooters in MBO that weekend and somehow I was lucky enough to come home with some hardware. It's still one of my most memorable tournaments of all time. I shot a zero on the second to last target due to a spring breaking in my Carter Big Kid 3D during the draw, but I still finished near the top. Great job to everyone who shot. Here's the damage. It wasn't pretty, but I'll take solace in the fact that I got the train back on the tracks when it started careening out of control along the riverbank.

1st Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown

  As we all know, this spring and early summer haven't been what we have become accustomed to over the years. I've always found myself traveling to a lot of archery tournaments as I prepared for the  IBO National Triple Crown. I've always tried getting in as many tournaments as possible to see a lot of different targets and target sets. If I see a lot of targets, I'm able to register things in my mind to go back to as the season progresses.

  Unfortunately, I didn't have that opportunity this year, so I headed to West Virginia to try my hand at a national event without one unknown yardage tournament under my belt for the year. The last unknown event I participated in was the IBO World Championship last year. Although I didn't get much practice in, I always expect a lot from myself and felt like I could still hold my own without any practice. I did shoot my own targets, but we all know that's not the same as going places to shoot.

  I went to the tournament with Barry Gates and Jeff Wagoner. We had a great time and made the most of our time away. We got to try out Barry's new truck, and it passed with flying colors. I've always enjoyed traveling to and from the shoots. Although the trips are long and boring, some unforgettable laughs come to the forefront on every trip. It's something I will cherish for as long as I live. Friends, family and fun are things that can't be matched when it comes to archery.

                                                            The Arrival

  When we showed up at Pipestem State Park in West Virginia, we were greeted with an almost unbearable noise. Cicadas had emerged from the ground, and were giving us the best songs they could sing -- and the songs weren't pleasant. The noise was never-ending, and it was deafening at times. After I began shooting, it became background noise, but it is something I will never forget.


                                                             Go Time

  Jeff and I headed to the range to get 20 targets under our belt after shooting a few arrows at the target butt. When I fired my first three arrows, I couldn't figure out why I was hitting about six inches low. It unnerved me when I saw the arrows grouping well but low. As I stepped off the line and moved toward my stool, I suddenly identified the problem: I had left my bow-pod on the bottom limb while shooting. After taking it off, my arrows all grouped well in the spot. For many years, I've always made fun of people who do that and don't notice it. I"m still not sure how I didn't notice it. I guess I just have too many things going on lately, and my mental awareness has been taking a hit over the last several weeks.

  When we got to the tent, we had to wait a few minutes to get assigned into a group. When I saw who we were going to shoot with, I wasn't too terribly excited to get going. We were shooting with a guy who has been around as long as me, and the guy really likes himself. He also likes to jabber nonstop. I've never been a fan.

  When I walked across the golf course to the first target and took a look at it, I knew I wasn't going to shoot the shot. The entire kill zone was blocked by a huge branch sticking up from the ground. We all agreed that the target couldn't be shot from that location. I volunteered to head back to the tent to get someone to take a look at it. After getting halfway to the tent, I could hear the people in my group yelling to me to return.

  When I got back to them, they told me that we were looking at the last target of the course. They pointed up the hill at an antelope and told me that was the first target. Jeff got off to a good start by placing an arrow in the middle of the 11. I barely caught a 10 on the low side. The placement of the arrow concerned me because I thought I had a good number, and I made a good shot.

  Heading toward the second target, I began doubting my range-finding abilities for the day. Then, looking at mountain lion that was in between two trees up a gradual hill and on a flat in some dark timber, I knew it was going to be tough to hit. When Jeff hit it a little bit high, I subtracted some yardage off from my original guess. The pin settled nicely, and the shot fired. The arrow found a home an inch above the 11.

  When I got to the strutting turkey a few targets later, I was glad that I would be getting it out of the way early. I knew after I shot it, I wouldn't have to see another turkey during the tournament. When I glanced at it, I knew it was one of those difference makers that gets put on national courses. The target was there to separate scores. It was a bomb. Anything above an 8 would be a bonus. My pin settled perfectly on an arrow that was in the 10-ring. Amazingly, the pin didn't move. When the bow finally fired, the arrow struck slightly below the 11. It was an incredible shot, one I can still feel as I type right now. It was one of those blind bale shots that finds its way onto the range.

  As we meandered through the course, I managed to shoot 10s for a while, but had a hard time capturing any 11s. The man in our group was one of the most disrespectful people I've ever shot with in all of the years of my shooting. It's hard to believe he's related to a professional. I knew it was coming when he was put into our group, so I tried to mentally prepare for it between the tent and the first stake. Unfortunately, the walk was only about 150 yards to get prepared.

  As the day wore on, I couldn't focus at all. He would stand behind me and talk nonstop while I was at full draw. He would try to engage in conversation with everyone around him, people in our group and the other groups nearby. He wouldn't stop talking when I was at full draw, even when Jeff purposely ignored him. Amazingly, he only did it a few times while Jeff was shooting.

  Everyone is probably wondering why I didn't say anything. Well, I picked my poison and decided that if I said anything, thing probably would have gotten worse. He's the kind of guy who instigates and antagonizes if he knows he's bothering you. I've seen him in action. I figured he might have matured over the years, but in his 60s, he's still the same as he has always been.

  When the day came to an end, I was four down at 196. I had shot four 8s and four 11s. Every 8 was less than 1/2 inch out. Two of them hit at 12 o'clock, and the other two hit at 6 o'clock. The first one happened on the brown floppy bear, and it was a slam-dunk shot. It had 11 written all over it. The man was jabbering in my ear, and I found myself listening to the dumb conversation. I lost focus and missed the shot. The arrow hit where the pin was sitting. The other high miss was on a small deer on a gradual downhill slope. The target was leaning considerably forward. I barely missed the 10, but the lean caused it to land outside of the ring. If it had been upright, I'm pretty sure I would've gotten it. I backed that up with another 8 on the next target, a bedded ram. The pin dip-banged when it fired, and we had to get on our hands and knees to determine if it was in or out. I needed the next shaft size to secure a 10. When we got to the second to last target of the day, a Corsican ram, I made an incredible shot. The pin locked on a shot-out spot, and the bow fired. I saw the nock appear in the middle of the 11. The shot felt incredible.

  Walking to the last target, a bedded buck, I knew I could get off the course at one down. I figured I would easily shoot an 11 on it and move off the range. Unfortunately, I overheld the shot, hitting it low. Although I couldn't call it in, I was pissed at myself and probably stole points from myself. I called it out, although the angle of the arrow made it touch the line about an inch from where the point had it. The point was out, but the arrow was touching. Being pissed, I called it out. In hindsight, I probably should have called it as it should've been called. That should sum up my mood for the day. I just wanted to get off the range. The two guys we were shooting with were driving me crazy. I felt fortunate to get off the range with the score that I put up. I knew it should've been much better, but I took it and ran. When they asked to meet us to shoot the last 20 the next morning, I declined.

  When we got back to the truck, we found out that Barry had shot with the wife of the man in our group. He said she talked nonstop, too. I decided to call it a day and shoot the last 20 the next day with a fresh mind. Although the course had some tough shots, I thought it was relatively soft. The back and forth sight moving in the beginning made it tough, then a stretch where most of the targets were really similar yardages. Those stretches can play mind games on even the best 3D archers. The next day the woman told Barry that her husband and his friend shot with two snooty guys who didn't talk much. Gee, I wonder why we weren't talking. Etiquette must be an overrated thing these days.

  Before we packed it in for the night, I asked Jacob how his debut went in the pro class. He said he just couldn't catch a break. He said he broke good shots, but didn't have any luck. We ended up having very similar days. He ended with a 195/3 and I ended with a 196/4. Neither one of us was too terribly excited about our debut.

                                                                Day 2

  Jeff and I shot about 10 practice arrows and headed to the tent first thing in the morning. We were quickly assigned a group, getting one crossbow guy from Texas and a guy from Virginia. Jeff started off right where he left off and drilled the brown bear on the first shot. I followed his lead and got off the first two targets with two 10s. Like the day before, I started off a little short with my estimations, catching the bottom of the 10-ring.

  When I walked to the top of the hill for the third target, I saw a boar down the hill. It was a no-doubter for me. I instantly knew it was all of it.  I dialed my sight and waited. Then, I looked at the guy from Virginia, and he wasn't looking at the boar. He as looking at the target I had missed. It was a coyote that was on the edge of a green on the golf course. It was a downhill shot, and it wasn't hard to get the number. It was pretty similar to the boar I had just looked at, so I didn't need to move my sight.

  The guy from Virginia led off with a 10 at 9 o'clock. As I watched Jeff come to full draw, I put my head down to listen. I just wanted to confirm the distance by listening to his bow go off and hearing the arrow hit. It's something I always do on the longer shots.

  When his bow fired, I never heard the confirmation of a hit from the target. He walked off the stake in a dejected manner. His mind had thought about letting down, and in that moment in time, the wheels fell off the buss. The bow drifted to the right and fired. The arrow landed in the bank under the coyote's chin.

  As I passed him on my way to the stake, I felt really bad for him. I also knew he was still in good shape. With that zero, he was only down 3 points, and we still had 17 targets left to shoot. He was still in the hunt for the win, and he could easily get back to even with some solid shooting. I let his misfortune eat at my conscience while I stood at the stake. Although I knew the distance to the target, I kept thinking about how badly I felt for Jeff. I always cheer my friends on, and he was having a great tournament. It felt awful to watch what had just transpired.

  When I drew my bow and came to full draw, the pin settled nicely at the black spot in the top of the 11-ring. As the pin sat there, I waited for the bow to fire. The shot took longer than I anticipated and started to break down. Although it wasn't the best shot when it fired, it wasn't one that would find its way out of the 10. I figured I would hit the bottom of the 10. When I heard the arrow strike the target and watch it ricochet off the belly, I couldn't figure out what went wrong. I was beside myself. Instantly, I went to 14 down. Walking back to my stool, I looked at my bow and noticed the bow-pod was still attached to the bottom limb. I had never taken it off when I shot. I guess I can call it a senior moment. I've never done that in my life, and now I had done it twice in two days. The answer to my miss was staring me in the face. I wanted to crawl in a hole. I knew all of my chances went up in smoke with a dumb mistake that never should have been made.

  Walking to the next stake, I made a plan. I figured I I could somehow get back to 10 down for the tournament, I would be satisfied. I figured it might put me in the top  five too. I focused as hard as I could for the rest of that course and made some fantastic shots. I ended up getting off the course at 7 down with a miss. I had made three of the points back up and only had one to go to get to where I wanted to be.

                                                           The Last 10

  When I walked up to the impala to start the last 10 targets, I knew it was a tough shot. Since I've shot the target so many times at my house, the number kind of jumped out at me. I executed a great shot and scored a solid 10. It hit just over the 11-ring.  Moving through the course, I made some of the best shots I can ever remember. I stroked a great shot into the cheetah and moved on from there to execute a picture-perfect shot on the bedded white Dahl. Feeling confident about the direction I was heading in, I thought I might be able to run off one of those streaks I've had in the past and 10 out. All of those thoughts were dashed when I got to a long black panther. I couldn't see it that well and my shot broke low. It wasn't a great shot. When I got to the target, it was no more than a fingernail width out of the 10-ring at 6 o'clock, right where the pin was sitting when the shot broke.

  When I came upon a javelina a few targets later, I knew it was another target that was put there to make a difference. It was a poke, but I love shooting at javelinas. I made my best shot of the weekend on the javelina, and the arrow hit directly behind the pin. Unfortunately, I was aiming at the wrong white dot and got a 10 instead of a 11. It was a fantastic shot, the type you dream about making when you're under pressure.

  The last target of the day was a bedded doe behind a log. I made a great shot, and the arrow hit behind the pin. I thought I had drilled the 11. When we pulled arrows, I realized I had barely missed it to the right. I was really disappointed because the arrow had hit right where I aimed. When it was all said and done, I had gained the points back that I wanted to after shooting the zero. I ended the day at 195 with a miss. I shot a zero caused by a dumb mistake, and one 8 for the day, and the 8 was due to a less-than-perfect shot. I'll take that for my first 3D shoot of the year. I wish that I could've gotten to some shoots before heading to this one, but it just wasn't possible this year. I guess finishing tied for seventh isn't too bad for shooting a zero at a national event.






                                                       Kudos to the Kays

  I talked to Ted a few weeks ago, as he has called me a few times to check on my dad. I'm appreciative of friends like that. When people reach out to me with concerns about my dad, I'm very grateful. My dad is my hero, and it has been hard to watch him struggle through this battle he's been fighting. I feel very fortunate that he's such a tough son of a gun. I admire his strength, tenacity and will to overcome. I could only wish I had some of the same internal strength that he has always displayed. There are tough people out there, but he's one of the toughest I've ever seen.

  Anyhow, I've always been taught that when you do good things, good things will happen to you. Although I have the ability to tell people off and tell it like it is, I also respect people who respect me. I was super excited to see that Ted Kay when the Bowhunter Defense Shootoff. Ted did good deeds leading up to the shoot, and it came back to him. When we spoke a few weeks before the shoot, he told me they weren't going to go to the shoot. I was disappointed, as I have seen the for as long as I can remember. It just wouldn't be the same without them. Great job, Ted. I wish I could've seen it.

  Not only did Ted win the big money, Sara took home a national win, too! She got the job done in her class and showed the other ladies how to do it. Sometimes when we win, it can be ugly, but a win is a win no matter how we get it. I was hoping with all my might to podium with my miss, but when I wasn't able to get there, I was happy to see that Sara was bringing the gold home to New England. Great job, Sara. I hope you get another one at the next one.

                  

                                                Highlight of the Week

  Jacob made a great run the second day to get into the pro shootoff, but he came up a little bit short. He shot a 210/12 and ended at 405, just missing the top 5 by a point. We are both satisfied with our debuts and hope to actually get some practice in before we head into the rest of the summer. I'll be cheering him on from the sideline. Hopefully, his hard work earns him a spot in some of the shootoffs.

  Well, as I was working this morning, I heard a noise outdoors. I looked outside and this is what I saw.





  Chuck Weeden let me borrow his daughter's bow so Dad could try to shoot it. It's set at 30 pounds, and he was able to shoot some arrows. We need to put his module in it to get the draw length right, but these pictures right here make my heart happy. Looking at the pictures reminds me of the day I walked on the path about 20 yards up the hill from where he's standing and cried as I returned to the shooting line. I had put an arrow through the center of his recurve bow when I shot an arrow out of his new compound. That day started my journey with compound bows, as he went out and bought me my own compound the next day. I'll be forever thankful for that.

  I wish all of you luck the rest of the summer. Cherish every day................each and every one of the is fleeting. Remember to enjoy archery, even on your bad days. Remember how luck you are just to pull your bow back and shoot arrows. Many people who want to do that can't do it. Instead if putting so much pressure on yourself to succeed, try to fully enjoy having the ability to do what you love -- shoot arrows.

 

The Evolution of Target Archery

  A few weeks ago, before I was called to Florida, I had a long talk with Ed Despart. We discussed a variety of things, but we both agreed that the number of people who shoot at a high level is amazing. Twenty years ago, there were a lot of guys who could shoot well, but it seemed like many of these individuals came from the same geographical locations across the country.

  Amazingly, the scores that win now aren't any different than the scores that won back then, but the number of archers shooting them has increased dramatically. So why did a lot of good/great shooters come from the same geographical locations back then?

  Well, that was a time period before the internet was overloaded with information about shooting. Websites weren't available to filter through the information and learn the answers to your questions. YouTube didn't exist, so there weren't any video tutorials out there to pick apart and decide what information you could use to improve your game. There was no way to keep up on what was going on at big tournaments unless you knew someone who went to them. Then, it would take you a week or two to catch up on the "new" news as it filtered back to the ranges around the country.

  I have always felt fortunate to live near Albany, N.Y., where many great archers have lived over the years. I've done most of my "local" shooting throughout New York and New England. In my travels, I've also been lucky enough to toe the line or share a stake with some of the best shooters in the world, whether it was in the late '90s or last year. I've been surrounded my professional target archers and professional 3D archers.

  The amount of knowledge in an area directly leads to the quality of competition. If you find yourself in the same ranges and at the same tournaments as the good guys, you have an opportunity to watch, listen and learn. A lot of the data about shooting and tuning is talked about every day, week and month when you're around these guys. As with anything in life, if you're a good listener, you can become better at almost anything.

  Twenty years ago, I was surrounded by guys who were ahead of the curve when it came to shooting and tuning. I quickly learned that  being able to execute a "surprise" shot would increase my odds of being successful. I would go home and try many of things I heard others talking about. Eventually, I found my own way of doing things. I learned that the biggest secret was being consistent with the way I executed my shot. Although there were many thoughts on good form and bad form, the secret was to do things exactly the same every time I drew my bow and settled into my anchor. I might not have done it the right way, but I figured out how to repeat the process. I also learned how to give the shot 100% of my concentration.

  I never achieved the heights of many of the guys from my area, but I think I did okay when I look back on it. I'm not sure if I would have done better if I had access to all of the knowledge that is currently on the internet, but I know my learning curve would have been much shorter. It probably would've allowed me to save hours, days, months and years of experimenting to understand what worked and what didn't.

  When you take a look around and think about how you got to where you are, whether it's still flinging arrows in the backyard or traveling across the country to compete in national events, you should never forget your journey and the people who helped along the way.

  After I got out of college and started competing, I came in contact with a lot of the greats in my region and had the pleasure of shooting with many of them. I learned from all of them, even if I didn't shoot with them. When I started traveling to shoot in 3D tournaments, the legend in my area was Roger Thibault. Everybody wanted to beat Roger. He set the bar for all others in New England. After I began finding myself in peer groups with him every year in the New England Triple Crown, I realized that his confidence helped him more than anything. He had a better mental game than anyone I had shot with up to that point. I knew I had to work on that part of my shooting and made it a priority.

  Over the next 10 years, I learned from Bob Rowe, Steph Hamner, Ryan Rowe, Dave Cousins, Eric Griggs, Scott Tozier and many others. Then, as I began competing in target archery events, I watched Jim Despart, Dave Badgely, Doug Williams, Kenny Young, Doug Monteleone, and John Vozzy. Although these are just a few of the guys, there were many more whom I could write about. These guys gave me incentive to get better.

  I know I probably didn't accomplish anything in writing this, but I did get to think about some of the old days when shooting was the same -- but different. The whole secret to shooting well depends on the ability to shoot a surprise shot and having a solid mental game. The rest will take care of itself. I hope this short piece makes people think of all the people in their region who pushed them to become better. Although I included a few western New Yorkers, I'm glad I lived close to many great shooters. How about all of you? Have you noticed that certain regions/pockets hold a lot of good shooters?

NFAA Mid-Atlantic Sectionals

  It seems like indoor season is rapidly coming to a close. Although I'd really like to go to the NFAA Indoor Nationals, it doesn't appear that I'm going to be able to make it. I know I should probably just pack up and hit the road to try my hand at it this year, but too many other things are going on right now that are distracting me. I would love to go.

  I didn't do much shooting this week. I went to the club on Tuesday night to shoot in the 450 league. I took Monday as a rest day since I had shot two days in a row at the state championship last weekend. Once again, I felt like I shot better than the score I posed in league. I shot a 446 with 30Xs. I just can't seem to stack up good scores this year. My shot feels really good, but the the bow feels a little erratic this year. I haven't been able to put a finger on it, and I've been taking the majority of the blame. I've recently begun to wonder if I should look deeper into the results and start going over the equipment with a fine-toothed comb. The bow just doesn't seem to be forgiving enough to save me on sub-par shots, and I don't feel like I'm making very many bad shots this year. It has been a mental battle for the majority of the year, but I keep returning because I feel like my shooting can carry me through anything.

  Years ago, the Mid-Atlantic Sectionals were a combined total of two 300 rounds, and I shot some really good scores when it was done in that format. I think I liked it better when it was done that way. It really showed who had it together for two consecutive rounds on one of the most grueling targets to shoot in indoor archery. There's nothing more taxing on your patience than shooting a 5-spot round. It requires 100% of your concentration, and it doesn't lend any leniency to marginal shots when you have to shoot five arrows every round for 12 ends.

  On Friday night, I started off making good shots. The pin was drifting around a little bit, but the arrows were hitting behind the pin. I dropped one X in the first end and one on my last arrow of the sixth end before we had to change target position.

  I started on the top, so I had to move my target to the bottom. When I moved the target, I felt good about being on the bottom. Over the years, I've tended to shoot better on the bottom. When I drew my bow to shoot the first arrow of the seventh end, the entire sight picture changed. I had a difficult time getting back on track and quickly missed two Xs in that end. I didn't fare much better during the next end, dropping two more. I battled through the end of the round to regain my composure and felt good about getting back on track. When the round came to a close, I was not happy about my second-half performance. I let a few small distractions get the best of me, and the distractions caused me to lose focus. My shooting was stellar for the first half, and I'll take that away from the night. I executed every shot with great form and follow through, and the arrows found their way to the center. It felt awesome to shoot powerful shots and watch the arrows bury into the X.

  In the second half I learned that I could still battle through distracting stuff. I searched through some past memories and realized I needed a recovery strategy to get back on track. Between ends, I sat in a chair and thought about the buck I killed in Illinois last fall. I saw myself drawing the bow back and debating on whether or not to thread the arrow through a crack between two trees. Finally, I chose to make the shot, and it struck perfectly. I watched the deer bound down the hill, wobble around and disappear after coming out of creek bed. I had made a perfect shot through a tight window.

  After thinking about that great day, my mind became free and easy again, and I rolled the next 20 consecutive Xs, which isn't the easiest thing to do with a pin and short bars when age starts creeping up on you. I know it was a lot easier at 31 than 51. Now, it's a little harder to see where the pin is on the target, but I still do my best. Being able to use my recovery program worked really well during this round, and I was thankful to draw it out of my bag of tricks. I definitely needed it.

                                                          The Second Round

  I got to the range about 40 minutes before the scheduled start time for the round on Sunday. I was surprised to see the range full of people. I didn't think that many people were signed up, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the nice crowd. We had a wide variety of people shooting, too.

  When I stepped to the line for the first practice end, I realized I was going to have to find a way around a shaky sight picture. The sight didn't sit still for the 10 practice arrows, and I knew I would have to trust my shot. Many years ago, Tim Strickland taught me that motion is correction while shooting. As long as I do my part and keep pulling, the sight should make its way back to the center of the bullseye before the shot fires. I trusted this and did the best I could do.

  I chose to start on the bottom, figuring a change from Friday might serve me well. Once again, like Friday, I started off slowly. I made five good shots, but one of them hit barely under the X. I recovered quickly and shot some good rounds. I survived the first half and dropped three Xs. Considering how much my sight was moving, I considered that a success. I concentrated incredibly hard to make sure I didn't make any sub-par shots, and I felt like I succeeded.

  When I moved my target from the bottom to the top at the halfway point, I felt good about finishing the game. I made five good shots the first end, and all of the arrows found their way into the X. I stayed strong throughout the rest of the game and barely missed three. The misses were no larger than a sheet of paper. Two of the arrows were barely out the top at 12 o'clock and the other one missed at 6 o'clock. I got a little strong on two of them, and the other one probably hit where the pin was sitting.

  When I finished, I looked at the scorecard when it was handed to me and saw that I had shot a 300 with 54xs. I'm not sure how that will do since the Mid-Atlantic Sectional comprises so many states -- New York to Virginia -- but I think it will be alright for Senior Bowhunter Freestyle. I'm not liking the fact that I'm in the senior class, but Father Time is undefeated, so I'll keep rolling around on this uneven road. Last year, I ended with a 300 57xs and found myself in a 3-way tie for first, losing out on first by one inside/out X. Although I wasn't happy with the score, I was satisfied with my shooting. Scores haven't been showing up on the paper this year according to how I'm evaluating my shooting. But I also have to realize that I haven't been able to shoot very much at all this winter due to the shoulder rehab. It's still a little bothersome while shooting, and I just haven't been able to put as many arrows through my bow to get the same results as last year. That very well could be the reason why the scores aren't where I would like them to be.



                                                    My Take on the Sectionals

  As you can see above, I pounded that one particular X, as I always do in almost every game I shoot. Very rarely do I ever miss my first arrow on a Vegas target or a 5-spot. I tend to center punch the first target in every tournament or league. It's because I'm calm, confident and in control.

  I had a very difficult time concentrating this weekend. My mind wasn't on shooting, and that is never a good thing. I always try to do my best when I draw the bow and make the most out of what plays out in front of me. I think I succeeded this weekend with that. It's difficult to concentrate when your parents are 1,200 miles away and your dad finds himself in the hospital with unexplainable things going wrong. Your mind will do funny things when that happens. As many of you have seen, Dad is in the hospital, and the doctors are trying to get to the bottom of what is going on. Hopefully, they can consult with his doctors up here and figure out a plan to help him out. He shot lights out at the ASA Pro-Am last weekend in Alabama and everything seemed good until this dilemma took hold.

  I felt anxious while shooting the Mid-Atlantics. I think I might have been trying too hard. I haven't found myself doing that in a long time, and the nerves came out of nowhere. I always feel nerves, but the Mid-Atlantic Sectionals always seem to drive them into overdrive. I've never been able to figure out was causes it. I'll beat it next year. I'm sure of it.

  I was able to shoot next to Jacob on the second day. It's always fun to rub elbows with one of the best professional shooters in the world, especially when said shooter acts just like he's one of us Joes. It's a pleasure to have him around. He's always willing to help anyone who asks him questions, and he was put to work this weekend helping a few people. Jacob put up a pretty good score in the Men's Professional division, so now he and I will have to wait to see how things shake out.  We also watched live scoring of the NAA rounds as the last couple of locations finished up. We learned that he finished in the top 8, and he will be shooting in the head-to-head matches in Louisville in a few weeks for the title of National Champion. When we finished shooting the round, I shot his bow to see how I liked it. Amazingly, our bows are set up very similar as far as peep height and holding weight. I hit behind the pin with his bow and shot a few Xs, and he hit behind the pin on my bow and shot some tiny dust spots on the target. We think we might shoot the same bow in the team shoots this year, figuring we can each carry the bow for half the course. It will give us the ability to rest up. It's not often you can take someone's bow and shoot it accurately and have it be close enough in draw length to make it work without putting much work into it. It was a cool experiment that we had fun with.

  I think the coolest thing that happened this weekend was when I saw two people shoot their first 300 ever. On Saturday, a shooter from the Clifton Park league shot his first 300, and on Sunday, Logan Stevenson shot his first 300. I was excited for both of these shooters. Although it was a long time ago, I still remember my first one like it was yesterday. After shooting it, I went on a memorable run, one that sometimes still surprises me today when I look back on it.

  I realized another thing this weekend that I think sometimes gets overlooked. When most people can shoot in the low to mid-50s for an X count, the ones they're missing are most likely due to mental mistakes. Sometimes the difference between 55 and 60 is nothing more than the width of a dime. Although it can be easy for some people to shoot these scores in practice and leagues, I've realized it is an entirely different beast in a tournament when there is perceived pressure. Shooting without any self-induced pressure is pretty easy. If you can design a way to induce pressure, you will be a step ahead.

 

NYFAB/NFAA State Championship & Classic

  I headed to the annual NYFAB/NFAA state championship in Oneonta, N.Y., this weekend to try my hand at a few days of shooting. I wanted to see if I could withstand a couple of days of feeling pressure. I figured I would be able to see how my shoulder reacted after the first day, which would allow me to start making a decision about going to the NFAA Indoor Nationals in Louisville.

  I didn't do much shooting in the week leading up to the state championship on Saturday. I shot in our league at the club on Tuesday night and ended the night with a 449 30x round. I felt good about the round. The only arrow I missed hit directly behind the pin. The pin was drifting to the right when the shot fired, and the arrow landed just outside the 10-ring. I made great shots throughout the game. After assessing the night, I decided to practice on Thursday and call it good.

  When I went to the range on Thursday, I struggled mightily. I couldn't hold the bow, and I sprayed arrows all over the target. I worked on my expansion and focused on that part of my shot. Toward the end of my practice, I tried a different back bar to see how the bow would react. I went from a 10' bar to a 12' bar, and the sight picture settled down considerably. Although I didn't have many shots behind it, I decided then and there that I would use that bar on Saturday.

                                                  The NY State Championship


   I've shot in this tournament for many years. I've experienced a few wins along the way and a few heartbreaking moments, moments that could crush a lesser man. I've always taken whatever happens on the chin and plowed forward. I've learned that sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield.

  Jeff Wagoner, Chris Hall and I got to Oneonta a few hours before we were scheduled to shoot. While driving through downtown, I pointed out a few of my old haunts. It sure doesn't seem like it has been 30 years since I graduated from SUNY Oneonta. I spent some of the  best years of my life there, and that is where I began participating in target archery. I joined the Oneonta Bowmen Club, and later that spring, I participated in my first 3D tournament. My life would never be the same after joining that club. I became addicted to slinging arrows. Although I never became great at it, I have found some success here and there along the way. I've made great friends with people from all over the country, too. Archery became my life.

  When I shot my practice arrows on the practice range at the Boys and Girls Club, I worked the kinks out and felt good about going downstairs to begin my round. The bow held solid during practice, and my shot was breaking in the right time frame from one end to the next.

  During the first of the two official practice ends, I focused on making good shots and didn't pay much attention to the pin. By the time the practice ends had finished, I had only shot two 10s. I shot a couple of big 9s as well as a few that were licking the jar. I was ready to go. My shots were crisp, and I could focus on aiming when scoring began.

  I rolled through the first three ends without any issues. My shot timing was a little longer than I wanted it to be, but the arrows were hitting behind the pin. I knew I needed to speed the shot up a little bit. Over the last few weeks, my pin has found a way to sit still in the center. I've had minimal movement and this has slowed down my shot. Instead of getting active, I have found myself watching the pin sit steady. It has been awesome. It reminds me of the old days when the arrows would fire one after another as the pin sat still.

  Going into the fourth end, I encountered a hiccup. I'm not sure what happened, but I lost my concentration for a minute or two and paid the price. Although I barely missed the 10-ring, I missed cleanly. I couldn't reel them back in. I took it on the chin, addressed the lack of concentration and moved on.

  As the round progressed through the second game, my shots felt good. Unfortunately, I barely missed a few. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have missed them if I had been shooting with a lens and long bars. I think the arrows were hitting behind the pin. I guess that happens when your eyes get older.

  Going into the last game, I knew I had to bear down and make solid shots. On the first shot of the 11th end, I made a shot that I will never forget. It was more poetic than Shakespeare. If I had to write in a book what a perfect shot feels like, I could've easily gained my information from that shot. I think the shot might have been the best shot I've ever made in my life. It made me smile and pat myself on the back. Although it was a small victory, it was a victory that built confidence.

  I powered my way through the rest of the round, barely missing one more 10-ring. When the dust had settled, I had dropped five points and three of them had hit in the same exact hole. I had a winning performance on Saturday, and some days when you have a winning performance, you actually win. Although the score wasn't a winning score on most days, it did the trick today. Old eyes and old bones sometimes have a hard time with a bowhunter setup. I guess I held my own with it today. Take a look at the target and remember that the two big 9s were both during the practice end. This shows you that the difference between a perfect game on the scorecard and a so/so game is sometimes a matter of millimeters. Too many people get caught up with the score and the outcome instead of how they actually shot.





  Some days are made or broken by the people on your bale. I felt extremely lucky on Saturday to have been surrounded by good people. I got to shoot next to Dan Hann, and it's always good to have a calming influence nearby. Dan allowed me to shoot my game, and he offered good company throughout the round. It's always a good day when you're surrounded by good shooters who drive you to stay on top of your game. It's always fun to go back and forth with everyone on the bale and have fun doing it.


                                                   Sunday: The NY State Classic

  Jeff, Chris and I went back to Oneonta on Sunday for the NY State Classic, a 5-spot 300 round. Since I've shot less than five 5-spot rounds all year, I didn't know how the strength in my shoulders would hold up after shooting on Saturday and having physical therapy on Friday. I figured I'd give it my best shot.

  In the beginning of the round, I struggled a little bit with my hold. The actual hold wasn't bad, but I didn't have the ability to hold as long as normal. This set my timing off a little bit and caused a little bit of monkey chatter in my mind. I tried to kick the monkeys into the bleachers and ignore them, but they talked to me throughout the round. At one point, I was thinking about my father at the ASA shoot in Foley, Alabama, while I was at full draw. After all, he was sitting in 5th place after the first day, and I wanted to know how he had finished because I knew he was done. Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone with me for the day, so I had no idea what was going on. A few ends later, I found myself wondering how Jacob was doing in Fiskdale, Mass, then I wondered how Mike Price's son, Louis, was doing in Lancaster. With my mind wandering like that, I definitely knew I was off track. I worked hard to get the train straightened out and didn't succeed until the last two ends.

  When I got to the last two ends, I realized that I wasn't pulling with my back. Instead, I was pulling with my arm. That had caused a lot of tension throughout the round, and I knew I had to get aggressive for the last 10 arrows. The last 10 shots were my best shots of the day. Every one of them broke perfectly, and every arrow found its way into the X. It still amazes me how long it takes us Joes to discover what is causing our issues during a round. Why did it take me 50 arrows to figure out what small issue was affecting my consistency? I guess that's why I love playing the game. The difference between Joes and pros is that the pros figure these things out much faster than we do. I respect and appreciate the way they shoot their bows. Being a Joe is pretty damn hard most days, harder than many people think it is.

  When I finished the 5-spot round and the scores were added, I ended with a 300 and 53xs. I wasn't too terribly happy, but I won the battle for the day. My shooting was really good for the weekend, even though the scorecard didn't show it. Many people don't handle pressure well. They can shoot good scores in their leagues or in practice, but the scores fall dramatically during tournaments, especially tournaments with "state championship" attached to them. Sometimes scores also don't reflect how good or bad a person shot. This weekend, I shot far better than the scores I ended up with. That's just the nature of the beast some weeks. I guess a win is a win, no matter how you get it. Here's the target for the day. This is a prime example of scoring as good as you're holding. With tired arms and shoulders, I shot as well as I held today. If I had tightened up the hold, I would have walked away with 59xs. I consider that a good day. You have to be realistic with things instead of beating yourself up.



                                                   Congratulations to Many of My Friends

  I come from a very competitive club, Hudson Falls Fish & Game Club. We have two leagues a week,  and everyone pushes everyone to become better. We all encourage each other and root for everyone to succeed. If one of us fails, we all feel bad. If one of us wins, we all feel great for that person. We've become a close-knit group of guys. This weekend, many of our club members had some great performances.

  When I started shooting indoor archery when I got out of college, Dave Russell was one of the first guys I ever met. Almost everyone used their fingers back then to shoot, but Dave never switched to a release, and he still uses his fingers today. After a 6-year absence, Dave made a return to the state championship and took home the title of State Champion and State Classic Champion. Congratulations, Dave. I've always admired your ability to shoot using a finger tab instead of a release.



  Logan Stevenson, Aron's son, put on a show for his first trip to the indoor state championship. He came, saw and conquered. Logan is in the youth class and is always willing to bet some money. He's always trying to take on Jason Clarke and Jacob Slusarz for a few bucks, and that is probably what drives the kid to succeed. Logan has been putting in his time recently and he got the job done. Great job, Logan. You better be good to your mom and dad and realize all of the things they do for you. Mom deserves an award for driving you and Zane to the shoot. It felt good to have my Type 1 diabetic buddy Zane shooting in the same tournament with me. We face a battle that nobody truly understands unless they deal with it. It's hard to hold steady many days due to our blood sugar. We battles peaks and valleys that wreak havoc on our ability to shoot archery. All of that goes unseen. I can guarantee you that it's something we have (and are learning) to live with. We make the most of the hand we have been dealt. Logan even has on his khaki dress pants. He's practicing for when he becomes an NFAA pro.



  Jeff Wagoner always comes to play when he goes to a tournament. His calm demeanor and willingness to accept what falls in his lap are the things that help him make his way into the victory circle time and time again in 3D and target archery. Once again, he pulled off a big win and took the title of Senior Freestyle Champion. Great job, Jeff. You give everyone something to shoot for when you're on the line.



  Jason Clarke has been around for a long time, and he has been coming to the state shoot for many years. He finally made his hay the last few years and brought home a State Championship title last year. This year, he decided he had to improve upon last year, and he made sure there would be no challengers. He laid it down and pounded out a 450 to take the title back to Granville, N.Y., once again. I've seen Jason battle a few ups and downs this year, so it felt especially good to watch him throw it down on Saturday. Archery is never easy, just ask Jason. We both get it. Sometimes people who shoot good make it look easy, but I'm sure all of them can tell you that it doesn't work that way. Anyone who makes it look easy puts in the time. These people work their asses off to be good at what they do. I'd like to extend my congratulations to Jason for having a great day.



  Karl Weber is always in the hunt and has been for the last 15 years. Whenever he goes to a tournament, you know he will be sniffing the top step of the podium. Karl also got it done this weekend and won the NY State Classic on Sunday. Great job, Karl. I've always loved watching Karl compete. He's a fierce competitor and never gives in. I've enjoyed watching him progress to the top and stay at the top.

  Although that wraps up our club members, a few of my other friends who have won time and time again and also taken their fair share of seconds and thirds can't be left out. John Vozzy is a threat to win no matter what tournament he attends. He secured the Senior Pro title in the State Championship. Great job, Vozz. It was fun to hang out after the shoot and enjoy the time watching people be awarded for their efforts.



  Looking back at when I first began traveling to tournaments, I can remember a few guys from the Albany area whom I strived to be like. One of those guys was Dave Townsend. I also always admired Donny Graham and Donny Howard. These guys won almost every tournament, and they succeeded at everything they did. I watched from afar and wondered how they did it. Along the way, I learned that I needed to shoot the correct way and take it from there. I'll be forever thankful for having these guys in my area to watch and learn from. That's what made it special to watch Dave Townsend accept his runner-up finish at the State Championship. Before the round, he told me about a few changes he had made. He went back to a much lighter setup and felt that it was shooting well. Well, I guess he was right about that. I shot on the bale next to him, and he made good shots and got good results. As with anything, any small changes can sometimes take a bit to get used to. As an outsider looking in, everything looked great. Thanks for being that guy 30 years ago who made a lot of us local guys want to learn more how to shoot better.



  Jon Scott never fails to impress. Jon showed up at the State Championship and State Classic and took both titles home. Unfortunately, we didn't get a photo of Jon on the podium. Great job, Jon. It looks like those 23s are pounding for you. Jon shot 52 inside out Xs on the 300 round.

  Jacob ended up finishing his NAA qualifying round in Fiskdale, Mass., with an 1189. He's currently sitting in 4th place and will have to wait for a few more locations to finish up. After they finish, he will find out if he qualified for the NAA Nationals finals in Louisville  in March. If he qualifies, it will be his second consecutive year in the top 8, which is a phenomenal accomplishment. Let's all pull for him and root him on if he makes the finals. Great shooting, Jacob, and way to represent our area. You make all of us proud, just as so many other greats, including Jim Despart, Doug Williams, John Vozzy and Dave Badgely, from the Albany area have over the years.

  And last but not least, I have to give a shout-out to my dad. Twenty years ago we headed to Gainesville, Fla., to shoot in the first ASA of the year. He and I drove to Florida and back for the weekend. After the first day that year, he sat in the top three. He didn't have as good of a day the second day and fell a few places. Well, this weekend he tried his hand again at the first ASA of the year in Foley, Alabama. After the first day, he was sitting in fifth place. This time, he held his own and finished tied for 4th. Great job, Dad. I wish I could have been there to see it. Maybe we will be able to team up on one of the upcoming events.