Last Leg of the IBO Northeast Triple Crown

   I apologize for taking so long to do the recap for this shoot. I've received some emails and messages from people who have been wondering why it hasn't been posted yet. I've had a lot going on, and tidying up after the event took a little longer than expected. I'll start by saying I hope everyone had a good time. 

  This year, I decided to step back from being involved in the setup of the course. Instead, I knew Karl and his team would do well with it since Karl has attended so many events over the years. Although I walked through the grounds with him a month before the shoot and gave him a few ideas for setting targets, he took it upon himself to set all the targets and stakes. Without having many tournaments in our region that have Rinehart targets, I wanted to get in as much practice as possible before the Third Leg of the National Triple Crown in Ohio next week, and I knew Karl's creativity would give that to me.

  I met Travis Williams and Jacob on Saturday morning, and we decided to hit the course. Since the half with the wolverine had more traffic, we started on the elk. The wind was whipping around pretty good when we shot at it, but I started off with a strong shot and solid 11. After shooting the next three targets and finding myself sitting at +3, I was feeling good. My shots felt good, and my yardage estimations where obviously accurate. 

  That's when my day took a turn unlike any turn I've experienced in recent memory. The fifth target was a brown bear, and the number was tricky, but I felt confident with my guess due to the size of it. Having two of them on my personal range, I felt comfortable with its look. After averaging my three guesses and setting my sight on 46 yards, I executed my shot. When the shot broke, I expected the arrow to land just under the 11, as that's where the pin was when the shot broke. 

  Stepping away from the stake and glassing the target, I saw my arrow in its leg. Luckily, the 10-ring on the bear is directly above the leg. If the target had been a deer, I would have missed it. Instantly, I knew what had happened. I knew I never could've been that low unless I had set my sight on the wrong number, and that is what I did. My sight was set for 36 yards. In as many years as I've shot unmarked yardage, that's the first time I've ever done that. I've done it on marked yardage or in field rounds, but I've never done it during unmarked yardage. I'm still not sure how I did it. I didn't feel overly distracted, but I was talking quite a bit at the time. 

  Although the shot only put me at 2 down, it somehow rattled my confidence. I knew exactly what happened, but I had a hard time regaining my confidence. I let it affect my yardage judging and my shot execution. I sputtered through the rest of that first half and never felt like I made another good shot. I changed releases a few times to get a better feel on the back end, but that didn't give me the answers to the questions I was asking. When I got off the course at 5 down, I was more irritated because I knew that I should've been even. That five was sitting contently on my card and smiling at me, giving me a wink to antagonize me. I gave it a simple head nod and moved to the second half. 

  The wind had really picked up since the start of the round, and it was flat-out hammering when we got to the wolverine to start the second half. Jacob centered it and gave me a good marker. After fighting the wind, I felt lucky to walk to the next target with a 10 under my belt. I thought that my victory over the wind and the wolverine should be celebrated. 

  Moving to the next target, I felt confident. After shooting a solid 10 and just missing the 11, I followed that up with 10s on the next three targets. I wasn't missing the 11s by much, but I was still missing them. When we turned the corner, and I saw a spike buck down a long, narrow path and set into the high grass in a winter wheat field, I knew it was a tough shot. Jacob made quick work of it and smoked the 11. When I drew, the wind was gusting, but I felt OK. When my shot broke, the arrow went low and to the right, just missing the 10. I earned the 8, so I moved on. 

  When I got to the next target, it took me a minute to locate it. A perfectly set standing grizzly was between two trees and blended in like another tree. I had a feeling the wind was going to take the arrow to the left -- and it did. There didn't appear to be a lot of wind, but it was just enough to carry the arrow to the left. The arrow struck the 8-line and Jacob just caught the 10 on the left side. As we joked about our sub-par shots, Travis shot and I informed him that he had hit the bear in the nuts -- a nutcracker of a shot. We all laughed and moved on. 

  As I made my way to the next target, I readjusted some thoughts in my head and tried to figure out a plan. I was bleeding points, and I wasn't feeling it. I decided to change releases again to see if I could get through my shot a little better. I escaped from the lynx with a solid 10 and followed that up with an inside-out 11 on the scraping buck. Then I got two of the next four 11s and felt like I had found my groove again. My shots were breaking cleanly once again, and my pin was sitting and patiently waiting for the shots to break. 

  When I got to the gator, the number stuck out to me. I set my sight and executed my shot. When the arrow it, I knew it wasn't good. I had missed the gator high and to the right. That's not what you want to do on the target before a turkey. Unfortunately, I second-guessed the yardage on the turkey and used my second guess instead of my first one. When the arrow struck the target at the bottom of the 8-ring, I knew it wasn't the way I wanted to end the day. I shot the gator and the turkey for the right yardage, but my tired body let me down on the last two targets. I walked off the course at 10 down -- a 290. While I'd like to complain, I guess I can't say much. That's the same score I've shot the last few times out. I need to find my way back to where I was during the beginning of the season. 

My Final Thoughts on the Weekend

  Overall, I'm satisfied with how I shot. The bow I shot, Evoke 35, hadn't been on one IBO course this year before Saturday. It performed well for having limited mileage on it this year. I feel confident enough to walk into the ring of gladiators with it if need be. The chariot will not let me down. While it's a little harder to shoot, it hits behind the pin when I do my part. I'll probably end up in Nelsonville, Ohio, with the Supra Focus, but it wouldn't bother me if I have to shoot this bow. Hopefully, once my strings settle in on my Focus, things will go back to normal. 

  Digging a hole by accidentally setting your sight incorrectly is inexcusable. I need to amp up my concentration level and keep that from happening again. I pride myself in not beating myself. Today, I beat myself. That will not happen again. So I should've walked off the course at 4 or 5 down. Anything around even on these courses is good shooting, but I need to get over the hump again. I will be changing my practice routine to address a few minor issues that have hindered my scores.

  Jacob and I shot with Travis and Melanie. We had a good time. Travis was amazed that we weren't dead serious. He said he expected it to be really quiet and not much talking. Well, he had the surprise of his life. If I gained anything from this, it is probably that you need to have fun while shooting. Why do it if it isn't fun? That's what we do. We take it seriously when we are at full draw, but other than that, we just have a good time, crack jokes and keep things light. If you're too serious, you will create a lot of unwanted tension, and tension won't lead you to any pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. I'm serious when I put my work in. I work in silence alone. When I go to a shoot, I go there to practice what I've been working on. So be serious in your practice sessions and try to relax while on the course. It might just benefit you in the long run.  

  I really enjoyed working behind the computer on Saturday after I had finished and all day on Sunday. I enjoyed listening to the feedback in hopes of making things better for people in the future. If I did come away with anything, I learned that people love to shoot with their peers, especially when a title is on the line. I've had the pleasure of shooting in peer groups since 1991. The first time I actually felt like I was competing for a legitimate title in a peer group as in 1995 in the IBO Northeast Triple Crown when she stayed in Fall River, Mass., and shot in Pine Hill Archery Festival in Rhode Island. Roger Thibault was the leader and Al Lane was in second. I wasn't far behind in third place, and I knew I had a chance to make a name for myself. Of all of my archery adventures, that one stands out as the one that catapulted me to where I am today. It made me realize that I could shoot with the best of the best and beat them. Any one person can beat any other person on any given day. I also learned a lot over the course of that weekend. Can you imagine shooting a 341 at a tournament that was bigger than our present-day national tournaments and still finishing in the top 10? Well, there were only two amateur adult classes, MBO and MBR, so classes had all sorts of phenomenal shooters in them. I'l be forever thankful for those crowds and the small number of classes. They made me work harder and realize what I needed to work on to be competitive week in and week out. If you want to be the best, you must beat the best. I was a youngster at the time, and I slayed a few dragons that were legends in my region. I can only hope that  there are a few youngsters out there now whose victories over me catapult them to eventful archery careers. While I'm no legend in our region, I have been lucky enough to find success at every level, so I hope that motivates others to know they can do it too. 

  It has been extremely difficult to practice lately due to the severe weather every afternoon/evening and the amount of pain my shoulders have been feeling. I'm hoping my mental game will carry me through the time that I'm unable to do things as I would like to be doing them. Sometimes, visualization works just as well for me as actually practicing. The next time I check in will be after the final leg of the National Triple Crown. There are a lot of guys in the hunt in my class and many within striking distance. I'll be in the second group with the hottest shooter on the tournament trail right now, Jeff Hopkins, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Practice hard, shoot straight and have fun. As always, if anyone has any questions, feel free to send me a message. 

New York IBO State Championship

 

  Although I had planned on taking this week off from shooting my bow, George called me earlier in the week and asked if I was going to go to the New York IBO State Championship. Since I had already checked out for the week, it was difficult to get motivated. I didn't practice judging much this week, and I only shot a few 3D targets. However, I did shoot a lot of arrows out of my Evoke 35, and I paid the price for doing it. I shot far too many arrows over the course of two days, and it put me on the sideline for the next two days. My shoulders and back couldn't take any more shooting. 

  Barry, Dad, George, Jacob, Wade, and I headed to Deerslayer Bowmen's Association on Saturday morning to tackle a range that is known as being one of the tougher ones in New York. The targets are never in the same place, and every time I have shot there over the last 20 years, the target sets always have a new and challenging look. There's nothing easy about shooting at this location, and that's what draws me back to it every year. It's one of the most enjoyable places to go if you're looking for a range that resembles a national course. 

  Upon arrival and signing up, we headed to the target butt. I shot a few arrows at 40 yards and a few at 30. Most of them hit behind the pin. After shooting two ends, I separated my arrows and we headed onto the range. Tom Hains, who hasn't shot much archery over the last few years, was in the group with me, Jacob and Wade. 

  After a long walk to get to the first target, we had to wait for the group in front of us. When one of them misfired while letting down, it reminded me of the many times I've had some unfortunate luck but realized I had to bear down and put it behind me. After they cleared out, Tom led the target off with a nice shot. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the arrow in the 10 ring, and shadows seemed to be moving around every few seconds. 

  When I drew on the fallow deer, I felt confident with my number. The pin floated around loosely for a little bit before slowly steadying into the area of the 10-ring. Then, the shot broke, and the arrow was on its way. I was fairly certain I centered it. When I stepped away from the stake and looked at it, I couldn't believe it was hovering on the bottom of the 8 line below the 10-ring. Jacob and Wade followed me with solid 10s. After checking with Jacob, I learned I had a good number. I couldn't figure out how the arrow got where it went, but I put it behind me and moved to the next target, a slightly uphill coyote. 

  Leading it off, I felt good about my number. Once again, the pin wouldn't settle down. When the shot fired, I knew it wasn't going to be good. The arrow landed an inch out of the 10-ring at 9 o'clock. When I left that target and saw a leopard at the next stake, I felt confident. The number stuck out to me, or so I thought. When my shot fired, the nock appeared in the middle of the 11-ring. Feeling good about my shot, I strolled to the target. When I arrived, I saw that my nock was in the middle of the 11-ring, but the arrow was lodged squarely in the core, which tilted it downward. Baffled, I couldn't understand how the arrow landed in that spot. I executed a really good shot, and the pin was in the middle when the release fired. 

  Arriving at the next stake, I saw a bedded Dahl on the side of the hill. Having that target, I felt confident with my number. I made a halfway decent shot, and the arrow landed directly under the 10-ring for an 8. I can't remember the last time I shot four targets in a row without being in the 10-ring one time. Determined to break the streak, I begrudgingly marched to the next target. When I saw a long uphill boar, I knew it was going to be a tough shot. Tom led it off and hit low left of the 10-ring. Having a great reference point, I felt confident that I would break my streak. When my shot fired, the arrow clanked off from Tom's arrow. After all of us had shot, we had a cluster of arrows the size of a quarter. I'm not sure why we all hit left in the same place, but we took our 8s and kept marching. 

  Finally, on target number 6, I broke the streak and got a 10 on a bedded elk. As Eric Griggs always used to say, "It only takes one to start a streak." Well, I sure hoped that was the one that would turn my round in a different direction. Five targets into my day, and I was already down 13 points. Although that mere circumstance could've crumbled a lesser man, I decided I would do my best to pick away at the deficit. My aim was not too terribly steady and my execution seemed to match my aim. 

  When we finally got off the first half, I minimized the original damage and ended at 13 down. It certainly wasn't a stellar score, but for the way the day had started, I considered it a small victory. I didn't let the roof cave in when the heavy wind and rain pummeled it in the beginning of the storm. 

  When I led off the first target of the second half, I felt good about it. I survived by getting a 10 on a wolverine that I'm sure probably ate a few people up. I picked my way through the second half and tried to limit the damage. I executed a perfect shot on a bedded buck and happily walked away with an 11. Then, a few targets later, I stroked a long alert deer. The pin was in the middle when the shot fired, and the arrow appeared directly behind the pin. That was probably my best shot of the day. There's nothing better than watching an arrow fly through your scope and hit directly where the pin had just been located. 

  I limited the damage on the second half and got off that half with two 8s. I shot one on a stone sheep and one on a caribou. Both arrows landed a little high and to the right. I misjudged the stone sheep, and I made a sub-par shot on the caribou. I erased the two 8s on that half by shooting five 11s, getting off that range at plus one. 

                                                                          My Take on the Day

  I"m not sure why, but I don't think I was mentally into this shoot. It could've been because I hadn't originally planned on shooting this week, or it could be that I just checked out. I'm not sure, and it really doesn't matter. I tried to make the best of it when I got there and ended up making a mess out of the gate. I felt like a horse that gets stuck in the starting gate as all of the other horses bolt toward the first turn. With dirt and rocks getting kicked in my face, I sat there and took it the best I could. I've learned not to react or overreact when I encounter highs and lows on a course. I try to remain a steady Eddy. 

  Going into the sixth target without a 10 can play tricks on your mind. It can deplete your confidence if you allow it to. I know that we all have averages because of our highs and lows, but I also know that even when you have a day that is below your average, it's probably not going to be that bad. 

 When I finally got an arrow to land in the 10, it relieved some of the tension I was feeling and let me be free, if only for a minute or two. I welcomed the feeling and told myself to concentrate on battling back. In the end, it was one of those days where I beat myself. Instead of letting the course beat me, I took care of the honors and did it myself. Throughout the fight, I kept out of corners and did my best to fight out of the clenches and remain strong. I took a few punches to the ribs that buckled my knees, and I felt knocked out on my feet, but I kept fighting until the bell sounded. I walked back to the truck with a bloody lip, broken nose, sore ribs and bloodied hands, but my confidence remained solid. I had survived an early beating and fought my way back into the fight. 

  I struggled with my aiming today. I"m not sure what was causing the problem. It could have been from some elevated blood sugar levels, or it could've been from my sore shoulders and back. No matter where the problem originated, I learned that I can get through a round when my body isn't cooperating. 

  I learned today that I'm having some issues with shadows on targets. Jacob had to help me find a place to aim on a few targets. It's always good to shoot with good friends who are willing to help when things aren't going well. I need to work on the shadow game. The canopy has been playing tricks on me. Barry let me borrow a 4x lens, and I'm going to see if that helps. I tried my 5x, but it seemed like it was a little too much. I think I need a tad more than my 3x. Hopefully, that will help me out. It seems that I'm chasing a place to aim because the shadows are moving so quickly. 

  I would like to say that Saturday wasn't a great day, but it had great moments. If I eliminate the first five targets of the day, I had a really good day. Although I'll never know the true reason behind the slow start, I can only guess. I'm guessing I wasn't mentally ready to start, and the shadows wreaked havoc with my aiming. 

  I've been having a few issues with the bow I've shot for most of this 3D season, so I'm going to try a different bow this week and shoot it next weekend at the last leg of the IBO Northeast Triple Crown. I just want to see how it does when I'm shooting a tough range.

  We're going to play a game this week. Can anyone identify the archer who has his binocular harness upside down? I saw the goofy old guy on the course and couldn't resist taking his picture.

  

 

  

2nd Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown

 

  As most of you regular followers know, I've been battling a pretty bad summer cold. Having the cold has drained a lot of energy from me, and I've also been battling allergies. The combination of the two things has made it difficult for me to stick to my practice schedule, as some days I don't have much strength. 

  I did the best I could to prepare for last weekend's shoot and felt confident going into it. I got a solid night of practice in last Wednesday, even though I didn't feel strong behind the bow. I moved all of my targets and shot them in all new lanes. Here is the result of that practice. The first number is the yardage of the target and the numbers that follow are the score I got and the yardage I   estimated the targets to be at. 

  On our way to the tournament, we ran into some problems. My father has had a few issues with the tires on his truck, and  thinking he wasn't going to the tournament, he didn't address the issues. When we got about three hours into the trip, we pulled into a rest area and realized we had some issues. The right front tire was about ready to split, as it was worn on the outside and inside, leaving a dip in the tire. 

  We got out to change the tire and realized that the spare wasn't the same size as the tires on the truck. I had given my 20-inch tires to Dad, so the spare was only a 17. We decided to put that bad front tire on the back and take our chances. Once on the road again, we didn't think about it too much. If it decided to blow, we would deal with that problem if it happened. 

                                                                              Practice Day

  After heading onto the practice range, I realized I wasn't seeing numbers that well, and I wasn't executing the best of shots. I decided to write it off as being due to the day of travel. When I went back on the course to shoot the second half with Jacob, things got better and some of my confidence returned. However, I still wasn't holding the bow that well due to the cold I've been battling.  Wade headed onto his range and shot 20 targets. He had a great day and finished the day at 4 down after 20 in the MCBH class. Anytime you end up in that area, it's usually a good sign. 

                                                                              Day 1

  When I got to my target assignment, No. 19, I saw that Allen Conner, Art Brown and Digger Cogar would be with me for that round. I looked forward to shooting with them because they're all easygoing guys. They're also great shooters, so I knew it would present me with a lot of opportunities to listen to arrows and see good arrows to aim off from. 

  Looking down the lane, I saw a medium alert deer. The number kind of stuck out to me by target size and I mentally prepared for the shotgun start. When it was my turn to shoot, I drew back and settled in. The pin move around more than I expected, so I let down to start again. Upon my second attempt, the pin still moved a fair amount, but the shot fired during the movement. It hit at 9 o'clock in the 10-ring. A few of the other guys got 11s on it. 

  Heading to the second target, I saw a black bear. It was set in some dark timber down a fairly narrow path. It reminded me of a lot of places I've been while hunting elk. It was a gradual grade downhill, and the target was under some heavy, tall evergreens. It was somewhat difficult to see, but being black, the pin would show up OK. 

  When I drew the bow, I still had more movement in my sight picture than I had anticipated. I had changed releases after the first shot in hopes of making my aim a little steadier. Unfortunately, it didn't work. When the shot fired, I knew I didn't have enough yardage on it, and the arrow struck just below the 10-ring. 

  A little concerned about my shot and my hold, I continued through the course and tried hanging on, switching releases multiple times. The other guys were shooting well, and I was clawing to stay alive. I felt like a guy who had been tossed over the railing on a king crab boat and was doing everything he could to keep from being tossed into the sea and swept into the current without the other crew members knowing it. 

  Then, we came upon a long, steep downhill turkey. It was set in a position that was almost exactly where I like to put targets on my range to get newcomers. Most of them are really intimidated by it when they see it. I knew this was one of those swing targets that plays into the final results. The guys who get this one automatically gain points on the field. Digger had a really hard time settling on this target and couldn't get his aim to steady out. This made me nervous because I knew if the shot was giving him problems, it was probably going to be rather difficult for everyone.

  When it was my turn to shoot, I drew the bow, got the pin to the middle as quickly as I could, and waited. The pin sat rock solid in the 10-ring. It got to the point where I admired the pin rather than executing my shot. I had to let down and start over. The second time around, the pin did the same thing: it just sat there. Then, right as I could feel that the release was going to fire, the pin drifted left and the arrow was on its way. I had given up a perfect opportunity to gain points on the field and had to settle for an 8.

  Slightly irritated, I made my way to the next shot. It was a long, downhill mule deer. When I drew the bow, I knew I didn't have enough number on it, so I moved the pin up near the core line and settled in. I trusted the shot and trusted what I was doing. When the shot broke, I knew it was a good one. Yup! The arrow landed dead center in the 11, my first one of the day, and I was already halfway through the course. I knew I needed to bear down and try to erase as many of the three 8s I had shot as possible. 

  Looking at the next target, I saw a chance to fully erase that 8 that I had shot on the turkey. I would worry about the two previous ones after that. Once again, it was a long, downhill shot, and it was over 50 yards. Once again, my pin drifted left as the bow fired, and the arrow hit a hair low and left of the 11-ring. I just couldn't get anything going. I knew the problem was related to my hold, and I knew the last nine targets were going to be tough because they were all uphill. 

  After the bedded, elk I made an incredible shot on a bedded Dahl sheep and put the arrow in the middle of the 11. I followed that shot with an 11 on a grazing doe. Using the momentum to my advantage, I led off a long, uphill fallow deer and executed my best shot of the day. The arrow hit directly behind the pin in the middle of the 11. I had executed three perfect shots in a row and was sitting at 2 down with six left for the day. The next target, an impala, stuck out to me. I had practiced shooting my impala regularly, and I knew it was right around 40 yards. Knowing that, I overarmed at it and tried forcing my arrow into the 11 instead of letting the bow fire itself. I made a bad shot and paid the price. I settled for one of those ugly 8s that we all get from time to time. 

  My next three targets consisted of a lynx, a coyote and a black panther, and every target was long and uphill. I made decent shots but hit two of them to the left and one of them low. I 10d the last few targets and got off the course at 10 down, which was good enough for the top five scores. I was highly disappointed because of the seven 8s I had shot for the day, five of them were due to less than ideal shots. I should've gotten off the course without dropping any points. I wasn't happy with myself, but I knew I hadn't blown my chances on the first day. I was still in the hunt. 

  

                                                                                         Day 2

      Going into Day 2, I felt confident that I would have a better day. Although I got minimal sleep due to my cold, I still felt confident. When I got to my target assignment the second day, I glanced at it and realized I'd be shooting a fallow deer. A quick glance told me it was all of 50 yards. When the cards were drawn, I was chosen to go first. 

  When the horn sounded, it reminded me of all of the indoor rounds I've shot. I drew my bow instantly, settled in and broke my best shot of the weekend. I fully expected the arrow to appear in the middle of the 11. I couldn't have possibly shot a better shot. When I saw the arrow hit in the leg, I couldn't believe my eyes. I had set the sight for 50 and made a perfect shot. Instantly, I knew the target wasn't 50 yards. 

  Knowing there wasn't anything I could do, I marched toward the second target and knew I had some ground to make up. It was early enough in the round, and I've shot as many as 15 11s on a 20 target range at national events, so I knew I had it in me to make up the ground. I would give it my best to pick away at the deficit. 

  After shooting two solid 10s in a row, just missing the 11, I dip-banged on a very long wolverine and the shot fired on the dip. I had perfect yardage but shot a 5. Four targets in and I was already 10 down, but I knew I still had time to claw my way back into the picture. 

  I fought my way back into the picture to make the shootoff and knew I had a legitimate chance with a few targets left. Unfortunately, I misjudged a Dahl sheep. I had the sight set correctly, but something inside me made me change it at the last second. I know better than that. I shot a low 8 on it and would've gotten it if I stuck with the plan. It's been a long time since I've done that, so it was my own fault. I thought I made a pretty good shot on a bedded doe and hit the 8 line low. I'm still not sure how the arrow got there. Then I made a good shot on a javelina but barely missed the 10, hitting just underneath it. I think I had the right number, but I couldn't see my pin well enough to know if I was in the right place when the shot fired. 

  When the dust cleared, I learned I had missed the shootoff by one shot, probably the dip-bang I experienced on the wolverine. If that didn't happen, I'm assuming I would've 10d the target. That's the breaks in this game. You can't escape mistakes every weekend, but you can try to learn from them. I will do my best to correct my problems and try to do better next time. 

My Thoughts on the Weekend 

 First, I must say congratulations to all of the people from my region who found a spot on the podium this week. I'm proud of all of you, and I'm glad you put in the work to perform well at a national events. I'm proud to represent eastern New York and New England. It feels good to be part of your family. It would take too long to mention everyone, so I apologize for this generic statement. I think I reached out to most of you, and if I didn't, please know that I didn't purposely forget you. Your victories are my victories, and it will always be that way. I always appreciate your unwavering support. It can do a lot for a person when you know everyone in your region is rooting for you. 

  I gave it my best this weekend, but my best just wasn't good enough this week. Sometimes, you can shoot your bow really well and not score well. I feel that I shot my bow well all weekend. For being weak and still struggling from the cold, I feel I performed to the best of my ability under the circumstances. 

  The courses were a little over the top in my opinion. If we want to grow the professional classes and encourage people to move up from amateur classes into semi-pro, we can't scare them off. I've set a lot of courses in my life, and there are plenty of ways to make courses difficult without setting targets over the max distance. There's a max distance for a reason. At this day in age, there's no reason to push the limit. Let the shooters put on a show and let them battle it out. After shooting the 5 on my first target, Bill McCall told me he knew exactly what I did because of my reaction. He said it saved him from doing the same thing. I would've probably known what Bill did if he led off the target and hit it where I hit it. When you're shooting with top-level shooters, it's not hard to figure out certain things on the range. These guys are professionals for a reason. 

  A little more on Bill McCall. He's one of the nicest people I've ever shot with in archery. I've been fortunate enough to shoot with him a few times already this year, and I've enjoyed my time sharing the stake with him. Bill took the time to introduce himself to my dad while he was shooting, and he has been positive in all of my interactions with him. Most of you who know me know that you can't usually tell whether I've done well or poorly. I like to maintain a level head while shooting, and I don't get too high on the highs or too low during the low points. I see Bill as a similar person, and I think that's what makes him one of the best in the business. If you don't currently do it, I would suggest following him. He's a great person to model yourself after if you're looking to go to the next level. We should have more professional archers who act like him. I'm grateful for having met him and shot with him. It has been a rewarding experience to meet another great person through archery. 

  I had a great group the first day, too. Art Brown, Allen Conner and Digger Cogar were in my group. We had a good day, even though none of us tore it up. Many people would've been swearing and cussing, but we all took it on the chin and kept moving along. Heck, I learned a long time ago that if great shooters are shooting poorly, that usually means that the course isn't making matters easy on anyone so you need to keep plugging along.That's what we all tried to do. I have to admit that it is difficult to watch good people hit bumps in the road while shooting. I witnessed it a few times over the course of two days with different individuals. Although I want to to my best, I also make it a habit to route for other good people. I like to see good people do well and routing for them only helps my self-image grow. Ray Young had  a really solid first day, but he struggled the second day. I don't like seeing people struggle, but I know it's part of the game. If I ever had a wish, it would be that we all shot our very best, like we do in our backyards, and we could battle it out every week like that. 

  I'm going to take some time off this week and try to kick this cold. I need to get past this to get strong again. Once again, I didn't realize how badly it was beating me up until today when I went back to work. All of my energy had been used up over the weekend. I'm hoping to put it behind me as quick as possible. I may end up going back to my 5X lens for the rest of the season. I will play with it a little bit and make a decision. I've shot a 3X all year, but I saw where it just wasn't enough with all of the long targets this past weekend. I needed to see better. I think that would have saved me a few points along the way.

  Looking back on things over the weekend, I made some phenomenal shots. I'll focus on them and move along. Hopefully, this pothole I ran into that wrecked the sidewall on my tire for the weekend will be nothing but a distant memory. Meanwhile, I know I need to work harder, so I'll shoot for the stars as I map out my new plans.

  

London, Kentucky ASA Pro-Am

 

  Although I headed to the national ASA Pro-Am in Kentucky for the weekend, I was disappointed that I couldn't shoot the Massachusetts Senior Games, the RBD or the Massachusetts IBO State Championship. Not having been to a national ASA in 15 years, I didn't know what to expect. Then again, the last one I shot before that one 15 years ago was in the early 2000s. I guess you could say time has gotten away from me. 

  People who have never gone to an ASA have always asked me my opinion on the tournaments, and after this weekend, I still have generally the same opinion I used to have on them. That is the reason I prefer shooting in IBO tournaments. I've never been able to fathom how they organize the range assignments.

  In the old days, the team shoot was always held on the same identical range that at least one class would be shooting in the real event. Therefore, anyone who shot in the team event was basically shooting an "unmarked" range the following day for their real tournament score. After being on a team and discussing the yardage, these people would be competing against people who hadn't shot in the team event. I guess it just gave incentive to participate in the team shoot. I just always thought it was unfair from a competitive viewpoint. Half the people on the course already knew the yardage if they participated in the team event.

 

  So this weekend, although that didn't happen, I shot on a range the second day that the Known Pro class had competed on the day prior. At this day in age, I can't understand how there are two classes on the same range and one is known and the other is unknown and the known shoots it first. You can say what you want, but it doesn't take long for word to travel about how far certain shots are on the course. Granted, the stakes could have been changed but I still think it's something that should be avoided. There's simply too much on the line for this to be considered ethical.

  OK, now that that little rant is over, I'll move on to the shoot. 

                                                                                  Practice Day

  The drive to Kentucky didn't seem too terribly bad. When we arrived, we hopped out of the truck and began shooting some arrows at the practice butts. My arrows hit behind the pin, and I felt confident with my shot. Although I had been sick since Tuesday, I didn't feel too terribly bad. I was weak, light-headed and a little dizzy. I could still feel he congestion in my chest and a nagging headache persisted as we walked toward the 3D practice range. 

  While waiting in line for about 40 minutes to get onto the range, we listened to all sorts of entertaining conversations. I often wonder if people listen to what they actually say. Some conversations go in all sorts of crazy directions, but almost always the conversations revolve around all of the negative things in someone's archery game. If more people focused on the positive, we would probably have more great archers out there. When people always want to tell you about the negative things, it reinforces those things in the shooters' minds. It creates a never-ending cycle that's hard to escape. I challenge all of you who normally follow this to talk about any one positive thing you encountered next time someone asks you how your day went. 

  After getting onto the range and progressing up the road, I realized I was going to have to climb a really steep hill to survive the weekend. My sickness and cold had left me extremely weak. We shot nine targets on the practice range, and I managed to only shoot two 10s on the nine targets. I couldn't hold well and my shot wasn't relaxed and powerful like I like it to be. 

                                                                             First Day of Scoring

  When I woke up the first morning of the tournament, I didn't feel well at all. I almost felt as if my cold was reaching its climax. I also hoped that being in the high heat all day would burn it out of me. My shots weren't the best on the target butt and I hit a little low but not super low.  I knew it was because I was feeling weak. As people piled into the area around the butts, the staff set up a chronograph for people to shoot through. I worked hard at getting my bow to go 294 for this tournament. I figured I would be all set and have room to spare. I turned the limbs down a turn for the shoot and it did the trick. Well, when I shot my first arrow through the chronograph, it went 299. Great... that's all I need. Then, I decided I needed to shoot all of my arrows through the chronograph. I had 10 arrows in my chair and shot all of them separately. When all was said and done, that first arrow was the only one that went through the graph too fast. The rest of them fell between 293-297. A few others shot through the graph and said it was a few feet faster than their chronographs too. I've never been a fan of outdoor lighting for chronographs. I've seen these situations give a lot of variations. I've always used mine inside with a light kit on it. Unfortunately, in my rush, I never separated my arrows when I put them back into my stool so at the end of my trial, I was no further ahead. I still had the one arrow in there somewhere. It just sucks to have that on your mind. Thankfully, I knew it wouldn't matter  after the end of the day. 

  After drawing cards on the first target, I was selected to lead it off. It was a lynx that was set behind a huge tree. The diameter of the tree definitely played into the picture when judging the distance. After setting my sight and feeling confident I drew my bow. Being the first target of my return to the ASA, I held a little longer than normal and didn't get out of it when I should have. Struggling with the lighting and being weak, I made a weak shot... and it wasn't good. I knew as soon as the shot broke that I needed a higher power to save the arrow from ricocheting through the woods. When I heard foam, I was happy. Sometimes, one shot can set the tone for the day and other days it will help you to refocus. In my head, I knew I had shot plenty of fives in my life, and I'll shoot plenty more in the years of archery I have in front of me. A five is no big deal... it happens. 

  Moving to the second target, I felt good when I saw a deer at the other end of the lane. The number stuck out to me, and I knew I would stroke it. Being the last shooter, I listened to all of the arrows that were shot in front of me. The sound confirmed the number I had picked, and I couldn't wait to shoot it. I knew I would be able to get back a few of the points I had just dropped. 

  When the shot fired, it barely caught foam in the belly. Once again, I didn't have the strength to execute a great shot. Instantly, I realized that I needed to pay close attention to the feeling in my back during my setup. I couldn't afford to leak any pressure at all, and I needed to make sure all areas of my shot were locked and loaded. 

  After making the adjustment, I made a goal to somehow get back to even. I had no idea what was in front of me, but I know it only takes one arrow to start a streak. My third arrow of the day landed directly in the 12-ring, and I knew I had a chance to plug away at the early deficit I had put myself in. From the third target through my 14th target of the day, I stayed in the 10-ring and found another 12. With six targets left for the day, I knew I had a chance of getting back to even. 

  That's when all the wheels on the bus went flat and I had to keep from falling out of the emergency door. Although I didn't realize it at the time, I realized it when Jacob and I got back to the truck. I just hit the wall at target 14. With my body fighting the cold I had battled for the week, I just didn't have anything left in the tank. I lost my focus and my strength and everything went out the door. I had survived the round to the best of my ability. I wasn't happy with the end result, dropping 11 points in the last five shots, but for the things I battled during the day, I knew I couldn't ask for much more. Some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield. I was certainly the bug on that day. 

                                                                                            Day 2

  I knew the first day wasn't good, and I had earned the right to start near the bottom of the pack the second day. It's kind of like NASCAR racers. They don't always finish at the top. They encounter a lot of  disappointing situations throughout the year. If they hit the wall, blow a tire, or lose an engine, they just start working toward the next week. You're only as good as your next finish. There's no sense in beating yourself up for a bad one. The winner of the Daytona 500 doesn't win or even place in every race of the season. You just have to keep putting the work in and accept the bumps along the way.

  I had a good group of guys for the second day, and we started on a long, uphill coyote. Once again, I felt confident with my number. Once again, I made a really weak shot with a good number and barely caught foam. The 7:30 start time combined with the restless night brought me back to where I had been nearly 24 hours earlier. Again, I made it my goal to dig out of the hole. By target 10, I had gotten back to three down and felt good about my chances. 

  As we neared the last few targets of the round, I could feel myself going to the place I ended up in the day before. Combined with some difficult lighting conditions and not feeling the best, I lost a few points at the end of the round and ended up a nine down.  For everything that went on, I guess I have to take it on the chin and move on. There's a very fine line between shooting a great score and shooting a great round. I shot a very good round, but you would never know it by looking at the scorecard. That's why scores don't really matter when you're telling people about your performance. A handful of weak shots over the course of two days showed up on my card, and I paid the price. That's the way it works sometimes. 

                                                                            Jacob Makes the Shootoff

  After finishing my round, I searched for Jacob. When I found him, I saw that he was on his last target... a 50-yard wolverine. Watching through my binoculars, I saw the arrow land in the 12 when his shot broke. I was really excited for him. Watching the leaderboard about 20 yards to my right, I knew that shot secured him a place in the top five. 

  I'm still not sure how he was able to keep it together through the regular round and the shootoff. When we got up in the morning, he informed me that his grandfather had died. There's not much you can do as a friend at that point, other than offer your support and try to keep his mind busy. I tried to keep it light and not talk about what he was going through. I think if the mind can sometimes find peace in another place, if even momentarily, it better serves a person who is suffering. I"m not sure if I did the right or wrong thing, I just did what I thought to be the best thing. 

  We hung out after our round and went onto Dad's range to watch him shoot. With 10 targets left, Dad was sitting at 12 up for the day. Unfortunately, he ran out of gas too and took a huge tumble. He just doesn't have the stamina that he used to have. This disease has surely taken its toll on him, and it hasn't been fun to watch. I'd gladly take what he has battled and add it to my battle with Type 1 diabetes if it could help return him to his former self. Things that seemed so easy a year and a half ago are now more difficult than I ever imagined they would be for the toughest man I've ever known. He has the strength, determination and courage of a lion, so I know he faces the challenge head-on and will continue battling it. 

  Jacob started the shootoff on the large deer and felt confident with his number. After he made the shot, he told me he couldn't believe how nervous he felt. We both laughed a little bit and I asked if he was as nervous as when he's in the shootoffs indoors. He told me they were a lot easier because they were closer and he knows how far the target is so he can't see the movement. We had a good laugh about it and moved to the next target, the strutting turkey. 

  While holding the umbrella, I could tell he made a great shot, but he just missed the 12. Moving to the wolverine, we were pretty sure he would get it. He broke a great shot and barely missed it. Meanwhile, we saw that Chris Hacker had shot an 8 on the turkey. We talked about the next shot, the chamois, and decided if he got it, he would be in really good shape. He broke another perfect shot and hit behind the pin. We both thought he had it. Once again, he barely missed it. He just couldn't buy a break. At the same time, Hacker shot a 14 on the wolverine, putting him back ahead of Jacob by a point. I figured if Jacob got a 12 on the pig, he would probably get by Hacker. Once again, he couldn't find any luck and had to settle for a 10. 

  When the dust cleared, Jacob had once again earned himself a fourth place at another national shoot. Hopefully, he will get that little break that he needs to get over the hump. His mental game this weekend was far better than anything I've ever experienced while watching anyone else. With the load on his shoulders that could crack most people, he found a way to grind it out. 

  Congratulations, Jacob. I'm proud of you and we are all thinking about you and your family this week while you cherish the memories of your grandfather and say goodbye to him. There is no doubt in my mind that you made (and have made) him very proud of you.

                                                                                   My Final Thoughts

  This weekend was really tough on me. I really wasn't prepared, and I didn't put a lot of effort into this ASA. I'm glad I went so my dad could participate in the tournament. The last thing he did before he became deathly ill was participate in the Foley ASA last year. It has been a really tough year and a half since that tournament, and we have experienced things that we never saw coming. It just shows you that you need to live every moment as if it's your last one. I never imagined seeing what I've experienced over the last year, but it gives me a tremendous amount of pride to look at my dad and see everything he has been able to overcome. The doctors had all but ruled him out, and he has continued battling and showing everyone that mental strength is everything. Thank you, Dad, for everything you've done for me and given to me. Hopefully, you keep improving and find a way to get your strength back. 

  My plans for next weekend's IBO are up in the air right now. We found out that my mom has to have a heart catheterization this week, so I'll have to see how that goes. If I make it to the second leg this weekend, I'll do the best I can. If I can't make it, it's because my attention was needed elsewhere. Archery is something I like to do. My family is something I can never replace. 

 Although I don't ever like to blame anything on my performances, I simply didn't feel well this week. I was sick and very weak. It didn't help my mental game or my physical self. I did the best I could and took it on the chin. In all reality, I still finished in the middle of the pack, and I don't think I'll shoot that poorly again. The entire weekend was a battle. I know I won't be going to anymore ASA shoots this year, so I'm glad I was able to return to the arena and be there when Jacob made the shootoff. Hopefully, he's able to shoot many more of them in the future and find the success that he deserves. While I got beaten badly this weekend, this is how I feel about moving forward after this event.....