With August comes the IBO World and the end of the national 3D archery tournaments. Although it has saddened me at times, I’m usually ready to take a break, reflect on the year, set goals for the next year, and make plans to achieve the goals. When I’m done with those things, I grab my hunting bow and head into the woods to see what memories I can make with my family and friends. Last year at this time, my contract had expired, and I was searching for a new home for the 2023 season. After narrowing it down to two companies, I chose to go with Darton Archery. With some of my peers headed in the same direction and Jacob already there, I figured I would have plenty of people to bounce things off from while trying to figure things out. This thought process treated me well.
Going into the 2023 season, I chose to focus solely on 3D. Although I attended three regional indoor tournaments, I wasn’t there to see what I could do in the scoring column. Instead, I was at those shoots to figure out a few little things in the setup that I would need to know for crunch time on the national 3D tours. In doing so, I encountered two train-wreck scores, but I knew I had figured out what I needed to know for the first ASA event in Foley, Ala. While I’d imagine most others were there trying to shoot their best and turn in big scores, I was there doing things to figure out what I could get away with and what to avoid doing during any important moment I would face in the coming months. It might not be the place to try new things to see what doesn’t work, but that’s what I did.
I think it’s important for people to know that sometimes you must be willing to take one on the chin, be willing to turn in a score that will leave many questioning your abilities and accomplish things that others know nothing about. It’s called “paying your dues.” Sometimes you must swallow your pride for an end goal. That’s what I chose to do last winter, and that’s what I will most likely do again this winter. Indoor shooting is no longer what it used to be for me, and while I’ve been able to accomplish a lot of cool things that I’m extremely proud about in that venue over the years, I have other priorities now that I feel a greater need to prioritize during the indoor season.
Showtime
When I arrived in Foley, I felt confident. I was shooting well, and things were falling into place. After the first day, I found myself near the top of the pack and in the second group. Unfortunately, I ran into some issues with my sight loosening up during the round, which prevented me from making a serious run. It was all caused by my negligence of making sure everything was tightened down. The quick-detach knob had loosened up, and I didn’t realize it had happened until I shot seven consecutive 8s out the top of the 10-ring. After fixing it, my scoring returned to the same level it had been the day prior. At the end of the weekend, I felt confident and had a lot to build off from. However, I also knew I had lot one slip away by being complacent and not catching the problem earlier.
I had a difficult time preparing for the next event due to a record-setting snowfall in my area. It made it all but impossible to get outside to put in any work. With that in mind, I just wanted to give it my best and see where I landed.
I got off to a good start and maintained it throughout the first 10-15 targets. Then, near the end of my round, the wheels fell off the bus, and I had a sudden realization that you can never relax in this game. You can be on top of the pack, then find yourself near the bottom 15 minutes later. If I could forget about any of the tournaments this year, that is the one I would gladly leave behind. I learned that it’s hard to compete at any level, let alone the top level, when it’s impossible to be well prepared.
As I readied myself for Camp Minden, I felt good about the way my bow was shooting. However, when I got there, I couldn’t seem to hit the broadside of a barn. When the round started, I got on a roll and rode the wave as long as I could ride it. When I neared the end of the round, I shot a wolverine for 50 and shot a 5 low with the right number. After being 8 up with a few left, I stumbled my way to a 3 up round, which put me in sixth heading into the second round.
Near the end of the second round, I felt like I had a good chance to make it into the shootdown round, so I changed my tactics and decided to coast to the finish line. That’s when I learned I was the first guy out. Instead of gunning hard at the last handful of targets, or at least a few of them, I opted to shoot safe 10s. I learned that I need to keep the pedal mashed to the floor when I’m shooting well.
As we began getting into spring back here in the Northeast, I started spending significant time with my Rinehart targets to be prepared for the IBOs. The first round of the first IBO treated me well. I was sitting in the five-hole at 200, after Round 1. I cruised through the first half of Round 2, then ran into some problems. Although I ended up with a top 10 finish, I wasn’t satisfied. I let a great opportunity slip away.
Then, going to London, Ky., for the next ASA, I let another opportunity slip away. I decided to change my tactics and shoot at every 12. I quickly found myself at +8 and felt like I was going to have one of those days that people dream about. That’s when my nemesis, the wolverine, came out of nowhere to bite me once again. I shot it for the right number (50) and found my arrow sitting underneath the 8-line for a 5. The arrow was in the same exact place as the one I shot a month earlier at Minden. I was able to limp my way to the finish line and found myself in one of the top peer groups for Round 2… I liked my chances.
I never got going in Round 2, but I didn’t fall back too far either. Once again, the wolverine cost me points. I walked away with a total of 15 points on the wolverine after two shoots. That’s not a good sign when you get 15 points out of a total of 44. When I was done, I walked to the trailer with Jacob and bought a wolverine – my first ASA target. I would not let it get me again.
After getting home, I quickly learned I was aiming in the wrong place. I was aiming down in the brown, and the brown isn’t too far from the disaster area. After buying the target, I only saw it two more times, which was at the classic, and I got a total of 21 points on it. It just goes to show you that sometimes, you can make good shots and still score poorly. I just didn’t study the target enough to know I was aiming in the wrong place until I owned it… lesson learned.
I finally decided to change bows when I headed to the Second Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown. I had a hard time getting comfortable with the one I had used up to that point. I changed to a Veracity 35 and things seemed to get better. I found myself in the top 5 after Day 1, and I ended Day 2 sitting in the 3-hole. The bow performed better than I shot it. After the shootdown round, I walked away with a check for fourth place. Although I wasn’t pleased with my shootdown round performance, Tazza didn’t miss a bonus ring, and it’s hard to keep that up with that pace in a sprint to the finish line.
I was gaining ground… a sixth and fourth place finish in two of the last three events. My confidence was beginning to increase, and I liked my chances heading down the homestretch. Due to my mother’s health, I couldn’t attend the ASA in Metropolis, so I headed to Nelsonville sitting in a tie for third place overall in the IBO National Triple Crown. I found myself in the top peer group again and liked my chances. It’s a place I’ve become accustomed to being in over the years, ever since my early days in the mid ‘90s.
Although the first day wasn’t great, it wasn’t a total disaster either, as I found myself sitting in the top 10 going into Day 2. Day 2 started off poorly and never got better. With everything going on in my mind, I lost focus and picked up the pieces on my way off the range the second day. I fell from 3rd overall to 7th. It wasn’t anything to be proud about.
Going into the ASA Classic and IBO World, I felt good about my practice sessions and couldn’t wait to get going. When we got to Cullman, Ala., for the Classic, the weather didn’t cooperate. It held everything up for most of Day 1, and when we finally got started, my mental focus seemed like it had been drained from preparing to start in the morning. It’s hard to explain, but that’s the only thing I can tie it to.
I never got on track throughout the weekend and felt a sense of relief when the ASA season ended. I fell fall short of my expectations, but I’m determined to figure it out. I have chosen to try my hand at it again next year. If I can continuously finish near the top and in shootdown rounds regularly in the IBO, there’s no reason I shouldn’t do the same in ASA. It’s just a matter of figuring out a gameplan and sticking to it instead of trying something different every time I shoot.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, my practice at the IBO World was a trainwreck. I don’t recall shooting that poorly in many years, but I shrugged it off and pretended it didn’t happen when I got to the first stake on Day 1.
I cruised through the beginning of the course until I got distracted, but I stayed within myself when I recognized what the distractions were doing. After Day 1, I knew I had a great shot at making the shootdown round, so I knew I had to keep doing what I always do. I never get too high or low, but I always remain slow and steady until I get to the finish line… and that’s what I did on Day 2.
Although I started off a little shaky, I quickly got back on track and picked up speed as the day continued. As I headed down the backstretch, I felt in complete control, like nothing could stop me. However, a few yardage errors on the last two targets took their toll… and once again, I was the first guy out of the shootdown round. It wasn’t for lack of effort.
Final Thoughts
I’d be lying if I told you I was satisfied with the results of 2023. I fell far short of the goals I had set for myself, and this weighs on me heavily. I struggled with many different things throughout the year. If it wasn’t one thing, it always seemed to be something else. I had a hard time escaping the black cloud that was spitting rain. However, I look back on some of the better moments and realize that I never performed near my best this past season, yet I still found myself in the hunt at a lot of tournaments.
Throughout the season, I considered hanging it up at the end of the season. With the pain in my shoulders and elbows, it makes shooting difficult at times. However, the most difficult part of that is that I find a great deal of inner peace when I shoot. I probably shoot my bow too much, and I should listen to my body and get away from it. I’m not sure how my mind would react if I did that. I’m sure I would find something else to replace it, but I love shooting.
After finding out I was the first guy out at the IBO World, I received an interesting phone call that helped me make my decision for next year. I will be coming back next year, and I’ll give it another shot. In the coming days, I’ll share some news with you concerning next year if you haven’t heard it already. I look forward to having a quiet mind next year, and I know some of the decisions I’ve made about my future will help with that.
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