However, after considering all options, I decided I didn't want to go out the way I performed in the last event of the year. I chose to cut back on my schedule and just shoot a few events this year. In doing so, I contacted Mike Price and asked him to help me with a few issues that have caused issues for me the last few years. After visiting him, I started putting the work in and decided I would just see where it would lead me... so here we are. I'm back on the range with my friends. As you can see, I'm having a good time with Wags, and Wade is in the backdrop. These two are my guys, my friends, my supporters and the ones with whom I have shared all of my successes and failures. Those two and my many other friends are the real reason why I'm returning. The results aren't what matters anymore. Now, it's time to go enjoy myself and take what happens without overthinking things or letting it influence what I think about myself.
We will be heading to Pipestem, WV, next weekend, and unlike most of the people who will be there, we will have minimal practice. We went to an IBO qualifier at Ti Yogi last weekend and we shot at Hudson Falls this weekend. We got winter-like weather both weekends, which made it almost impossible to figure anything out other than judging yardage.
I weighed a lot of options for which bow I wanted to shoot this year. Tyler Thygesen finally talked me into giving the Elite Victra a try because he thought it would react similarly to some of the bows that have allowed me to experiences some successful moments in the past. I'm glad I listened to him, and the Victra will be the bow I head onto the range with this year. It tuned easily, and I'm ready to see how it does.
So I headed onto the range with Wade, Wags and Robbie on Sunday morning. It was a chilly morning and relatively calm when we started. As we made our way through the first eight targets, I felt like the old Todd was reemerging from the closet of ghosts. Everything was effortless and the arrows easily found their way into the 10-ring. It's never easy when you start off with a bomb of a white wolf in front of a pond, then it gets followed up with a bomb of a feeding doe in which you can't see its legs.
As we meandered through the first half, I felt confident with my numbers. Although my shot wasn't smooth, it was still good. Then, we got into the field, where the last four targets of the first half could be found. That's when the wind started hammering, and it never stopped. The wind ended up getting me on a few of the targets and I hit them to the left due to massive wind drift, even after aiming well right of the 10-ring. I guess that's what happens when you shoot an arrow that weighs 290 grains... the price you pay for shooting light poundage and light arrows. When we had finished the first half, I was satisfied.
After a short break and moving to the second half, the wind stared hammering and it was almost impossible to hold the bow on target in the open fields. Unfortunately, we would be in brushy fields for the majority of our second half.
As we progressed, I was just trying to hang on. Eventually, on a long mountain lion, I changed releases just for a change of pace. It definitely fired a little bit easier, so I used it for about three targets before returning to my primary piece of equipment.
When I got to the last target of the day, a strutting turkey that would require us to shoot from a field, down a tunnel into the brush, I had a solid aiming point when I led it off. The two black dots on the left of the 10-ring allowed me to get the pin to them quickly and execute a good shot, one of my better ones of the day. The arrow struck the right side of the dots, and I walked away with a 10 on the 42 yard bird. I was happy to walk toward the club, knowing I had survived one of the toughest shoots I've shot in a long time.
Final Thoughts
I'd like to say the entire day was as smooth and effortless as the first 10 targets before the wind settled in for the day, but I had to grind after it picked up. Although people make fun of me for saying I think the wind likes me more than others, I know everyone in the group saw it happen with their own eyes on a few different shots. It can be totally calm, then become gale force wind when I draw the bow. Thankfully, I learned how to shoot well in the wind in my younger days. Although it made me a little hesitant with my shot, I plowed through and found a way to make it work.
When I look at the big picture, I can say that If I had less than 1/2 inch on a ruler for the last 15 targets, I would've finished about 10-12 points higher. I'm satisfied with the results for all things considered. I shot the best line I've shot in a long time, and all but two of my misses were extremely close. The wind and a bad number got me on the two that missed by a wide margin. I'll continue working and see what happens next week. I'm excited to get there and see all of my friends from across the country. It will be a great time, and I can't wait to catch up with everyone and share another memorable weekend at an archery tournament with some of my closest friends.
I can't end this without saying how much Wags and Robbie impressed me on Sunday. Wags finally decided to shoot a button, and I think he shoots it much better than a hinge. He also had stellar numbers for the most part and shot really well in the wind.
Robbie had a rough start and began beating himself up and blaming the bow. However, after taking accountability and realizing what he was doing, he straightened his sh*t out and started pounding. It was impressive to watch him recover from a bad beginning. It was the most mentally strong I've seen him on the archery range. If he continues in the same direction this year, he will tough to beat in August. This was an all-out ass-kicker of a course and he handled it like it was soft. Kudos to you, Rob. I look forward to watching your progress.
I finally got to shoot with Wade again after missing out the last few years. When I was a much younger lad when I started going to big shoots, Wade was the guy I always wanted to beat. He was always at the top and still is today. He just finds a way to get it done, and he has always driven me to be better, In all the years of shooting with him, he has shot a PSE except for a few years when he shot a Hoyt. This year, he is also shooting an Elite Victra, and he looks the best I've seen him shooting in a long time.
I can't leave without giving Chuck Weeden some serious props. He set a course that walloped me. My brain hurt afterward, and I was swearing at him. I just wanted a small break on the course to regain my senses, but I never got it. It felt good to survive the course and know I will never see anything more difficult this year. Thanks, Chuck, for keeping all of us honest and challenging us to be at our best. We all appreciate it, even though we wanted to kill you while shooting.
