Don' t let the verbal sparring on these forums get your goat. Most all of it is the result is there being more than one way to dance this jig and a lot of folks seem to think their way is THE way. Of course, my way is the only TRUE way to do it.

Really though, archery and bowhunting can be complicated as building a nuclear reactor or as simple as a bent stick with a string.

I' ve been at this game a long time and, quite frankly, I don' t buy into a third of the stuff that' s going on in the sport these days. Short bows with a godawful reflex in the riser and low brace heights, single cams, hybrids, fall away rests, high rolling sights, mechanical this' s and thats' s, light arrows, speed, speed and more speed....

I officially resigned from the arms race over a year ago. It got to the point where I got flat pissed when I missed the 12-ring on a 3D target, and that' s when I figured out I wasn' t having fun any more.

When I shoot a compound these days, I shoot a long, round wheel bow with a deflexed riser and generous brace height. I don' t have any sights on the bow. I use my God given fingers to release the arrow. My arrows lope along in the low 200' s and they' re so easy to tune I can do it blindfolded. When I hit a 12-ring now, I know that ' I' did it, without having to share the glory with speedy arrows, mechanical release and sights. That' s a lot more satisfying to me. Even at that, I' ve mostly gone back to my recurves and longbows now and they are just as enjoyable to shoot as they always have been.

I truly doubt you' re the only relative newcomer that' s being overwhelmed by all the technology. In fact, I' d be willing to wager serious money (I' m an archer so I don' t HAVE any money, but I' d bet it if I did) that there have been a lot of people that have pitched the entire idea and given completely up on bowhunting. In my opinion, all this emphasis on gadgetry and technowhiz fooferaw is having a terrible effect on the future of the sport. Lots of people are making lots of money and that seems to be all that counts. For the moment, anyway.

Of course, I don' t have a crystal ball to read the future, but I' ve been awful worried about the future of archery for quite a long time now. And I know there are going to be a lot of venomous posts disagreeing with me, but those are my honest feelings on the subject.

As for you though, you might be ready to locate yourself an old recurve that draws 45 pounds or so, maybe some wooden arrows, and just play with it some. See what you think of doing this the old fashioned way. But keep it fun and don' t go getting serious about it! At least not until you build up your confidence some. If nothing else, it will be a break from the frustration of your high tech rig.