I found out by jumping into the fray 110%. I found out about as quickly......that I don't think it's for me.

I found out it's a LOT like golf is for me. To be at the elite level of either endeavor....it requires an amount of dedication and time that I'm not willing to invest.

I think I ended up winning 3 shoots, this year....and finished second 3-4 times. It's not that I'm not competitive.....it's that it took me getting where I am to realize how far I needed to go to be really good. Not interested.

I also think I missed setting the bow in the basement and letting a little yearning build up. I didn't do that this year.

Jus rambling.....

Let me know when your next yard sale is...I may fly in for it!

I love 3d shooting. I just don't like taking score and all that. I am very careful these days not to turn my hobbies into competition. Because if I do that, it turns into work for me and I lose site of how much fun just shooting is. I have shot several 3d courses, and have never taken score card. Only score I take is how many arrows I lose. I think3D andstumpin is essential for traditional shooting.

Some people needs scores to keep em going.

Jeff just because you don't compete doesn't mean that you can't enjoy 3-D archery I really enjoy shooting a 3-D course but have never shot in a competition. Just go to the range and shoot.

I had never even shot at a 3D target until 2 years ago, then I went to every shoot I could in 2006 (about 15) and then in 2007 I went to a bunch (12 or so). I won 3 in 2007 in the Bowhunter class. This year, probably not going to shoot as many for the same reasons you mentioned Jeff. I have NO plans of getting a bow with lens, giant stab, or anythign like that, so in the Hunter class, I've kind of peaked, which is perfectly fine. I use it more for a yardage practice than anything else.

To be an elite athlete or competitor at anything, it involves so much dedication that it often puts undue stress on the competitors family/loved ones.....I trained like a madman til I was past 30 in the fight game...I would be training 5-6 days a week, often multiple times a day in order to win...it started to take its toll on my family and I decided that my success was not what life was about anymore, and that the success of my marriage and family was.....for me, it is very hard to be a "weekend" warrior at anything, either I am in the game 100% or I just forget about it.....

Jeff I am the same as you. I totally enjoy 3D but I am not willing to put in the total time to be a top tier shooter. I stricly use it as a fun relaxing thing with buddies and as a good warm up for hunting. Now put down the training wheels and go shoot a couple rounds with your longbow. Now that is a humbling experience. LOL!!! I did that last year quite a bit, It was a blast and also helped build my confidence for using my Chek-Mate recurve for hunting.

BC.....I think shooting a LOT with my longbow helped in my decision making, yesterday.

GR8....whatcha interested in?

I'm already thinking down these lines.

I think it really depends on why you are on the 3D course. If you are wanting to try to compete at a national level, yes it take more time and $$$ than you could believe. If you want to go to the shoots to have a good time and to make sure that your shot is on target come Nov (when it really matters) then it takes no more time than your normal practice. I am a member of a bowhunting club that put on 3 3D shoots a year, I also attend between 20-25 shoots a year, both at the local level as well as the national level. I will tell you that the local shoots are much more fun and laid back than the national shoots. About 90% of the shooters you will encounter as a local shoot are there shooting their hunting equipment and are shooting for nothing more than just knowing they make the shot when the big boy steps out in front of them. The national shoot are a totally different animal. Those guys are shooting for a check. Not nearly as laid back and not nearly as much fun. Those are the guys that have dreams in their eyes of shooting for a living, which 95% of them never will. The local shoots are where it is at. A great way to practice, the scores are a great way to see if you are improving at making hunting type shots, and also a great way to make some great friends.