Here's my 1000th shot for the year, all shot with the same bolt. I hope to usethis bolton an animal (plan on hunting antelope, elk, and muledeer) this year like I did last year.

For those who don't know, I started a 1000 shot challenge to practice for hunting. The way I do it is I shoot from 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 yards and I have to keep my shots within a 9" circle. I shoot at a small stick (right above the bolt in the picture) and a miss would be more than 4.5" away from the stick. I ended up missing 5 times compared to my 8 misses last year. I was on track to just miss 3 but kinda hurried the last 100 shots and missed 2 more. Oh, well. I guess I can live with 5 misses.

Oh, forgot to say, all my shots are standing off-hand shots. I do a lot of still-hunting/ stalking so an off-hand shot is the best pracitce for me.

Good shooting! Looks like you're dialed in for the season[s]. i started a 1000 shots, but didn't follow thru for various reasons. I pick up the Phoenix whenever I go to the shop and flip a few at 30 offhand. Some days I flip a few more than others, lol. It's amazing what practise can do for ya. This is a little O/T, but my uncle who passed away this spring used to have a Ruger Single Six Converible [.22/.22 mag] which were not known as target pistols, lol, esp w/ 5 1/2" bbl. He used to shoot 24 shots a day w/ cb caps in his basement at a dime sized target at 25'. He often put all 6 of one cylinder load in the bull.I couldn't do that off a bench, then or now. Looking forward to another day by day story on your next elk foray, good luck!!

Thanks Aweshucks, I'm looking foreward to telling my stories here again. It's kinda like coming back to camp and sharing what happened that day with a bunch of friends around the campfire...only the're spread out all over N. America (and maybe beyond). Sounds like your uncle was a little bit handy with a handgun. I think I can shoot better with bows than with handguns.

good shooting bro, and good perseverence. that's dedication to do it with only one arrow. i agree.....amazing what practice can do.

Well i am behind on my shootin as usual. Have 400 or so done all offhand different yds. on a 6" target on bag. Its so hot i don't feel like shooting, have to do it from 5:30 am til 7 am to be cool.

Smokepole, yeah, it is hard to get motivated to practice this time of year. It doesn't feel like hunting season. A friend and I are planning on going to Wyoming to chase pronghorn and the season starts in 3 1/2 weeks. I can't believe it's almost here. We haven't even talked about preparing for camping, what we're driving, eating, etc. Guess we better start doin' that :^). I have started shooting broadheads now (after my 1000 shots)to make sure the're flying right- they are so far. Another nice thing that I've found about shooting so much. Last year I had to reserve my string after every 300 shots. This year I have gone 500 shots before needing to reserve. I guess all those shots are really smoothing out my catch (or whatever it's called).

I'm betting that my pronghorn hunt willbe a little different than my elk hunt last Jan. (for those of you who followed along on that hunt).

This will help you feel cooler, Smokepole!!!