Hi DoninVA

I like many others use all the bells and whistles to shoot because I enjoy archery the year around. To me you are not a complete archer if your only urge is to kill something when you pick up your bow. In the 45 years that I have been shooting there has been many people that I have talked to and with that use the same old dodge that they are only interested in bowhunting and practice for bowhunting. Often times when you see the scores of these same individuals from a 3D course it makes me wonder what happens when a live animal walks up and they decide that it is time to shoot. If they can' t hit an animal that is not going to move, as indicated by their score what happens when the real thing comes along. Competitative archery is a year round sport and the more you shoot the more confidence you have in yourself and your equipment.

Back ups on a 3D course are a pain at times, but I don' t go out to shoot to continue the rat race that we go through every day. Groups that are going at their own pace are usually enjoying the round and take a lot of pride in their scores. These same people will let you pass through 9 out 10 times and often times will offer to let you go through.

Bowhunting is a sport that most people enjoy when they are all alone in a tree stand or on the ground even but 99% of the time they are waiting for something that they hope is going to happen. Patience is something that you can learn on the course also and enjoy the company of the people that you are shooting with.

I' ll be that right about now you are really glad that you start this subject.

Fasstfletch , to turn the tables on you here , I' ve also seen competition shooters who can win tourneys left and right come unglued and rendered useless when drawing on live game.

I judge each person when I have a chance to know that person.

Your opinion is your opinion and I respect that.

Amen.

Sorry, I wanted to know how often your are privilaged enough to be with a person when they have a chance to harvest an animal and come unglued. 3Ds will help you develope a shooting skill, it cannot cure buck fever or a lack of judgement.

I think you' re really wrong there fastfletch. My only reason EVER for shooting targets was to prepare for hunting season and have fun while doing it. I was always in the game when I did it regularly, but my goal was to be a better shooter for hunting. I finished 6th in the " Bowhunter Limited" class in NFAA in the South Eastern Tournament one year. Not bad for a guy who' s just having fun and not in it for the medals. I used my hunting rig, arrows, draw weight, everything. The first year I even shot with my quiver on the bow. Finished 3rd in my first ever sanctioned tournament outside Atlanta. Hunters CAN be the complete archer as they see it.

All it takes is a little communication with the fellas shooting at the 3d tourneys! I have no reason to doubt them when they tell me how they flubbed a chance at a deer. I' ve also had the privelege of shooting video at a hunt at Tennesee Widerness lodge. I was shooting video for a bus load of guys from our local archery club. Alot of those guys can shoot with the best of them. Needless to say , it' s a humerous video

Mk M Gobl.... It is too bad that you have gotten caught behind some of the slow groups at GSB shoots. Yep there are some that bend the time limits... some of them are in fact some of the new england pro and semi pro shooters that travel the country and should know better. Some are like you say wannabees... This time thru spring can cause a back log at times as it is a warm up time before travel season begins in a big way. Most of these guys/gals are not there for a trophy but for yardage practice that they can' t get like the folks down south. It is also a social time for them as most have had no really contact other than a phone call here or there since hunting season. So yes there are times when it gets slowed down... and when there is three groups or so infront of you, getting thru all of them just is more difficult than staying behind. I am not making excuses for them or even condoning the times taken. A tip tho... when you see them at the target butts, one get out before them, or if they go out on " a" loop start on " b" . Or do speak up and ask to shoot thru. 98% of these guys are really nice people and repesent bow companies.... in most cases these guy don' t get there just because of their shooting tallent, but how they represent themselves also.

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Hey Jim.
I have seen you shoot yep it is just a game

David

If you have satisfied yourself with the things that you have accomplished than that is all that counts. My goals have been much higher than that and I am still not satisfied that I have done all that I can do in archery. I hope that you continue to have fun in archery and that your desire to do better will only grow. Lots of Luck.