Good thinking Arthur!!
I did find a link to a bow maker in a city not to far from me. I should maybe give him a call.

PoP quiz: can any one name the peice of popular fiction from which I got my "online name"? and why would an archer pick him?

http://www.cedmagic.com/featured/tolkien/hobbit.html

Bard,

These people might be a good place to start as well Trad Archers of Oregon

RC

You got a lot of dragons out there in Oregon, Bard, or do you just like shootin' aerial targets?

I've been a Tolkien addict for over 30 years.[&:]

Hey Bard, Oregon has more bow shooters per square foot than anywhere. You should be able to hook up with someone pretty easy. I am with LBR, stay with a longish bow. And welcome to trad.


=keith=

HERE THERE BE DRAGONS...... or at least elk that sound like them!

Thanks for the links guys/gals! I must admit I did not expect this much support!

how does one determine the propper arrow to use for Traditional archery? Are there arrow charts for traditinal archers like they have for the compounds?

What is "stacking" exactly?

and what is "gap" shooting exactly? is it possible to learn istictive from the get go? or does one have to learn to gap shoot first?

There are arrow charts for trad shooters. Easton's chart seems to run on the high side of spine--bowjackson.com has a pretty good chart, I think. Basically you want to get the right spine arrow for your bow/draw length/point weight. You can tune the bow to the arrow some, by adjusting the strike plate and nock point.

I suggest staying with an arrow/point combination that gives you 8 grains or more of arrow weight per lb of draw weight. For instance, if you are pulling 50#, use a finished arrow that weighs 400 grains or more.

A smooth drawing bow will gain 2-3 pounds for every inch you pull it back. Every bow has a point where it starts to gain more--it might be 28", it might be 34", depending on the bow. When it gets to the point that it goes from gaining 2-3# per inch to 4-5# per inch or more, that is when it starts to stack. If the bow starts to stack before you reach your anchor point, this makes it uncomfortable and more difficult to consistently come to your anchor.

Gap shooting is basically using the point of your arrow as a sight pin. Since you can only have one "pin" using this method, when you are close you will have to hold under your intended target. The amount you have to hold under at a given distance is the gap. This method still requires a consistent anchor and release, but makes it easier to get on target starting out. You can learn to shoot "instinctive" without conciously gap shooting (I say conciously, because most people gap whether they realize it or not). Learning to gap first will get you on target faster, and make learing to shoot "instinctive" easier.

Chad

Been thinking on that one, don't have a clue. Here in MS, bard is when you take something with intentions of returning it. "I bard my brother's mower last week, but I'll take it back to him when I get done cuttin the yard."

Chad

Chad... The reference is from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. Kinda the leadoff book into "The Lord of the Rings."

Iff'n I'da knowed you hadn't read it, I'da brung you a copy and letcha bard it off'n me fer a spell. [8D]

ya didn' bring da "hobbit" whichyadidchya?

And yes you are all correct. For those not in the know, Bard is the Man who killed the dragon with a single arrow by sending it into the tiny soft spot right over the dragons heart.