A Shoot Without Scopes.

[grimsby archer]

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

It was a good fun shoot, we even had two shooting lines, the nearest one for 50yds so we didn't have to move the targets forward after the 60yd distance!!

When I started shooting in the late 70s, moveable shooting lines were the norm. Shooting line tents were virtually unheard of. Then GNAS introduced what is now rule 302 (a) (i) Range safety, overshoot area: The shooting line is to be fixed unless the archery range has a minimum range of 250 yards for all bows shot with release aids.

Fewer fields have the space for a full 250 yard range

[Little Miss Purple]

I'd like to point out that this wasn't a fun shoot in that it was some kind of novelty day out... the atmosphere was chilled out right from the start and as far as I could tell, all archers had gone there with a chilled out attitude. It was a normal open shoot in which fierce competition was taking place and good scores were to be found. The shoot evolved into a mega fun day purely because the archers & judges made it that way!

Definetly one to put in your calendar.. especially for novice archers

[rick]

Originally Posted by tel

bit of an aside - but I attended a WRS Fita shoot today that had six sighters instead of practice....how does that work then?

Pretty sure I was at the same shoot Tel. All in all a very well run day. But those six only sighters possibly cost me a first class score. Not being used to shooting in still dry conditions (Wales is wet 24/7 LOL) I assumed my misses in practice were low as I do struggle a bit at the long distances. Amazed to find my arrows in the grass some 15 to 20 Meters behind the target it took me a while to get a sight mark and my first doz was 30 to 40 odd points short of the other two at 90. It was announced on the Target list to be fair and maybe I shouldnt be too upset as I put +100 pts on my PB for a FITA - but could it have been so much better with another end of practice/sighters ?
I dont use a scope as yet (but intend to start) so surely two ends of sighters is a must in order to make some changes based on what you find in the target on collection.

On the scope topic - surely they are a must for anyone wanting to maximise their ability and make those little tweaks during an end. If someones scope is in your way or placed over your foot markers ask for it to be moved and find a solution to suit both archers (share ?)- otherwise move it yourself when you go to shoot - no one has a right to compromise another archers shoot to suit their own. Never really had a problem with scopes - you have 4 mins at a FITA event whether you use them or not. But can anyone explain why archers feel the need to look, often at some length, through their scopes after they have shot their last arrow of the end ??

[The Meggy]

Originally Posted by Toxophilus_Archer

:The shoot is a friendly event frequented by archers of all persuasions who enjoy a pleasant shoot and come for the FUN.

I'm sure this is true. However, what I object to is the implication that the "more serious" shoots are not fun or friendly. I am at my happiest when attending any archery tournament, even though I may take it seriously and try to do my best. If that means I'm having "fun" then so be it. I have never noticed scopes causing a problem at shoots, nor do I see why they should prevent anyone having "fun". Indeed I almost always encounter good-natured, friendly fellow archers at tournaments, and there is generally a good amount of humourous banter going on. So I don't see why this shoot was any different to be honest, though I'm glad it appears to have been well enjoyed. You say everyone was happy to comply with the judge's request, maybe this is true, but I wonder how many people actually felt obliged to comply so as not to seem argumentative.

[Furface]

Originally Posted by rick

.... But those six only sighters possibly cost me a first class score.....

I sympathise, but...
Surely sighters, or "practice" are there for you to assess your sight marks in prevailing conditions. If you know how many yards a click on your sight relates to, up and down, right and left, then you really only need one end. Too often we see archers - myself included, I confess - who treat sighters as their "warm up", and only get in the groove after they are finished. It comes down to preparation, I suppose.

[moo-mop]

Originally Posted by Furface

Too often we see archers - myself included, I confess - who treat sighters as their "warm up", and only get in the groove after they are finished. It comes down to preparation, I suppose.

I also often use the usual 3 ends of practice as a warm up too, that's what it's there for if it's there; if it's not there it doesn't have to be and this was announced in advance. It's unusual not to have a full 45mins and probably puts archers off those events but...

However, I believe, and GNAS confirmed, there's no discretion on substitution of practice with sighters at WRS, although it's fine at National RS i.e. you can't limit someone to six arrows in the timed end.

[rick]

Originally Posted by Furface

I sympathise, but...
Surely sighters, or "practice" are there for you to assess your sight marks in prevailing conditions. If you know how many yards a click on your sight relates to, up and down, right and left, then you really only need one end. Too often we see archers - myself included, I confess - who treat sighters as their "warm up", and only get in the groove after they are finished. It comes down to preparation, I suppose.

Yes I kinda agree to a point - but in my case on this occasion I wasnt hitting the boss and wrongly assumed I was going low as I couldnt see my arrows in the grass ( I was sharing a scope and didnt want to move it too much as it wasnt mine). It was only on retrieval that I realised I was shooting high. somehow i did manage an X with one arrow which really confused me. To be honest if hadnt shot so well (for me) for the rest of the shoot I probably wouldnt have considered that the one end of sighters may have cost me a score that I was only dreaming about at the start. For me at least it was no big deal really. But say I finished just a few point short with a couple of first class scores in the bag and it was the last shoot of the season. Fair to say I would have been gutted.

[tel]

You've got me trying to place you now Rick!

I'd like to blame the sighters for not getting my first MB score, but as the 90 was a pb I don't suppose it would carry much weight

[rick]

Target 2A - Navy blue polo shirt and shorts - 5-10 ish folically challenged - Hanging out with Glenn Bell - Mike Woodfield - from our club, (Castle Bowmen) and Pete Bland - Steve Edwards from Llantarnum.
Have to say - apart from that one little blip it was a really good shoot. Well organised - nice weather and a PB by miles - cant really complain and will certainly go next year.
What was really nice was the offers of a congratulatory handshakes from archers around me that I had never met before when I made it known (I'm not particulary shy and more than happy to share my successes) I had hit my PB with a doz to spare - that is what is so great about our sport. Although there is a fair chance I may have finished in last place I came away feeling a winner - roll on next event (Sunday)

[tel]

I know the group - seen you all a few times here and there, and shot with Mike at least once. Can't quite pin you down though - maybe next time - are you in Cleve next week?

Anyhow, as you say, apart from that one point which I would question it was indeed a good day (pb here too!)

tel