From: badger@wixer.cactus.org (Badger)
Newsgroups: alt.archery
Subject: Re: archery
Date: 16 Oct 92 17:25:57 GMT
Organization: Real/Time Communications

In article <1992Oct16.122411.3331@csdvax.csd.unsw.edu.au> u2119863@csdvax.csd.unsw.edu.au writes:
>why is archery so interesting?

	I guess for the same reasons that hunting/target shooting with guns
is so interesting, but there are many other reasons too.

	As I was scanning through the newsgroups I subscribe to before I got
to your post, and decided to respond to it, I was sitting here nocking a new
set of arrows I'm making. This is probably one reason archery is interesting to me.  I make my own tackle.  Hand made arrows look good, little deadly works of
art, and if done correctly each member of a set of 12 will have 11 identical
brothers. This is a point that I believe is relivent to all archers. You can
be as good as your equipment. So when I make a set of arrows, I try, to the
best of my ability to make each one as much a copy of the last as humanly
possible. Weight, balance point, position size an cut of the fletchings <I have
access to several Bitzenberger Fletching clamps, but I will only use one to
fletch a set of arrows... it doesn't matter which one it is, but it has to be
the same one for an entire set>.  Two arrows that aren't identical, won't fly
to the same place when released from the bow. If I eliminate all possible
variables from my tackle, then the only thing I have to blame for not shooting
well is my technique.  Most archers I know tinker with their tackle for this
reason. Most gun enthusiasts I know don't, because it just doesn't matter as
much, except for reloading their own ammo, which is equivelent to making your
own arrows, but I never got the gut level satisfaction from reloading a casing
that I get from making an arrow.  People won't come up to you on a firing line
and ask you where you got your ammo, to which you respond "I loaded 'em", but
people will come up and ask about my arrows... <Just for the record, I'm what's
known as a "Traditional" archer... I shoot wooden arrows off of a bare recurve,
which will soon be replaced by an ash longbow... I am *NOT* implying (this 
is a disclamer) that this is in any way shape or form better or worse than any
other archer or tackle out there, it's just what I get the most satisfaction
from. Whatever blows your skirt up is fine with me>.

	Also, IMHO, it takes more skill and practice to become a proficient
archer than it dies to become a profieient rifleman.  More satisfaction to
the Bowhunter who drops a Buck at 50 yards with a broadhead.  More satisfaction
to the archer who shoots a personal best on the target range.  I'm not knocking
gun enthusiasts, I'm sure they get a lot of satisfaction from their sport, I
just never got as much from guns as from archery... besides, guns are *LOUD*.

	Anyway... I'm rambling... those are some of My reasons for finding
archery so interesting. I'll be interested in seeing what others have to 
say.


-- 
| Kenneth W. Scott        | Lord Gunter von Wissenberg  | Azure, a badger's   |
| Badger                  | Collegium Turris Animarum   | head erased Or      | 
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| badger@wixer.cactus.org | In the Kingdom of Ansteorra | an orle Or. (I hope)|