Category Archery

Episode 124 - Some thoughts on shooting in warm or cold weather
Jul 20 2025

Episode 124 – Some thoughts on shooting in warm or cold weather

As many of you will know if you live in the UK , we have been experiencing a mini heat wave here and it’s resulted in several areas now having hose pipe bans and talk of drought, harking back to the summer of 1976. Yes, I am that old that I remember that summer. 

It’s also triggered a question from a follower asking for my thoughts, and advice on what might be suitable clothing and other considerations for shooting in warmer weather.

In response I’ve recorded this episode where I give a few ideas of things to consider when shooting in warm weather and I’ve expanded it a bit to include some thoughts on shooting in cold weather. Below you can listen to the episode via Spotify or via Amazon (https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/c649e917-695a-4c30-aa50-d99742ccd824/off-the-arrow-shelf)

Lets be clear, I’m not a medical expert and offering my thoughts based on personal experience. For this reason I’ve found the NHS UK guidelines on Heat stroke and Heat exhaustion. The key thing to remember is the importance of hydrations, and that children don’t often recognise symptoms so keep an eye on them in warm weather. Please also consider other members of your shooting group too.

If you have any questions or queries you can drop me an email on offthearrowshelf@yahoo.co.uk or via the website offthearrowshelf.com

There is my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@offthearrowshelf if you enjoy the content, please hit the Like button and consider subscribing to the channel.

Most of all remember to enjoy your shooting and as always thanks for listening, watching and supporting.

Jul 15 2025

Episode 123 – special guests Austin and Courtney of St Joe River Bows

I am very fortunate in this episode to have two very special guests grace the airways with me. Austin and Courtney Motte of St Joe River Bows, over in Michigan United States.

They took time out of their very busy schedule of making bows to record the episode where we get to spend the time talking about everything from bow making, shows they have been too and are heading to and being a British podcast we briefly discuss the weather.

If you are in the states and heading over to ETAR this year, they will have a stand there.

They are a lovely couple and huge supporters of young archers in the traditional archery community. Please take some time to check out their website (https://stjoeriverbows.com/) which is packed with photos of some of their lovely looking bows. I’ve been fortunate to see some of their bows up close and being shot and been very impressed.

St Joe River Bows
St Joe River Bows
St Joe River Bows

If you are interested you can contact them via the website or their Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/stjoeriverbowsoffical/

As always there is a link to Amazon music (https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/c649e917-695a-4c30-aa50-d99742ccd824/episodes/9f2e4818-f1bb-46aa-aa45-09e9e5eb5511/off-the-arrow-shelf-episode-123-%E2%80%93-special-guests-austin-and-courtney-of-st-joe-river-bows) and Spotify

As always thanks for listening.

4 fletchings in X-wing formation
Jul 10 2025

Episode 122 – Don’t drown in information

The latest episode of the podcast is now live on Spotify and Amazon music.

This marks the 5th year of the podcast. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since I started this. I hope you are enjoying it.

This one is a bit of a recap of what I have been up to for the last few weeks, including playing around with a 4 fletching combination on the Carbon Legacy arrows for my traditional bowhunter set up.

4 fletchings in X-wing formation
4 fletchings in X-wing formation

They fly well but I am going to experiment a bit more with a standard 90 degree setup and have bought a new jig to play with this so it doesn’t mess up my existing fletching jigs. Watch out for a review of the Cartel Fletching jig in future episodes.

Arrow in target
They fly well

The main focus of the episode is to highlight that it is very easy to feel swamped or as I put it drown in all the information out there about how to shoot, what you should or shouldn’t do in your draw cycle or release.

My advice is to all archer whether newbies or experienced is to take a moment to stop. Take a breath and remember what may work for one person may or may not work for you. Everyone is different and this is why there is so many different bow styles out there.

Some archers will love shooting a single string longbow, others will want a more technical approach with an Olympic recurve. The important thing is to find something that you enjoy shooting and you can do it safely and successfully.

By safely I don’t just mean safe in so far as being a danger to others, but safe for you physically and mentally. I’ve had archers come to me with injures due to being overbowed (draw weight too high for them) because they have been advised to shoot at least a 45lb draw weight or more. This has an impact on their muscles and how they struggle to draw and shoot but also on their heads too and the approach to how they feel about shooting, as it is highly likely to cause frustrations and annoyance.

If you stop enjoying it then you are less likely to continue and we want people to enjoy the hobby at whatever level you compete at.

There are lots of useful sites, podcasts and YouTube channels available for archers to review, far too many for me to mention them all. The important thing is take your time to read, watch and try things.

Thanks for reading and listening.