Tag Archives: 3d target

Apr 20 2015

Shoot report – Highcross – April 2015

3D deer shot at Highcross

3D deer shot at Highcross

So Sunday saw us heading south on the motorway to Highcross clubs ground. Though Sharon had shot Highcross once before, it had been at their old wood, so this would be a new venue for us both. It was nice to visit somewhere new as everything is completely unknown.
Fortunately the weather was good, with a slight chill in the air it did feel cooler that earlier in the week. The good weather did mean I was able to get quite a few photos.
Unlike other shoots where there are upwards of 150 archers, Highcross had some 60 archers which made for a relaxing and easy shoot.
Highcross have a lovely wood with a 36 target course set up with targets 1-18 paper faces and 19-36 3d targets. For the shoot they had been able to secure an extra part of woodland which was where they housed the 3D shots.
First target of theday

First target of the day

Personally I’m not sure if I liked the 50/50 split, the 3d targets were really nicely set, well placed and at sensible distances, which gave archers confidence. The paper faces in general weren’t too bad, but I think it would be far to say that some were stretched. In stretched I mean target face being too small for the distance, this was especially the case for the smaller faces. an example of such was our starting one the rabbit. By having them in two halves it could make people feel despondent if they shot the papers first.

Sharon on our second target

Sharon on our second target

Having said this the course was still fun to shoot. The course layers making extensive use of framed shots between trees.
Another framed shot

Another framed shot

Really liked the setting of the capercaillie in the trees, looked very natural. It was lovely to wander round a wood and to hear only the sound of other archers in the distance.

Shot through the tree

Shot through the tree at capercaillie

It was also lovely to see so many primroses in flower covering the ground throughout the woods. Could have been called a Primrose shoot.
Minefield of primroses

Minefield of primroses

 Another great shot was the flying duck, shown below.
The duck shot

The duck shot

Sharon did really well getting a pro kill 24 point shot, the only problem was when you hit it, the target would spin round.
The 3D duck with Sharon and my arrow in

The 3D duck with Sharon and my arrow in

Our group included Steve and Rae both shooting barebow, with Gerald joining us to walk round with Rae and his dog Two-Bob.
Sharon chatting to Steve

Sharon chatting to Steve

It was a very sociable and relaxed day overall and it was nice to hear positive comments form archers who had attended our shoot the week before.

Rae Shooting at 3D

Rae Shooting at 3D

The day flowed well with no hold ups, maybe because of the lower numbers or simply because it was a good course, along with good catering especially the selection of home made cakes.
Sharon won ladies hunting tackle and I somehow managed a first in American Flatbow.
Think it will be a shoot we will return to, though not sure when their next shoot is.
Thanks for reading
Dec 16 2014

Shoot report – Spirit of Sherwood – December 2014

Spirit of Sherwood Christmas shoot

Spirit of Sherwood Christmas shoot

Seems ages since I wrote a shoot report but then again it’s been ages since I’ve been to a shoot.

Spirit of Sherwood were hosting their Christmas shoot and it was to be a wooden arrow only one. It’s a long drive for us but Karen kindly put us up for the Saturday night returning our hospitality for when she crashes at ours for Svyf shoots. Huge thanks for cooking us a great meal, camp fire stew yummy.

We hadn’t shot Spirit of Sherwood for a few years and the club has struggled recently due to forestry work taking place in their woods. Considering that they put on a great course with some clever shots using tree stumps from which you shot or on which positioned the targets. Loved the longhorn ram, looked great.

3D Longhorn Ram

3D Longhorn Ram

Our shooting group would be made up of Dave and Lynn Sabo who we had had the pleasure of shooting with before and Paul who was on only his third nfas shoot having just swapped to wooden arrows.

The course was to be a mix of 3d and paper faces set in a clover leaf formation so you would pass catering 3 times. The result was an easy flowing day with no hold ups or delays with everyone having finished and getting away by 3:30. Not bad when you consider there were over 140 archers. We were also lucky with the weather having only a brief shower in the afternoon.

First target was not a great start for me. I  blanked it,  think the lack of practice and distance judgement being to blame as my arrows flew over and under.

Second target of the day, shot off an old tree stump.

Second target of the day, Dave taking shot off an old tree stump.

There was a really relaxing atmosphere and good spirits, maybe it was the festive season or simply because everyone appeared to be having a good time.

There was an interesting moving target which was a large 3d crocodile wished I’d taken a photo of that now. Suspended on pulleys a few inches off the ground it looked really good as it slid down the slope.

Sharon won ladies hunting tackle so has another trophy for the mantlepiece. I only managed second in gents class missing out by 6 pts. Still a personal best for thirty six targets 686 despite a blank. Would like to make a special congratulations to Chris Harley who shot her first round with no blanks. Well done Chris.
Thanks for reading, have a Happy Christmas and Good luck for new year.

Aug 22 2014

Shoot Report – Wolverine – August 2014

Kong from afar

Kong from afar

Last weekend we headed up to Wolverine Archers outside Stoke on Trent for their August shoot in weather that felt more autumnal than high summer.
I must admit to having second thoughts about going.  Not because of the course but because for the previous few days I’d not been very well and had less than 8 hours sleep in total for the past few nights. The previous day I’d been coaching which had left me very tired so I wasn’t feeling my best.
But the option was to either stay home feeling rough or to try and work through it. So we loaded the car and set off.
The course comprised of 40 mixed 3Ds and paper faces. You can see previous reports here.
Shooting group

Shooting group

We had a really good group with Zeena and Dan from Lyme Valley joining Charlie from Hanson and ourselves.

Shooting Group

Shooting Group – Charlie, Sharon, Zeena and Dan

I learnt two things from this day. The way to stay looking young is to drink Guinness as evident from the very youthful Zeena. The other is that Charlie should stick with shooting longbow rather than crossbow as he is a natural.

Charlie shooting at 3D beer

Charlie shooting at 3D beer

The Wolverine team always put on a good course and this was no different. Shots were challenging and not stretched,  with Kong making an appearance as always.

Charlie moving on to shoot

Charlie moving on to shoot

The only thing that marred the day was Sharon falling down a slope half way round the course. Fortunately she wasn’t injured but now has a scratch on her bow that will need seeing to. Could have been much worse and like many archers she was more concerned about her bow than herself. Note to Sharon when reading this. “Bows can be replaced,  you can’t.”

Dan shooting

Dan shooting

We came home having had a lovely day but I must admit to feeling shattered and having an early night. Despite her fall Sharon came first in ladies hunting tackle and I somehow managed to scrape a third place despite dropping 50 points in the second half as fatigue and lack of sleep started to play a part in my shooting.
We also came home with a new friend. Robin a’Dale who is travelling round the country visiting different shoots and keeping a diary of his adventures.
Thanks for reading.