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J The incomparable ARROWSTAR^MARK tl^winner of thS World Field Archer^Champ Germany^The ‘tried &Uue^SUPER T TUI, that haS has produced Pope and and Youna Young r< ' WeveTd^^ 'M’3a bbow °W that 'r uced PbPe

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ARCHERY

(ISSN 0003-8253)

Mficial publication of the National Field Archery association.

Route

Box

2,

514,

Redlands, CA

2373, phone (714) 794-2133. Published monthly.

di tor

Dan Gustafson

advertising Coordinator

Ruth Hathaway

Les Belt

reduction

ubscription

rates are

Mexico; $7

and

anada

$5 per year in the U.S.,

foreign.

VOLUME 51, NUMBER 2,

FEBRUARY 1979

dealer

Special

ite (U.S. and Mexico) is S2.50 for lots of five or

tore sent to one address. Order must appear on saler letterhead or order form. Single copy price,

A SPECIAL ISSUE COMMEMORATING 35 YEARS OF ARCHERY MAGAZINE AND 40 YEARS OF THE NFAA

3 cents. Second class postage paid at Redlands,

and additional

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anuscripts. Deadline for copy is six weeks'prior

i month of publication. All statements are those

COVER: Founder and long-time editor-publisher of this magazine, former NFAA executive secretary, bowhunting advocate, Compton Medal of Honor winner and Archery Hall of Famer, Roy Hoff helps us look back across four decades of field archery. It is to Roy that this issue is dedicated, (photo by Dan Gustafson)

: the writers and do not necessarily conform to

ie magazine's editorial policies Copyright 1978 / the National Field Archery Association. All ghts reserved

ostmaster:

Please send

Form 3579 to Route 2,

Features

ox 514, Redlands, CA 92373

iack issues of ARCHERY are available at $1 each.

8

40 Years, 40 Great Moments In Field Archery Beginning a four-part series of recollections

16

Wary, Wily and Wild An expert profiles the elusive wild turkey

22

Please Come Back To Barebow The seven-time champ offers some incentives

24

SCOREBOARD: Boom Or Bust?

Industry leaders predict the archery market

26

Zero Divergence Tuning, Conclusion The tuning procedure is summarized

39

For The Record, Who Won? All the national champions

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ANSWERS//?/ Fred Troncoso

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HUNTING//?/ Dick Sage

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by Fred Troncoso

WRITE FREDDIE. ROUTE 2. BOX 514. REDLANDS. CA 92373

HISTORY OF THIS COLUMN

Freddie: Since the February issue will mark Archery’s 35th anniver­ sary, how about a brief history of your column, especially how you started writing it? Thanks.

Dan Gustafson Editor • As a preface to this recapitulation, I will mention several popular writers whose question and answer columns preceeded mine.

Beyond a doubt, a great majority of archers recall the name Tracy L. Stalker of Flint, Michigan. Tracy’s articles appeared in Archery from 1945 to 1963. Mr. Stalker was, to the best of my knowledge, a part-time archery tackle maker whose count­ less articles depicted improved methods for tackle making and problem solving. It is interesting to note that his pretty wife Lulu was the first writer in the Stalker household. She wrote several very interesting and descriptive hunting stories.

The next technical writer was Dick Young of Altadena, California, a well-known archer, archery coach and manager of Kittredge Bowhut in Pasadena. His column, “Let’s Raise

Our Score," appeared from 1962 to 1966. Dick covered nearly all aspects of archery including hunting, target shooting and testimonials from famous archery champions whom Young coached.

Another well-known coach and writer whose articles ap­ peared in Archery intermittently was Col. Milan E. Elott, who published many segments of his famous “Why We Miss writings. This totally different approach to shooting problem solving became a favorite of many. The Colonel’s articles covered nearly all types of archery including oriental forms, specifically, Korean and Chinese archery. To date. Colonel Elott is busy managing his famous Archery College in Atlanta, Georgia where he is promoting the Action Archery national organization which he founded recently.

I met the legendary Roy Hoff, then editor of Archery, in 1961 while touring Palm Springs as a musician. I was fortunate to be a member of Don Tosti’s Sounds in Music quartet, and we were appearing at the renowned Howard Manor Hotel. We returned annually, to, remain for the duration of each winter season, and during the nine years that followed, Roy and I participated in mutual competitive archery play, trying desperately to improve our shooting.

Continued on page 44

Complete History Of The | National Archery Association In 2 Volumes 1879-1945, 1946-1978 The most complete books on the National Archery Association ever published, completely covering the Association’s activities for the past 100 years. Over 400 photographs, 400 pages of National Tournament scores, plus biographies on many of the Association’s greatest champions and administrators. All together over 1300 pages.

Both volumes are numbered Limited Editions of 1000 copies. If you order Volume I now you can reserve Vol­ ume II in the same serial number.

7

Hisron-r

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Please send me copies of Volume I of the His­ tory of the N.A.A. Please reserve me . copies of Volume II of the History of the N.A.A. (Do not send any money now for Volume II, we will bill you when it is available for shipment.)

Name _______________ Address

___ State Zip City Please make checks or < money orders payable to Bob Rhode and mail to:

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BOB RHODE RT. 3, LAKE OF THE WOODS RD. MAHOMET, IL 61853

VOLUME I $25.00 AVAILABLE NOW

VOLUME II $25.00 AVAILABLE JULY 1. 1979

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by Dick Sage TO THE ARCHIVES ONE THING REMAINS THE SAME

D irthdays have a way of turning one’s thoughts to the Upast. With this issue Archer)’ begins its 36th year of publication and on this occasion of its 35th birthday, some reminiscing is in order. A lot of arrows have gone over the butt (and the deer) in that 35 years and I’ve contributed my share in the 28 years Archery has been coming to my doorstep. As a charter member of the International Order of Packrats, I’m able to dig through the dust and find my first issue received in July 1951. My archives hold all but a few issues since that date.

The feature stories of those early issues were much more bowhunter oriented than at present. Although there was no monthly column specifically on bowhunting, many of the feature stories were by bowhunters telling of their experiences.

Fred Bear’s annual hunts were reported and each detail ab­ sorbed and reabsorbed by those of us unable to duplicate his treks or his feats. Roy Hoff and others told of the fabulous bucks of the Kaibab and we easterners grimaced with envy.

Roy’s “Tales of the Feathered Shaft” reported on many of his memorable hunts.

One story more than any other stuck in my mind and I’ve re-read it many times since it appeared in two parts in the September and October 1952 issues. Titled “Big Six Luck” by Stuart Wilson of Deposit, New York, it recounted three weeks of bowhunting in the Adirondacks. Here was a story to which I could really relate. Big Six was a backwoods camp east of Cranberry Lake from which the author and his wife hunted for many years. The story tells of taking their first deer after five years of bowhunting, but that is almost incidental. The real meat is the vivid description of stillhunting whitetails on the snowy ledges and slopes of Big Tom and Berkeley Mountains. I followed their daily hunting forays paragraph by paragraph using my topo maps of the area.

The year 1952 sticks in my memory for another reason.

Shortly after reading the concluding part of “Big Six Luck,” 1 dropped my first buck with the bow in New Jersey. I’m still waiting for my own big Adirondack buck, although I did get a glimpse of him this past fall.

Bowhunting was just coming out of its infancy in the early 1950’s. Progress at that time was due in great part to the many archer-hunters whose activities were appearing on the pages ol Archery. Those early issues provided “hard copy” to use when we went in front of skeptical game authorities, pleading for Continued on page 21

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FEBRUARY 1979

j

EASTON KlickaPoint I

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YEARS, 40 GREAT MOMENTS IN FIELD ARCHERY A BRIEF HISTORY

by John Yount, Founder

My wife and I got into archery in 1929 with half a dozen arrows and a 28pound lemonwood bow. By 1930 we had found eight or ten others who were interested. That was enough to start a small club. All archery groups then were target clubs and the only round they shot were the York and American.

By 1934 our local Redlands Club had grown to a membership of 45 and we were getting tired of the standard rounds; furthermore, we had read a lot about the famous bow and arrow hunters of the past and present. We had good rabbit country, so we decided to start small and work up. We soon found that no one had taught the rabbits to sit still while we set our sights or put out a point of aim, so maybe we had better change our shooting method to that used by the primitive people who for thousands of years had depended on the bow for meat on the table. Hunting wasn’t the answer - one doesn’t get enough shots and practice is necessary if you are to become skilled in any sport.

Beginning Of Roving Also we had read of the old English game of Roving that had been used as means of training when the infantry of the British Army was made up of bowmen, so maybe we could work out a modified version that would be the answer. The roving idea was not new with us. They were already shooting on such courses in Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan and several other states. The trouble was, they were only shooting it once a year at most. Just a sort of day’s fun - a let-down from a year of serious target shooting. That wasn’t what we wanted. We wanted something perma­ nent, a place where we could practice

every day if we wanted to with our scores showing whether or not our field style of shooting was showing improve­ ment. Also, we wanted a place where we could conduct tournaments. So why not a permanent roving course?

First Permanent Course This meant a lot of work but most of us were farmers and all knew how to handle a pick and shovel, so we went into the hills about a mile away and planned the course. There were 27 targets from as close as 15 yards at a six-inch target to as far as 160 yards at a 48-inch target. The latter was just to see if we could shoot that far.

Next came the hard work of building trails. We built good trails, but never directly from the shooter to target. That area was left natural. Sometimes even the bottom third of the target was hidden from view by intervening brush.

No arrow ever flies flat on a long shot and there was always plenty of room for the fastest flying arrow to clear the brush and hit the bottom of the target.

Targets were pinned to a bank of dirt.

There were no straw butts. This was during the depression -- 1934 to be exact. We didn’t have the money to buy the straw in the first place. We couldn’t get the bales to the targets in the second place. This area was really rough. In Southern California we call it “hilly.” In most parts of the country it would be “mountainous.” In spite of its draw­ backs, this range was popular from the first day.

We were now a club with a 14-target range for target archery and a roving course. I don’t remember just when or why we switched names from “roving” to “field.” We decided to shoot one Sunday on the “range” and the next on the “course.” The first Sunday was the last time we used the range.

There is nothing wrong with target archery. A lot of people love it and wouldn’t shoot on any field course, bu we just happened to be field archers.

Second Permanent Course The second course was built at E Segundo, California, in 1936 by the Ar Young Archers of Los Angeles. E Segundo is on the shore of the Pacifi.

Ocean. The course wasn’t quite a rugged as Redlands, but in sand up ti your knees. This course was not a copy of the Redlands one. The targets were put up permanently, which was all they had in common. There were no compa­ rable shots and even the number oi shots was different. Each was a standard course for the members of the local club and that was all.

Once every two months these two clubs shot together. The interesting thing about those tournaments was that the archers finished in just about tire same order regardless of which course they shot on. This pretty well proved that we were learning to shoot at random distances and not just learning to shoot a certain course.

Scoring System We all used sights or points of aim in target shooting, but our field shooting was all instinctive, and our scoring system was definitely designed for the hunter. A hit with the first arrow counted 5, the second arrow, 3, and the final two counted one each. For each bullseye we added 3 points. Making a bullseye with the first arrow was 8 points, the second 6, and the last two were 3 each. The reason for that me­ thod of scoring was that the person who can hit with the first arrow gets the game. Any shots after that first one are usually just practice to see if he could have hit if the game had stuck around.

We dropped that method of scoring

8

—---------------------------------------- -

FEBRUARY 1979

when we discovered that percentage­ wise there were just about as many crooked archers as there were crooked card players. Our arrows were number­ ed, and to get the range, a dishonest archer would shoot number three of four first even though they were mark­ ed, then score with the others. So we adopted the present scoring method of three for a hit and five for a bullseye.

Standard Round This brings us up to the standard round. First of all, we needed an organi­ zation of clubs that would agree to build standard rounds for interclub tournaments. In 1937, the Southern California Field Archery Association was organized and the first steps taken toward the development of a standard round. We didn’t want this round to be purely a local affair, so in November of 1937 we published in Ye Sylvan Archer an article describing both the Redlands range, targets and scoring system and the El Segundo setup. The article ended with the following sentences: “If you haven’t room for this type of range, just stick some targets in a cow pasture. Tell us what you have and we will take you on at your own game. At least let’s give it a little thought and do a bit of corresponding. We might start something.”

This article and a couple of dozen like it might just as well have been burned for all the response we received.

We even resorted to letters written to every so called field archer we had ever heard of. We .didn’t give up, but kept right on writing letters and magazine articles. The only replies were from a few individuals.

All this time we were building and rebuilding our Redlands course, until by 1938 we had a standard round pretty well worked out, enough so that we felt certain we could sell the idea to the potential field archers who we were sure could be found throughout the country - not on ranges, but in open fields and in backyards if we only had a means of getting in touch with them. They didn’t belong to any target club or association.

The only archery magazine that might reach them was Ye Sylvan Archer, a little six- by nine-inch, 12page monthly, circulation unknown but only a few hundred at the most, which was published at considerable loss by the late John E. Davis of Corvallis, Oregon. It helped a lot and believe me, ARCHERY

John Yount, 1968

we owe the publisher a big vote of thanks for the help he so willingly gave.

But we still would have been pretty well stuck if it had not been for a group of farsighted, broad-minded leaders in the National Archery Association. I will give you just a few of their names: Paul E. Klopsteg, Forrest Nagler, Henry S. C. Cummings and Bill Folberth. They were men who could see that, while both groups shot the bow and arrow, that was about all they had in common. A good comparison would be cricket and baseball. Can you imagine what would happen if a single organization tried to handle both? One would dominate and the other would get out.

New Organization Groundwork

By August of 1939 we had laid the groundwork for an organization and Ye Sylvan Archer contained the following: “The National Tournament has come and gone (meaning the NAA tourna­ ment, of course) and now would seem to be the time to do something about this Field Archery business if we ever intend to. Let’s develop some games for those Instinctive shots, sometimes known as Field Archers, who want a permanent course and official rounds.

Because of their style of shooting they don’t belong with the Target Archer.

Neither do they fit in with Field as it is conducted at present.”

It is quite a long story so 1 will give just the highlights. A temporary consti­ tution was suggested. It was based on field archery for field archers and fully controlled by field archers, (meaning, of course, instinctive shooting archers),

who were to use every effort to better conditions for the hunter and to publi­ cize the sport. Another article written about the same time reads somewhat as follows: “Compare archery to a wide road. One side has been well paved and kept in perfect condition by the NAA. It is the highway of Target Archery, a dignified set of games. On the other side we have Field Archery. Strictly speaking, this is not a game. It has no regular rounds and consequently no .rules or regulations. It is just a day’s fun. Now that we have covered the two sides of the road, let’s see what possibi­ lities there are in the middle. How about the majority of the people who happen to be between the two groups? They don’t like a game as dignified and exacting as Target Archery, and Field Archery is an incomplete sort of sport for it has no game.

“The answer should be some com­ pletely new games based on Instinctive shooting, games suitable for permanent courses and competition. If such mid­ dle-of-the-road games can be the means of multiplying the number of Instinctive Archers we will have succeeded in greatly increasing the number of archery hunters.”

NFAA Formed In October of 1939, we had the nerve to put an article in Ye Sylvan Archer under the title “National Field Archery Association.” We now had a temporary constitution and possibly two dozen members. Prior to the fall of 1939, the whole thing had been a promotion campaign with me writing most of the articles and letters and my wife, Vera, typing the most important ones in spite of a full-time office job and caring for our home.

Of course, I had an advisory commit­ tee consisting of anyone who would talk to me or answer a letter. Among others who gave of their time was George Brommers, a dealer in yew wood who seemed to know just about all of the tackle makers in the country as well as most of the field archers; Earl Grubbs, a Los Angeles tackle maker; Fred Bear, another of the very few tackle makers who were the least bit interested in what we were trying to do; the NAA group mentioned earlier - and right here I want to apologize to those real work­ ers I have not mentioned. That was a long time ago and I just can’t remember all of the names or, for that matter, all 9

BEAR HAS MOVED! Since December 4th, 1978, it has been business as usual at our new address: Bear Archery, Rural Route 4, Fred Bear Drive at Archer Rd., Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Our new facility is even larger and better equipped than the old plant, allowing us to do a better job. If you have a problem or question we have a new number for customer service: (904) 376-BEAR. Give us a call.

BEAR ARCHERY SuDl'd'Hy ol Wilier K>dde & Compmy

KIDOE Rural Route 4 Fred Bear Drive at Archer Road Gainesville. Florida 32601 904-376-2327

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of the things done that were to help push the sport along.

In October of 1940, the Art Young Foundation, which had been inactive for sometime, turned the money in their treasury over to the NFAA to be used in a special program that would perpetuate the name of Art Young. We had already made plans for what we termed “the big game award.” We decided it would be most appropriate to use that money to pay for the dies and the first medals.

Sight problem It was also in 1940 that we came squarely up against the sight problem as the following letter from A.J. Michelson of Michigan, who was to become our first president, shows: “The big problem in getting the East to try Field Archery is that they are all sight shots. It may be that they can be persuaded to put in Field courses by opening our tournaments to siglit shooters. From my experience, it won’t take them long to switch over to In­ stinctive.”

We were afraid to try the idea because we knew that the average archer could shoot a higher score with sights.

He could shoot once, change his siglit, shoot again, reset the sight, etc. Such shooting wouldn’t get much game, but would lead to a higher score, and some people do not care about anything but their score. We compromised by allow­ ing a single mark or adjustable sight in all tournaments.

From then on it has been a battle of shooting styles. In spite of tills, we managed to keep the interest of the middle-of-the-road archer, with the result that we grew from nothing to an organization of 22,000 individual mem­ bers in approximately 16 years, many times larger than any other 'archery association in history.

Policy Change, Membership Static In 1958, politics brought about a complete change in the NFAA policy.

In the past every effort had been made to keep it a sport for the instinctive shooting bowhunter. From this date to the present, there has been a steady swing toward the traditions of target archery, even to the point of marking the distance on each target. The result is that now we have sight divisions - one for bow sights and another for rear sights (some call it “walking the string”), and a very small instinctive division.

ARCHERY

The result is the membership remains around 20,000 in spite of the fact that today there are more bows sold in a year than the total number owned by archers in 1958. At least 80 percent of the members in 1958 were instinctive shooters; today the percentage is probably less than 20. Between 1940 and 1958 we grew from nothing to 22,000. Yet during the bowhunting boom period, between 1958 and the present, there has been no growth at all.

Archery still needs something for the rank and file. Sure, there is a division for everybody, but it is definitely understood that all honors go to the top score regardless of shooting technique.

So the instinctive archer will continue to stay away just as he stayed away from target tournaments. The member­ ship may not go down, but it will not go up.

Roy Hoff The reason I am covering great 4^ moments of only thirteen national tournaments is because I never made it to the fourteenth, which was held at Bend, Oregon. Frieda and I were on our way to Oregon when 1 suddenly struck out due to a heart attack. It was well our son-in-law was driving, or 1 might not be writing this article.

We were at Minneapolis. Karl Palmatier, our field captain, was ex­ plaining some rules. Considering I had heard them explained many times, I

headed for the practice bales for a final warm-up before the starting whistle. I couldn’t help but notice a pretty gal with a beautiful figure shooting at a nearby straw bale. We heard the whistle designating the start of the tournament.

We both hurriedly retrieved our arrows.

As we turned toward headquarters, I said: “Young lady, with your shooting form, I predict that someday you will become national champion!”

Her answer was: “Well, sir, I am national champion!”

I soon learned she had won the title the year before at Watkins Glen, New York. Speaking of Watkins Glen, let’s see if you can tie thie one: We congratulated a young archer who was spending his honeymoon at the tournament. He was Jaye Peake of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, one of the top barebow archers in the East.

The tournament started the follow­ ing day. Before the whistle blew for the start of this big event, our bridegroom, while warming up on the practice bales, fractured the lower limb of his bow!

Undaunted, he found a remedy. With a roll of adhesive tape, he bandaged the broken limb. That little incident no doubt would have discouraged 99 percent of the competing archers. Not so with Jaye. He took that busted job and set a record I doubt ever will be accomplished again. To this day I never have forgotten his scores - 886 (field), 886 (hunter) and 975 (big game), for a

Eleanor Hamilton, Alma Blundell, 1946 11

total of 2747. He not only won the title in his division, but beat all of the freestylers! Robert Rhode won the freestyle title with a total score of 2741.

You will notice in Peake’s aggregate score I use the name big game instead of broadhead. I think for a good reason: live ammunition on a field course is like playing Russian roulette! At the 1948 Nationals, held at Point Beach, Wiscon­ sin, I shot a broadhead at a target. It struck the top of the bale with the blade in a vertical position. The triangular shape gave the head a sort of rocket power. 1 found the arrow eighty yards beyond the bales. It had passed over a road which was. the main entrance to tournament headquarters! The NFAA executive committee soon voted to change the arrow point to a field point with the restriction it must weigh 438 grams, the legal weight of a hunter broadhead.

In this big game round, shooting positions were constructed to simulate actual hunting conditions. We sat on stumps. We kneeled and shot under tree branches as Eleanor Hamilton of Cleve­ land, Ohio (left) and Alma Blundell of

Roy Hoff, 1942

■VI M1

The late Orlin Lawson, Tommy Thompson, the late “Wild Bill” Childs, Glenn 8 Charles, 1948

Muskegon, Michigan are shown doing in the accompanying photo. The targets all were regular 12-inch faces. Many of our archers were pleased when we found Henry Maraviov. He was the artist who drew all the originals of our animal target faces.

Glenn St. Charles A Sometimes you meet a fellow and share with him a situation that determines a good part of your life.

Such a thing happened to me. The man was Kore T. Duryee of Seattle. The situation was a Washington State Game Commission meeting to set the hunting seasons.

In 1939, about a year after I became an archer, I met Duryee at a local tournament. All knew him as a very dedicated archer in all phases. As a bowhunter and field archer, he was very concerned with the newly-formed National Field Archery Association and the local Washington State counterpart.

I am sure many of the old timers would consider him as one of the founding fathers of the NFAA. He needed help with both these fledgling groups. As a new bowhunter, I also had to be con­ cerned and was ready to work.

One of my first confrontations as a representative for the Washington State Bowhunters was with the Washington State Department of Game. In the spring of 1941, Duryee and I, as a team, presented our proposals for the archery hunting season. Washington State had

enjoyed three previous seasons and w> assumed they would continue. But no • the Commission decided that bowhuniing was nothing more than a nuisanc. and the there would be no archer} season for bowhunters only! We were stunned! So many had counted on us and we had apparently failed. However, the Commission was to be in session for yet another day. It didn’t take us long to agree we should try again. Yes, you guessed it - this time, with little short of a bended knee, we were successful, but the humiliation of this second effort 1 will never forget. It left me with a determination to commit myself to better the bowhunting image.

I soon became more deeply involved within the NFAA and learned that bowhunters in many states needed help.

We simply did not have much clout. To many out there, archery was only a backyard sport.

Kore Duryee was lost from our ranks by death on October 26, 1944. With dedication, many fellows through NFAA leadership and local state groups carried on - the image has changed.

Kore Duryee would be happy and is remembered. Thanks for “listening.”

Fred Bear Because of dense population, gun 7S hunting had not been permitted in Allegan county, Michigan for some years. Poachers kept the deer herd under control, but they shot does only for the most part. The buck-doe ration

12

FEBRUARY 1979 —■■■nT mil ■■■in i

rmu

was nearly one-to-one and many great trophy bucks roamed the area. It was opened to bowhunting in the forties and quickly became a mecca for hunters from lower Michigan. A. J. Michelson, the most persistent and luckless hunter I have ever known, accompanied our group of hunters from Detroit for a week there.

I had hunted the area, but Mike had not. Before daylight I put him in a red hot blind, telling him to stay there until I returned. My plans were to stir about in a sort of stillhunting fashion, hoping to move some deer. It was a foggy morning. The country was flat, timber­ ed with poplar and without landmarks. I headed east, intending to meet a creek

fcfc*.'’ I Fred Bear, 1927 about a mile away, swing north and then angle back several hours later.

Forty-five mintues later I unexpect­ edly came upon Mike. In consternation I asked him what he was doing there.

With a weak smile, he replied, “This is were you left me.”

To my embarrassment, I had made a complete circle.

Michelson was the first NFAA president. This may have had some bearing on why the city of Allegan was chosen for the first national tourna­ ment. The fact that Karl Palmatier lived nearby was certainly not a negative influence. Four hundred and seventy-six archers attended this tournament. Erwin Pletcher won the men’s division and Babe Bitzenburger began her habit of shooting best among the ladies. Roy Hoff was in his third year as published of Archery magazine and the Second ARCHERY

World War had recently ended. Most bows were made of wood as fibreglas was just being developed. Fibreglas and aluminum arrows were unknown. The bowsight problem had not yet come up and bowstrings were made of Barbours Irish Linen.

Perhaps it is because this was the first NFAA tournament that I seem to remember it so clearly. One evening we assembled on the bleachers of the school athletic field and were entertain­ ed by a fine Dixieland band and an impersonator, Steve Philipiac of Ann Arbor, who was introduced as an archer from Russia. Steve worked the crowd into a frenzy by extolling the genius of his countrymen. The Russians had invented all of the best archery equip­ ment, he said, including a 3-1/2 blade broadhead.

It may be that my feeling for this 1946 tournament is flavored by the fine hunts I have had there. One year I took a friend with me. He had never hunted before. I put him in a blind where he saw many deer and had a great week­ end. He was so taken with bowhunting, he convinced a friend to outfit with archery equipment so that he, as the expert, could take him hunting. They went to Allegan where he put his friend in the blind he had previously occupied, returning some time later to check on his luck or lack of it.

His understudy was very excited.

He had shot a monster buck. There was no blood trail, so they made ever-widen­ ing circles in search of the trophy and

finally came upon a beautiful stag with a fine rack. The novices then proceeded to field dress the animal, wondering as they worked why no one had ever mentioned the unbearable odor associ­ ated with the task. But they persevered and finally got the job done, loaded the deer on a fender and drove triumphant­ ly to the wildlife station to have it checked out.

Their glory was short-lived, however.

When they swaggered in with their prize, anticipating praise and congratu­ lations, the officer in charge declared coldly that the animal had been dead about a week, that it had been killed with buckshot and the best thing to do was to take it out and bury it.

Reuben A. “Rube” Powell jg It was the summer of 1956 and the NFAA National Field Tour­ nament was schduled for Colorado Springs. I had retired from the Navy in 1955, thus ending the Navy’s spon­ sorship, but I desperately wanted to defend my title and things were a little tight financially.

To my rescue came a good friend and fellow archers, Cdr. Gordon E. “Butch” Kaufman, who later was to be very instrumental while stationed at the Navy base in Yorktown in persuading the State of Virginia, up to then a bastion of barebow hold-outs, to accept the freestyle division - but that’s another story.

Butch was able to finagle a flight for me to Colorado Spring in a Navy F9F

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Joe Fries, Rube Powell, Bill Desalse, 1963 13

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jet trainer. Remember, these were the days before there was much, if any. civilian jet travel and I was elated to be flown in what was then such record time. However, as we approached the landing field I removed my oxygen mask too soon, resulting in a starspangled 24-carat two-day headache.

This tournament was not to begin too auspiciously.

Monday morning shortly after every­ one was on target and beginning to shoot, hail, the size of golf balls, began to fall. We needed hard hats! Field Captain Karl Palmatier signalled for the cannon to be fired and the tournament was postponed until the next d:/ .

Losing a day’s shooting was to create . = condition never before or since expert- = enced by National tournament parti, pants, but I’m getting ahead of m _ story.

On Tuesday, the tournament final! got underway. We shot all day. As matter of fact, the group 1 was in, whin, included my old rival Joe Fries, didn finish until darkness had settle over th. mountains. We shot the last few targetby flashlight and nearby car headlights, and the final target, the 45-yard walk­ up, by sound alone! The center had been shot out, so I could tell by the sound or lack of it I either had a 20 or an 18. Turned out to be an 18.

The last day of the shoot, we shot the animal round, all 56 targets, without a break for lunch. Time was running out and the day we had lost was beginning to tell heavily on nerves and tempers. 1 still maintain that my supply of Califor­ nia raisins kept me going through that longest day.

That was to be my last national field championship - the fourth in a row and the fifth altogether. It was a particularly gratifying win, however, because “they” all were there - the top dogs, the fierce contenders, the fighters -- and we all made it through what history will show was the toughest national field tournament ever.

Dr. Erwin Pletcher ^9 There were lots of memorable events during those marvelous years three decades ago. A close miss at a big buck was almost as thrilling as winning a major tornament. I’m sorry to say that so many moments are lost in memory. What seems to stand out now as 1 think back are some of the great

14 FEBRUARY 1979

il

shots I’ve had.

For example, my brother Delmer and I were hunting in the Charleston Mountain area of Nevada, out from Las Vegas. We had separated early in the

Dr. Erwin Pletcher, 1949 morning, and by 10 am or so I was high up on a mountainside working the upper draws near a ridge crest. There were a few other bowhunters in the area and someone must have disturbed a major gathering of the buck clan in that whole section of the country, for from over the next ridge about 200 yards away and trotting in close single file toward me on a little trail there sudden­ ly came no less than seven bucks, six of them legal and at least three with beautiful big racks.

I was partially concealed just off this same trail and there was no chance to improve my position, so I froze right there. All the bucks would be in the open for me to watch most of the way as they approached.

Well, it was just too much. I had spent lots of time in the woods camp­ ing, hunting and fishing, and this buck fever stuff was supposed to be someone else’s problem, but as they came nearer, the shakes started. First they began in the ankles, then the knees, the arms, and finally, the teeth. I crouched down a bit to make it less obvious, but by the time the lead buck was 40 yards away, I was in a pitiful state. I stayed with it until they were perhaps 25 yards from me. The first two bucks had become a little suspicious, slowing to almost a ARCHERY

stop so that the ones behind crowded and they all formed a nice compact group staring my way.

My moment of triumph had arrived.

I reared up with a full draw and a magnificent flinch that threw my arrow a good four feet over the highest antler of the them all. 1 didn’t know whether to laugh or scream or just bury my head in the dirt. After a few moments of frantic antlers, the dust cleared the I was alone - very alone!

Some long minutes passed and the knees steadied sufficiently to move my body down the mountain. The wonder of the episode has remained: how do you tell the story of the then current national field archery champion who couldn’t hit the broadside of seven deer stacked together at 25 yards? Maybe it will seem slightly reasonable to some after 30 years, but I still wonder.

Lu Shine Pf The editor of this magazine shot ■ me a crooked arrow when he asked me to choose one incident that is particularly surprising, enlightening or entertaining in my 26 years of contin­ uous competitive archery shooting.

There have been hundreds of them.

Some I like to remember and some Td like to forget.

I headed for the scrapbook and the first picture I picked up was one that enlightened me very much. It was a photo of Lester “Jugger” Gervais and myself in Las Vegas in 1967 when we won that indoor tournament. He was the first man to shoot a perfect 300 score. During that memorable weekend, Bob Bitner also shot a perfect 300. To this day, I’ve never seen Jugger again and I’ve missed him many times.

I owe so many dear friends in archery for helping me with my shoot­ ing success. There are flashbacks, like Joe Fries in Grayling in 1960 saying to me just before entering the Bear-Easton money shoot: “Lu, just push your bow arm out right through the bale.” You know, that worked for two days for me and made me 51,000. Boy, do I remem­ ber Joe. Then I remember a young fellow named Don Cavallero who kept yelling “Geronimo” at me in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1962. Well, chiggers and all, he and I finished on top of the totem pole. Had to have an extra seat and belt Continued on page 33

u

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15

WARY, WILY AND WILD PARTI

Wwey, you “turkeys”! Archer)' ma^Jgazine is saluting the wild turkey in this issue commemorating its 35th anniversary as well as the 40th anniver­ sary of the National Field Archery Association. Has the editor gone bana­ nas? Is he, in fact, a “turkey?”

Anyone who knows the wild turkey knows how ironic it is to call someone a “turkey” in a derogatory manner. This example of current vernacular is blatant contradiction. The wild turkey i one of the, if not the, sharpest critter1 in the woods. It would be much more appropriate to use the term as a com pliment, of the highest order. I believ. the wild turkey and the bowhunter are in the same big league of all things that

EXPERT TED LYNN, JR. SAYS THE

WILD TURKEY IS AS SMART AS

YOU'VE HEARD - BUT YOU'RE ALSO

SMART

ENOUGH

TO

BOWHUNT IT SUCCESSFULLY

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are good. I can’t think of a better subject for a commemorative issue, and I sincerely hope this issue of the maga­ zine becomes known as the Turkey Issue.

Ben Franklin thought highly of the bird, wanting to make it our national emblem instead of the eagle, and everybody knows Ben was a smart fellow. He thought the turkey was a better symbol because of the nature of the two birds under consideration. By our standards, the eagle is a bird of questionable moral character, often making his living dishonestly by pursu­ ing other fishing birds and taking the fish from them. The eagle is also some­ thing of a coward who lets much smaller birds drive him off. The wild turkey, in the other hand, possesses many of the desired characteristics of a rising young nation, such as ours was when ol’ Ben lost out in his bid for the wild turkey.

Much of the sentiment for the eagle was because of its regal appearance.

How many men have fallen for a pretty face, only to find they have married the whole woman? While I agree with Franklin, I am not sure I would like to see it changed as it would make the wild turkey sacred, with the likelihood of a heavy no hunting movement. I can hear the cry of the anti-hunters, “They’re killing our national emblem!” They could be successful in such a venture.

The wild turkey is too grand a game bird to suffer such a fate.

The wild turkey is a good example of American conservation. The species was once down to only a few thousand birds and thought to be on its way to extinc­ tion in the 1930’s. Many reasons have been given for this drastic decline, as there were once untold millions of them when the white man arrived, but illegal hunting (not sport hunting), disease and drastic land use management (such as huge clearcuts of the forests that destroyed habitat) are among the ones most often mentioned. Dedicated con­ servationists would not say die, how­ ever, and through sound techniques and hard work saw the return of the wild turkey. Today there are over a million and a half birds in 47 states (all except Rhode Island, Delaware and Alaska), with populations still expanding in some areas. Much of the occupied range in the West is beyond ancestral range.

The use of pen-raised turkeys was ARCHERY

tried over the over to establish popula­ tions, to the delight of the bobcats, but the vast majority of these efforts failed.

The pen-raised birds couldn’t adapt to the wild and they spread serious diseas­ es. It was not until methods of trapping wild birds were devised to transplant them into suitable but unoccupied habitat that the wild turkey rebounded.

This got birds into the woods that knew how to make a living there, plus they were not disease carriers. These wild birds were transplanted into habitat that had recovered from earlier abuse, or where the wild turkey had been extir­ pated for other reasons. Trapping techniques coupled with good law enforcement, public acceptance, better land management and game manage­ ment have brought wild turkey hunting within the reach of many modern bowhunters.

The development of the cannon net, and later the rocket net, to shoot over wild turkeys brought in to bait (a legitimate use of bait) was revolutionary in wild turkey management. Drop nets were devised out west. With the nets, game managers could catch wild turkeys in sufficient quantities for restoration purposes. Nets are still commonly used, but sleep inducing drugs are gaining in popularity. Most state wildlife agencies have a wild turkey program.

Not many bowhunters hunt specifi­ cally for the wild turkey. Of course, they are happy to take one when hunting for other species if the turkey is in season. Many bowhunters believe the wild turkey to be too hard to take with a bow and arrow, and confine their efforts to a gun. But I believe bow­ hunting for wild turkeys has to become a big sport because so much emphasis has been put on other species, primarily deer, that not much is known about the wild turkey and its hunting: moreover, the wild turkey was not available to many bowhunters until just recently.

This situation is apt to change. For one tiling, Bear Archery Company has featured the wild turkey and its hunting in its 1979 catalog. This is a real beauti­ ful piece of work, and I am proud to have helped them with the wild turkey portion of the catalog. Bear should help initiate the surge into this grand sport.

Hunting the wild turkey successfully is different than hunting other species of game, as its habits, defense methods,

temprement, wariness, etc., are diffe­ rent. You have to adapt to the wild turkey to be successful. As in any hunting, knowledge of the game sought and its habitat is very important. You are not apt to take a wild turkey with deer tactics, for example, even though deer and wild turkeys are often found in the same habitat.

Most bowhunting is geared to avoid the nose of the game animal. No, the animals don’t lead with their nose, but you smell bad to them and deodorant won’t help. You can forget the nose in hunting wild turkeys, as they don’t use it to warn themselves of danger. The turkey’s eyes are his main line of defense. The acuity of the turkey eye is remarkable, and its resolving power is thought to be eight to ten times better than man’s. They can see and interpret what they see much faster than you can.

Unlike many game animals, the wild turkey is not color blind, and is able to distinguish color readily. In other words the wild turkey can really see'. Remem­ ber that in your plans to hunt them.

The sense of hearing is also very acute in the wild turkey. Knowing when to be quiet and when to make various noises is one of the attributes of a veteran turkey hunter. The veteran may amaze you with the nosies he or she makes at certain times, but these sounds are used to advantage. A turkey can pick up sounds at a remarkable distance, and can pinpoint the exact location of a single series of calls, for example. As with other wildlife, the wild turkey often has to use another sense, sight in its case, to verify danger after it has heard it. But the combined sensitivity of these two senses is usually sufficient.

Curiosity is not one of the traits of tire wild turkey - they don’t have any, not any. They don’t take a second look.

If they spot you, they know you are not Marilyn Monroe arid will react immedi-

CURIOSITY IS NOT ONE OF THE TRAITS OF THE WILD TURKEY

- THEY DON'T HAVE ANY, NOT ANY! THEY DON'T TAKE A

SECOND LOOK

17

IF GOBBLERS CHASED AFTER HENS, WE PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE SPRING SEASONS AS SOME

HUNTERS CALL MORE FLAWLESSLY THAN DO TURKEYS

ii r

ately, immediately. They will leave you with your mouth gaping open in amaze­ ment. They can get behind a tree or other obstacle and be gone before you say “shoo,” and arrows won’t shoot through trees compound bow or not. So forget about waving your white hankie at a wild turkey.

There are four major races (sub­ species) of the wild turkeys in the United States: the Eastern in most of of the East, the Florida in Florida, the Rio Grande in the arid West, and the Merriam's in the mountainous West. All races belong to the same species, Meleagris gallopavo, as does the domes­ tic turkey, the “turkey” of turkeydom.

Each race has minor differences in external appearance, mostly in the coloration of the rump and ends of the tail feathers.

The habitats of the races differ significantly also, with each race being physiologically adapted to its range.

Wildlife biologists re-stock with turkeys trapped from a similiar habitat for the best chance of survival. Merriam’s turkeys won’t do well in the East, for example. Even with a single race such as the Eastern, transplanted birds are matched as closely as possible to their native habitat. There are a few popula­ tion of hybrid wild turkeys, but most modem efforts are with true stock.

With the habitats of the races varying so, it is only natural to expect the habits to be different in some respects. This is true, although there is a tremendous amount of similiarity. A few of the differences included the roosting habits of the Rio Grande turkeys in the same huge colonial roosts each night. Other races do not roost regularly in the same place, being more inclined to roost where night catches them. They may roost in the same vicinity, or actually in the same tree occasionally, but not nearly as consistently as the Rio Grande 18

use their roosts. Most are not migratory, even though they may use a different part of their home range during diffe­ rent parts of the year. The Rio Grande has been known to move many miles to nesting and brooding habitat. The Merriam’s could be considered migrato­ ry since they change elevations with the weather conditions in the Western mountains.

Seasonal changes bring on profound changes in the wild turkey. They do their tiring in the spring of the year. The race must go on, you know. Undoubted­ ly this is the season when the wild turkey is at its best. They undergo a dispersal from the flocks they were in during the fall and winter (gobbler and hen flocks generally separate) and move into different habitat, habitat with more openings if available. The openings can be natural, planted plots, agricultural operations, or reasonable sized clear­ cuts. The boss gobblers set up territories and announce themselves to the hens and other gobblers, for different rea­ sons, of course. The boss is trying to lure the hens, and at the same time inform other gobblers that this is his area with his hens and that he has things well under control. They have a peck order, with the boss gobblers doing most of the mating. As usual, there are challenges to this order - tire struggle for dominance. Fights occur, but seldom to the death.

A polygamous character, the gobbler will mate with a number of hens, and prefers it that way, regardless of what other gobblers think. Unlike most males, the gobbler does not go chasing around the woods looking for hens; the hens normally go to him. He may move toward one to hasten the action, but he doesn’t go chasing after any hen sound.

These gobblers have got things figured out. I have tried gobbling on street corners and at the beach, but for some reason it won’t work for me.

Since the wild turkey gobbler is polygamous, and will mate with a number of hens, the spring is an ideal time to have a hunting season for wild turkey gobblers. You can take some gobblers out of the population and still carry on the race. Just remem­ ber in your hunting that the gobbler does not chase around the woods after the hens. If they did, we probably couldn’t have spring seasons, as some

hunters call more flawlessly than do turkeys. Calling like a hen and trying to slip up on him won’t work either, because he has eyes far superior to your plus an unmatched wariness.

The foods of the wild turkey are varied. They are known as opportunists, using what is available. Acorns are favored throughout the country when in season, and if there is a crop. In years of mast failure (no acorns), the turkey can do nicely on other food. They find insects and tubers under the litter (leaf cover on the ground), and find green matter to graze and others fruits Agricultural crops such as corn and other grains are favored also. Chufas, a nutgrass-type tuber that is planted and grown underground in the South, pulls them in like magnets. Since foods are so varied, you should contact your wildlife agency or other knowledgeable person to learn what they eat in your area. They have to eat to survive, you know.

Hens with broods generally use areas with abundant insects, since they provide the protein needed for the growth of the poults. More insects arc found in grassy openings than in the woods. Food plots often function as brood habitat as well as supplementing food. Hens which raise their broods in woods with open understories have to move about much more to acquire an adequate supply of insects than those in openings. In some cases the timbered areas may have a grassy understory that can serve as brood habitat. I am think­ ing particularly of prescribed burned areas in the South.

Wild turkeys were once thought to inhabit only large remote areas with open understories. They certainly inha­ bit these areas, one reason being their use of eyesight in their defense. They just can’t see in thick areas, and tend to avoid them. The larger the area of

IT IS NOT AS ADAPTABLE AS THE

WHITETAIL DEER, BUT THERE IS

EVIDENCE THE WILD TURKEY

IS ADAPTING IN AREAS ONCE

THOUGHT TOO SMALL

FEBRUARY 1979

I

Below: Look quickly - wild turkeys and deer are often found in the same habitat, but hunting tactics will differ. Right: The author checks out some turkey scratch­ ing. In the spring, most scouting is done by listening for their gobbles.

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undisturbed habitat you have, the better. It was once thought also that the wild turkey could not adapt to man and Iris activities. It is not as adaptable as the whitetail deer, but there is evidence that it is, in fact, adapting.

They are making it in areas once thought too small. However, the wild turkey is not nearly as tolerant of man’s activities as the deer when it comes to harassment. Too much human harass­ ment and the turkey will leave. Dogs are a problem, particularly in the spring when they break up nests (the wild turkey is a ground nester).

While it is hard to define wild turkey habitat, as they are showing us that they use more types than we once thought, it is still better to have hard­ woods in the habitat, particularly mast bearing species such as oak and beech.

They do have to have a tree to roost in, for they start using trees for roosting at a very early age. Iowa is developing a ARCHERY

good wild turkey population in pre­ dominantly corn country, but they do have trees in which to roost. They haven’t started roosting on ears of corn yet. So, you will have to do your homework to find the location of the wild turkeys in your area. The Bear Archery catalog has a map showing the general distribution of the wild turkey in the United States. Look for areas that provide year-round requirements, basically food, cover and water. Hunters often forget about wildlife except during the hunting season, but the wildlife has to survive all year.

Since you will be hunting only the gobbler in the spring, it is important that your learn the difference between the boys and the girls. There are diffe­ rences, but they are not necessarily all that elementary, Watson. If you have him strutting and putting on his court­ ship display in front of you, it is easy, since this is one of nature’s wonders.

The gobbler will fan his tail, position his wing feathers so they drag the ground, fluff out his body feathers, draw back his head and strut around like he owns tire world. He will sometimes gobble out of this display, although he will often not be strutting when he gobbles.

There is no mistaking the gobble of the wild turkey, so if you see him doing it you can readily assume that he is one of the boys.

The coloration is different, with the gobbler being a darker bird. His back and breast feathers will be black tipped, whereas the hen’s back and breast feathers will be chestnut (brown) color.

The hen is a more drab-looking bird.

Also, the head of the gobbler shows more bare areas with wattles that have very few hair-like feathers. The head of the hen has hair-like feathers making her look unshaven.

In the spring the gobbler’s head is a sight to behold - a combination of red, 19

Below: This wild turkey gobbler was caught in the act of gobbling. Left: Author employs a box call. Stay tuned next month when we go bowhunting for the wild turkey.

7A ■

P I

I

white and blue (another reason why he’d make a good national emblem). He can change the color from blue to a very bright red and back at will. This is to convince the ladies. If I were a hen turkey, I would be overwhelmed at his advertisement. Being a human being, I am glad it is the other sex which does most of our displaying, and yes, I am often overwhelmed by bikinis.

The most common sex characteristic of the wild turkey is the beard of the gobbler. The.legal gobblers in the spring will normally have a filamentous (hair­ like) beard hanging from the breast area, with the younger gobblers having beards only a few inches long. Older gobblers have beards up to a foot or more in length, but after that they wear off as the bird walks. A few hens have beards, to throw a pill in the punch, but most states recognize any bearded bird as legal even if it is a hen.

The gobblers will also have spurs on

20

their feet. Again the older gobblers will have longer ones. The hens do not normally have spurs. This is not a good sex characteristic for the hunter since it could be very difficult to spot the spurs in a hunting situation.

You can even tell the sex of turkeys that have been there by their droppings.

The gobbler leaves a J-shaped dropping that lies on its side, whereas the hen’s dropping is a curlicue or spiral shape in more of a pile. 1 think 1 know who figured that out, but won’t embarrass him by telling you as 1 have heard of those inspectors before. Actually, I think it is very useful thing to know.

Thie knowledge will not help you identify the bird in sight, but will help you in scouting your hunting area.

The age of wild turkeys, up to a point, can be told by examining spur length, color of feet, beard length, central tail feathers and the outer primary feathers on the wings. A

one-year-old bird will have pointed outer two primary feathers that are not barred to the end, and the correspond­ ing adult feathers will be rounded and barred all the way to the end. Also, the central feathers of the tail fan will be longer in the young, with the fan feathers all the same length in the adult. Young gobblers rarely have beards over five inches long, and their spurs will be either buttons or less than three-quarters of an inch long. Adult gobblers normally have beards longer than five inches, and the spurs will be longer than three-quarters of an inch and more pointed. Turkeys less than a year old will have brown-colored feet; after a year they will be pink.

Bring your bow and arrow with you next month - in Part II we will go hunting for the wary wild turkey in the spring of the year, something many of us place at the top of the list of hunting excitement.

-« FEBRUARY 1979

HUNTING/continued from page 6

pre-seasons or at least the right to hunt with the bow. Archery was the forum from which bowhunters all over the country could learn about progress and problems in other areas and profit accordingly.

The first regular monthly column on bowhunting of which I’m aware began in February 1959, entitled “Hunting with Buck Duran.” A Minnesotan, Buck’s columns spanned a variety of subjects of interest to the bowhunter. One thing impressed me more than anything else, the heading showed a picture of Buck with a real buck - a monster buck in fact.

That column ran monthly until about the middle of 1963.

In late 1965 Roy invited me to submit a monthly column on bowhunting. My prior journalistic endeavours had been in the form of periodic articles in Archery plus a two-year stint editing a column for Bowhunting, a magazine that eventually turned to the interests of the target archer. This is the 144th column prepared under Roy’s invitation and, frankly, it is a labor of love. My major objective has been to share experi­ ences afield from which other bowhunters can profit. There are many excellent books on bowhunting fundamentals - a circumstance non-existent when many of us took up the sport.

A columnist therefore need not spend his words on the basics, although at times such is appropriate. Rather, the particular event of the moment can and should be his field. What's new, what’s critical, what’s good and bad needs to be recounted so others may give some thought to the direction and welfare of bowhunting. Knowing how to hunt does little good if the seasons are eliminated.

As is the usual case, some columns were better than others.

We trekked on a pheasant hunt in England, a caribou hunt in Quebec, a moose hunt in Newfoundland and a goat hunt in British Columbia. We also bowfished for carp, pursued snow­ shoe rabbits on snowshoes, cottontails with beagles and hunt­ ed rats on the local dumps. Most of all, however, we were con­ cerned with the whitetail deer, the eastern archer’s number one adversary. Without doubt, the bowseasons for deer are the adhesive for the entire bowhunting scene. Some of us do get the chance to hunt under more exotic circumstances for species not available in our back yards. Needless to say, the fortunate ones enjoy it and the less fortunate usually enjoy reading about it. But, as with other activities, the fun is in the doing more than in the reading.

Initial Column On Stump Shooting We broke the ice in March 1966 with a column stressing the fun and benefits of stump shooting. In preparation for this 35th anniversary effort, I re-read that first column and find it still appropriate. In my first fall as a retiree, I’ve spent a lot of time in the woods near my new home in Glens Falls, New York. Ostensibly I was hunting, but much of the time I was roaming the new terrain, trying to familiarize myself with the haunts frequented by the grouse, turkeys, deer, rabbits and any other game in the vicinity. Roaming doesn’t usually produce much in the way of hunting success; there is simply too much moving and too little watching. But it can be great fun if you’ve a supply of blunts in your bowquiver along with your razorsharp broadheads.

Much of our local terrain features stumps remanant of past logging operations. The more rotten of these stumps are ideal targets for the bowhunter’s blunts. My wooden shafts with .38 calibre heads don’t fly as well as they might from my 58pound compound, so I’ve been using 2117 Gamegetters tipped with 125 grain interchangeable blunts for my roving. These have stood up surprisingly well and I’ve lost only one (in the snow) and bent one other in at least a hundred shots. This isn’t bragging -- 1 shoot at big stumps and the shots are almost always under 35 yards. This gives more leeway for the inevi­ table lousy shot from time to time. I give such shooting a lot of credit for putting me on target in New Jersey this past fall where there was a deer at the other end of my shaft.

One thing sacrificed in Archery since the inception of this column is the personal nature of the material presented. It is, or course, difficult on a limited budget to publish a national magazine covering the acitivites of the NFAA and still report on the activities of its people, its clubs and other events of the local scene. Twelve years ago, for example, winners of big game awards were published, section columnists reported on field and hunting activites in their area and five articles on various bowhunts were included in one issue. True, the writers may not have been in line for Pulitzer Prizes, but most bow­ hunters were less concerned with tire literary quality than in reading about an interesting bowhunt.

One thing remains as it was then, to me at least. The bow­ hunter still needs the NFAA above all else. There are other organizations benefiting the bowhunter, some of which are concerned solely with bowhunting. None, however, has the Continued on page 44

First of author’s 28 whitetails taken with bow, 1952. This moose, taken in Newfoundland in 1960, became the February 1961 Archery cover photo.

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J 22

I n 1967, when I started, the I barebow class was one of the biggest ever. That year was exciting, with Frank Gandy winning big at the Jackson, Mississippi Nationals. I finished second one point ahead of Rick Gilley and I was thrilled. Part of the excite­ ment had to do with protests -- they were everywhere, directed at tlie string­ walkers for marked tabs, marked strings, levels on the bows and marks on the windows of the bows.

By the next Nationals in Salinas, California, it was legal to stringwalk with anything you wanted as long as it was not 1/4 inch above the arrow rest.

The barebow class started dropping in numbers in 1968 when the new rules came out, but it was still a popular style of shooting and the barebow champion was noted as the national NFAA cham­ pion.

In 1970, Frank Ketchum won the first Aurora Nationals by shooting a compound bow in the freestyle ranks, and almost shooting the tournament clean. It was at that time that the NFAA champion became the high scorer at the Nationals - which was a freestyler.

Barebow still held onto large num­ bers of shooters until 1974 when I won the title with a compound bow in Golden, Colorado, and then I said later that I thought I had about a 50-point advantage over the rest of the barebow shooters because of the speed of the compound. Duane Chaney had come in second with a compound and the rest of the field was shooting stick bow with maybe one or two exceptions.

By 1975, All Tuller won the barebow title and barebow had dropped in participation at the Nationals to about 80 men and women open shooters -most of them shooting compound bows.

Articles were then written and appeared in Archer)’ about how to stringwalk the compound and how to set the bow up.

In 1976, participation actually rose, but only to 101 in open barebow. That year two-time national champ Dennis Cline shot the highest scores in his eight years of competition and Al Tuller broke all records but one which went back to 1969. We were all shooting incredibly well, and I was fortunate to have my best year ever with a 2744. The winning barebow average on field and

Author Hughes has made Texas para­ phernalia something of a barebow tradi­ tion. Clockwise from top: 1978, wear­ ing a Texas hat with Bruce Shelley, Jim Webb, Rick Wilson; 1972, waving Texas flag with new champ Dennis Cline; the Texas belt, unofficial barebow trophy.

PLEASE COME BACK TO BAREBOW!

YOU BETCHA, BUBBA! SEVEN-TIME CHAMP DAVID HUGHES, HIMSELF RETURNED FROM FREESTYLE RANKS, THINKS TWO-WHEELERS CAN HELP SAVE A PROUD TRADITION

hunter was over 550!

Yet in 1977, the number of barebow shooters dropped again. A new cham­ pion emerged with Jim Webb shooting very well on the new target face, while Dennis Cline was down on his shooting and Al Tuller and I had switched to shooting pro freestyle and we finished down in the ranks.

Then in 1978, the NFAA announced that it would pay the way to the World and European Field Championships in West Germany for the highest scoring man and woman barebow shooter at the Nationals. With that offer, I felt there would be a number of returnees to the barebow ranks, but to the contrary, it was one of the lowest years ever in numbers of shooters. It was one of the closest contests ever, though, with Bruce Shelley taking fourth, Jim Webb third, Rick Wilson second and myself winning. After five days of shooting, there was only a 44-point difference between fourth and first places, and the lead had been in Jim’s and Rick’s hands once each, so it was a fun shoot all the way.

The barebow shooters have always had a lot of fun at the Nationals, and that group is like a family unto itself. 1 think it’s a closer group of people and possibly a more sportsmanlike group of FEBRUARY 1979

•I "

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competitors than in any other class.

Like in the last Nationals, with four targets left on the field round, Jim had me down one point and I walked up to him and said, “Jim, don’t let it bother you but they have this great big trophy up there for the highest two field rounds and you’re a point ahead of me, and Jim, I sure would like to have that trophy.” Then Jim turned to me and said, “Dave, I know, and I’m going to do everything I can to get it for you.”

Well, everyone in the group heard and just about died laughing. We have always been like that.

We do talk a lot, and Til use about everything I can to get a guy thinking.

Like Rick Wilson; he was coming into the last Nationals shooting hotcakes and Chaney and Tom Daley, two old barebow shooters, warned him about my talking. Rick was cool, and was seven or eight points ahead by the third day, so I started to call him “Dick” to try to rattle him, or Td try to get him thinking about that trip to Europe. We have our fun, but we want to see an individual shoot his best.

If a guy gets beat, he gets beat, but if something happens tliat isn’t the archer’s fault, we give him his due. For example, Jim Webb right off had a nock break and threw his top cable off the ARCHERY

idler and his arrow only went five or six feet. We all agreed that Jim ought to get a couple of practice shots and then start over. All right, later I had a nock break on a 15-yarder and put it in the four ring, and the guys said to re-shoot it.

They gave me an arrow on a birdie that had hit in the dot and then tore down.

At different angles it looked out or looked to be touching. Jim Webb called it in and it cost him that trophy. It’s a special, warm group of people and there’s not a cold-hearted competitor in the bunch.

We have, nonetheless, now gone from the time when barebow was big to the present, when articles are being written like “Bye Bye Barebow?” The old shooters are still with us, but like Rick Gilley, Tom Daley, Duane Chaney, Frank Gandy, Al Tuller and Doug Dazynski, many more have gone free­ style or bowhunter for the money. I went pro in 1977 for money and did o.k., I guess, but I’m more interested now in what’s happening to barebow. I think there’s hope. 1 really think, after shooting the two-wheeler 30 to 40 percent let-off, it’s easy. There are usually three or four arrow sizes which can be used in one bow, and tire tiling is to find out what size is best for you and your setup. For example, I shot a

50- to 30-pound Bear two-wheeler and shot 2013 XX75’s while Al Tuller shot a 50 to 30 and shot 1814 X7’s with the same length shaft as I shot. In the same poundage range, I like 1914 X7’s and 1816’s work well for some shooters.

The release of the shooter has a lot to do with the arrow size and shaft stiff­ ness. The four-wheeler is a good bow, but hard in the long run to set up.

There’s just a lot more that can go wrong with it. 1 think the two-wheeler can make barebow less complicated and frustrating again.

The next opinion I have is that there should be more professional barebow shooters. During the past two years, there has been only one. People, if you are quitting because of the lure of money, come back! You can shoot in any pro class you want to; for instance, pro freestyle is real big in Texas and there are a lot of money shoots you can do well in. In 1976, I shot freestyle most of the year - at San Diego, Vegas, Fresno - then I went back to barebow for the nationals. Then in 1977, I joined the pro division because I had missed out on a lot of the bonus money a pro receives.

The barebow people talked about this situation at the 1978 Nationals, and now without a doubt, Bruce Shelley, Jim Webb, Rick Wilson and myself and I hope others' as well -- are going into the pro ranks to shoot the next Nationals as NFAA barebow pros alongside Fast Eddie.

If you’re a barebow shooter who’s thinking of coming back or staying in and you have problems with your setup, you can call Rick Wilson in Redwood City, California, Bruce Shelley in Waterbury, Connecticut, Jim Webb in Keyser, West Virginia, or me in Mesquite, Texas, and we’ll do what we can to help you straighten out your problems.

To all NFAA members on this 40th anniversary of our association, let me say if you like shooting, you like to enjoy yourselves, and only if you like competition, come and shoot with us barebow nuts at the 1979 Nationals.

And barebow shooters of tire past, please don’t let the fate of the American Indian befall us. We’re proud in spirit, too, but we’re dwindling in numbers and influence. Help us. Our style and philosophy of shooting is too great to be just history.

23

SB© BOWS AND ARROWS, BOOM OR BUST? Robert Kelly, President Bear Archery Company During the period between 1973 and 1977, we in the archery industry

During the 1973 to 1976 boom, archery sales more than

doubled, but since then the industry has experienced zero growth in sales dollar volume. How would you character­ ize the boom? To what extent were recurve bows merely replaced by compounds? What will be the nature of the 1979 market - and beyond? What role might foreign markets play?

were surprised by a growth that almost doubled the total industr, dollar volume. This great growth was triggered by a phenomenon called

8

the compound bow, which at first caused many adverse comment such as "what an ugly thing!" or "no one will ever buy a bow that

I

I

looks like that." It soon became apparent that the compound woul electrify the archery industry and cause changes even more drama< than did the advent of laminated fiberglass. The new bow was excitin'

fun to shoot and, probably most all, easy for a bowhunter to hold =.

E

full draw while he concentrated on his target. Suddenly shooting

hunting with a heavy bow became fun rather than work. The bowhun

er also soon discovered the compound was more efficient and woui shoot an arrow flatter and faster. That is, some two or three millio. already dedicated bowhunters had to have this new exciting piece c equipment. These great growth years still saw some people droppin

out of archery, and quite a few new people coming into archery an learning to shot for the first time with the new compound bow. Overa bowhunting license sales did not climb as rapidly in number as th

market, which only meant this dramatic new market was a replacemen market -- not all new archers and bowhunters.

This year will see the market leveling off, but still very healthy From 1979 to 1985, I am confident we will see increasing real growth,

healthy and measurable. Bowhunting will come into its own and se greater creditability among sportsmen. With the great compound sale

explosion over with, the industry will get back to the everyday business of selling the growing sport of archery and bowhunting. We can already see signs that the state and federal governments recognize the future of bowhunting as having a rightful place in the overall shooting sports

picture.

What lies ahead for the archer-consumer in terms of equipment cost, quality and innovation?

Exciting things are ahead for the ponsumer. Costs will not rise as rapidly as overall inflation, as manufacturers find better methods and

procedures and realize they cannot price themselves out of the great competitive market. The manufacturers recognize that thier competi tion is not in the archery business, but from all the rest of the great

sporting

enterprises

such

as golf,

swimming,

tennis,

bowling,

etc.

Quality has been and will continue to be a password in the archery industry. It will remain high and the new developments will be exciting and worth of consideration by any sportsminded consumer.

Are we likely to see compound bows in the Olympic games ever? How about in 1984, or even 1980?

I

The question keeps coming up as to whether we will see compound bows in the Olympic games. I personally do not feel that the use of

compounds in Olympic competition is a great factor in’the future

growth of archery. World class competitors are happy with the conven­

tional bow and Its performance. I believe that some time in the future,

I

compounds may be accepted In th^ Olympics, possibly first as a sepa­ rate class. Again I would say I do not think this is of great impor­

tance to the future of the sport or the industry.

In summation, I would say archery and bowhunting have always been exciting with continued new Innovations always making this sport

foremost In the minds of many people.

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24

FEBRUARY 1979

< |

John Williamson, President' Jennings Compound Bow, Inc.

Pete Shepley, President Precision Shooting Equipment

kb

off, I don't believe in zero growth. Zero means no growth and,

The early seventies brought extremely rapid growth to the industry, but

the industry did sell a million compounds from 1973 to 1976 to

this period was not unique, as similar growth occurred in the late fifties.

iiing archers, we also made many new archers. In 1973 the industry kb

3 00,000

bows; today's figures are 400,000 per year. In my

Interestingly, both these periods correspond with economic recession

and

with

technological

innovations

of considerable

impact.

In the

expand;

fifties, reinforced plastics, working recurve consturction and center-shot

sever, it will be a more controlled growth rate.

bows began to appear in force, while the seventies saw widespread use

The foreign market now accounts for less than five percent of the

of compounds and releases. I am far too much the optimist to state that

■ ion,

the

archery

industry

will

continue

to grow

and

U.S. archery industry sales. I think it's conceivable to raise that

my business success could be dependent upon poor economic condi­ tions; however,

ee to 15 percent over the next ten years.

archery

is an

inexpensive

pasttime once

a

person

acquires equipment. A significant portion of the recent "boom” was realized from sales of compound bows to archers who already had

bows, and to some extent the market was one of replacement. But how many new archers were created in the late sixties in response to the

sport's reintroduction into the Olympics? Also, with compounds and releases, women in increasing numbers have become welcome additions

to the tournament scene.

The 1979 market? The popularity of compounds and releases has produced a nucleus of rather sophisticated consumers and vendors.

The choosing and using of equipment has evolved from a "black art"

known to few to a skill shared by many. There will always be the in­ stant, impulse buyer, but I believe the trend is to highly selective con­ sumers. The foreign market will probably have little impact on 1979 sales because there is no mechanism to penetrate it. Anyone who wants

to participate must create his own methods. There is a large body of interested archers there, and I do believe the market has good potential.

I have no reliable way to monitor total industry activity; however, it

appears that Jennings will have our best year growth-wise since 1975.

Our dealer activity is substantially above that for comparable periods during the last two years. We are very optimistic for 1979.

costs of equipment are necessarily dictated by current inflation ts.

As

operating costs

rise,

so

must equipment costs.

However,

Although fine equipment will be had at modest prices, top line equip­ ment will continue to rise in cost. The reason: as more companies seek

Ely's archer is really getting a bargain compared to 1950 when it

to improve performance or add features, they’ll find it necessary to

<k approximately two weeks' worth of income to purchase a good set

expend considerable monies in ratio to the actual improvements acheiv-

tournament archery tackle. Today a similar set would cost only one

ed as they approach or advance the state of the art. But such advances

lik's income.

do not look for major changes in the compound

will enable them to design and market relatively inexpensive bows with

iciple, but the areas of appearance and performance are wide open.

performance matching the most expensive of a few years back. The

IPSE, innovation is the name of the game, and if we can make our

consumer can expect more consistency with refined manufacturing and

iiipment better, we will. We owe it to the consumer and the industry.

the fall-out of marginal manufacturers. Watch for probable reductions

I

*As for quality, PSE has always been the symbol of quality and we

in use of organic materials, and advance in performance with use of

md to stay there. True quality items not only last longer, but also

high modulus composites for limb facing, hollow or honeycomb core

form better. We pass that quality value right on to the consumer,

section materials and advances in understanding function leading to

only in our Elite line, but in every line. At PSE it's the only way we

better operating geometries.

business, and with tighter money that quality edge really counts.

dieve the compound will be legal for Olympic competition by 1988, certainly not before. It must be approved for FITA competition : and we probably won’t see that before the mid-1980's. I under-

I believe eventual acceptance is inevitable; you cannot legislate against progress and make it stick. The general acceptance of the compound bow in the U.S. is obvious to anyone involved here. I don't think we'll

,d the administrative council is presently looking at the compound; /ever, it won't be legalized until there is enough pressure from the

see compounds at the 1980 Olympics, but there may be a chance for

ling countries in FITA and that will only happen through internal

the formation of a competing organization to FITA. A similar event

.sure within each country. In the U.S. it took about five years for

came to pass in the U.S. when the PAA refused to recognize the bow. A

compound to gain that much popularity. Most of the other coun-

competing organization, the NFAA pro division, was formed and now

5 are considerably more conservative than the U.S., so it will take a

has membership twice as large as the original organization.

the 1984 games. Failure to recognize such a class will ultimately lead to

e longer.

ARCHERY

25

ABOUT THE A UTHOR: A recently retired senior aerospace engineer who worked over 30 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Walt Powell has been a bowhunter for over 20. Introduced to archery at JPL, he went on to serve as its archery club president, and he is also a director of the Southern Council of Conservation Clubs; chairman of the Land Use Committee, California Wildlife Federation; and advisor, poster program. American Wildlife Education Founda­ tion. Walt will be happy to answer readers’ questions on Zero Divergence Tuning.

Just write him care of Archery, Route 2, Box 514, Redlands, CA 92373.

ZERO DIVERGENCE TUNING, PART III Copyright 1979 by Walter B. Powell. All rights reserved.

^warts I and II of this series have been devoted to M identifying the modes of motion of the arrow and to collecting both old and new information about the per­ formance and response characteristics of the bow and arrow system. This information can be used to develop a new and comprehensive system for selecting and tuning archery tackle to obtain good arrow flight.

An archer can select a bow whose pull is compatible with his (or her) own strength and intended use (target, hunting, etc.). After choosing from a range of arrow shafts one which should match both his bow at his draw length and his intended use of the arrow, he can confirm that the arrow does indeed match the bow. Then he can proceed to tune the combination so that the arrow flies true and clean.

There are four significant arrow motion characteristics which must be optimized simultaneously if good arrow flight is to be obtained. For each of these modes of motion, there is one primary tackle selection or adjustment para­ meter. In addition, there are several initial requirements applying to both the archer and to his tackle which must be satisfied before tuning can even be started.

FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AND ADJUSTMENTS Clearance refers to the ability of the shaft to leave the bow without the nock end or fletching striking the side of the sight window or the arrow rest. This is related to the “archer’s paradox” vibration of the arrow shaft. Clearance is primarily controlled by the stiffness of the arrow shaft, or alternatively, by changing the pull of the bow. Other factors which affect clearance are the amount of center­ shot cut-out of the bow, the structure of the arrow rest vertical support component and the way the archer grips the bow handle.

Divergence is the tendency of the arrow to fly and impact to one side of the direction in which it is aimed.

26

Zero divergence means that the arrow flies in the direction it is pointed at the instant of release (even though the arrow may be fishtailing as it flies toward the target). The primary adjustment for controlling divergence is changing the in-and-out position of the pressure plate. Changing the pressure plate spring loading has a secondary effect on divergence. A bow sight can be used to compensate for divergence if, for some reason, it is not desired to adjust the pressure plate to the zero divergence position.

Fishtailing is an oscillation of the arrow in its flight path in which the nock end of the arrow appears to move from side to side. The primary adjustment for controlling fishtail­ ing is changing the spring loading on the cushion plunger.

Other factors which can affect fishtailing are moving the position of the pressure plate and changing the stiffness of the arrow shaft (or changing the pull of the bow).

Porpoising is an oscillation of the arrow in its flight path in which the nock end of the arrow appears to move up and down. The primary adjustment for controlling porpoising is changing the up-and-down position of the nocking point on the bowstring. Porpoising can also be affected by changing the arrow shaft stiffness (or changing the pull of the bow).

The best tune point is the point where clearance, zero divergence, zero fishtailing and zero porpoising are achieved simultaneously. Because the arrow flight characteristics and their respective adjustment parameters interact in several instances, it is necessary to converge on the best tune point by an orderly process of repeated small adjustments.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS 1. The bow must have a sight window cut in far enough that when the arrow shaft is aligned in the zero divergence position, there is approximately 1/10 inch of clearance between the side of the arrow and the face of the sight window. Since the zero divergence alignment of the shaft is FEBRUARY 1979

r i I

bow. It has been found that the hand should be rotated around the handle so that the approximate center of pressure of the hand on the handle is slightly to the arrow side of the center-shot plane of the bow. This will place the back of the hand almost in line with the bow arm and the arrow, as shown in Figure 12.

usually sightly in from the nominal center-shot plane (the plane in which the undisturbed string would travel upon release), it is difficult to provide tire needed depth of cut-out and still retain sufficient strength in the bow handle section. Many bows have only marginally satisfactory center-shot cut-out depth, so before buying a new bow, one should check to see that there is sufficient side clearance at the zero divergence setting of the pressure plate.

2. The bow must be equipped with a fully adjustable cushion plunger. This enables the in-and-out position of the pressure plate and the spring loading on the pressure plate to each be adjusted independently. The center line of the pressure plate should be located approximately straight up from the low point of the handle grip in order to avoid disturbing the arrow if the bow rotates in the hand upon release, and 5/8 to 3/4 inch above the sight window shelf in order to provide clearance for the fletching.

3. The bow must be equipped with an arrow rest vertical support which holds the arrow shaft up at the level of the pressure plate and which either does not interfere mechan­ ically with the fletching as it goes by, or is flexible enough in sideways motions to allow the lower fletching to push it aside without introducing a disturbance into the arrow flight.

4. The bowstring must be equipped with a nocking point which can be moved up and down on the string, yet will stay where it is positioned.

5. The arrow fletching must be large enough and have enough spiral to properly stabilize the arrow in flight. If the initial tuning is accomplished while using arrows Retched with plastic vanes, then it is unlikely that there will be any problems if feather fletching is later substituted for the vanes. The Talcum Spray and the Modeling Clay Tests for clearance are much more definitive when vanes are used than when feather fletching is used.

INITIAL ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE TUNING It will shorten the tuning process if the tuning para­ meters are initially adjusted to the settings which experi­ ence indicates will be near the final tuning adjustments.

Thus: 1. Adjust the pressure plate in-and-out position so that the arrow shaft is approximately lined up with the nominal center-shot plane of the bow. (An indexing notch on the end of the cushion plunger stem will be helpful in keeping track of changes in position from this point on.)

2. Install the stiffest of the springs supplied with the cushion plunger assembly. Tighten it about halfway with the small screw in the stem of the assembly.

(You may wish to remove the second lockscrew until tuning is completed.)

3. Adjust the arrow rest vertical support so that it holds the shaft up at the desired level (against the center of the pressure plate), and so that it will cause the least possible interference as the lower fletching goes by.

4. Position the nocking point on the bow string so that the nock end of the arrow is about 1/4 inch above square.

5. Use an arrow shaft slightly on the stiff side of those recommended for your bow pull and draw length.

6. Install all of the accessories that you will have on the bow (stabilizer, bow quiver, sock, sight, etc.). They can have an effect on the tuning adjustments.

SHOOTING TECHNIQUE 1. In order to identify zero divergence, it necessary to aim by sighting directly down the arrow shaft, bare bow style. With the usual anchor point (first finger at the corner of the mouth, thumb under the jawbone), this is accom­ plished by leaning the head slightly toward the arrow to bring the eye directly over the nock at full draw. This alignment of the eye directly over the center line of the arrow shaft can be checked by drawing in front of a mirror, or by closing the off eye for an instant, during the learning period. The bare bow anchor point and aiming-eye align­ ment are shown in Figure 12.

2. The shooting form and consistency of the archer are important if satisfactory tuning and shooting are to be achieved. Without consistency, the effects of tuning ad­ justments will never be certain. Figure 12 shows some of the elements of good shooting form: anns lined up with the arrow, full finger hook on the string, full back tension, precise anchor position, arrow lined up with the line of sight to the target and total concentration on the target.

Additionally, there must be a clean release and an in-line followthrough.

3. The way in which the bow is gripped or cradled in tire hand can have an effect on whether the arrow clears the

ZERO DIVERGENCE AS A TUNING CRITERIA The basic tuning condition is at the best tune point, as shown on Figure 13. This is the point where zero diver­ gence and zero fishtailing are obtained simultaneously (after having first ascertained that there is clearance, and having adjusted for zero porpoising). Since zero fishtailing and zero porpoising have been common elements of pre­ viously described tuning systems, and since clearance has always been an implied requirement (even though not clearly defined), the new element here is zero divergence.

This is why the term “zero divergence tuning ” is used here to identify what is really “best tune point tuning.” More fundamental is the fact that tuning has here been shown to be a function of four interacting parameters, and that a procedure for systematically varying these four parameters so as to converge on the best tune point must be developed.

Zero divergence tuning is essential for effective bare bow shooting. The understanding of the physical factors involv­ ed in the launching and flight of the arrow, from which has evolved the concept of zero divergence tuning, also serves to explain the capabilities and limitations of sight shooting and of conventional bare bow “instinctive” archery shoot­ ing techniques. These subjects will be briefly discussed after the zero divergence tuning process is described.

ARCHERY

27

FIG. 12 BARE BOW SHOOTING STYLE AND AIMING ALIGNMENT HEAD TILTED TO PLACE EYE OVER NOCK

CONCENTRATION ON TARGET

BACK MUSCLES IN TENSION

120 DEGREE FINGER HOOK ON STRING

ANCHOR POINT: FIRST FINGER AT CORNER OF MOUTH. THUMB UNDER JAW

ARROWS. ARMS IN LINE WITH "LINE OF SIGHT" TO TARGET. BOTH WRISTS STRAIGHT

£ PROPER HAND GRIP ON BOW

DEVELOPING A BARE BOW TUNING PROCEDURE The requirement of the bare bow tuning procedure is that it lead to the best tune point while taking account of the interactions between the four adjustment parameters, (divergence and fishtailing are functions of the same two parameters and clearance is a go-no-go situation which is best checked after preliminary adjustments have been made to minimize the other arrow flight disturbances).

Contemplation of Figure 13 shows that the zero diver­ gence condition can always be obtained by moving the pressure plate in or out until the intersection with the zero divergence line is found, regardless of the pressure plate spring loading and regardless of the fact that there will probably be come residual fishtailing after this initial adjustment. This, then, becomes the first step of the tuning procedure, as shown on Figure 13.

Next, the position of the nocking point on the string is adjusted to minimize porpoising. This adjustment is relatively independent of the other adjustments, so the first adjustment of this parameter will be very close to the final adjustment for zero porpoising. That is why this adjust­ ment is made immediately after the initial zero divergence adjustment. ' The initial zero divergence adjustment will, in general, not be at the best tune point and there will be some resi­ dual fishtailing. Again, contemplation of Figure 13 shows that, from a position on the zero divergence line, the fishtailing can be eliminated by changing the pressure plate spring loading in the appropriate direction (which is easily determined by trial and error); this is shown as step 2 on Figure 13. When step 2 is completed, there will be zero fishtailing and some residual divergence, but the adjustment will be closer to the best tune point than it was originally.

If repeated adjustments are made, first for zero diver­ gence and then for zero fishtailing, there will be a rapid convergence toward the best tune point, as shown on Figure 13. As a part of each cycle of this iterative tuning process, the nocking point location adjustment should be checked (to maintain zero porpoising), and a check should be made for clearance of the nock end of the shaft and the fletching as they pass the sight window and arrow rest assembly. (It will be found that clearance can be obtained with a fairly broad range of arrow shaft sizes; the archer can 28

select from this range the shaft that is best suited to his needs.) By repeating this series of adjustments, all interac­ tions among adjustment are accommodated and a straight­ forward best tune point tuning procedure is achieved.

At the conclusion of this iterative tuning procedure, the arrows should be flying straight toward the target without any energy-wasting oscillations about the flight path.

The steps in selecting and adjusting tackle for the best tune point are summarized in the accompanying sidebar qnd in Table II.

TUNING NOTES Additional information that may be helpful in complet­ ing the tuning process is given here: 1. Tuning can readily be accomplished with shooting equipment shooting at distances of 20 to 50 yards and observing the arrow in free flight. It is not necessary to resort to bare shaft shooting or to the Short Shot Nock Lean Test; The direction of the adjustments needed to correqt fishtailing and porpois­ ing can be determined quickly by trial and error.

2. It is necessary to locate the center of the zero diver­ gence zone. The center of this zone may be as much as one full turn of the cushion plunger assembly in from the position where well-shot arrows first cease to diverge out from the bow. If the bow does not have adequate depth of center-shot cut-out, it may be necessary to compromise on the recommended 1/10-inch clearance between the sight window face and the side of the arrow shaft. Some bows may not have enough depth of center-shot cut-out to enable tuning for bare bow shooting; this should be checked carefully before buying a new bow.

3. You will find that your bow can be tuned to handle several different arrow shafts that are stiffer than the minimum-stiffness shaft which barely clears the side of the bow. Too light a shaft will slap the bow and fly erratically. Too stiff an arrow will fly steadily, but, because of its weight, will fly more slowly and have a shorter range than a properly matched shaft.

4. The pressure plate spring loading at the best tune point will be higher for the stiffer and heavier shafts than for the lighter arrow shafts. Also, the stiffer shafts will clear the face of the sight window by an increasing margin.

5. By carefully selecting the shaft stiffness and/or changing the pull of the bow, the clearance can be adjusted so that the fletching will pass through or pass outside of the arrosy rest vertical support mem­ ber without any contact whatsoever; this is essential for best tuning results.

6. Optimum results will usually be obtained with a medium stiffness shaft, with a corresponding medium to stiff spring loading on the pressure plate at the best tune point. So, if the spring loading at which the initial shaft selection flies best is low, you should try a stiffer shaft.

7. If a sight is to be used, it can be aligned and adjusted qfter the basic tuning process is completed', taking care not to change any of the basic tuning adjustFEBRUARY 1979

FIG. 13 ZERO DIVERGENCE TUNING ADJUSTMENT SEQUENCE FOR CONVERGENCE ON THE BEST TUNE POINT RIGID PRESSURE PLATE

I

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ZERO FISHTAIL — LINE

LU O

ZERO DIVERGENCE LINE

\ \ \ 1 \ ’

STARTING POINT FOR TUNING ADJUSTMENTS

L lu

O

co tn LU cr Q.

2 _ cr a_ CO

cc —1 o

\ \ A \\ \\ \1 BEST TUNE POINT

\ \ \ FACE OF SIGHT WINDOW

D ZERO SPRING LOAD

% % % \

PRESSURE PLATE POSITION OUT FROM FACE OF SIGHT WINDOW

ments. Adjust the sight so that the arrow flies exactly where it did when you were aiming down the shaft.

8. If the above tuning procedure does not seem to give good results, have an experienced archer examine your tackle and watch you shoot.

USING THE BOW SIGHT The objective of the sight shooter is the same as that of the bare bow shooter' to shoot the arrow true and clean to the center of the target. This can be achieved by tuning to the best tune point, duplicating exactly the bare bow tuning process and then adjusting the sight so that the arrow goes to the target when the archer uses it instead of the bare bow aiming technique. This is a special case of the procedure to be described below. The sight offers addi­ tional advantage in that it can also be set to provide the correct elevation for known distances to the target.

The use of the bow sight has the effect of removing the coupling between divergence and fishtailing; that is, a reasonable amount of divergence can be compensated for, by a suitable adjustment of the sight pin, without any interaction with the fishtailing motion of the arrow. This new system characteristic introduced by the use of the bow ARCHERY

sight enables a tuning procedure somewhat different from the bare bow procedure to be used by the sight shooter; namely, the initial step can be to find a zero fishtailing rather than a zero divergence position of the pressure plate.

Refering to Figure 13, it is clear that the zero fishtailing condition can always be obtained by moving the pressure plate in or out until the intersection with the zero fishtail­ ing line is found, regardless of the pressure plate spring loading and regardless of the fact that there will probably become residual divergence after this initial adjustment.

Thus the first step in the sight shooter’s tuning process is to select a pressure plate spring loading. The next step is to find the pressure plate position for zero fishtailing at the selected spring loading; this can be done by observing the arrow in free flight. Next, the nocking point position on the string is adjusted to obtain zero porpoising. Then the Talcum Spray Test for shaft clearance is performed. Final­ ly, the sight is adjusted so that the arrow flies exactly toward the target, thus compensating for the divergence. A second or third repetition of this process should be suffi­ cient to assure that clearance, zero fishtailing and zero porpoising have been achieved and that the sight azimuth setting is correct.

The. effect of performing the above sight shooter’s

29

tuning procedure with arrow shafts of different stiffness, or with different fixed spring loading of the pressure plate, can be developed from the map of horizontal-plane arrow flight characteristics, c.f. Figure 10 (see last month’s issue).

Figure 10 shows that as the pressure plate spring loading is decreased or the shaft stiffness is increased (or tire bow pull decreased), the pressure plate position for zero fishtailing moves further out from the face of the sight window and the arrow diverges further out from the bow. Out diver­ gence is compensated for by extending the sight pin further out from the face of the sight window; this has the secon­ dary effect of improving the visibility of the sight pin(s) and of the target area.

Thus, changing the spring loading on the pressure plate or the shaft stiffness (or the bow pull) can be useful in the sight shooter’s tuning process, but for the purpose of exerting control over the in-or-out position of tire pressure plate and the sight pin at the final tuned condition rather than as primary tuning parameters. Of course, tire mini­ mum shaft stiffness limit, below which “slapping” occurs, is still in effect and only stiffer shafts can be used. Addition­ ally, the pressure plate spring loading should be kept high enough to support the arrow firmly during the aiming process.

The tuning of the bow for sight shooting has not been described previously in terms of the zero fishtailing and zero divergence flight characteristics of the arrow, nor has the effect of spring loading and arrow stiffness on tuned sight pin position been described. It is hoped that the above discussion will contribute to the understanding of tuning for sight shooting, thus lifting the veil of “black magic” and making the whole process more straightfor­ ward.

SHOOTING BARE BOW WITHOUT A PLUNGER It was stated earlier that use of a cushion plunger was essential for zero divergence tuning, and thus for effective bare bow shooting. On the other hand, the history of archery includes many centuries during which bow sights, cushion plungers and even center-shot cut-out bows were unknown. Even today, many archers shoot quite respecta­ bly without using cushion plungers or sights on their center-shot cut-out bows. Can this be explained using the information developed here as the basis for the zero diver­ gence tuning procedures? The answer is a qualified “yes.”

Bows used up into the 1940’s did not have very much center-shot cut-out, if any. This caused the arrow to rub against the side of the bow in a manner which would be considered unacceptable today. Thus Dr. Robert Elmer, writing in 1946, said, “In my best bow there is a distinct groove close to the shelf where the arrow grinds at the start.

An eighth of an inch above it is a deeper groove where, I suppose, the shaftmond has worn it.” No attempt is made here to analyze or explain the flight of arrows where this type of contact occurs. The discussion which follows refers to the flight of arrows from bows having substantial cen­ ter-shot cut-out such that with shafts of sufficient stiffness, complete clearance of the bow is obtained.

Consider first bare bow shooting using a bow having a rigid pressure plate installed on it. In Part II of this series, 30

it was noted that die zero fishtail line intersects and crosses the zero divergence line at some intermediate value of the pressure plate spring loading, and then at very high spring loading, it again approaches very close to the zero diver­ gence line (see Figures 10 and 13). The exact shape of these lines and the factors affecting their closeness of approach at the rigid pressure plate condition have not yet been determined in detail. However, it is known that at tire rigid pressure plate zero divergence point, some tackle combinations evidence little or no fishtailing. For other tackle combinations, the zero fishtailing point lies slightly in from the corresponding zero divergence point for the rigid pressure plate condition.

The bare bow archer whose bow is equipped with a rigid pressure plate then has only two major options: 1. Tune to zero divergence and accept the residual fishtailing. By trying a number of different arrow shaft sizes, he may be able to find a combination which has negligible fishtailing at the zero divergence point.

2. Tune to zero fishtailing, then compensate for the residual divergence by in some way altering the recommended in-line sighting and aiming procedure.

Three such possibilities are: a. Aim to one side of the intended target point. b. Aim with the nock end of the arrow under the eye, but with the tip end of the arrow slightly offset from the line of sight to the target point. c. Aim with the tip end of the arrow in line with the line of sight to the target, but with the nock end of the arrow not exactly under the aiming eye.

It should be noted that those alternatives which involve altering the in-line sighting and aiming procedure may be deliberately adopted and developed to the point where they are used unconsciously (instinctively) at the archery range, yet the system may break down completely in the excitement of a hunting situation and cause a wide miss.

It is clear that the best option for the bare bow or “instinctive” archer using a bow with a rigid pressure plate is Option No. 1: to experiment with pressure plate position and with arrow shaft stiffness until he finds a combination which give clearance, zero divergence, zero porpoising and near-zero fishtailing. Then he can aim down his line of sight to the target, and the “instinctive” part of his archery can be confined solely to estimating the elevation required to get the arrow to the target.

As a practical matter, the bare bow archer would be better off on three counts to start off with a cushion plunger instead of a rigid pressure plate: 1. The expense of buying and trying arrow shafts having different stiffness until the best match is found might easily exceed the cost of the cushion plunger.

2. The cushion plunger will enable optimum best tune point tuning to be obtained with any reasonably selected initial set of arrows. This tuning will probab­ ly result in cleaner arrow flight than can be obtained with the rigid pressure plate set-up.

3. As an incidental advantage, the cushion plunger should absorb some of the initial lateral forces on the tip of the arrow and so reduce the magnitude of the FEBRUARY 1979

“paradox” vibration of the shaft.

If the bare bow archer equips his bow with a pressure plate assembly which is flexible, but not adjustable (i.e., has a fixed spring loading on the pressure plate ), Option No. 1 is still the preferred tuning procedure. However, in this case it may be possible by suitable adjustments of the pressure plate position, shaft stiffness and perhaps bow pull, to actually achieve best tune point tuning. What is lost by not using a fully adjustable cushion plunger assem­ bly is the freedom to choose independently the arrow shaft size to be used.

As was the case for the sight shooter, tuning for bare bow shooting does not appear to have been described previously in terms of the zero divergence and zero fish tail­ ing flight characteristics of the arrow, nor has the limita­ tion imposed by the use of a rigid pressure plate been analyzed.

Many currently published archery shooting instructions concentrate on describing how to tune for zero fishtailing and zero porpoising, with no mention of the interacting divergence phenomenon. The beginning archer who follows these instructions may find that his clean flying arrows do not fly in the direction in which they are aimed. This can lead to a level of frustration which may cause the novice to leave the sport.

The beginning archer (bare bow-instinctive or sight shooter) needs to understand that the bow and arrow constitute a four-parameter system, and that the bow must be equipped with a fully adjustable cushion plunger assem­ bly if he is to be able to take full advantage of the tuning capabilities of this system. With this understanding, he can

select his equipment to suit his needs, tune it according to the procedures set forth here, and enjoy the satisfaction of watching his arrows fly true and clean to the point at which they are aimed.

SUMMARY The object of the work described here is to provide some understanding of the flight characteristics of an arrow and of the physical factors which affect these flight characteris­ tics. This understanding can then be applied to develop a straightforward procedure for selecting tackle and making the tuning adjustments required to obtain near-perfect arrow flight.

A review of the existing literature and instruction pamphlets on the subject of tackle selection, tuning and shooting of the bow and arrow indicates that the four-para­ meter nature of the tackle selection and tuning problem has not been clearly recognized until now. The information continued in this article remedies this situation.

The bow and arrow, with a cushion plunger and a moveable nocking point on the string, constitutes an interacting four-parameter system. There are four signifi­ cant arrow flight characteristics: clearance, divergence, fishtailing and porpoising. The four significant tackle changes or adjustment parameters needed to control the four flight characteristics are: the stiffness of the arrow shaft, the position of the pressure plate, the spring loading on the pressure plate and the location of the nocking point on the bow string. In order to make the adjustments required to eliminate divergence and fishtailing, the bow must be equipped with a fully adjustable cushion plunger

TABLE II: ZERO DIVERGENCE TUNING (The "black box" approach to four parameter bow and arrow tuning)

Equipment Requirements Bow pull compatible with strength of the archer and with the intended archery activity.

Adequate center-shot cut-out of bow.---------------------Fully adjustable cushion plunger.--------------------------Moveable nocking point on string.-------------------------Initial arrow shaft slightly on stiff side of manufac­ turer’s recommendation.

No interference between fletching and arrow rest.-----No interference between fletching and string (compound bow).

Archer Requirements Sound and consistent shooting technique: stance, draw, hold, aim, release and followthrough.

Concentrate on aiming point, arrow aligned with line of sight in seconday field of view.

Proper grip on bow handle.

No interference between bowstring and clothing or armguard.

Input Equipment adjustments 1. Pressure Plate Position------2. Nock location on string-----3. Pressure plate spring loading 4. Shaft stiffness-------------------

Output Arrow Flight Characteristics Zero divergence -► Zero porpoising ■*- Zero fishtailing -► Clearance

Zero Divergence Tuning Procedure

1. Shoot at from 20 to 50 yards. Observe the arrow in free flight.

2. Make equipment adjustments in the order indicated, and in the direction to decrease the corresponding arrow flight disturbance.

3. Repeat the adjustment sequence to converge on the best tune point.

ARCHERY

31

A SUMMARY OF THE ZERO DIVERGENCE TUNING METHOD

32

Hlhis procedure applies specifically to the bare bow ■ archer who aims by aligning the arrow shaft with his (or her) line of sight to the target point and who uses a conventional three-finger release. It is presumed that the archer has a reasonably sound and consistent shooting technique (stance, draw, hold, aim, release and followthrough). The same tuning technique applies if a mechan­ ical release is used, and it can also be used prior to the alignment and calibration of a bow sight.

1. Select a bow with pull compatible with the archer’s strength and the intended archery activity. The bow must have adequate depth of center-shot cut-out.

2. Equip the bow with a fully adjustable cushion plunger, a flexible or a “pass-thru” vertical support arrow rest component and a moveable nocking point on the bow string.

3. Select an initial arrow shaft in the middle or slightly on the stiff side of the group of sizes recommended for the bow pull and intended archery activity. The arrow fletching must be large enough and have enough spiral to adequately stabilize the arrow in flight.

4. Install all of the auxiliary equipment that will be used with the bow (stabilizer, bow quiver, sight, etc.).

These can affect the balance and the tuning of the bow.

5. Adjust the pressure plate position so that the tip of the arrow points slightly out from the plane of motion of the bow string. Apply a stiff spring load to the pressure plate. Position the nocking point so that the nock end of the arrow is about 1/4 inch above square.

6. Start the tuning procedure by shooting bare bow, with the shaft aligned with the line of sight to the aiming point. Initially, shoot from about 20 yards, then move back to about 50 yards before making the final tuning adjustments. Observe the flight characteristics of the arrow in free flight.

7. Adjust the pressure plate position (in and out) to obtain zero divergence. Initially the arrows will probably diverge out from the direction in which they are aimed. If so, move the pressure plate in until the center of the zero divergence zone is located. At this point the arrows will group uniformly on each side of the aiming point, with the width of the scatter band depending on the skill of the archer.

8. Adjust the nocking point up or down in the direc­

tion that minimizes porpoising and improves the flight of the arrow.

9. Adjust the spring loading on the pressure plate in the direction that minimizes fishtailing and improves the flight of the arrow. Change the spring if necessary.

10. Use the Talcum Spray Test to check for clearance as the nock end of the arrow passes the sight window and the arrow rest assembly. This test is most definitive when plastic vane fletching is used. If the arrow slaps the side of the sight window, use a stiffer arrow shaft; stiffer shafts will pass the face of the sight window with increasing clearance. (Note that decreasing the pull of an adjustable bow is equivalent to changing to a stiffer shaft.) Adjust or change the arrow rest configuration to eliminate interfe­ rence, if required.

11. Repeat steps 7 through 10. You will quickly converge on the best tune point, where the arrow flies true and clean consistently.

12. If the pressure plate spring loading at the best tune point is too low to support the arrow firmly during the aiming process, use a stiffer shaft and repeat the tuning procedure. Stiffer shafts tune at higher spring loadings.

13. If you will be using arrows with different fletch­ ing, or with broadheads, check the arrow flight with these installed; it may be necessary to repeat the final stages of the tuning process. An arrow with a broadhead will almost always fly out, away from the bow compared to a similar arrow with a field point, and the pressure plate will have to be moved in.

14. At the conclusion of the tuning process lock the pressure plate, the spring load and the nocking point adjustments firmly in place so that they cannot move.

15. Your archery tackle is now tuned for bare bow shooting. You can take it afield with confidence that your arrows will fly true and clean up to the limit of your skill as an archer.

16. If you have equipped your bow with a sight, now start using the sight for aiming and adjust the lateral position of the sight pin so that the zero divergence characteristic of the arrow flight is retained. (The front and rear sights will now be lined up parallel to the arrow shaft.) Finally, calibrate the vertical scale of the sight for the desired distances. Now you are ready to shoot using your sight as an aiming device.

assembly. In order to obtain correct pressure plate adjust­ ment, the sight window of the bow must be cut in well past the nominal center-shot plane of the bow.

Since all four arrow flight characteristics must be opti­ mized simultaneously, and since some of the adjustment parameters affect more than one of the arrow flight charac­ teristics, tuning for good arrow flight must be by a repeated sequence of adjustments, leading to convergence on the best tune point.

The tackle selection criteria, shooting technique, and adjustment procedures involved in the entire tuning process

are presented for easy reference in the summary box above and in Table II. Now the average archer has the information needed to select tackle which can be tuned, and he has the procedure to use in tuning his tackle, whether he chooses to shoot bare bow or with a sight.

The suggestions and procedures given here could help archers to avoid many of the frustrations of tuning new archery equipment, and could make the entire archery experience more enjoyable, and, for the bowhunter, more productive. ** FEBRUARY 1979

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i

MOMENTS/continued from page 15

JL V

1q i '

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Freddy feather Says...

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"Show me a plastic sunset and I'll start using a substitute fletch on my arrows. Like a sunset, Bright Way ground base feathers are the real thing . . . naturally."

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QUALITY AND RESEARCH

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Compound bows & Accessories (wholesale) Easton Shafts & Products, Leather goods.

Raw Materials for arrow making (DEALER AND QUANITY PRICES)

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Lu Shine, 1959 on the jet to get the trophy home to California. There are too many beautiful friends like that to mention, but you all know who you are and what you mean to me always.

Surprising and enlightening? Yes, Til say, to the hundreds of archer friends who collected SI,000 to send me to Sweden for the 1959 FITA shoot. I placed third there, and the surprise of my life was when I returned home and my husband Bob had a new white ‘59 thunderbird locked in the garage. There were five weeks of shooting that sum­ mer - one week at Bend, Oregon where I placed second at the NFAA Nationals, then on to New York to meet the team and leave for Sweden for three weeks, then back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for another week at the NAA Nationals.

The humidity is something else in the summer in Pennsylvania. I remember Clayton Shenk complaining to me about the curlers in my hair on the shooting line. Well, what is a woman to do with wet, straight hair? Curl it, 1 say, and we both lived through it, didn’t we Clayt?

1 guess a major achievement for me was induction into the California Archery Hall of Fame in 1978. Happy days to you all, and keep shooting.

Continued ARCHERY

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Del Huberty 1 have met and shot with the best of people in my 35 years as an NFAA member. I attended all of our first 25 national tournaments and I have met thousands of real archers throughout the United States and I still correspond with many of them. I started in archery in 1938, shooting rabbit, squirrel and deer. Then I built field courses in Wisconsin and other TEL TALE NOCK POINT states. One of my greatest thrills in Used by champion Jack Lancaster BEAR archery was to be present and shoot in Keep string-peep in alignment when the first NFAA national tournament in using our J.C. release-aid.

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I’ve enjoyed being an officer in many clubs, and bowhunting deer in Wiscon­ sin (the first deer bowhunting state in the nation), but mostly 1 appreciate the The confidence Builder kind cooperation of the archers shoot­ Nothing equals feathers for: ing under difficult conditions on courses Stability • Forgiveness of mistakes • Accuracy which we had had only a short time to Go first class and hit where you aim! get ready. It was a great pleasure for me FULL LENGTH or DIE CUT to give my time and energy to a great Write us organization, the NFAA.

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Del Huberty, Karl Palmatier FEBRUARY 1979

j

teaching. I knew nothing about archery, but soon learned that three men were shooting in a valley nearby. One was a mechanical engineer, one a purchasing agent and one the owner of a fuel business. They invited me to attend a Michigan state target championship in Muskegon. There were 31 archers and after the awards had been given out, they learned that I was the only one who could operate a typewriter and owned one. I reported the tournament and was the secretary-treasurer-tourna ­ ment manager for the next 36 years.

Before the NFAA was organized, Michigan archers were shooting field tournaments and were legally hunting with the bow. The archers in California were doing tire same. The National Archery Association was interested in having a roving type of round in its program, and the NAA knew about the archery program in Michigan. I was asked to chair a committee to develop such a round. Trial rounds were set up at the NAA championships in Minnea­ polis and Amherst, Massachusetts. These gave us an idea of what was wanted.

John Yount was doing an excellent job with a field archery program in Califor­ nia, so the committee contacted him for information and his contributions rounded out the rounds, rules and target faces.

When the NFAA was organized in 1939, the committee was ready with a round and I was asked to conduct mail tournaments to coach the clubs on how to set up a course, make the butts and learn the rules. The Second World War started and 1 conducted the tourna­ ments by mail. After the war, field archery was ready to go and the first national field tournament was held in the Allegan Forest near Allegan, Michi­ gan. Dr. Arnold Haugen was then president and lived in the tournament area. I conducted the tournament and the next sixteen.

I tried to walk each course each day by going from target 28 to number one.

By walking 14 targets and moving when the archers did, I could cover a course in half the time. At the largest NFAA tournament - 1,400 at Grayling, Michi­ gan in 1958 - I stopped to wait until the archers had finished shooting and was standing about 15 yards back in the woods. Three had finished and gone down :near the deer target to call the hits to a lady still shooting. She missed

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the deer each time. She spread her feet apart, faced me, placed the bottom end of die bow near her toe, the top end on her hand and said, “That is a hell of a way to lay out an archery course.”

When I issued the scorecards for the next round, I called her forward and reported the incident to the archers.

That auburn-haired lady dressed in white slacks and blouse received an ovation to remember.

The archers used to make a “trophy arrow” to be ceremonially shot at the end of a tournament. Those who participated would walk slowly down and retrieve the first arrow they came to as a momento of the tournament. The archers had been seated on the logs placed up the mountain side to form a theatre situation. The awards had been given out. Auld Lang Syne had been sung by all. The archers had shot their arrows about 30 yards out. The whistle blew to retrieve, but not a single archer moved. Out of the aspen at the south end of the field walked a doe mule deer. She stopped in the middle of the arrows, turned her head and looked at the archers a short time and then slowly picked her way through the arrows toward a stream to get a drink Babe Bitzenberger was so moved by the situation that tears trickled down her cheeks. Hubert Humphrey once stated that a person who never shed a tear never loved.

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36

FEBRUARY 1979

pmow

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NFAA PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

WHERE DO TRAVEL STARTS ON THE WE GO NOW? TOURNAMENT TRAIL IN A RECENT issue of this news­ letter, you were told from whence the pro division came. We are an organization from within an organi­ zation, similar in origin to that of the NFAA itself, 40 years ago. Dissatis­ faction in archery has a distinct habit of creating new organizations: Are we at the point of saturation with our current organization, or is there room for one more?

The split between archers suffered in the past may be ready for healing.

An understanding of the people involved in the shooting end of the sport may be near. A new breed of competitive professional is at hand.

Compliments are being received and given in both directions. Is it time for a reconciliation of professional archers, or do we continue as we have the past six years?

Methods of shooting have been established. Basic styles are simple unlimited-limited, broken down by male-female. Can such a simple thing as this be accomplished without creating another organization? Is the NFAA flexible enough to allow negotiations to take place for the purpose of putting professional archery back on the right track? Is the PAA ready for a program such as this?

These questions may be answered in the future, but for now, what is general opinion of the NFAA Pro­ fessional Division? Are we ready for a merger of mutual agreement be­ tween NFAA pros and the PAA? Respone to this article should be directed Jo my attention as I am solely responsible for the contents.

Keep in pjjnd this is not a suggestion to sell one organization out to the

ARCHERY

AS THE CALENDAR listings on the next page indicate, there are a num­ ber of good reasons to jump on the tournament trail as spring approach­ es. Some of them are: The 15th annual New England Indoor Open is a SI0,000 scratch tournament with all registration fees returned to shooters in each division.

In 1978, the event paid 42 places scratch, gave away 27 major door prizes and 16 amateur awards, total­ ling 85 major awards among a field of 257 competitors.

The 1979 tournament, under the able direction of Art Hall, has insti­ tuted a championship division with increased registration fees and “big” money. All open divisions have been retained, offering separate men’s, women’s, fingers and release cate­ gories. Amateurs will compete for New England titles and trophies only. The championship flight guarantees at least S600 for first place, and requires a total of $60 in registration fees ($65 after March 26). For information about the tour­ nament or lodging, call (203) 646-0443, or write Hall’s Arrow Indoor Range, 291 W. Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT 06040.

The Springer Archery Open, slated for the March 31-April 1 weekend in Romulus, Michigan, recently received NFAA pro sanction for its guaranteed cash purse of $1,500 and $1,500 worth of mer­ chandise prizes. For details, contact Springer Archery Supply. Box 338.

Romulus, Ml 48174.

The Fresno Safari money shoot will be held April 28-29 and will have

a purse of $6,000 guaranteed by Easton Aluminum. The pro bonus will be employed. In addition, there will be a $1,400 freestyle team event, also guaranteed by Easton. Entry fee for the money shoot is $50 per person plus Safari registration;entry for the freestylers team event is $100 per team. The men will compete for $1,000 and the women, $200, in the team event. Donations from Bear, Ben Pearson, Outers, Wing, Jennings, Precision. Martin. Carroll.

Stanislawski and Easton will make up the huge raffle. The event drew 1,160 shooters last year. For infor­ mation write Fresno Field Archers.

Box 822, Fresno, CA. The Ann Marston Memorial tour­ nament is scheduled for May 5-6 at the Benjamin F. Yack Arena in Wyandotte, Michigan. This tourna­ ment will have a guaranteed cash purse of $2,500 plus merchandise totalling $2,500. There will also be a $100 SACO Speed Round and trophies for amateurs and JO AD competitors. First place men will pay $500; first place women, $300.

For information, contact Betty Gardner, 15620 McCann, Southgate, MI 48192.

The Silver Dollar Invitational, to be hosted April 28-29 by the Keowee Bowmen of Clemson, South Carolina, will be “the first of several NFAA pro sanctioned shoots we hope to establish over the South­ land,” according to Bill Shain, Southeastern pro representative.

Keowee Bowmen is guaranteeing a $200 purse plus a return of 80 percent of all pro fees after the first

37

pro

PRO REPS

Continued

other. This would have to be a mutual agreement worked out at the negotiation table, which I am sure would take some time. Comments, please! -- ll'ayne Sanderson, pm chairman.

NEW ENGLAND James English 212 Fairway Dr. Warehouse Point, CT 06088 MID-ATLANTIC James Mitchell 1003 Elm St. Bedford, VA 24523 (703) 586-0163

Continued

eight pros register. Pro styles will be recognized only if three or more pros register for a given style of shooting.

Pro fees will be S25.

Archers will have a choice of rounds: 28 NFAA field targets, or a bowhunter round consisting of 28 animal targets at unmarked distances.

All targets will have a silver spot in the center. The high number of spots for each style of shooting and the overall high total of x’s for each round will win the traditional silver dollar trophies.

Shain indicates that the pros in his

section hope to have an NFAA pro sanctioned event in each of the Southeastern states throughout the year. “Southeastern pros are expect­ ed to make a special effort to attend,” he explained, “and. of course, we hope pros from other sections will join us.” It is Shain’s belief that “a series of shoots throughout an area can perhaps do more to promote archery than a few big shoots. The smaller events will, in turn, complement the large ones which will culminate a season of practice and work.”

MARCH SATURDAY

SUNDAY

G reat Lakes I ndoor Sectional, H ilisdale, MI

24-25 31-1 31-1

New England Indoor Sectional, Lunenburg, MA Springer Archery Open, Romulus, Ml New England Indoor Open, Manchester, CT

L.E. Fraze Open, Jeffersonville, IN

SATURDAY 28-29 28-29

-!

I

APRIL

3-4 10-11 10-11 17-18

SUNDAY

Fresno Safari, Dunlap, CA

Silver Dollar Invitational, Clemson, SC

Mid-West I ndoor Sectional, Omaha, NB Milwaukee Sentinel Shoot, Milwaukee, Wl

MAY SATURDAY

JUNE SUNDAY

5-6 25- 27

Ann Marston Memorial, Wyandoote, Ml Northeast F ive Star Open, Manchester, NH, three days

26- 27

Big Sky Open, Craig, CO

38

SOUTHEAST Bill Shain 101 Shady Lane Clemson, SC 29631 (803) 654-3482 SOUTH Robert Ragsdale 201 N. White Oak Rd. White Oak, TX 75693 (214) 759-3706 MIDWEST Wayne Sanderson 1233 View Court Hastings, MN 55033 (612) 437-5640 GREAT LAKES Pete Shepley RR 1 Mahomet, IL 61853 (217) 586-4978 SOUTHWEST John Williamson 28756 N. Castaic Cyn. Rd. Valencia, CA 91355 (805) 257-4000 NORTHWEST Bill Wilkerson 2601 NW Madrona Vancouver, WA 98665 (206) 573-6699

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

2-3

Dixie Invitational, Birmingham, AL 10 Lake Mills Pro-Am,

9-10

Southern Outdoor Sectional, Austin, TX

16-17 16-17 16-17 23-24

Midwest Outdoor Sectional, Bonner Springs, KS

Lake Mills, IA

Great Lakes Outdoor Sectional, Aurora, I L Mld-Atlantic Outdoor Sectional, Baltimore, MD Northwest Outdoor Sectional, Bend, OR

FEBRUARY 1979

WHO WON

THE NFAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, 1946-1978

Classification

Scores which may appear approximately equal are not neces­ sarily equivalent. For example, the high scores shot at the 1946 tournament in only three days result from shooting 56 targets per day for 3360 points possible. By 1962, the national tournament expanded to five days, but aggregate scores drop­ ped because only 28 targets were shot each day. Also, the 56target big game round was reduced to one 28-target animal

1946 (1st Nationals)

1947 (2nd)

1948 (3rd)

1949 (4th)

1950 (5th)

1951 (6th)

Allegan, Ml

Salt Lake City, UT (266) Aug. 4-7

Point Beach, Wl

Pasadena, CA

Tawas, Ml

(478) July 23-26

(324) July 1-4

(576) Aug. 18-21

Watkins Glen. NY (430) Aug. 20-23

(476) Aug. 10-12

Open Barebow Man

Erwin Pletcher CA 2183

Erwin Pletcher CA 2345

Roy Dill CA 2399

Erwin Pletcher CA 2508

Erwin Ketzler Ml 2529

Erwin Ketzler Ml 2522

Open Barebow Woman

Babe Bitzenburger CA 1152

Babe Bitzenburger CA 1608

Babe Bitzenburger CA 1487

Babe Bitzenburger CA 1816

France Lozon Ml 1670

Sharlene Skanes Ml 1637

Youth Barebow Boy

M. LeFavourIN 1199

David Webb KS 1045

David Webb KS 1305

Eddie Berg UT 1824

Jarry Hash CA 1911

Larry Beresh Wl 1743

Youth Barebow Girl

Kathleen Powell OR 428

Kathleen Powell OR 593

Janice Burg Wl 493

Christine Richards CA 655

Sharlene Skanes Ml 1511

Minnie Fetter Ml 1137

Bruce Baker NY 1297

Youth Freestyle Boy

Open Freestyle Man

Russ Reynolds OH 2485

Reuben Powell CA 2547

Open Freestyle Woman

Gloria Mutzing CA 1651

Eleanore Hamilton OH 1796

^3^4

Wwfe " ■ I

Babe Bitzenburger ‘46,47,48,49

Erwin Ketzler ‘50,51,52,54,55

.ARCHERY

39

round. Note that there are exceptions - a full 28-target round was dropped from the shortened 1971 event, with total scores dropping accordingly. Finally, in 1977 totals plumented with the introduction of the new and more difficult metric target faces.

Because senior division records are incomplete before 1970, seniors’ scores are listed only from that year on. Classifications

WHO WON Continued 1952 (7th)

19S3 (Bthl

1954 (9th)

1955 (10th)

1956 (11th)

1957 (12th)

Minneapolis, MN

Two Rivers, Wl

Sunapee St. Park NH

Ludington. Ml

Colorado Spring, CO

Watkins Glen, NY

(408) Aug. 25-28

(545) July 13-16

(606) July 12-15

(869) July 25-28

(638) July 2-5

(1094) Aug. 12-15

Erwin Ketzler Ml 2444

Jack White Ml 2378

Erwin Ketzler Ml 2469

Erwin Ketzler Ml 2567

Leslie Speaks CA 2475

Jay Peake PA 2747

Open Barebow Woman

Frances Lozon Ml 1830

Sharlene Skanes Ml 1837

Frances Lozon Ml 1835

Ann Corby NJ 1864

Johanna McCubbins CA 2139

Merle Wimer WV 2062

Youth Barebow Boy

Gary Hall Ml 917

George Wiley Ml 1283

John GatskiWV 1706

John GatskiWV 1962

Eric Bergerson AZ 1087

John Gabriel. Jr NY 1496

Youth Barebow Girl

Jenette Ardell GA 1275

Rhea Bauer Ml 1156

Rhea Bauer Ml 1555

Rhea Bauer Ml 1501

Carol Hastic NJ 1641

Youth Freestyle Boy

Billy Hicks CA 2327

Grant Calkins CA 1763

Grant Calkins CA 2254

Grant Calkins VA 2169

Gayle Kiefer CA 2032

Ralph Hclzerman. Jr. Ml 2190

Open Freestyle Man

Harold Doan Ml 2673

Reuben Powell CA 2770

Reuben Powell CA 2704

Reuben Powell CA 2796

Reuben Powell CA 2743

Robert Rhode MN 2741

Open Freestyle Woman

Betty Lifford Ml 1872

Doris Schiefelbein Wl 2071

Ann Marston Ml 2103

Ann Marston Ml 2080

Peggy Ortiz CA 2022

Ann Marston Ml 2390

Youth Freestyle Girl

Ann Marston Ml 1458

Ann Marston Wl 1952

Carol McCoy Ml 631

Carol McCoy Ml 631

Janet Leder OH 1039

Young Adult Barebow Man

Larry BereshWI 1943

Date Keller Ml 2074

Dick Argue Ml 2000

Niel Kascal CA 2043

Thomas Rice CA 2393

Open Bowhunter Man

Lowell Roper CA 2303

James Palmer NY 2232

Open Bowhunter Woman

Faye Vanderhecf ID 1166

Esther Thompson PA 1200

Classification

Open Ba rebow Man

Young Adult Barebow Woman

Gary Anderson PA 2390

Susan NestaWI 1132

Young Adult Freestyle Man

Young Adult Freestyle Woman Amateur Barebow Man Amateur Barebow Woman Amateur Freestyle Man

Amateur Freestyle Woman Amateur Bowhunter Man Amateur Bowhunter Woman Senior Open Freestyle Man Senior Open Freestyle Woman Senior Open Barebow Man Senior Open Barebow Woman

Senior Amateur Freestyle Man Senior Amateur Freestyle Woman

Senior Amateur Barebow Man

Open Freestyle Limited Man Open Freestyle Limited Woman Amateur Freestyle Limited Man Amateur Freestyle Limited Woman

Pro Freestyle Man Pro Freestyle Woman Pro Freestyle Limted Man

Rube Powell ‘51,53,54,55,56

Pro Freestyle Limited Woman

Young Adult Freestyle Limited Man Young Adult Freestyle Limited Woman Youth Freestyle Limited Boy Youth Freestyle Limited Girl

Pro Bowhunter Man Senior Open Bowhunter Woman Senior Open Bowhunter Man Senior Amateur Barebow Woman Senior Open Freestyle Limited Man Senior Open Freestyle Limited Woman Senior Amateur Freestyle Limited Man

Open Bowhunter Freestyle Man Open Bowhunter Freestyle Woman

Pro Barebow Man

Pro Bowhunter Freestyle Man Pro Bowhunter Freestyle Limited Man Open Bowhunter Freestyle Limited Man Open Bowhunter Freestyle Limited Woman Amateur Bowhunter Freestyle Limited Man

Amateur Bowhunter Freestyle Limited Woman

Amateur Bowhunter Freestyle Man

40

Ann Marston ‘52,53,54,55,57,58 FEBRUARY 1979

of shooters are listed in the order of introduction at the national tournament. Photographs are of those champions who have won national titles four or more times. After 33 national tournaments spanning four decades, there are but 14 of these individuals. The years of their respective championships are listed; those appearing in italics indicate wins in senior division competition.

1958 (13th)

1959 (14th)

1960 (15th)

1961 (16th)

1962 (17th)

1963 (18th)

1964 (19th)

Grayling, Ml

Bend, OR

Grayling, Ml

Enchanted Forest, CA

Watkins Glen, NY

(745) July 19-31

(1203)June 27-30

Crystal Springs, AR (711) June 27 30

Crystal Springs. AR

(1402) July 28 31

(502) July 30-Aug. 3

(493) July 22 26

(778) July 27-31

Clifford Necessary VA 2537

Lon Stanton MO 2707

Carl Heinrich Ml 2799

Fred Simmons TX 2771

Lon Stanton MO 2744

James Bell OH 2368

Louis Rangel CA 2269

Johanna McCubbms CA 2219

Faye Sconyers CA 2182

Faye Sconyers CA 2447

Thercssa Carter CA 1991

Marie Stotts CA 1911

Wynona Artery WY 1800

Betty Grubbs OK 1855

Larry Mann PA 1968

Larry Mann PA 2704

Paul L Johnson NO 2247

Paul Johnson ND 2653

Thomas Ford VA 1957

Hardy Ward TX 2263

Gerry Ridge AL 2340 Arlene Sidello MA 1637

Linda Seebach IA 1384

Kitty Neve WA 1807

Diane Hammerstrong Wl 1439 Susan Pierson CA 2306

Andrea Maikut PA 2061

Andrea Maikut PA 2033

Douglas Grohn CA 2090

Walter Barr OR 1887

Mike Blass Ml 2684

Terry Leder OH 2027

John Bradley CO 2305

Chuck McCormick, Jr. CA 2533

David Lacey IN 2586

Joe Fries CA 2856

Robert Kadlec MN 2970

James Mackey PA 2998

Robert Kadlec MN 2950

Don Cavallero CA 2627

Don Cavallero CA 2501

John Rudy NY 2636

Ann Marston Ml 2463

Cleo Roberson Ml 2621

Cleo Roberson Ml 2564

Ann Clark OH 2710

Lucille Shine CA 2118

Anyta Davies CA 2139

Mildred Zimmerman OH 2257

Nyle Mullins OR 1987

Patricia Sanders Wl 961

Patricia Sanders Wl 2250

Jim Mitler MO 2579

Larry Mann PA 2539

Larry Mann PA 2403

Gene Beckerle MO 2323

Annette Mihalik CA 2075

Charlene Jesperson CA 1651

Paul Bemis Merritt Island 2270

Paul Bemis Merritt Island 1992

Paul Bemis Merritt Island 2341

Nancy Weiss Wl 1005

Dorothy Johnson MA 1706

Carol Hastic NU 1853

Peggy Schroder AZ 2017

Peggy Schroder AZ 1826

Tobi Flatow TX 1442

Dorothy Johnson MA 1520

James Palmer NY 2584

James Palmer NY 2633

Zell Wyman Ml 2272

Russell Hawes VA 2459

Glen Sutton TX 1529

Doris Hammerstrom Wl 1807

Anna VanDolson CA 1758

Anna Van Oolson CA 1747

Ann Van Oolson CA 1537

Kenny Smathers NC 2315

Michael NamitzOR 2386

Frank Cowgcr Ml 2647

Jim Leder OH 2753

Pete Simoneau CA 2210

Ronald Snipes CA 2431

Julie Ann Sudberry IL 1369

Diana Fries CA 1638

Andrea Maikut PA 1952

Cheryl Ann Baxter OR 1751 Julie Ann Sudberry IL 1545

Darryl Blank MO 2532

John Heilman PA 2257

Hazel Scott KY 2103

Patti Bailey PA 1895

Russell Bradley CO 1925

Bob Sevey MN 2796

Bob Sevey MN 2581

James Yoakum CA 2406

Dave Keaggy. Jr. Mt 2561

Hazel Sudberry IL 2057

Joan Bollum MN 2077

Jewel Hamilton AZ 2065

Diane Vetrecin CA 2235

B B. Teague LA 1471

Lu

Larry Mann ‘58,59,60,61

Andrea Maikut '62,63.64.65,66

Lu Shine ‘62,65,76,77

ARCHERY

Diane Vetrecin ‘64,65,66,68.69

Cal Vogt ‘71,72,73,74,75 41

II IIIE H ■II

WHO WON Continued

1965 (20th)

1966 (21st)

1967 (22nd)

1968 (23rd)

1969 (24th)

1970 (25th)

1971(26th)

Watkins Glen, NY

Point Pleasant, WV

Jackson, MS

(810) July 25-29

(556) July 24-28

Salinas, CA (336) July 29-Aug. 1

Watkins Glen, NY (470) July 28-Aug. 1

Aurora, IL (772) July 27-31

Cedar City, UT

(636) July 26-30

David Hughes TX 2593

(630) July 27-29

David Hughes TX 2693

David Hughes TX 2614

David Hughes TX 2106

Betty Grubbs OK 1980

Mary Lee Craft VA 1952

Betty McK.nney IN 2220

Mary Durham FL 1964

Nancy Schutz MA 2125

Janie Wright TX 2175

Evvy Briney CA 1 735

Michael Mann OH 2416

Brad Long MO 2402

Rosemary Peterson NJ 1775 Chris Labucki MA 2216

Daniel Joseph MA 2100

Colt Pepiot OH 2355

Robin Padilla CO 1728

Gay Rocheleau MA 1355

Susan Molitoris MJ 1936

Terry Whitlow IN 2524

Rosemary Peterson NJ 1773

Mary Rosebeary OK 1498

Lesley Truhel ME 1803

Tina Johnson TX 1011

Tommy Herin TX 2686

William Shoemaker NJ 2604 Stan Warner IA 2740

Steve Lieberman PA 2515

Greg Bellware NJ 2522

Gordon Morrison NJ 2464

Bruce Spellum NM 2035

Dickie Roberts Ml 2692

Lester Gervais IN 2704

Ann Butz NY 2561

Clarence Kozlowsky CA 2615 Wendell Davis TN 2656

Frank Ketchum CA 2758

Victor Leach CA 2208

Lucille Shine CA 2437

Evelyn Goodrich Ml 2557

Jane Slade MS 2287

Ann Butz NY 2384

Peg Southern MO 2489

Ann Butz NY 2608

Darlene Collier UT 2144

Megan McDonald CA 1433

Marilyn Minasian NY 2256

Debbie Reddish IL 2519

Terry Hagemeyer MN 1542

Scott Mitchell IN 2400

Mike Flier IL 2519

Scott Mitchell IN 1960

Rosemary Peterson NJ 1921

Rosemary Peterson NJ 2055 Rulona Rolland TX 1114

Clifford Necessary VA 2528 Clifford Necessary VA 2520 Frank Gandy FL 2691

Bruceen Goodrich Ml 2420 Bruceen Goodrich Ml 2557

Gerald Ridge NV 2207

Bruce White WV 2054

Sherry Dawson PA 1601

Gay Rocheleau MA 1568

Chuck Ingram TX 2270

Franklin McPeak VA 2047

Bobbie Ragsdale TX 1018

Jack Walker TX 2012

Mike Palmer TX 2177

Tom Tyre VA 2272

George Bigelow KS 2262

Cal Vogt CA 1870

Margret Whedon IN 1087

Ida Revis OK 1003

Ida Revis OK 1238

Thoma Arnberg CA 1213

Tom Jeffrey MD 2436

Tom Jeffrey MO 2568

Steve Lieberman PA 2601

Steve Lieberman PA 2694

Andrea Maikut PA 2106

Andrea Maikut PA 2191

Sherwood Schock PA 2322 Jack Lancaster NC 2411

Don Rabska CA 2087

Gloria Ward CA 942 Jay Jackson TX 2439

Norman Coon MA 2397

Emil Lehan PA 2500

Elmer Moore VA 2561

Mike Flier IL 1947

Thelma Simon PA 1643

Eunice Schewe IL 2005

Eunice Schewe IL 2024

Eunice Schewe IL 2038

Eunice Schewe IL 2169

Eunice Schewe IL 2301

Betty Selkirk IL 1339

George Slinzer PA 2464

Jim Stamtz PA 2625

Benny Tirado NY 2630

Don Snipes CA 2524

Jamie Selkirk IL 2651

Joe Young NC 2689

Gary Lyman CA 2213

Diane Vetrecin CA 2284

Diane Vetrecin CA 2377

Doreen Wilber IA 2488

Diane Vetrecin CA 2277

Diane Vetrecin CA 2295

Barbara Brown CT 2461

Phyllis Long CA 1935

Fabio Dioguardi IL 2064

Abe Bjorkland IL 2057

Edgar Sample OR 1340

Bob Sauder VA 1277

Alfred Lough IL 2006 Twyla Hicks OK 1304 Carlos Whitney NY 2475

Ed Bain WA 2082

Thelma Barnes IA 221

Sandy Elott GA 1541

Eugene Petersen NJ 1891

Max Ragland TN 1301

Peggy Grubb CA 902 C E. Braniger CA 1603 Jewel Hamilton AZ 1640

Ida Revis ‘69;70,'72/13,75,76,77,78 Eunice Schewe ‘66,67,68,69,70,73,75

Mike Flier ‘70,71,72,73,74

Dave Hughes ‘68,69,70,71,74,76,78 FEBRUARY 1979

1972 <27th I

1973 (28th)

1974 (29th)

1975 (30th)

1976 (31st)

Ludlow, MA

Aurora, IL

Golden, CO

Jay, Vermont

Aurora, IL

1977 (32nd) Clemson, SC

(604) July 24-28

(684) July 23-27

(761) July 22-26

(922) July 21-25

(1266) July 26-30

(1028) July 18-22

(935) July 24-28

Dennis Cline IL 2616

Dennis Cline IL 2606

David Hughes TX 2624

Al Tuller MO 2631

David Hughes TX 2744

Jim Webb WV 2483

David Hughes TX 2554

Janis Beverly GZ 2282

Jams Beverly GA 2318

Janis Beverly GA 1960

Gloria Shelley CT 2224

Frozinc Greene KS 2382

Gloria Shelley CF 2373

Gloria Shelley CT 2399

Allan Jobbes CA 2259

Bruce Gates CO 2122

Bruce Gates CO 2174

Scott Saxton NY 1742

Darren Saravis CT 2393

Daren Saravis CT 2491

Larry Noud Ml 2491

Debra Storch NY 519

Sherilyn Doyle CA 1659

Michelle McKee IA 932

Cindy Cisek CT 1961

Ronda Wells IA 1477

Sarah Paparclla NH 1720

Renee Ruefer IL 2023

John Ashburn, Jr IL 2621

Ricky Sorenson UT 2582

Pete Rommel OK 2652

Bill Shain, Jr. SC 2739

Toby Ragsdale TX 2788

David Estes FL 2676

Steve Morgan KY 2722

Dean Pridgen MO 2774

Bobby Hunt TX 2794

Timothy Moyer CA 2735

Terry Ragsdale TX 2746

Ken Crambert IL 2796

George Gorman TX 2703

Paul Nazelrod MD 2744

Darlene Collier UT 2715

Barbara Morris KY 2645

Barbara Morris KY 2523

Barbara Morris KY 2746

Janet Boatman NY 2767

Janet Boatman NY 2617

Beverly Stout IN 2643

Judith Rogers IL 1858

Linda Loberto NY 1651

Janet Cockrell TX 2382

Janet Cockrell TX 2382

Linda Sutherland NY 2740

Laune Kirkpatrick DE 2521 Laurie Kirkpatrick DE 2607 Kurt Schumacher Wl 2160

1978 (33rd)

Aurora, IL

Al Rathheim TN 2135

Dion Heinz Wl 2388

Jim Moschetz Wl 2537

Vicki Kelly TX 2245

Pamela Campbell FL 375

Stacey Minarcin NH 1146

Mary Jane Jones MO 1466

Cal Vogt CA 2472

Cal Vogt CA 2586

Cal Vogt CA 2507

Cal Vogt CA 2550

Hugh McConnell VA 2600

Ida Revis OK 1309

Ida Revis OK 1228

Anita LaComb CO 986

Jeanne Owen NV 1846

June Hardy TX 1820

Kenneth Roberts Ml 2698

Ricky Hunt TX 2776

Rodney Pierce WA 2581

Robert Ambrosh, Jr. SC 2758 Donnie Turner TX 2760

Marina Balza CA 2335

Vanessa Womack TX 2509

Nancy Jacobs IL 2720

Linda Sutherland NY 2544

Linda Sutherland NY 2675

Mike Flier IL 2597

Mike Flier IL 2572

Don Morehead IL 2612

Don Morehead IL 2573

Don Morehead IL 2404

Tyrus Baker IL 2396

Sandy Clack IL 1836

Eunice Schewe IL 2344

Betty Selkirk IL 1608

Eunice Schewe IL 2132

Pat Kramer FL 2320

Judy Albright PA 2145

Patti Lamb IL 1942

Gale Cavallin CA 2779

Terry Ragsdale TX 2762

Terry Ragsdale TX 2727

John Ashburn, Jr. IL 2778

Barry Velarde KY 2800

Jack Cramer PA 2748

Barry Velarde KY 2731

Lesley Truhcl ME 2394

Kathy Cramberg IL 2683

Kathy Cramberg IL 2526

Michelle Sanderson MN 2689

Michelle Sanderson MN 2756 Sherilyn Doyle CA 2601

Alfred Lough IL 2062

Charles Maloney IL 2086

Charles Maloney IL 2196

John Saporiti IL 2251

Russell Suggs TX 2544

Kathy Cramberg IL 2382 Mike Flier IL 2535

Deborah Halfpenny HI 1537

June Jones IL 755 Elmer Little CA 2656

Elmer Little CA 2701

Frank Miller TX 2601

Sandy Elott GA 2253

Sandy Elott GA 2219

Erma Nelson UT 2181

Martin Kenny NY 2186

Royce Brower FL 2716

Elame Wright TX 1635

James Brown MD 2300

James Brown MD 2454

Cay McManus VA 2132

June Hardy TX 2189

Glen Kelly LA 2677

Jim Moschetz Wl 2703

Phillip Dollar FL 2235

Judy Cockerham NC 2590

John Saporiti IL 2217

Elizabeth Dollar FL 1871

Linda Carlson IL 1310

Lee Tillman PA 2613

Emory Emig AZ 2621

Erma Nelson UT 2391

Erma Nelson UT 2320

Erma Nelson UT 2339

Florence Goddard AZ 2528

Howard Shofner NJ 2318

Harold Bates NY 2201

Douglas Duckett MA 1957

Douglas Duckett MA 2063

Harriet Messenger NY 1814

Peggy Grubb CA 984 Call Hedden IL 2607

Charles Gardner IL 2577

Cal Hedden IL 2507

Don Allen. Sr. IA 2571

R.E. Szilvasscy NM 2135

R.E. Szilvassy NM 1752

Frank Foxwell CT 1543

Frank Foxwell CT 1620

Bryan Hill IL 1639

A.L Lee SC 2659

Kop Walter NY 2522

Richard Phillips Rl 2708

Terry Frazier TX 2769

Gene Gramzow OR 2541

Wayne Seymour MS 2623

Mary Miller MO 2460

Lois Inskeep AZ 2294

Lois Potter NY 2558

Millie Foster MO 2609

Marita Gilmer MN 2413

Sue Adamic CO 2410

Bob Cerney MN 2662

Richard Johnson MA 2692

Luke Wood NC 2724

Ed Eliason WA 2751

Ed Eliason WA 2600

Tom Kennedy PA 2652

June Mitchell IL 2474

Irene Lorcnson AZ 2402

Barbara Brown NY 2305

Valerie Gramzow OR 2606

Valeric Gramzow OR 2543

Valerie Gramzow OR 2487

Dean Pridgen MO 2792

Gale Cavallin CA 2778

Gale Cavallin CA 2780

Ron LauhonWV 2783

Dean Pridgen KS 2732

Jack Cramer PA 2752

Eva Troncoso CA 2741

Ginger McClintock CA 2671 Eva Troncoso CA 2731

Liz Colombo CA 2758

Liz Colombo CA 2666

Faye Binney UT 2685

Jamie Selkirk IL 2673

Bill Connally TX 2589

David Grimsley TX 2639

Jerry Podratz MN 2721

Jerry Podratz MN 2599

Terry Frazier TX 2582

Carole Pfohl IN 2492

Marita Gilmer MN 2451

Mike Gerard CA 2545

Jeffrey Bloomer IA 2506

Michael Andrews Wl 2693

Lori Laven MN 1945

Cheryl Eye CA 1219

Tammy Wells IA 2039

Tommy Fisher AZ 2211

Pat Quinn TX 2730

Dean Brown LA 2642

Robert McCarty IN 2496

Robert McCarty IN 2550

Janis Gilchrist Ml 1294

Lisa Lawson OH 2251

Rebecca Wallace CA 2163

Robin Meier NY 2456

Bob Jensen CA 2075

Gil Smith CA 2426

Hugh McConnell VA 2397

Ben Rogers CA 2404

Ida Revis OK 1224

Ida Revis OK 1200

Ida Revis OK 1437

Ida Revis OK 1412

Bill Lectka GA 2145

Bill Lectka GA 2064

Bill Lectka GA 2146

Charles Shannon MA 2383

Lucille Shine NV 2051

Thelma Nolan OH 2236

Dean Brown LA 2424

Mike Goody TX 2541 Barbara Threadgill TN 2243

Vera Betts PA 858

Not shown is Erma Nelson ‘74. 75,76,77

Russell Fulton DE 2162

James Janda F L 2250

Lucille Shine NM 2394

Manta Gilmer MN 2413

John Gossman IL 2347

John Gossman IL 2279

Howard Cantway IL 2147

Ted Lynn. Jr. SC 2543

Glen Hummel LA 2607

Sue Herbert AL 2184

Sue Herbert AL 2326

Eddie McCrary TX 2254

Eddie McCrary TX 2327

John Gibbons NY 2415

Art Kutgm Ml 2527

William O’Riley CA 2331 Webb Babcock. Jr. VA 2469

Karen Reeves TX 2167 Phil Ganboldi IL 2386

Carol Lutzow IL 1915

Dennis Skinner MO 2455

ARCHERY

43

■ HUNTING/continued from page 21

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national stature and reputation of the NFAA, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of its founding this year. No other organi­ zation is better equipped to mobilize a contingent of qualified bowhunters to represent the sport in times of crisis. Today, there is less friction among the many organizations covering archery and bowhunting. This is one of the significant devel­ opments evolving over the last four decades. Without much doubt, the continuous publication of Archery over this period deserves a lot of the credit. Although various contributors have espoused many conflicting opinions, the editorial policy has always been for cooperation among all archers. The wisdom of this policy is clearly evident.

What’s Ahead?

Who can tell what the next 35 years holds for bowhunting0 Hopefully, nothing but the best. But we must be wary. Our gains since these pages first hit the press are none too secure.

The hunter’s choice seasons which eliminate the “two-season" hunter can reduce our ranks. The anti-hunting is another problem, as is the continuing destruction of wildlife habitat Possibly our greatest ally is the deer itself. Prolific in nature and adaptable beyond belief, the continued presence o: a substantial deer herd in frequent conflict with civilization may be our salvation above all else. Perhaps you and 1 won't be here to write and read the words on these pages in the year 2014, but the deer will be around - and so will bowhunter: t ANSWERS/continued from page 4

I believe it was this exchange of ideas that prompted Roy to have me write for the magazine. Perhaps it is wise to refer to a chapter taken from Hoffs recent account of his 40 years of archery experiences which is titled, “Roy Hoff tells it as it was. ” Chapter thirteen of his book reads as follows: WHEN I ASKED FOR A DRINK, "FREDDIE" TURNED THE HOSE ON ME!

There was a time when I was fairly good - in my esti­ mation - when it came to shooting a bow and arrow for score. To digress from the hunting side, I should like to tell you of an experience which in some ways is humorous; tn other ways, a blow to my vanity.

One day, about seventeen years ago, 1 received a phone call from Freddie Troncoso, who was entertaining guests at the Howard Manor in our city. He was a member of a four-piece orchestra, singing and playing an electric guitar.

The telephone conversation went something like this...

“Is this Mr. Hoff?”

To this the obvious answer was: “What can I do for you?”

“The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce directed me to you, pointing out that you have an archery range. 1 should like to shoot a few arrows.”

“That suits me fine, Mr. Troncoso. I have been looking for someone whom 1 could beat. If you are an out-of-towner, perhaps I could show off my great ability in archery.

Come on out and we’ll have some fun.”

Following introductions and a pleasant visit for an hour or so, we strung up our bows and made our way to the desert behind our house where I maintained a fourteentarget field course which was approved by the Nation^ FEBRUARY 1972.

WE

JU Freddie was part of a musical foursome and his job brought him to Roy Hoff's Palm Springs field range.

Field Archery Association.

Target one was forty yards. We each shot four arrows.

When we approached the target for scoring, I could see Freddie had a fourteen and I had scored a twenty. This was a poor way to start a friendship, so I suggested that he concede that round and we would start all over. 1 pointed out that I had been a golfer for many years and on the first hole there were times when a contestant missed the first tee shot we would concede and start all over.

Freddie said: “No way. This is merely a practice fun round. I’ll go through with it regardless of what a poor score I might shoot.”

Thirteen targets later I learned the hard way that I wasn’t so good after all. Freddie missed only one other target, the sixty-five yarder, and scored a total of 270 for fourteeq targets. He sure poured cold water on my ego., but from that point on we have enjoyed a beautiful friendship.

There has been a time or two (rarely) when I have beaten this young man. But it no doubt was an accident.

Never have I seen an archer who could shoot a hunting bow, or target bow, left-handed or right-handed under adverse conditions, and score over 500 for a field round of twenty-eight targets.

My first column appeared in the January 1970 issue - just I

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over nine years ago - and I addressed two problems. I recom­ mended either buying a Saunders Nok-Set or making his own nocking points with nylon thread to John Flanegan of Anchorage, Alaska, and I outlined a positive method of aligning Roy Hoff's sight bar using a mason’s level and a carpenter’s torpedo level. Little did Roy know that he would be the first subject for the column he asked me to write.

The toughest and most commonly recurring question in my column is related to target panic and snap shooting. This familiar bugaboo has plagued archers since the invention of the bow and arrow. Although many volumes have been written on this subject offering diversified cause and cure theories, archers continue to drop out of archery, never to return again.

It is my firm belief the only solution to this problem is use of the famed clicker for the finger shooter, and also for the release shooter in many cases. An archer willing to devote countless hours of time and some money may find help from a qualified instructor, who may even change the archer over to the opposite side in attempting to conquer this problem.

Writing for Archery has been a real learning experience for me. In spite of my ailing back, I shoot just enough to keep abreast with the ever changing game of archery. I am a firm believer that one does not go to a shoemaker for a violin les­ son. If I cannot do or have direct knowledge of the subject I am trying to teach, how can I expect anyone to profit from my teachings?

In closing I would like to quote the writings of a great archer signifying how he felt about our beloved sport: “Horseracing is the sport of kings ... but archery is the king of sports! ” - Howard Hill < 46

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FEBRUARY 1979

TERRy RAGSDALE Shoots PSE

“In today’s competition a fast, smooth, dependable compound is a must. I know I can count on PSE to give me an edge and that’s important. To me PSE means confidence — the confi­ dence to win. It’s simple, if you want to shoot your best you have, to use the best, for me that’s PSE.”

Quality — Performance Dependability To shoot your best see your local PSE dealer or write PSE for your free catalog.

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It was said to be impos­ sible but Terry and PSE combined to shoot perfect scores in two major tour­ naments back-to-back.

y

■■

Las Vegas, Nevada January 13-15, 1978 First perfect 1200 score bow used — 1978 PSE CITATION ELITE CoboHall, Detroit, Michigan April 17-19,1978 First perfect 1200 score bow used — 1978 PSE LASER ELITE

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FRED BEAR'S FIELD NOTES A lifetime of outdoor lore and memories by one of the foremost bowhunters in the world.

Ml BEARS * FRED HELDNOTES

“An hour before dark we ate a snack and stretched out on our blankets. Wally lit his pipe and studied the situation. He decided that our side of the blind looked thin and that a lion could look right in and see us. Luiz said, ‘Boss, the way you two snore he don’t have to see you.’

“After the sun went down we were lying flat, silent, and motion­ less. We heard a sudden crackling of bones which gave us a jolt since we had not heard anything come in. My bow lay at my feet, an arrow nocked on the string. I eased to my knees, keeping low, and got into shooting position. The light was poor but good enough—eighteen yards is not far. There were two lions, both males, and both of them saw me.

“Lions are fearless at night and it is difficult to remember that they can see as well in poor light as we do in the daytime.

“I felt an urgency to shoot quickly. The light was too poor to see the path of the arrow or where it hit but there was no doubt that it did strike home. Both lions sprang up and shot off to the left. The roar was earsplitting.

‘The lions gone, there was silence for another ten minutes. It was dark now. There is not much twilight in Africa.

“A shattering roar rattled the very leaves of our blind, the walls of which now seemed so thin they would not keep out a rabbit. One of those lions, maybe both, were out there twenty yards away in the black night.”

—Excerpt from Fred Bear’s Field Notes Book

1

1 Fred Bear

BEAR ARCHERY Subsidiary of Walter Kidde & Company. Inc.

KIDDE

it.

*

Mail to: The Fred Bear Sports Club-Dept. A-2 Rural Route Four 4600 Southwest 41st Boulevard Gainesville, Florida 32601

Enclosed is my check or money order in the amount of $ for copies of Fred Bear’s Field Notes Book. I understand the book is $8.95 per copy. 288 Pages with 164 action photographs.

Name.

.Age.

Address.

City,

.State.

Zip.