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And home just in time to see the temps spike

I am REALLY glad that it’s not 100* here.

Sorry to let you down Ike. More work on Maggie’s farm tomorrow, but I should get some shooting in. Dogs are digging the elk antlers. The non-hunting guy at work is still talking about you sending them out. Thanks again.

FYI, before my bear trip I was shooting poorly, with the Pro and regular Defiant. I convinced myself I needed a new bow. (Wasn’t that difficult really.)

The problem was me. Since back surgery 6 years ago I sometimes get into poor posture when experiencing some unusual discomfort which affects my head alignment. Once I figured this out and took a couple of aspirins 30 minutes before shooting, my form came back. I shot this bow yesterday to prove to myself it was me.

I know most of you guys are pros compared to me, but for the guys who just read and never post, making sure you have the basics down and repeating them really will help get your arrows where you want them. At 63 you would think I would have this figured out, but I am still learning!

Not allowed. Full story required on that one!!!

I did shoot. Finished with an end that had 11 outta 13 inside the width of a 65cm NFAA bullseye from 68… one X that hit the X; 3 no wider than the 5-ring, 3 3s and 5 4s.

Still working on consistency with the elevation.

Felt pretty good. Haven’t been shooting as much post-op.

Epic crappie fishing today for me. Might shoot tomorrow.

At 68 the only thing I've figured out is that if I don't shoot 3-4 times a week my shooting turns to buckshot in a cylinder choke.

Back in my compound days I could pick up the bow in mid August and be hunt ready come October. Doesn't work that way with a recurve.

PS TEmbry, that is a *beast*! Congratulations!

...and Bodie Turner's dad. ;-)

My buddy shoots that style. I can usually guess within a yard or two anyway. But I don't gap or stringwalk so the information isn't so useful. It's either 'comfortable' or 'a long one'. I miss IBO where I could shoot 'senior trad' and not have targets past 25 yard ;-)

Best wishes, prayer sent.

Back out to 50-60 yards and shift your level a full bubble and see where you hit. Put a fixed blade head on, induce massive torque on your riser and dig your string into your face and see where you hit at 20, 30 or even 40 yards and tell me that your setup always hits behind the pin. Obviously nobody does this purposely when we are shooting at game, but that is what can easily happen when we shoot from unorthodox positions and we are crapping our pants over a big buck.

JK I'll pick up my bow mid August. It will shoot the same as it did last year. I find two weeks of shooting every 2-3 days gets me as good as I ever get which is plenty good enough IMO. Once a week or so throughout the season is enough to stay sharp. A judo here and there when heading out/in.

Headed to TAC in SD in about a week. Hope I have enough arrows!

Trying to improve everyday still.

These are the dr's notes following the procedure: FWIW, I thought it was a fascinating read.

" I established my posterior viewing portal through a small stab incision in the soft spot and entered the glenohumeral joint with a blunt trocar. I established my anterior portal using an outside in technique through the rotator interval followed by a small stab incision anteriorly just lateral to the palpable coracoid. I then used a small probe through the anterior portal to perform my diagnostic arthroscopy. The articular surfaces of the humeral head and glenoid appeared healthy with minimal to no arthritis. The labrum showed a moderate degree of fraying. The biceps anchors showed a moderate degree of fraying and synovitis. I gently debrided the synovitis near the rotator interval capsule and tenotomized the biceps tendon from it's origin using a biter. I then moved the camera into the subacromial space and established my lateral working portal using an 18-gauge needle followed by a small stab incision and cannula insertion. I used a shaver to debride the abundant synovitis within the subacromial space as well as down into the lateral gutter. I identified a nearly full thickness rotator cuff tear involving the supraspinatus measuring 1cm from an anterior to posterior direction. The rotator cuff footprint was debrided down to healthy decorticated bleeding bone up to the articular margin. 1 medial anchors were placed percutaneously along the articular margin. The preloaded suturetape sutures were passed through the rotator cuff using a scorpion suture passer and fiberlink. I performed a speed bridge double row type repair by sequentialy loading each passed suture in to 1 lateral row anchor under the appropriate amount of tension to reduce the rotator cuff back to its anatomic footprint. This achieved an excellent repair of the torn rotator cuff. Attention was then turned to the acromial impingement. I used a 4.5 mm burr to perform an acromioplasty of the anterolateral acromion back to a smooth surface, using a bone block technique from the posterior portal and looking laterally. The majority of the overhang was along the lower aspect of the acromion, last anteriorly, as was noted on the preop MRI. This was therefore the majority of what was addressed. When completed, there was no longer an acromial impingement. I made a separate longitudinal incision in line with the inferior aspect of the palpable pectoralis major tendon just lateral to the axillary fold. Sharp dissection was carried down to the skin only and then blunt dissection was carried down to the level of the pectoralis major fascia. The fascia was incised in line with the fibers and then I bluntly dissected underneath the pec tendon and muscle belly to palpate the anterior humeral cortex and bicipital groove with the associated biceps tendon. I placed a deep blunt blade retractor under the pectoralis tendon and retracted this superiorly. With this I was able to obtain direct visualization of the long head of the biceps tendon which was readily identified. No retractors were placed medially to protect the nearby neurovascular structures. I retrieved the long head of the biceps tendon through the wound. This was resected leaving about 2 cm of healthy-appearing biceps tendon from the myotendinous junction. I carefully identified the bicipital groove and debrided the periosteum using a small curette. I then placed an all suture anchor in the groove just distal to the crossing of the pectoralis major tendon. I used limbs of this suture to place whipstitch through the tendon up and down, and then passed to the opposite limb through the tendon once to draw the tendon down and tie over it. This was done for each suture loaded from the anchor. I then used the free limb to draw the tendon down to the groove using an onlay technique. After this was appropriately tensioned onto the distal bicipital groove, I tied several square knots. This achieved excellent fixation of the biceps tendon. I copiously irrigated with normal saline"

I definitely don’t shoot nearly as much as I should. My routine is similar to what APauls mentioned. Sometimes I’ll go months without shooting my bow, then shoot it pretty religiously for a week or two before season, as well as slinging a few arrows each day during season. Definitely not going to win any tournaments, but usually seem to shoot well enough to close the deal, come crunch time.

I enjoy shooting, but I'm not into tournaments or organized shoots. Just doesn't interest me at all. If it ain't breathing I'm not really interested in shooting at it.

As long as you keep the muscle mass and toned well, physical exercise that keeps the body in tune, to me, is more important, as an older hunter,,,,,, If you dont keep the muscles working, then your a more ineffective hunter,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I also like close shots. I mean thats what trips my trigger, not 50 yards, etc, but more like 50 steps or less,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

From now until season starts in August, at least every other day...Basically non workout days! Keeps everything tuned up..At least I hope! Lol

I like to shoot and normally my sessions are only 12-15 arrows. I usually shoot at 70-80 yards. My groups aren't great at that distance, but it really sharpens my game. I may go weeks without shooting, but typically I shoot a few times a week. In this nasty hot weather I normally just go to my basement and shoot where I have a 20 yard archery range that I decided to built a house over. :)

Tell ya what - go to an ASA shoot and compete in the 50-yard 'known' class. I'll be interested in seeing your scorecard vs the field.

Shooting too much is as hazardous as not shooting enough.

I don't care how much or how little anyone shoots compared to me. I've never had a "mine's bigger" mentality about anything and I'm not going to develop one now at 50.