Pikes Peak Archery 2014 Remodel
I have been on a bit of a break he last few weeks. On June 14th I hit up the annual Pikes Peak Archery Open House. There are two reasons I make this event every year. One: Great people both the folks from Echo Valley Archers and Jake Mohn, owner of Pikes Peak Archery. Two: EVA puts on a great 3D Shoot. Now because of a very busy turkey hunting season this was my first 3D Shoot of the spring. I noticed during the shoot that my arrow had an unwanted swag. Not a technical term but the arrow was kicking left as it flew. So after I was done with the shoot I walked inside to have Jake take a look at my PSE DNA.
Jake Mohn, owner of Pikes Peak Archery
I can’t stand an out of tune bow. I knew it needed to be paper-tune and I don’t just trust anyone to work on my bow. I know it sounds cheesy but it’s not because I’m some pro shooter. In fact most pro archers I’m sure tune their own equipment. I love to shoot 3D Archery almost as I love to bowhunt. Thing I have learned over years of shooting is when my bow is paper-tuned the right way, it works the way it should. Makes the bow much more forgiving then if it isn’t paper-tuned. Jake worked with my PSE DNA for about a half an hour before he would give it back.
Travis Wymer of EVA
I headed back out, took a few test shots and it was on. So I figured why not give the novelty shoot a try. Here is the set up. It was a Bull Elk set out at 80 yards with a 3 inch balloon in the vitals. It was free to play but you only got three arrows to pop the balloon, if you popped said balloon, your name was put into a drawing for some great prizes. Yes I have a 60 and 80 yard pin set on my bow. Why? You might ask, well just for these kinds of shoots. Many 3D shoots I attend have novelty shoots and I love a challenge. Shot One was a near miss, just 2 inches right of the balloon, Shot two was all on me and had a poor release and I miss 4 inches left and 2 inches low. On my third and final shot I center punched the balloon. My name went in the hat, one of only five at that time. Didn’t win anything but popping that balloon is really winning to me.
So it’s been a few weeks and I love my now well-tuned bow. Really it makes it more enjoyable. I feel I can make just about any shot needed. Archery can be a lot like golf, what I mean is confidence is everything. If you feel good about the bow you are shooting and its performance, that alone can turn around your shooting. I have three 3D targets that I bought second hand from archery clubs. I fix them up and there is still have a lot of life left in them. I also have two bag targets that I use around the yard. Having these targets makes for a great mini archery course set up on my acreage. So many times after work I’ll shoot three arrows per target at the 5 targets for a round of 15 arrows. It’s just enough to keep me sharp.
Just one of those days… It was the end of a long 4th of July weekend. Sara and I had headed out to see family over the 4th. This past Sunday we had just got back from a wedding and I wanted to do a little shooting. Now I talked about my 60 and 80 yard pins but I shoot a 5 pin Spot Hogg REAL DEAL Sight. My pins are set as such 25, 35, 45, 60, & 80 I spend most of my time working between 15 to 50 yards. I always start on my wild hog target. I shot it at 45 yards retrieved my arrows and then again at 50. That’s when the real fun started. On my second arrow I got my first ever true Robin Hood.
I say first ever because I have had a few near missed Robin Hood shots that broke arrows in 3D shoots and busted nocks. I knew something was different about the shot because of the sound it made at impact. I shot my last arrow and from 50 yards I could tell it was a great three arrow group. As I walked closer I was excited to find that I had slammed the first arrow. Now could I have shot one before this?? Sure I guess if I shot 12 arrows at the same spot every time but I’m not made of money, I don’t have an arrow sponsor, I don’t like to break arrows, the most I ever shoot is three arrows at the same spot. Some will call it lucky, I’m ok with that. I believe that we all get “lucky” but I always say “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity!” Make your own luck. Prepare yourself and your equipment to be successful. Most of all have fun doing it!
