Ever done this?

One of the girls we've had off at the shop came back today. This gave me a free morning, which I haven't had for a few weeks. So I shot my bow(s) a little more than usual. First, I cracked out a 60lb recurve. I shot it for an hour or so until I started losing it. To change things up a bit, I went to the shop and got out a 57lb longbow. Again, about an hour into the thing I just couldn't keep it together. I blamed boredom with a touch of exhaustion. So, I got out a Mathews and shot it for the first time in a month or so. Honestly, it didn't hold my attention long as they just shoot where you aim.

I decided I should probably get a few things done. On top of my list was cleaning out my old truck. You find all kinds of good things you forgot you had if you leave your truck full of hunting and shooting crap... I found two judo points! I immediately forgot all the productive things I wanted to do and screwed the judos onto a couple of arrows. I've spent the last couple weeks clearing brush from our woods, so it seemed a good place to do a bit of stump shooting- something I haven't done much of for several years. From the first arrow to the last, I drilled nearly every thing I shot at! A clump of leaves at 40 yds, a wildflower at 15...it just didn't matter! I swear, more so than being tired, I think boredom is what destroyed my shooting at the target butt earlier. Anyone ever noticed the same thing? I gotta believe winging arrows through the woods at stumps and leaves would be about as much fun with a compound, and has to be about the best practice a person could get.

And here is the one that went from hard to shoot to hard to miss.

I used to "stump shoot" all the time. Its a dumb name for it really, I rarely actually shoot a stump. I don't know how I got away from doing it more often, but I did. I used to rabbit hunt with a recurve a lot, and by that I mean I walked around shooting stuff while my dogs chased rabbits. Sometimes they would chase one by close and I'd kill it, but I don't think I ever killed more than a skillet full in a year. Probably something I will do a lot in the next few months as I haven't been able to motivate myself into a 3D shoot yet this year. One thing that my son and I did last year that was a lot of fun: we shot a big rubber ball with bludgeon points. That is a blast, sorta like stump shooting but probably a little more dynamic. That ball will sail when you hit it squarely!

Bowhunter57 said:

The lack of concentration laced with complacency will ruin the best shooter.
It takes a lot of mental decipline to punch paper...no matter the weapon choice.

Bowhunter57

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I'll agree with that! Boredom is a nasty beast!

I did a little more of it this afternoon. Looked for mushrooms while I was out too. I'm gonna have a hard time finding any this year I'd say. We have way too much green stuff up already in the few hotspots I have. Saw a snake (not gonna admit what kind), scared me so bad I jumped a lil and pulled a muscle a bit. I hate snakes. Shoulda "stump shot" it.

They don't bother me much when I see them from a distance and know they are around. This creepy thing was right at my feet when I saw it. It didn't move until I stomped right beside it, and then it moved fast. I hate it when that happens.

badger said:

Slump shooting would be a good thing for a TOO get together.

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I agree!

I won't feel bad if you folks don't believe this - I didn't either. 47 steps (which is very close to a yard). 60lb recurve. Probably never saw a prettier arrow flight in my life.

Pffft... lucky once in a while would be more like it. Shoot enough, eventually one of 'em will hit what you aim at.