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Post by Freebooter on Oct 18, 2010 3:53:38 GMT
Hello all, Archery practice is important and here's why: Yesterday, the 15th, was the beginning of Alabama's archery season so I went today with my longbow. I have not even strung my bow in over a year, but I went. While I will shoot a deer naturally if I get a chance, I mainly enjoy small game hunting with a bow, rabbits, etc.. Well after walking around in the woods, and it had gotten hot, sweating and miserable, I finally spotted an armadillo about 20' measly feet from me. I shot three arrows and missed him and he standing relatively still. Disgusted, I got my arrows and went home. I am pretty good with a bow but you need practice, not only for accuracy but to get the muscles you use for archery in shape and toned up, especially traditional archery such as longbows and recurves.
Now, I am sure someone is wondering why in the world would you want to kill an innocent armadillo? Well, they are not that innocent to many down here. When I was a teenager back in late '60s and early '70s I never saw one in my life until I went to Louisana for Infantry training at Ft. Polk in '72. Now they have flooded Alabama and are everywhere! Ii mean everywhere! They are a nuisence and a pest, destroy yards, gardens, etc., and they say they are detrimental to ground nesting species such as rabbits, quail, turkey, etc, by crushing and eating eggs, tiny rabbit babies, etc.. Ihave even heard that they carry the Leprosy bacteria! So, once in a while I shoot one of them! Later, Freebooter
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Post by Freebooter on Oct 18, 2010 4:03:29 GMT
I forgot to add that the last time I went out there, a couple of seasons ago, I hit a dillo on the run at like 25 yards. But of course I had shot and praticed a lot at that time and I was in tune with my longbow. Freebooter
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Post by Ceebs on Oct 18, 2010 20:51:55 GMT
I know what you mean mate. I'd say it would take at least one day a week of bow training to prevent skill fade. The 'dillos sound like a royal pain. Have a karma for a fine shot! The main pests we have in NZ are Possums and they're horrible little buggers. They have a nack for killing off our native birds and I'd have no problem with taking one down.
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Post by LittleJP on Oct 18, 2010 22:06:32 GMT
The main pests around here are bullfrogs, that drive out the native leopard frog. Now, try hitting one of those buggers with a bow from 20 yards.
I usually end up using a harpoon of sorts.
Anyway, this seems to be a good a place as any, what are your archery drills?
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Post by Larry Jordan on Oct 22, 2010 15:22:48 GMT
Bullfrogs...sounds like an excuse to get a Cold Steel Blow Dart gun: My sons and I each got one last year for Christmas. What a gas. The bamboo darts work very well and don't cost an arm and a leg.
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Post by Ceebs on Oct 22, 2010 21:17:23 GMT
A blow gun? Sweet! What's the range on one of those bad boys?
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Post by Larry Jordan on Oct 22, 2010 22:15:05 GMT
Indoors we shoot the full length of the hallway, about 25-27 feet. It's not too difficult to hit a coffee cup sized target at this range.
Thompson demos out to 20-25 yards. Click on the blow dart gun and watch the video.
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Post by Freebooter on Oct 23, 2010 1:13:44 GMT
I habve a blowgun to y'all. They are neat. Mine is only a four foot one. They say the 6 footers are the most accurate, but I don't know. I know a guy who has killed squirrels and rabbits with a blow gun. I can't imagine!
I know as soon as I get over this flu bug I am going to start shooting my longbow again. FB
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Post by ineffableone on Oct 24, 2010 3:49:12 GMT
Don't forget the best reason to shoot armadillo is for the ultra cool helmets
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Post by Freebooter on Oct 24, 2010 4:04:52 GMT
Watch messing with those things, their shells,etc.. I always heard that they carry the Leaprosy bacteria. I'd hate to get that! Later, Freebooter
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