Custom Lakota Side Quiver
Elk Hide over Full bull Hide Liner
Oak Tan Bottom
Broadhead Safe
Friday, January 4, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Archer Who Never Misses
God is an Archer . . .
'Darak" - Hebrew word translated "Ways" it means:
Bend the bow,
string the bow,
shoot the bow.
the root word for "Derek" ways , paths, or journey.
Used in Proverbs 3:6 In all your "Ways" acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
Imagine God as the Archer and you the arrow; when He shoots, he never misses!! :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Archery Basics - Recreating Success
Remember, the key to accuracy, is doing things the same way on every shot. Same grip, same anchor, same release timing, and same follow through. The purpose for practicing form is to program your mind
and body to recreate the same elements of form on every shot. No variation!
Your going to hear me say this A LOT!!
When your practicing, think about how your going to grip, where and how your going to anchor, when and how your going to release, and how your going to follow through. Make a mental check list before every single shot.
Be deliberate and deadly. Shoot like your life depends on it!
Write it down on paper. Make it an event for your mind body, and spirit!
Your going to hear me say this A LOT!!
When your practicing, think about how your going to grip, where and how your going to anchor, when and how your going to release, and how your going to follow through. Make a mental check list before every single shot.
Be deliberate and deadly. Shoot like your life depends on it!
Write it down on paper. Make it an event for your mind body, and spirit!
If you don't practice deliberately you will always just be another arrow flinger. Nothing wrong with that if it makes you happy, but if you want to get good, there is only One Way, the Hard Way!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Archery Basics
There are three elements to Real Archery, (don't like the term Traditional, compounders invented it), ; Form, Instinct, and equipment.
The line you shoot, left or right of the target is mostly determined by the quality and c
onsistency of your form. Stance, balance, anchor, release and follow through. Lot's of work to be done here.
The up and down or high low line you shoot is nearly all about good instinct. Stump shooting and progressive target practice improve this.
Progressive target practice is having staggered targets set up one after the other at a new distance. 3D shoots are a form of this.
You shoot the closest then, walk past it to shoot the next target at a greater or different distance. For example, if the first target is say 10 yds, the next will be 15 yds, The first target is behind you and out of site to shoot the second.
When shooting progressive targets always focus on the spot you want to hit; Never your arrow. I've also found that verbalizing your shot, when practicing, helps you to focus.
After the shot note the high/low difference between the closer and farther target; Write it down for study and thought later.
Lastly, Equipment - equipment set up can be some different from archer to archer. Gonna say a bit about the bow today. There are other things to be considered like the proper arrows, tab or glove etc., but for now just a bit about the bow.
The two most important elements are brace height and nock point.
Brace height, as I measure it, is the distance from the string to the back of the shelf when the bow is braced or strung. I start by setting mine at 6 1/2" and adjust for arrow flight from there.
Nock point is the place you nock your arrow on your bowstring. There are brass nock points you can buy to attach to the string. personally I like to wrap just enough dental floss on the string to nock and hold an arrow under. It's less snaggy then the brass can be, there's less wear and tear on the bow string, and it's a whole lot cheaper.
When adjusting these, have someone stand behind you and watch the flight of the arrow. If the arrow is tail wagging left and right the Brace height has to be tinkered with. Generally it's too low.
If the tail end of the arrow is going in high or low, the nock point is in the wrong spot. I begin at 1/2" above level to the shelf and move it up or down until the arrow shaft flies true. My own nock point is likes 5/8" above shelf level but that can be vastly different from one archer to the next.
There's a lot more about equipment but the Brace height and nock point are a good place to start after you have the right arrows, cut to the right length for you, with the correct spine weight.
Good Shooting,
D
The up and down or high low line you shoot is nearly all about good instinct. Stump shooting and progressive target practice improve this.
Progressive target practice is having staggered targets set up one after the other at a new distance. 3D shoots are a form of this.
You shoot the closest then, walk past it to shoot the next target at a greater or different distance. For example, if the first target is say 10 yds, the next will be 15 yds, The first target is behind you and out of site to shoot the second.
When shooting progressive targets always focus on the spot you want to hit; Never your arrow. I've also found that verbalizing your shot, when practicing, helps you to focus.
After the shot note the high/low difference between the closer and farther target; Write it down for study and thought later.
Lastly, Equipment - equipment set up can be some different from archer to archer. Gonna say a bit about the bow today. There are other things to be considered like the proper arrows, tab or glove etc., but for now just a bit about the bow.
The two most important elements are brace height and nock point.
Brace height, as I measure it, is the distance from the string to the back of the shelf when the bow is braced or strung. I start by setting mine at 6 1/2" and adjust for arrow flight from there.
Nock point is the place you nock your arrow on your bowstring. There are brass nock points you can buy to attach to the string. personally I like to wrap just enough dental floss on the string to nock and hold an arrow under. It's less snaggy then the brass can be, there's less wear and tear on the bow string, and it's a whole lot cheaper.
When adjusting these, have someone stand behind you and watch the flight of the arrow. If the arrow is tail wagging left and right the Brace height has to be tinkered with. Generally it's too low.
If the tail end of the arrow is going in high or low, the nock point is in the wrong spot. I begin at 1/2" above level to the shelf and move it up or down until the arrow shaft flies true. My own nock point is likes 5/8" above shelf level but that can be vastly different from one archer to the next.
There's a lot more about equipment but the Brace height and nock point are a good place to start after you have the right arrows, cut to the right length for you, with the correct spine weight.
Good Shooting,
D
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Easy or Simple
My thoughts on Bow building and life in general:
Easy or Simple - Which one is the most beautiful to you? Which one is most obtainable?
Easy: not hard or difficult; requiring no great labor or effort. (A synonym for Lazy)
Simple: not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style. Not ornate or luxurious; unadorned; Unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.
Not complicated: a simple design.
Why is it human beings always want to adorn something that is simple and uncomplicated to begin with.
For instance Bow finish: A Longbow, to me at least, is something left to us from a bygone era. Something with history and cultural significance. Longbows are a connection to our primitive and simple, not easy, past.
A Longbow finish should be simple and repairable; natural. Oil finishes and a bit of wax do that.
But, in the hunt for “easy” we've now developed Epoxy finishes that make the Longbow look like it was dipped in plastic. If you think repairing an Epoxy finish is “simple” I have some property under the bridge I want to sell you.
Kids, plastic has nothing to do with the romance of the Longbow; to my way of thinking.
A Longbow is a work of art, they're not for everyone. A Longbow's elements should recall it's heritage. Adding modern easiness, is an indicator to me that maybe those that do should consider shooting a compound; they're easy but not simple.
Modernizing the Longbow is like taking a Rembrandt or a Matisse and correcting it with crayons.
It's about choosing easy or simple isn't it?
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Alistera Project
The Alistera Project
"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health."
Psalms 41 NLT
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health."
Psalms 41 NLT
I am building two custom bows to auction off for Alistera. We want to bring her to America to a burn center.
David O' Brien Terry, a 27 year old vet from Tennesee is building a website to support the work.. We believe God is in this and in time, kids all over the world will be helped. Alistera is just the beginning.
I know there will be unbelief, opposition, and doubting Thomas's but that's par for the course, isn't it.. We are going to see God do GREAT things because we TRUST Him.
We will be seeking contributions from other outdoor manufacturers, and craftsmen to be auctioned off from the "Alistera" website. This is an opportunity for Craftsmen to help change a child's life. If your interested in adding to our "5 fishes and two loves" contact me. God will bless your gift just like he did 2000 years ago.
If you would like to donate dollars, you can send your contribution to "Heart of God International Ministries" at the address below. HGIM is helping kids like Alisera all over the world and here at home. They help to provide education, health and spiritual assistance in developing nations. They are giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
Just put "Africa/Alistera" in a memo along with your donation and mail it to:
Heart of God Africa
PO Box 4582
Riverside, CA 92514
PO Box 4582
Riverside, CA 92514
Attn: Denise Bucher Matthews
Re: Alistera
Re: Alistera
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
A View From My Hammock
"Coming home from the mountain, as I pulled my old pickup onto the highway, I was immediately struck by the whizzing of cars passing by me.
I realized I was only driving 45 mph on a 70 mph highway!
I had been on the mountain for a couple days, just listening to the
creek , the wind, and the occasional voice of a bird or animal.
I had spent two days and nights just resting in the Lord, listening for His voice, and lifting up those of you who asked me to do so. Now, it was back to the high speed chase of humanity.
Adonai spoke to me about a lot of things. He answered some long standing questions I've had, like; Why does the whole world hate Jews and Christians? He told me why He gave Moshe the Ten Commandments; very interesting!
He talked with me about the persecution of Jews and Christians going on world wide, without the notice of the media or our "government."
He talked with me about Southern Sudan and His plans for that nation. He told me over 2 million Nuba Christians have been murdered there by Islamic Jihadists.
He told me His plan for Southern Sudan was to richly bless them.
I didn't know this, but He told me Southern Sudan is the "only" nation that has established their embassy in Jerusalem!
God said a long time ago, "I will bless those who bless Israel!"
He evidently means that! Denise Bucher Matthews, you will have a big piece of what He is doing there. :)
He talked to me about falling Pine Cones; :)!!
He told me Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu has a Bible study in his home!
Not a study of Jewish commentaries, but a true Bible study. Straight from the horses mouth, so to speak! Pray for that study group!
He told me much more.
I'm still digesting everything he told me. It's simply amazing!
My last afternoon, I was sitting watching the clouds float by, three times Yeshua's face materialized in those clouds!
Most of all, he talked with me about us meeting Him in those clouds very very soon! (See 1 Thessalonians)
I had spent two days and nights just resting in the Lord, listening for His voice, and lifting up those of you who asked me to do so. Now, it was back to the high speed chase of humanity.
Adonai spoke to me about a lot of things. He answered some long standing questions I've had, like; Why does the whole world hate Jews and Christians? He told me why He gave Moshe the Ten Commandments; very interesting!
He talked with me about the persecution of Jews and Christians going on world wide, without the notice of the media or our "government."
He talked with me about Southern Sudan and His plans for that nation. He told me over 2 million Nuba Christians have been murdered there by Islamic Jihadists.
He told me His plan for Southern Sudan was to richly bless them.
I didn't know this, but He told me Southern Sudan is the "only" nation that has established their embassy in Jerusalem!
God said a long time ago, "I will bless those who bless Israel!"
He evidently means that! Denise Bucher Matthews, you will have a big piece of what He is doing there. :)
He talked to me about falling Pine Cones; :)!!
He told me Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu has a Bible study in his home!
Not a study of Jewish commentaries, but a true Bible study. Straight from the horses mouth, so to speak! Pray for that study group!
He told me much more.
I'm still digesting everything he told me. It's simply amazing!
My last afternoon, I was sitting watching the clouds float by, three times Yeshua's face materialized in those clouds!
Most of all, he talked with me about us meeting Him in those clouds very very soon! (See 1 Thessalonians)
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