The folks at ArcheryTalk.com, along with a long list of archery manufacturer sponsors, came up with a great year end contest. In short, they asked their members to submit essays about what Archery means to them. I was moved when I read all the entries from archers across the country. At the end of the contest there were over 100 entries, all of which I could identify with. Take some time and read through the entries here if you want to get a deeper look at why we take up the discipline of Archery and how it has enriched our lives.  The photos along with the entries are priceless.  I consider myself lucky to be associated with such an outstanding group of people.

Below is the entry I sent…

When I shot my first modern compound bow, I never realized what an effect it would have on me. I was amazed that I could put six arrows in the vital sized area of a foam target from 20 yards. It was as if a new door had been opened for me, and a new chapter of my life waited to be written. As a young rancher, not yet 30, with a family just started I was focused on three things: kids, cows and career. Here was something that I could enjoy and share with my children.

We practiced as a family in the hay barn with 300 tons of alfalfa hay to serve as a backstop. The girls ages 6 and 4 hooted and giggled when their arrows would land anywhere on the 3 ft by 4 ft paper animal targets just 6 grown up paces away, while I took aim at the 3-d deer target further back. Now, I had a way to involve my family in the preparation for my solitary big game pursuits. Practice in the hay barn led to a summer 3-d league. Perhaps the most fond archery memory is from a rainy afternoon as we arrived at the archery range to a 3d shoot that had been cancelled. In the back seat, in her pink rain jacket and pink boots, I heard Erin begin to sniffle and cry.

I asked “What’s the matter honey? Do you not want to go out in the rain?”

She replied with a sob, “NNNNNOOOO, I wanna go shoot my BOOOOWWWWW.”

I replied calmly “That’s ok honey, the range on this side of the creek is open, we can shoot at the field targets.” Which brought on another series of sobs….

Trying to keep my composure, I asked again why that upset her. She wiped her nose and with a quavering voice broken up with sniffs and sobs said:
“I (sniff) don’t (snort) wanna shoot no (sniff) stupid paper targets…………I wanna shoot some ANIMALS!”

As I held her there in my arms, I couldn’t have been more proud, even though we didn’t shoot that day, we have been side by side for the 3-d season for every summer. I carry the memories of our 3d shoots when I’m on a distant windswept mountain far from home, and I have to agree with her….

I just wanna shoot some animals too…

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