HI -ers at Bedford Friday?

I haven't been to a 3D shoot in over 10 years.

The boys at White River do know how to put them on though.

Good luck Russ..... knock 'em dead...

Didn't shoot very well, but had a good time anyway. Weather was absolutely perfect, very unusual for the Bedford shoot.

Really felt the lack of shooting indoors through the winter as I normally have done, and the reduced amount of 3D's this spring. Consistency just wasn't there. I'd shoot two or three good arrows then blow a shot that I just couldn't settle into of have a poor release that used to happen once or twice a shoot. Yardage estimation has come back pretty well already, but the shooting form is still lagging behind. No substitute for time on the string, and I've been negligent of my archery practice these last several months.

Shot the Bowhunter Defense Course for a warm-up, as usual, and shot it wearing a fleece top that felt pretty good in the morning air. The sun had things warmed up just right to leave the fleece at the Jeep when going up the hill to the main shoot.

The crowds seemed to be down slightly, and things moved very well. Started the course about 9 and was completely done with all 40 by 3:30. Didn't have to wait for a group ahead to clear until we were more than halfway through, and then it wasn't excessive, just a couple minutes per target.

Had very pleasant company while shooting. A very nice woman named Anita from up near Fort Wayne, whose hubby was shooting on a different set of ranges, and two other finger shooters shot with us for the the first twenty. Then Anita and I were grouped with three young men with Darton shirts who were also very good company, and were very good shots as well. For the last ten, I moved to a group ahead who had two members leaving the range after that ten targets, leaving the other two stranded until they could join at least one other partner, by rule. Two ladies from WV who turned out to be very pleasant company as well.

That's one of the more enjoyable aspects of these big shoots. Even if your game is not up to snuff, it's (usually) fun to shoot with folks from other parts and just make their acquaintance and chat about the things that are similar or different in their areas.

I'm not much of a socializer normally, but with the activity as an ice-breaker and the random pairings placing everyone in the position of being better off being friendly for the duration of ten or twenty targets, it makes striking up some friendly chatter easier.

The vendor areas looked pretty similar to the last few years. A few areas were still vacant before I went up the hill on Friday morning, but they seemed to be pretty well filled when I passed through in the afternoon. I didn't really need much of anything, so just looked stuff over briefly and had some of that excellent ice cream they sell at the little stand on vendor row.

Got away early enough in the afternoon to swing on down to the J-Rock golf course nearby, east of Mitchell, for some inexpensive golf. I'm no good at that game, either, but have fun trying to learn.

Turned out to be about all the exercise this old body really wanted for one day, and I'm moving a little slower today, but it was a great day outdoors.

The Bedford club always does a real good job of putting on a big shoot, and the J-Rock course is a real golfing bargain. I'd recommend both to anyone interested.

Russ,

that is what I miss the most about not participating in 3Ds anymore.

The fun and fellowship.

I certainly don't miss the cut throat competition though.

Glad you had a good time on a VERY full day..