I'm in! Took me long enough to get started.
I won't give you the whole backstory of this year, but let's just say it's been busy. Moved 3 hours to my hometown, bought a new house, kept the duplex we lived in and remodeled it, have a 2 year old, started a new job, have 2nd baby due in 10 days...
All that said, I haven't shot anywhere close to what I normally do. I'm happy if I shoot once a week, but most of the time it is probably averaging more like once every two weeks. I also switched to a 5 pin sight when my 7 pin crapped out on me last fall. So I'm shooting my range at my current max pin set up, 60 yards. Being used to shooting at 70 and 80, I'm hoping that helps here even though I haven't been shooting.
I live in what's called the "Big Thicket" in southeast Texas. It's a mostly impenetrable pine forest. So it's always hot and humid this time of year with very little wind.
Here's my setup:
Mathews Switchback, 29.5" draw at 68lbs
Axcel 5 pin
Trophy Taker rest
Quivilizer
Victory Vforce V1 300s w/ 125 grain heads. Around 446 grains and about 265fps.
Shot #1, Friday 6/2 - Given I've only shot 2 arrows in the last couple weeks, I was happy with the shot. This was right after a 35 minute hike with 40ish pounds. No wind and the shot felt good. I use Dan Evans' mental shot mantra, "Level, settle, follow thru".
Shot #2, Saturday 6/3. I felt myself pull this one slightly at the shot. Otherwise my sequence felt good.
Shot #3, Wednesday 6/7, very slight left to right breeze. Warm and sunny. 4 day gap between shots but release felt good. Got stuck holding high but was able to stay calm and bring my pin down into the kill zone.
#4, Thursday 6/8, beautiful evening. Really low humidity for our standards and low 80s. No wind. Had my 2 year old tell me "make it count daddy" before the shot. It payed off.
I'm back! Had our 2nd baby two weeks ago so I've had more important things to do! Waylon Patrick was born on the 14th. He and mama are doing great. My 5th shot was Monday 6/12 with my 2 year old on my back in a kid carrier. Hadn't done that before and it showed. Was a little jumpy in anticipating the possibility of him moving. He didn't, I just rushed the shot.
#6, Tuesday 6/28. Daylight shot. No wind and humid. Was pretty pleased after a 2 week hiatus.
Finally #7! Shot at lunch today. Hot with a slight wind. Don't remember which direction lol. Not enough to effect my shot. I tried to tuck it low and tight and punched it a little. Probably worst execution since I can blame the other bad shot on my 2 year old
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Overall, I'm pretty happy with how I shot. These 7 shots are literally all I've taken in 26 days. This is the least I've shot since I started bowhunting 14 years ago. Life happens... I feel good at 60 right now but the next couple months are going to see lots of arrows headed down range. Thanks for this Robby!