When I was an early teenager, around 13, my best mate and I used to thunder our horses along the beach bareback shooting orcs with bow and arrow and looping their heads off with swords.
I always fancied myself an archer. And sure, my elbow is a bit high in the photo above but I reckon I have got this. At least I'm hitting the target. Go me.
In response to the rabbit plague here, and a little bit because we've watched far too much Alone, we bought a bow and arrow set. I have serious doubts we will ever hit a living creature with it, and hope we don't, but we had always wanted to give it a go.
Archery is one of those old school skills that's fun to learn. It takes strategy and skill like climbing or chess, which is what we like about it too.
We set up the target, which is a foam spa cover we had covering a wood pile. Worked a treat. It didn't take long before we were getting pretty close to the bulls eye, or rabbits eye 🐰🎯
I was surprised at how quickly I remembered how to do it. After all it had been thirty odd years since I shot an orc. We had been watching a few YouTube videos too. Visualisation is everything with skills like this. Before long I'll be shooting arrows through keyholes like Lance Anderson. Actually, he's almost as good as me shooting from a horse. This is a great clip recreating how they imagined it was possible for the Comanche to shoot three arrows in 1.5 seconds from horseback, necessitating the invention of the revolver.
The bow is a Samick Sage, which is meant to be an awesome bow for starting out. We got the kit which came with a case, arrows and everything else you need. My Dad is going to order the same as he has always wanted to try it too.
There's so much to learn and a lot of practice to do, but we are both enjoying it. The funny thing is, as we are doing it, rabbits are merrily digging under the trees just beyond the target, oblivious.
Watch out orcs, we're coming atcha like Lars.
Do you do archery? Have you always wanted to try?
With Love,
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Catness Everdeen - may the odds be ever in your favor
Haha yes that's what the hubs called me, except he kept calling me Catnip. It's funny, I've also been called Maid Marion and Xena the Warrior Princess. Depends what era you are from and what shows you have watched. I'll settle for Catnip 🤪
Great post River, me likey a lot.
Haha thankyou.
Legolas 15/15 and 15/15 on each eyes!
What you know to do you can never forget it, it is amazing you never forget it. Have a nice time
That's true. Once you learn it's a skill for life.
Not quite on target yet, but I need to learn archery. :)
It's fun! You should try!
Definitely! All you need is a bow and arrows and YouTube! Oh, and to avoid shooting anyone 😂
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STOPI'm so sorry. I really thought you were a man. I'm very sorry, Mrs. @riverflows.
Certain people like archery, and not only as a sport. It is for emotional control and concentration. very good. Especially if it's been done since we were kids.
Especially if done on a horse. The combination of balance and focus is everything and that at once. Not just anyone can do it, right?
I was really looking for your photo aiming at the digger's target, but couldn't find it there. Just a picture of a cute bunny face with long whiskers. Did you write it yourself? !LOL
Haha yes my husband drew it. And you aren't the first person to think I was a man, don't worry.
Lol, that's funny. I always thought she was a magical unicorn 😅
Sssssh. Just an ordinary unicorn 🦄
Oh yeah! My bad..
Lolled at the little rabbit target, poor little bugger took a couple hits.
I got it right between the eyes, TWICE, yesterday!
RobinRiver Hood.Sounds like fun. I wish I could get a hand at this.
I hope you put the fear of arrows in those rabbits.
Haha you did get the eye of the rabbit I guess, while the real ones are frolicking around!
Dad made me shoot at a rabbit yesterday. Of course I missed and lost an arrow in the grass!
This a good practice time , you keep developing the more you do it
Russian soldiers in Ukraine are called orcs. But that's not what you meant ;)
Oh really haha nope, I mean those monsters from Lord of The Rings. 🤪
I had some cheap archer sets when I was a kid. I remember my older brother had a nicer bow I was always envious of 😊 As we clean up our new place in Vermont, I have dug up a few arrows in the yard from the previous owner. Kind of rekindled my interest but I haven't done anything yet. I don't think you will catch up to Lars archery skills anytime soon but I bet you could out ride him 😁
Haha no I don't think I will get anywhere near Lars. And haven't been on a horse in years. I keep meaning to ask my neighbours.
Great post, and good luck with the arrows. Of course the most effective way imho is a nice .25 caliber or .30 caliber PCP pellet rifle. That will take them effectively at 100 yards or greater if desired, and is quiet enough to not bother anyone nearby (or other rabbits!). And if you want to get really crazy with it, can add an infrared or thermal night scope!
We aren't allowed them here in Australia....
Ouch, it's very painful when I hear people under such government overlording. Even more reason for those that still have these privileges to fight to keep them, and those that do not to fight for them. Arrows and traps sound like the best route for you then. Besides the archery bit just fun anyway!
See, most Australians don't want guns here. It's just not in our culture. We also don't worry that the government will come for us. If you actually want a gun you get a license and join a gun club etc. But we don't have all the gun deaths that the US does so the vast majority think that's a good price to pay. I understand the US, I do, but it's just not Australia. I can't imagine walking around and people having guns on them!!!
Not gonna lie, with that bow and arrow... You and hubs look like low-key badasses.
I tried archery ones though, nearly shot my teachers balls off so... There's that.
Also, rabbit's EYE??? (ô‿ô).... You monsters! ಥ_ಥ
Funny, I was just talking about teachers and balls!!! So wierd
But then .. hubs is a teacher and I was playing with his balls, so maybe not so strange
Edit... Did I just say that????
That's a bit... concerning...
Wait what???!!!!💀 I'm gonna be honest with ya, I didn't need to hear that part!😂
TMI!!!!😂
I believe you did! Yes!🤣 Can't take it back now though!
Lol, haven't actually laughed like this in a while!... Ha! I'mma gonna have to quote you on that later XD
If I delete it it never happened right? Oh no it's the Blockchain... What have I done? 🤣🤣🤣 glad it made you laugh though 🤣🤣
Lol, that's the problem with these things😅
Well done! Archery is super difficult if you ask me. I really suck at it. We took up some archery lessons with a bunch of friends a few years ago and I was always the one that had to look for the arrows in the bushes and came home with big bruises on my arm.
We had to shoot at these fake ballistic animals so I think my inner animal lover instinct always made me miss. No really, if it ever comes to an end-of-the-world scenario, let's hope there are some edible plants left to gather as I will not be a hunter. That's for sure. I'll probably shoot my own foot before I shoot something else.
Good luck with your new hobby. I can already see that you are both naturals.
Haha I know I think I'd miss on purpose too!?! And I'm sure there's always going to be plants to eat, but if there's not, we would have to deal with that as a last resort.
You had bruises on your arm??? Did you not wear an armguard??
It's fun for us. There's something quite ancient about it. An old skill.
Twice I made the mistake of not wearing an armguard... lesson learned there. It was a lot of fun though. I Miss those Sunday afternoons.
Oh i was thinking of going to archery club... i reckon it'd be fun...
and I just ordered a super ccool quiver and arm band from etsy...
It's lots of fun. Even if you don't hit many targets lol. Here down the coast, we have nothing like this. When we lived in Siem Reap we had the country's national archery team who was organizing the Sunday classes. Too bad we are 400-500km away now.
Oh that would have been amazing!!!!!
Oh my goodness you guys are my heroes. I've always been fascinating with bows, and that's the only way I want to hunt, if i have to hunt. I haven't got one yet, our cat is bringing us rabbits (for free). We haven't eaten them yet because I'm always kind of weary of ringworms, and all sort of others things like "Tularemia", though cooking the meat kill the bacteria, I am not as much of a risk taker anymore, after the pigeons we cooked 2 years ago, what a fraud of an adventurer I am 😌.
Excellent post by the way, just so you know!