Not this year…

[Anonymous]

#2676

This is probably off topic or out of bounds enough to get deleted, but I think y’all will understand (perhaps).

………………

After 2.5 long years in megalopolis, and 6.5 before that in an area far more urban than rural, getting a backyard range set up again yesterday was a treat. 30 yards along the length of the back fence; 20 yards from 20′ up off the deck. This is going to be good.

I strung up the old Bear, feeling those limbs flex again and that familiar, warm weightlessness in my left hand. The arrow snicked onto the string in that old familiar way. Man, it’s been a long time. Not 9 years, but certainly more than 3 since we’d loosed one in the yard. The blue tape along the fence marked 15 and 25, but discretion got the better vote and a few paces inside of 15 would be the starter.

Focus, focus, focus on that spot. The nearly new “Block” sat there, center dot of five having a laser hole burned into it by my eyes. Up came the bow, with the string drawing more taut in my right hand, tension mounting in the limbs and the air.

“thrum…THWACK”.

Very high and left. Rusty, no doubt. Yet, there was something else, something that’d been nagging me all summer. There was a burn in the right wrist. Hmmm…

A walk up, retrieve, and walk back. Focus, focus, focus…. up, draw… “thrum…. WHACK”. mmmphh… Short drew it, and pulled higher and left. That burning in the wrist is still there, increasing a bit.

Walk up, retrieve, walk back. Focus, focus, focus…. up, draw, touch, “thrum…. WACK!”. Far left, higher yet, into the fence post. The wrist is saying “no mas”. At some point this year, that wrist got broken. When, I don’t know, but it did. The oddly healed bone is easy to see these days, and the discomfort can go from nagging to painful quickly. Too little time to heal, too little time to practice, and too much time out of shape.

Walk up, retrieve… damn, the insert came loose. Multi-tool, pull that out, walk back to the house.

Unstring the Bear, and put her away. In the corner, heavy and cumbersome, sits the Hoyt – a “gift” from a favorite uncle, complete with sights, wheels, and a wrist-strap release. A look at the Bear, and she says “try”. So, I do.

Outside again, “traditional carbon” arrows, feather fletched with 175s up front. Figure out the contraption, snap in, draw, hold, squeeze the trigger. “thump… WHACK”. Again, and again, and again. No pain in the wrist. Sights getting regulated; almost like a rifle. Turn the target to the elevation appropriate side. Up to the deck, to see if this holds true. Dang, pulled the first one, but elevation is good. Retrieve, walk back up, and try again…

Second time is a charm, of sorts.

Walk inside, put the Hoyt next to the Bear. Sigh… Not this year, old friend. Somehow, I think she understands – and approves. Next fall will be here soon.

[WyoStillhunter]

#11966

I hear you. Take it slow and easy, whatever you do.

[David Coulter]

#14599

Forager,

You won’t get a cold shoulder from me. It’s the spirit of things, the love of the sport, the love of the animals, the ethics you read about here so much. If you need that thing to get over a bum wrist, what the heck. If you need that thing to make a clean kill right now, what the heck. I wish you a fast recovery and a season filled with good spirit.

All the best, dwc

[Mark Turton]

#14935

Forager, needs must, I have one of those squeeze balls that climbers use in the truck and use it when driving to exercise my forearm muscles.

You might try the release aid on the bear.

It’ll come, Mark.

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