Just to start....

I have been shooting archery consistently since 1999 when my interest was sparked by a Peterson's Bowhunting magazine lying in a bathroom where my dad worked. Within a year I had convinced my parents to buy me a Mathews Feather Max that I could barely draw at 45 pounds. I shot the bow every day in the backyard year round even in the coldest part of winter. By the fall of 2000 I had shot my first doe. In succeeding years I harvested 1 or 2 deer with my bow every season.

But my love of shooting surpassed my love of hunting and I continually read and practiced to become the best shot I could be. My favorite archery shop suggested I sign up for an indoor 5-spot league at my local outdoor club.  It turned out to be one of the best things I ever did. It was fantastic fun and was responsible for introducing me to a lot of the friends I have now. One of them was a Mathews pro who lived only a mile away from where I lived. Another friend I met was a student the well known archery coach Terry Wunderle.  They talked me into going with them one day to the Wisconsin State Indoor tournament. The three of us would travel together and split expenses.

I remember the moment I first stepped out onto the line! The excitement was unlike anything I had previously experienced. To be standing in a line of almost a hundred archers and to have spectators in the stands above me watching (I felt anyway) my every shot, had my nervous system on overdrive. I still remember my first score, 298.  My goal was to shoot 300, but after experiencing the nerves of competition I was quite satisfied with my score. But I promised myself that I would learn to overcome my nerves.

By now I was hooked and agreed to go to NFAA nationals in Louisville, KY. Then to the Stanislawski Open, a 30,40,50, and 60yard indoor shoot in Pennsylvania, 12 hrs away. It didn't stop there and still hasn't.

Soon I learned that my mostly experiance-learned skills would not be enough to perform at the level I wanted to be at: The Top.

So started my journey to becoming the best archer I could be. It has been a fun, enriching, and bumpy ride. And still is.

My goal with this is to share some of the things I have learned in my 12 years of shooting, share thoughts, field my own questions, and answer the questions asked by anyone who stumbles upon this blog.