Practing

The other day, I drug out my longbow for some practice, after allowing several days for the glue to dry on the new snake skin backing. After I brought it out and started to shoot, my youngest son, who is 7 came and asked if he could join me. Feeling somewhat frustrated because I wanted to do some serious practice, I relented and he went and got his bow, a "L'il Banshee" and his 18" arrows and joined alongside.

I was not aware of how much he has grown in the past few months, the bow is still a little big for him, but he is doing better. At a distance of seven yards we set up and he started to shoot the 3-D deer target we have been using for the past few years. Time and again, he would draw back and shoot, hitting the deer in the vitals. Being a traditional shooter, I do not have sights on his bow, and he shoots with his fingers. It is my opinion that starting them in this manner is easier than beginning with sights and then taking them away later.

We stood out there for about an hour, he would shoot two arrows and I would shoot two arrows, scoring each shot. The time I spent practicing was not serious, but it was enjoyable, and it reminded me of the importance of spending this time with my son.

Was the practice session wasted? Certainly not, was it beneficial, sure it was, I would not have practiced the close in shots had he not been there, and I saw that I needed that close practice. But more importantly I was able to spend time with my son and have the opportunity to instill in him the love of archery I have. I hope these practice sessions will be something we can do for years to come as he grows and matures, that when I am an old man, he will have the patience to stand there with me, while I practice the close shots. Regardless of what happens, these moments are some of the best times.