Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1987)
Out of Bounds One With The Bow Archcry — even after it has lost its importance for food gathering or warfare con tinues to capture people’s im agination. Those who don’t shoot hows and arrows maintain a romantic image of archers as proud Indians or Rohm M«xhIs with high principles and unmat ched bow skills Those who strive for this skill understand the reward ot being an archer. Charlie Lake remembers how he got started in archery A friend handed him a bow, he says, then, "I shot it. and there was just something overpower ing. exhilarating and powerful about being able to cast an ar row It's m your vision all the time, and to be able to see that arrow fly.. I thought, ‘Oh, man. this is great!' Lveryone in Lake s family participates in archery. Lake has been involved with state archery associations for many years, having acted as president ot the Cascailian Archers, and as presi dent and executive board member ot the Oregon Bow Hunters Association Archery is a gratifying s|x>rt. says Kurland Yriardi, who teaches beginning archery at Lane Community College in the fall and spring. “It’s a very psychological sport." he sa\s, describing the attitude of “instinctive con fidence’’ in archery. “One kid m the course broke the tip off an arrow and didn’t have a replace ment so he shot it anyway and got a bullscye. He didn’t tell me because any time you have a piece of broken equipment \ou re supposed to discard it.” In three rounds ot shooting the student scored three hullseycs, hut only with that arrow. “Mis shooting partner came up to me and said. ‘You're never going to believe this, hut come and take a look ' Damn it lie didn't get a hullseyc the fourth time lie shot He said. ‘Hev. that was his lucky arrow The class passed the arrow down the line, and the next |x.‘r son nearly scored a hullseye w ith the arrow. and the next per son did Lake speaks of becoming “one with the bow" in order to [nit an arrow in the center of the target and duplicate the shot again and again. “Concentration is very impor tant.’‘ he says “It is very hard to become perfect because iTis such a demanding sport. The more you put into it. and with practice of the right kind, you’ll see your scores increase.” Ol archers. Yriardi ct\s. “ I he good ones ha\e the ability to relax under pressure " Adrenaline and frustration as well as sometimes being lackadaisical are all elements ol being an archer. “Hie good ones have a real good blend ol everything.” Archery has a place for everybody because there are so many facets to the sport. Lake says. “If you're bowling, you only have one place to go a bowling alley. If you're golfing you have to go to a golf course.” Archers have many options in participating, whether at indoor and outdoor ranges, at “roving shoots'* m the wilderness or at actual bow-hunting or bow fishing excursions. Archers also have a broad range of archery styles from which to choose, ranging from a “bare bow.” meaning a plain simple bow. to elaborate com pound bows with mechanical sights, release aids and other elements of the latest technology. Most archery equipment is very technical, and it keeps on improving, says Pony Torrence, an employee of the Bow Rack, an archery store in Springfield that specializes in bows and bow hunting equipment. "A giH>d shooter can pick up any bow and shoot it well Bows are becoming faster anil smoother.” Torrence says. Compound bows and “cam” bows also aid the archer. Unlike the traditional recurve bow. compound bows are strung with pulleys that reduce the effort needed to hold the bow when fully drawn. An archer can hold the bow steadier, take more time aiming and release the arrow more smoothly. Mechanical sights help the at cher aim. The sights have |X‘gs on which to place the arrow, each peg corresponding to a target range. Binocular-like range finders help the archer determine the range. Camouflage also is important to bow hunters. Torrence sa\s. “Bow hunters have to sneak up and blend in. They have to be within M) yards of an animal in order to get a pretty good shot.” he sa\s. Various scents also help con ceal the hunter, including elk r1 1,1 scent, earth scent and red fox scent, he says Woodsmanship is an impor tant part of how hunting. Lake says. “I have seen animals as much as a quarter mile away with my binoculars, closed in. circled all around and taken them at 15 yards,” he says. “Yes. I've tried to sneak up Photo bv Dan Wheeler on other animals and stepped in advertently on a twig or something, and the animal heard me and left,” he says. “But still, it's so exeiting to be able to cut that 1 (K) yards or quarter of a mile to 10 yards and take it. “When you’re matching w its with an animal, with scent, hear ing and eyes, these three things are incredibly “ he pauses, searching lor words. “Their whole life depends on these I here s times when we may be able to fool their hearing, and we may be able to fool their eyes, but no one no one can fool their nose The hunter must be extremely conscious of the wind, always staying downwind of the animal. Watching the animal’s eyes and ears, the hunter can carefully ad vance. Occasionally, the animal will feed for just a short while then throw its head up. “You have to be ready for this,” Lake says. Five percent of the nation's archers are successful in taking an animal in a season. However, Some hunters bring home an animal every season, he adds. Lake himself has never failed to take an animal since 1960. ‘‘Some of my m o s t memorable hunts I never shot an arrow . It is so fantastic just to be out there and see the animals and to see the different sights — this is all the experience,” Lake says. Both Lake and Yriardi stress the importance for beginning ar chers to take lessons from a pro fessional. - ROB YOUNT; -UO Bookstore. You can’t beat our low, low photo prices . Film & Photo Processin Guaranteed Lowest Prices We'll match or beat the price of any local photo coupon. •1 One Day Service In by 4 p.m. — back by NOON the next day (C41 color print film). Enlargements, Reprints & Slides Great service and prices in your tull service Photo Dept Your full service Photo Depf. Your store since 1920 uo BOOKSTORE I jilt Ki . I Ml ' SAT to 01 4 00 686 4331 CLASSICAL, OPERA & FILM MUSIC ON COMPACT DISCS DC VAPfcSE SARABANDE BIS HARMONIA MUNDt EMI WINDHAM HILL TcLAKC HUNCAPOTON LONDON PROARTE PHILIPS TEL DEC CHANDOS & MORE Musique Gourmet Catering to Discriminating Record Collectors Open Sundays 9 5 Located inside BRADFORD'S on the Mall 150 W Broadway 343-9000 DE MEXICO National Folk Ballet of Mexico COMPANY OF 50 Monday, Mar. 9th, 1987 at 8 p.m. Ticket Prices: ‘9, *11, M 3 Group Rates Available HULT CENTER Tickets et Hutt Center outlets For information call 687-5000
