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