The Progression of Distance

by Steve Schindler

Anybody who has been involved in Bowhunting or Archery for the past 30 years has seen the shot distance grow and to some of us, an unhealthy distance. In order to understand this dilemma, we have to go back in time and see how things started and progressed. Of course, Archery itself started eons ago but for the sake of this article I am talking about Bowhunting. It started gaining popularity in the 1960’s, and the bows at that time were either recurves or longbows and the lions’ share would have been recurves. Anyone hunting at that time that had any experience was shooting deer at 30 yards and under. And yes, there was an occasional longer shot, due to the Archery tournament influence. But let’s take a look at the time frame and what has influenced the longer shot distance. When the compound bow hit the scene in the early 70’s people discovered the compound was a flatter shooting bow and the distance started growing. Then, sometime in the 80’s sights and releases became popular and with practice, the shot distances grew even more. At the recent Legislative session, the crossbow was being discussed. During this discussion a legislator told us that the compound bow was more accurate than the crossbow. Well, that’s a big statement and in some very small instances it could be true to say they are AS accurate. But there are very few compound shooters who can attain that accuracy, and if they do, they have years of practice under their belt. Anybody who is somewhat familiar with shooting a rifle can reach pin point accuracy as with the crossbow in a few hours of practice as opposed to a few years of practice with the compound. What do we expect to happen if the crossbow were to become legal archery equipment? I would guarantee you our shot distance would move into a new frontier, and move into this frontier with a greater amount of accuracy than we’ve ever seen happen.

Archery success rates over the past 40 years have remained pretty much the same, somewhere between 10-12% and this is pretty much with accuracy distances for most bowhunters that remain under 40 yards.

Now let’s look into the future a bit, not without any un-substantiated information, but what has happened in the past will only continue to happen.

When the compound bow first hit the scene in the early 70’s Montana was selling about 2000 archery stamps per year, and 10 years later we were topping 30 thousand archery stamps. Now add the advanced sights and releases available in the 90’s, and the next 10 years brought another 10 thousand new bowhunters into the fold. Without having to put a lot of strain on our brains we can say that if the crossbow were to become legal during archery season, how many more new bowhunters would we see? Because of its ease of use and better accuracy, we would see a tenfold increase in the numbers of bowhunters. Now all we have to do is look at the other western states that have elk and see what happens when you have a dramatic increase in bowhunter numbers, pick the week you want to hunt. Let’s say the success rates jump from 10-12%. The crossbow success rates jump up to 40%. Why 40% you ask, well I am just guessing, but to anyone who has done much bowhunting knows it’s not that big of a challenge to get within or under 75-100 yards of an elk during the elk rut. Mostly, because you can hear the bugles and you know approximately where they are. Now add in the fact that you do have pin point accuracy and you don’t have to draw your bow but all you have to do is lean up against a tree and the only movement you have is you squeezing the trigger. Yes, you may have to lean against that tree for a while but you are nocked, cocked and ready to rock. I suggest you get on board and try and save our archery season.

This crossbow issue should never be in our legislative sessions at all. During the legislative sessions we have people who know absolutely nothing about bowhunting determining our future, all by listening to opponents and proponents for one hour, as each side gets 30 minutes.

If these decisions were to be made with our FWP Commission, at least the topic would be discussed statewide, with its scoping sessions and public comment. The commissioners themselves may not know any more about bowhunting than a run of the mill State Legislator, but the topic does get evaluated and discussed quite a bit more. The chances of the legislators relinquishing their power to the States FWP Commission probably has two chances, and yes that would be slim to none. So, it’s very important to send legislators to Helena that would vote in your favor. We have the voting records of those who voted against us. Look them over and don’t send them back to Helena. This is not an R vs D issue. Some R’s voted yes, and some voted No–same goes with D’s. Do some homework, it’s important we have people in Helena that want to protect our bowhunting seasons.

by Beckie Doyle

August 2022 found Jerry and me searching for something that was missing from our lives. Having moved to our new property three hours away from the kids and grandkids, I thought that must be what we missed most. We also missed friends, family, and the familiarity of the place we left behind. We soon came to realize we also had left something behind, back in the Bitterroot. Along with Jackie, Justin, and Landen, along with Wyatt, Samantha, and Hayden, we left Marlon and Mary, and The Mission.

The Mission started in 2001 at a small place called Flying Arrows Archery in Victor, Montana. Owned by Ronni Edens with help from her husband Dan, they welcomed families into their new archery shop. Here we met Ken Loucks who was starting up 4H Shooting Sports-Archery. We excitedly volunteered to be coaches and get our children involved. We were already a bowhunting family and the opportunity to have other families to do it with was fantastic! At the same time, we met the Ekins who still own Howard Hill Archery in Hamilton. As we developed lifelong friends, knowledge increased in our bowhunting endeavors. Jerry learned to be a master bow mechanic while I learned the ins and outs of the archery world; coaching soon became a passion. Igniting a love for archery in youth and sharing our excitement brought us both a sense of fulfillment that is still driving us. We spent years in 4-H Archery, coaching, training, and taking the kids across the state, meeting new friends, winning some competitions, and cleaning up some tears. It was some of the best family times. We didn’t realize how lucky we were. We watch now as that generation of young archers gives back to their communities. We are so proud and blessed to be amongst them. Jackie and Wyatt, Sarah and Alex, Hunter, and many more are continuing the legacy, The Mission.

If I think back in time, The Mission perhaps started when I was a very young archer. My father belonged to the Fresno Field Archers and my first set of arrows came from my dad’s friend, John Gandera. Red cedar shafts with yellow cresting and bright red turkey feathers and 32 brass for blunts, flung from my yellow fiberglass bow made me feel so lucky! Randy Ramirez made me arrows from his blue crested broken shafts, cut down for me with new field points glued on, and the same as my dad’s. What a time I had at 7 years old going to The Safari Shoot; there were over a thousand traditional shooters and very few kids at that time. Men like Richard Kiel (yes Jaws from James Bond movies) let me shoot with him and helped me retrieve my arrows from the huge new 3D Elephant. Mentors, on their own missions, helped the next generation of archers and I guess that was the inner layer that started it.

I signed up to become a Bowhunter Ed Instructor in 2009 and soon with Jerry “voluntold” beside me, we met Marlon and Mary. As mentors, they quickly became friends and to this day are part of our family. Marlon encouraged us to host many Bow Ed classes with them. He taught us about the Montana Bowhunters Association, and most years paid our family membership for us. He encouraged our children Jackie and Wyatt, and to this day maintains an amazing relationship with Wyatt and especially Jackie, almost like another set of parents. Archery and family, its themes bind us all.

Marlon had us volunteer at all the youth events he could possibly get us into, as well as encouraging our young hunters to go to FWP Commission meetings at early ages and advocating for youth opportunities in the hunting world in Montana. The MBA banner was always there and supporting youth archery experiences. I approached him one day after helping with local youth camps about creating a camp for teens. There were lots of younger kid camps, but the older kids’ options faded as they grew. As parents, we had taken our kids’ friends with us to hunting camp and taught them all we could share for quite a few years. I missed being in camp with all those crazy teenagers and being a part of their excitement in their new archery adventures. I also needed a program to give Jerry purpose after an accident changed our lives in 2014. Thus, the MBA’s Teen Bowhunter Camp was founded and we have had amazing times at amazing places and with even better people. The program continues to have interest and support from folks far and wide and we look forward to June 2023 and having Jackie in the leadership position on the board. There are definitely some proud parenting moments happening in this household.

In June of 2022, we had some youth from Trout Creek attend the MBA Camp in Libby. Jerry and I, Wyatt and family, along with new friends, attended a fundraiser in Trout Creek for those same kids and their teammates of the newly formed Trout Creek School National Archery in the Schools Program. By August we answered the school principals’ public call for volunteers for the program. That’s what was missing! Coaching young archers was something we thought we left behind, with the exception of the MBA Camp. We were searching for our Mission. Soon I was approached about heading up the coaching staff and with Jerry again “voluntold” beside me, we again found ourselves neck deep in The Mission and thrilled! I was also offered a job at the school along with coaching. We quickly went from two empty nesters to a very blessed couple with new friends and new kids to share our archery passion with. Seven months after becoming a Trout Creek Eagle, we were able to experience the win, but more importantly the reason for The Mission. Yes, the middle school team is State Champs. We also have the HS Girls State Champ, along with some other impressive wins and now we are headed to Nationals at the end of April. This will be the experience of a lifetime for many of our young archers. Let me take a moment though and let me describe the win for Jerry and me, the success of The Mission.

How do you define success when you are a coach of young minds? I describe it with awe and admiration for the achievements of our students through their actions and their mannerisms. They represented themselves and their teammates, their coaches and families, their school, and their community with outstanding sportsmanship along with their improved shooting skills. Twentyone kids, most of whom had never been away from home overnight before, overcame their fear and anxieties of a new challenge. Going to Helena on an overnight trip to compete in the first Montana State NASP Tournament was a BIG deal! These kids, their parents, and the community fundraised for months to raise the monies to travel to Helena. They did that while also playing other sports, some days with two practices a day to fit in archery. They did it willingly and some days even under duress but they didn’t give up.

Jerry and I were in the coaches’ line while our 4th and 5th graders started us off at the tournament. The new competitors quickly let the others know they were there for business. The kids on the line from Trout Creek showed safety, and proper shooting etiquette, and represented themselves and their team with a dignity we hadn’t seen before as a unit, as a team. Meanwhile, the rest of the team was altogether in the stands, noting safety mistakes being made on the line by others. Infractions can be overlooked when you have a group of volunteers helping, but our kids knew the rules and regulations and they were proud of themselves that they knew them! They were never disrespectful, in fact, we received many compliments on the team from folks who’ve been in the coaching game far longer than us. We had so many invisible wins that day, it’s hard to pick ones to share. We saw young archers on our team overcome their fears and stand tall on the line, performing the 11 Steps and doing it willingly and with joy.

Archery is not only a physical sport but a mental one as well. One thing I see in some of our team members is overcoming mental illness. The focus, the willingness to be coached, and the self-discipline needed to accurately shoot a bow can be tough for some folks. Watching team members overcome their inner struggles and stand on the line amongst people they’ve never met, and safely and accurately hit that target at 10 & 15 meters is truly one of the most humbling things I’ve been blessed to be a part of.

We head off soon to the NASP Western Nationals in Utah for what to many, will be a trip of a lifetime. I look forward to this trip for many reasons. My number one reason is to watch how archery affects these youngsters in so many positive ways. Personal development, self-discipline and self-confidence, patience, and friendships built along the way will carry these young archers to places they’ve not yet dreamed of and I am truly thankful to be a step in their process. I am humbled and incredibly thankful to be allowed to continue The Mission.

Ican be happy with that deer, I told myself as I glassed the ridge beyond. He was a slightly larger 3x3 mule deer. The light was just cresting over the small valley I had snuck into a couple of hours earlier. It was time to make a game plan. If I crawl up this long ridge, I might be able to tuck up somewhere and make an ambush. It was a 600 yd long crawl to the top, where the 3x3 was feeding along with a couple of smaller bucks and does. I took my pack and boots off to begin my adventure.

Every now and then I would poke my head up to keep track of him, and an hour later I found myself tucked up behind what had to be the smallest sagebrush a guy could find. I had a trail to my right well within shooting distance. The herd was working their way down at a snail’s pace. All I had to do was wait for five does to walk past me and bring the buck to follow. I had a great setup, arrow nocked, waiting patiently trying to pass the time. I started to glass around the valley, waiting for my chance. Luck was on my side today, I thought to myself.

As I glassed, I spotted a group of whitetail bucks topping the hill where I had first begun my hunt. A forky, a nice looking 3x3 and the biggest 4x4 I had ever seen, sat atop the ridge looking into the valley. Now I am not the person to complain when a plan is working out the way I want it to, but something told me I needed to change my plans and go for the big whitetail.

Ditching my plans for the 3x3, I began another hour-long crawl back down the ridge. Passing my pack, I downed some water, not knowing how long the new goal was going to take me.

Okay, time to see what I can make out of this situation, my hope was not to screw this up. As quietly as I could, I slid along the base of the ridge towards the whitetail. Finding the best opportunity to have with only a few shooting lanes, I ranged the trails and surrounding rocks in anticipation of where the 4x4 would walk out.

I’m glassing everything I can see, looking for any movement that would hint for this big buck to walk into my ambush. A slight movement on my left draws my attention, and it’s him! His rack was the first thing I see peeking from the brush, which is not exactly the best first scenario when bowhunting. My heart rate is increasing. He is on the closest trail I had ranged earlier. Perfect. This is going to happen right now. He takes one more step forward and I can now see his neck, head, and those antlers that we try so hard not to pay attention to when thinking about making a good shot.

Old deer are smart. They have a sense they are given after years of predators trying to kill them. To watch a smart deer, paying attention to every little detail is one of the coolest things I have experienced in the wild. This buck scanned the adjacent hill like a robot. I could watch his eyes move from the bottom to the top looking for any details that might be not natural. Moving his head slowly, scanning, taking in every detail. His eyes caught mine.

My heart was racing. I could hear it in my chest. I could feel my pulse in every finger and every toe. Adrenaline, so intense it made my eyes water and my head on fire from the ringing in my ears. Not being able to break his gaze, I felt like he was looking into my soul. I was frozen. He stepped backward disappearing into the bush.

Crushed at what just took place. My mind raced at the blown opportunity, trying to calm myself down. Questioning all the things I could have just