Archery/bowhunting

[At-Ta'if]

I'll be out hunting for 3 days with some brothers insha'Allah, from Wednesday to Friday. I bought the remaining items on my list including my backpack, gloves, rangefinder, cap, and of course, obtained my hunting licence. Please make dua'a that we have a successful hunt, and even if we don't shoot anything, that we have a great time.

BUCK Commander daypack:



Leupold RX-600 Rangefinder (these things are so dear!):



Stoney Creek fingerless gloves (they're fingerless as I'll be using a release aid which is extremely sensitive):



CAT semi-camo cap:



I had another indoor session tonight and shot a few "bullzeyes" so I'm pretty confident with my shooting, alhamdulillah.

[Islam_Junkie]

^ awesome, inshallah you're successful, let us know how you go.

[At-Ta'if]

I had another practice session at Diamond Valley Archers and I am also a member now, which means I have more access to the facilities, more so once I am qualified. It's not easy to qualify (you must be able to shoot a certain number of points at ranges of 20 - 60 metres), but when you do, they give you the code for the lock and you can use the facilities whenever you like basically. The qualifying process is more for them to trust you and get to know you, rather than actually test your shooting.

Also, my friend who tried archery is now taking up the sport, he became a member as well and is going to purchase his bow this week insha'Allah; then accompany us on our hunting/camping trips, insha'Allah.

If anybody (both brothers and sisters) is interested in taking up the sport, don't hesitate to contact me as I'll be able to point you in the right direction in terms of how to get started etc.

Very entertaining and a good stress reliever (something about letting arrows fly), not to mention the rewards.

[At-Ta'if]

From medieval times through the nineteenth century, archers of the Islamic crescent, stretching from Turkey eastward to India, were renowned for both their exceptional skills and superior weapons. As a necessary means of advancing the spread of Islam, weapons traditionally held a religious association in Muslim cultures.

The bow and arrow, which are extolled in many sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, held a special place above all others. Training in archery was seen as a religious duty and a sign of status, and the craftmanship of archery equipment was highly esteemed. The legacy of Islamic archery is exemplified by the archery traditions and equipment of Ottoman Turkey (1453–1922), of Iran during the Safavid–Qajar periods (1502–1925), and of the Indian subcontinent throughout the Mughal era (1526–1857), which blended Islamic and Hindu cultural elements.

The bows used by Islamic archers are among the finest of the Asiatic composites. Made with a wood core, sinew backing, and horn belly, they are often fairly short and strongly reflexed. Ideally suited to horseback archery, the bow design emphasizes speed of cast and distance of shot using relatively light arrows. The sinew backing is covered with thin bark or leather and varnished to make it waterproof. On Persian and Mughal bows the horn belly is covered as well. Painted decoration is common and typically quite elaborate. Arrows are made of wood or reed, with bulbous nocks, low fletching, and an assortment of tanged metal heads. Nocks are often colored inside the notches, and shafts are decorated with paint, metallic foil, or other materials. Flat, open quivers of leather or cloth were worn by horse archers on a belt at the waist. Cylindrical and box-like cases were also used for arrow storage.

Use of the bow and arrow continued across the region well after the introduction of firearms. The bow was used alongside guns in hunting and warfare, and was preferred for its familiarity, speed of use, and suitability to horseback. Sport archery also was widespread, and flight archery (shooting for distance) was a particularly favorite pastime of Islamic archers. Flight archery reached its zenith among the Ottoman Turks, who used specialized bows and arrows to achieve distance records of 800–900 meters that remained unsurpassed until the middle of the twentieth century. By the turn of the nineteenth century, the bow and arrow was in decline in the Middle East, and today traditional archery craftmanship and customs are no longer practiced. The legacy of Middle Eastern archery endures through extant equipment and the substantial corpus of traditional Islamic literature on the subject.

This online exhibit presents traditional Turkish, Persian, and Mughal archery equipment from the Museum’s Grayson Archery Collection. Included are military and ceremonial items, flight archery equipment, and artworks depicting traditional archery gear.

bow1.jpgbow2.jpg

Turkey
18th century

A target or war bow; covered with thin leather on back; leather lining inside nocks. Ivory insert where horn meets at handle. Painted on back and belly. Back is painted brown with gold floral pattern; three elongated, copper-colored medallions on each limb containing a floral motif. Belly side also contains gilt floral design; ends are red with gold cartouches containing signature and dates. Gold tips. Signed and dated: Ahmed Suran, made 1159 AH (1743 AD), presented 1164 AH (1748 AD).

108 cm long, 3.3 cm wide at mid-limb, 1.4 cm thick at mid-limb.

bow3.jpgbow4.jpg

Turkey
19th century

A small bow, probably for a woman or young person. Back is covered with red leather and painted with gold foliate pattern; in center of each limb is a gold lozenge containing a floral motif. Gold tips, handle is painted green and gold. Horn belly is mostly bare, except for green painted sections tips with pink flowers. Signed and dated on back: 'Abdi, 1289 AH (1866 AD). Remnants of another inscription on upper limb of belly side.

83 cm long, 2.2 cm wide at mid-limb, 1.1 cm thick at mid-limb.

bow5.jpgbow6.jpg

Turkey
18th–19th century

A classic Turkish flight bow. Sinew backing is painted red; leather lining inside nocks. Insert missing between the horn at handle.

105 cm long, 3.0 cm wide at mid-limb, 1.4 cm thick at mid-limb.

arrow1.jpg

Turkey
18th–19th centuries

Military or hunting arrow. Barrelled wood shaft. Black feather fletching, three fletches, radial form, glued on. Bulbous self nock, painted red on inside of notch. Sinew reinforcement decorated with of bands of maroon and gold paint. Steel bodkin type point, with diamond cross-section. Thin brass, horn and green washers between base of point and shaft.

67.8 cm long, shaft diameter is 0.5cm.

arrow2.jpgarrow3.jpg

Turkey
18th–19th centuries

Four military arrows for use with Crimean Tartar bow. Straight wood shafts. Hawk feather fletching, three fletches, radial form, glued on. Bulbous self nocks, painted red on inside of notch. Hand-forged steel broadhead points, ridged at the base and thickened towards the tip; sinew reinforced. Decorated with red and gold paint.

86.5 cm long, shaft diameter is 0.8 cm.

quiver1.jpg

Turkey
18th–19th centuries

A wooden quiver for flight arrows. Rectangular form, tapering toward the base. Decorated with floral designs and intertwining stem and leaf patterns, all in gold with some details in gray, white, and black paint. Ebony and ivory inlay border around the base of the quiver.

68.5 cm long, 4.4 cm wide at top.

[Islam_Junkie]

^ you'll prob run into my husband eventually at DVA, although his archery buddy has gone to turkey recently...plus with Ramadan and work commitments he prob won't be going as much over the next month or so. I think they're planning on signing up as members soon. I am yet to go though. It'll have to be on Saturday morning for the beginners which can be a difficult time. Plus Monday nights are out cos of bootcamp.
Have you tried their 3D targets?

[At-Ta'if]

^ you'll prob run into my husband eventually at DVA, although his archery buddy has gone to turkey recently...plus with Ramadan and work commitments he prob won't be going as much over the next month or so. I think they're planning on signing up as members soon. I am yet to go though. It'll have to be on Saturday morning for the beginners which can be a difficult time. Plus Monday nights are out cos of bootcamp.
Have you tried their 3D targets?

Insha'Allah, it would be good to meet your husband, as a brother and somebody who has a common interest. Even though I'm a member, it seems like I can only attend 3 days a week; Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, due to other commitments.

They erect a dinosaur and a wild boar on Monday nights towards the end of the session and we shoot at it, but that's all. They have a dedicated outdoor field with dummy animals set strategically where you shoot at them from different angles and elevations etc. it's very close to the real thing. I'm looking forward to participating in that.

This looks like one sport I will be mastering and doing for a lifetime, insha'Allah ta'aala.

[At-Ta'if]

For anybody shooting recurve bows, I've been told that you need to shoot more often, perhaps 3 times a week to maintain your form as it is all instinctive.

On the other hand, compound bows don't require such frequent practice because of the mechanical aids, such as sights and release aids.

Somewhere down the line I will purchase a recurve/composite bow insha'Allah, ideally an Ottoman Puta bow (short target bow):

puta bow.JPG

[At-Ta'if]

This is the culmination of years of continuous practice and training; do not underestimate how hard pulling 92 lbs is. Most fully grown adults would not be able to pull it a single time at their first try; probably only after some practice will they be able to pull it a couple of times. Remember, recurve bows are not like compound bows where the energy is stored in the cams/wheels and you only pull about 20-30% after the let-off point; you are pulling and holding the weight all the way through. In fact, the more you pull the harder it gets.

[The Poet]

Chin ups akhi, chin ups, and if you want to really be sure, with extra weight placed on you (such as a weight vest). All the weight is placed in the same regions as pulling a bow. Lats, tri's, bi's, outer chest, trapezius and infraspinatus. And you're pulling more than 90 pounds consecutively as well. Try it out and let me know if you find a difference inshallah. :P

*I've found that close grip is the most effective exercise for an all round workout for those regions. Wide grip good for lats and tris and infraspinatus, reverse palm close or wide is good for back and lats too. But normal close grip is good for the ones I mentioned for pulling a bow to my knowledge.

[At-Ta'if]

It sure will help, but if you don't get the technique right, the muscles are useless.

I'll give my 60 lbs bow to a newbie on steroids and I can guarantee you he will not be able to pull it.

[At-Ta'if]

Speaking of poundage, how's this for a bow: 106cm Turkish flight bow rated at 130 lbs at a 70cm draw. The bow-maker in the picture is only pulling it 50cm.

130.jpg

[The Poet]

It's not about the biggest muscles akhi, it's strength training. It's all about opposite force and being able to equal it or beat/oppose it. It applies to anything that emits an opposite force, the more you get your body used to that force/weight, the easier it is to oppose, no matter what form it comes in. Draw weight, free weight, body weight, all weights! lol. Kheir inshallah brother, may Allah give you tawfeeq in this.

[At-Ta'if]

Thanks for the advice akhi, taken on board without a doubt!

Ameen, it all began in November 2011 when I wanted to try something different; now I have the fever.

I have some plans for the future and I will disclose them in due time, insha'Allah.

[At-Ta'if]

Beautiful morning training session at the club today; subhanAllah, the weather was amazing.

I passed my 20m and 30m tests so I'm qualified to shoot 40m now, alhamdulillah. I'm very pleased with how I went as my groupings were fairly tight. However, I have realised one of my arrows tend to be a bit off, and I suspect it's either my first or last shot. I'm going to work on improving that insha'Allah. It could even be a bent arrow so I will number them and see if I pick up a pattern.

Worshipping Allah (swt) while fasting and enjoying myself; I could not ask for more, alhamdulillah!

I'm happy because if I was shooting at a deer with this level of accuracy, I would surely hit the vital organs; the heart or lungs.

20 metres: 10 10 10 10


30 metres: 10 9 9 8

[Ummi_Abdulmalik]

Mashallah! what a good aim.

[At-Ta'if]

Mashallah! what a good aim.

I just edited my 20m score to 10, 10, 10, 10! The outer yellow ring is 9 and the inner ones 10 points.

Getting there, insha'Allah ...

[Ummi_Abdulmalik]

even better bro!
now you need to attempt horse riding while shooting and get 10 haha

[At-Ta'if]

even better bro!
now you need to attempt horse riding while shooting and get 10 haha

Even before shooting horseback I would need to learn how to ride one!

[Ummi_Abdulmalik]

Even before shooting horseback I would need to learn how to ride one!

ha ha that might be required.

[Pink]

Where is there a gun shooting range?
Does anybody know how much?