Here on the West Coast, the mecca of the outdoor field shooters is the oak covered hills of the Straight Arrow Bowhunters, in Redding California.  For three days in May, archers from all over North America gather to shoot 70 marked distance 3d targets, over 3 days.  It is known formally as the Western Classic Trail Shoot, but referred to as either “Redding” or “the trail shoot”.  After skipping last years event due to my marathon training schedule, I have made plans to attend in 2008.  This years event takes place May 1,2,3,4.  Thursday is a blind draw Pro-Am event. Follow this link to the web page  for the event.

In preparation for the event, I have created stencils to make orange dots to the same specifications as those found on the Raglin 3-D animals, as well as yardages marked out to 100 yards out at the hay barn.  It is my hope that with practice I can improve upon my 2006 score of 1393 out of 1540.  At the Cabin Fever warmup shoot earlier this month I shot an 848 out of 924 on 42 targets.  If I can keep that pace I should be able to break the 1400 mark. 

 With the help of my daughters I made up dots to correspond to the appropriate distances:

4yds to 15 yds – 4 cm.

15yds to 35 yds – 7 cm.

35yds to 45 yds – 10 cm.

45yd- 88 yds. – 13 cm.

101 yds – 20 cm.

Since 42 percent of the targets are between 30 and 50 yards, that is the distances I’ll spend the most time practicing.   But there is always a crowd gatherered at the 101 yd. Bigfoot target, and the 88 yard  elk scene.  Plenty of witnesses, so I’ll be sure to work on my long distance game as well.