At the OSTA shoot you can shoot the course as many times as you want. They will change the stakes Saturday evening for Sunday
ETAR 2025
- Thread starter Bowhunter57
- Start date
I was reading in the OSTA Rules section, that they're going to have a Bare Bow classification. 
I sent them a message on their FB page, asking when those rules will be posted and applied to the shoots. They won't let me shoot in their competitions, because I string walk. They state in their rules that string walking isn't traditional.
I sent them a message on their FB page, asking when those rules will be posted and applied to the shoots. They won't let me shoot in their competitions, because I string walk. They state in their rules that string walking isn't traditional.
I see the barebow class on the flyer,, as for string walking im not sure where to go with that because i know a selfbow shooter who has (3) anchor points on his face and he has a boat load of trophys from the selfbow class that show he dominates the long shots,, but like all folks that aim he falls apart on the night time or coon shoots.
I think if there was an open bow class that should allow any form or traditional archery including gap, traditional pin ( vintage recurves with stock pin sliders) , and string walking,,, id personally be putting those targets out to 35+ yards,,, only to give a good challenge.
Ive been to one shoot where the first target you throw a knife at it and if you had no knife you took a zero.
Bottom line is whoever is running the shoot can make the rules,,, you as a string walker thats all but whats your fall back or what bow do you shoot pheasants with or aerials... i dont use any aiming method but i have a bow ready for any class,, every bow has wood and carbon arrows tuned to it, ive been to shoots where its woods only.
I think if there was an open bow class that should allow any form or traditional archery including gap, traditional pin ( vintage recurves with stock pin sliders) , and string walking,,, id personally be putting those targets out to 35+ yards,,, only to give a good challenge.
Ive been to one shoot where the first target you throw a knife at it and if you had no knife you took a zero.
Bottom line is whoever is running the shoot can make the rules,,, you as a string walker thats all but whats your fall back or what bow do you shoot pheasants with or aerials... i dont use any aiming method but i have a bow ready for any class,, every bow has wood and carbon arrows tuned to it, ive been to shoots where its woods only.
I sent a message thru Messenger to OSTA and got a reply that they're going to post the rules for the Bare Bow class. This individual also said that I should bring my bow to Ashland and that I would be welcome to shoot there. I see this as a good move for them to expand their membership and allow younger and/or newer members into their club. 
@Teddy31
I don't have a "fall back" for shooting aerials, because I don't shoot them.
You say you don't use any aiming method, but I disagree.
You use some sort of aiming method or you would never hit the target. Call it what you want, but you aim, in some way or fashion to get the arrow to the target.
This is the discussion that I had with one of the OSTA officials, concerning what they classify as "traditional". They would be better served to call themselves Ohio Society of Primitive Archers, as that's how they define their rules on bow classifications.
Clay Hayes builds his own self-bows and actually teaches a class on how to build your own self-bow. He's quite the accomplished self-bow archer and yet he deals with his target panic with a limb clicker. There's no question about his primitive approach, his skills to use the equipment and his success with the self-bows that he builds. I don't hold anything against him for using a limb clicker on a self-bow. Whatever it takes to be a better archer.
I don't want to become "crusty".
@Teddy31
I don't have a "fall back" for shooting aerials, because I don't shoot them.
You say you don't use any aiming method, but I disagree.
You use some sort of aiming method or you would never hit the target. Call it what you want, but you aim, in some way or fashion to get the arrow to the target. This is the discussion that I had with one of the OSTA officials, concerning what they classify as "traditional". They would be better served to call themselves Ohio Society of Primitive Archers, as that's how they define their rules on bow classifications.
Clay Hayes builds his own self-bows and actually teaches a class on how to build your own self-bow. He's quite the accomplished self-bow archer and yet he deals with his target panic with a limb clicker. There's no question about his primitive approach, his skills to use the equipment and his success with the self-bows that he builds. I don't hold anything against him for using a limb clicker on a self-bow. Whatever it takes to be a better archer.
I don't want to become "crusty".
Wiley E Coyote
Active Member
I see only the tiny spot I want to hit or I miss. How does a ball player throw a ball or shoot a hoop? How do you cast a fishing lure next to a stump or lily pad. How do people play Cornhole or a mountain man throw a axe or knife. No I don't shoot 40 yards I get game close that's what makes me want to hunt that's why I love bow hunting. Within 25 yards a person only needs his eyes brain and muscles if that's how they want to shoot. Humans have been shooting like that for thousands of years since the first bow was built. I'm not thinking of anything other than where my arrow is going when a shooter buck comes on the move past my hiding spot in November. I could never make it happen thinking about anything other than killing him. That's what works for me and I'm pretty sure that's how primitive hunters did it also. My eyes brain and muscle memory is how I aimI sent a message thru Messenger to OSTA and got a reply that they're going to post the rules for the Bare Bow class. This individual also said that I should bring my bow to Ashland and that I would be welcome to shoot there. I see this as a good move for them to expand their membership and allow younger and/or newer members into their club.
@Teddy31
I don't have a "fall back" for shooting aerials, because I don't shoot them.
You say you don't use any aiming method, but I disagree.
This is the discussion that I had with one of the OSTA officials, concerning what they classify as "traditional". They would be better served to call themselves Ohio Society of Primitive Archers, as that's how they define their rules on bow classifications.
Clay Hayes builds his own self-bows and actually teaches a class on how to build your own self-bow. He's quite the accomplished self-bow archer and yet he deals with his target panic with a limb clicker. There's no question about his primitive approach, his skills to use the equipment and his success with the self-bows that he builds. I don't hold anything against him for using a limb clicker on a self-bow. Whatever it takes to be a better archer.
I don't want to become "crusty".
Yeah never looked at the end of the arrow or any part of the bow. Always picked a spot on the target or deer.
Wiley E Coyote
Active Member
I will never be able to out score a gap shooter or anyone that has perfected a type of shooting technique where they are good at judging yardage! I don't care that's not why I shoot a bow. I'm murder at about 30ft walking running flying or standing still munching acorns. If it doesn't know I'm there it's probably riding home with me!
@Wiley E Coyote and @GoetsTalon
I agree with you on your method of shooting and think that's the way you should continue to do so.
Whatever the system a person is using and it's working for them, they shouldn't change. Changing for a "trend" or any other reason could cause a myriad of other issues.
Since the late 80s, I've shot an instinctive and/or gap method and did "okay" with it. To maintain good accuracy with that method, I had to put a lot of arrows down range...on a frequent basis.
It just wasn't working for me as good as string walking has, since I changed 6 years ago. Even with this shooting method, when I'm a little bit off with my anchor point, I've noticed that my eye/hand coordination takes over and I still hit the target.
The "bottom line" for me is that I don't trust my own instincts, when I could use a shooting system like string walking.
I agree with you on your method of shooting and think that's the way you should continue to do so.
Whatever the system a person is using and it's working for them, they shouldn't change. Changing for a "trend" or any other reason could cause a myriad of other issues.
Since the late 80s, I've shot an instinctive and/or gap method and did "okay" with it. To maintain good accuracy with that method, I had to put a lot of arrows down range...on a frequent basis.
It just wasn't working for me as good as string walking has, since I changed 6 years ago. Even with this shooting method, when I'm a little bit off with my anchor point, I've noticed that my eye/hand coordination takes over and I still hit the target.The "bottom line" for me is that I don't trust my own instincts, when I could use a shooting system like string walking.
Dan McMahon out scored many of them and still does to this day with wood arrows to boot,,,, ive shot with him many times and he does bot aim he looks... i do not aim i know i dont because i shoot in the pitch dark where you can only see the target,,, i have seen many who said they were instinctive fall apart in the dark because what was said above is true about shooters subconsciously aiming.... aim a flashlight at a target go back into the darkness and shoot thats how anyone will know if they are truely instinctive.
Ive met clay hays and when i saw him shoot he didnt have a clicker that must be something new but sure most if the primitive classrs i entered there can be no bow aids at all and in that class im all for it because if someone is shooting for score and putting anything on their bow to achieve a higher score then thats not fare,,, in the field its a whole different story.
Im glad i dont shoot for score anymore i saw this coming many moons ago.
Ive met clay hays and when i saw him shoot he didnt have a clicker that must be something new but sure most if the primitive classrs i entered there can be no bow aids at all and in that class im all for it because if someone is shooting for score and putting anything on their bow to achieve a higher score then thats not fare,,, in the field its a whole different story.
Im glad i dont shoot for score anymore i saw this coming many moons ago.
