Since my last post was about our Ice Fishing trip back in February, It's about time I updated Dad's Outdoor Journal...
Last fall on The Life of a Father of Five, I posted about #1 of 5's interest in, and subsequent foray into the world of archery.
A New Hobby (link)
In that post, I made a passing remark about "needing to start watching craigslist for a "too good to be true" deal of my own".
Last November, I put the RSS feed for wrong handed Left handed bows on craigslist into my feed reader, 
and have been watching since November. I have been watching for a deal as good as #1 of 5's (a "too good to pass up" deal). Last week - an "Almost too good of a deal to pass up" showed up. I got in touch with the seller.
It turns out that he was asking for just slightly more than I was hoping to spend on a bow (seeing as this is something I am going to experiment in) but when I actually saw the bow (and all the attached and included accessories) I could not say no. The accessories alone would have cost more than what he was asking for the whole set!
Worst case scenario? I re-sell this on craigslist for what I bought it for (which would be a great deal for someone else) - and I break even... No harm no foul.
So I have started the process of educating myself in the ancient art of archery. There is a lot to learn...
First off, I wanted to learn more about what I purchased, so I started doing some on-line research...
Here is what I have come up with so far...
The bow is a Ben Pearson Flame (or maybe Flame Hunter) compound bow. It has a 70 lb draw weight and a 29" draw length.
I have contacted Ben Ben Parson Archery in an attempt to find out more about the exact details of this model, and when (approximately) it was manufactured. The only thing I have been able to find out on my own is that Ben Pearson Archery made a "Flame Hunter" compound Bow in 1975. This bow seems to be much newer than that, unless it was kept in immaculate condition...
Accessories that were attached to the bow when I got it include...
A set of string silencers, a cable guard with rolling cable guide, a 4 pin site with bowstring peep site, and an overdraw rest with an integrated spring loaded drop rest.
The seller also included a camoflauge bag to keep the bow in, but it was just thin cotton (like a bed sheet), and I had purchased a case for #1 of 5's bow that did not fit last Christmas from a discount closeout place (aka - does not take returns) that just happened to fit this bow like a glove (see the first two photos!)
I have also reserved a couple of books from our local library system on the fundamentals of archery, and started looking into what else I need to get started... (Like arrows, an arm guard, and a release)
I am interested in seeing how this turns out...
As of now... I am not interested in BOW HUNTING... Just shooting targets at local Archery Ranges for some fun, relaxation, and some time with #1 of 5, but... Who knows what the future holds!?!?!
