Karma Tales Archery Camp at Mayacama

Nestled in the hills of northern Sonoma County, California, not far from the charming town of Healdsburg, Mayacama is a private golf and residential community where a vibrant club life is joined by an active sporting life in an indescribably beautiful valley.

Mayacama contracted Hannah Gart of Karma Tales to teach an archery class to some of their members.

While she was teaching, she filmed her young students, and later edited the footage into the video above. When we teach we often use the camera and playback abilities of our phones to show the new student what their form really looks like. It's easier than bringing a full sized mirror out into the field.

Hannah Gart of Karma Tales taught a two day Archery Kids Camp at Mayacama. The video features Lauren and Lilly on their second day of Camp! 

For more information please contact Karma Tales at info@karmatales.com!

2015 Slick Stick by Bearpaw

The Slick Stick from Bearpaw Archery is a hybrid longbow. This 58 inch stick bow is in the same family as Bearpaw's Quick Stick line, but it uses cheaper production materials and is clearly a more affordable option. The Quick Stick line starts at $650 while the Slick Stick comes in around $300 and would make an excellent starter bow for someone new to archery or new to the modern longbow.

What makes this a modern longbow is the reflex-deflex design of it's bamboo limbs. More traditional long bows are known for their power and accuracy, but they are also known for uncomfortable hand shock. I've shot longbows that felt more like shooting a pistol than a bow, but the Slick Stick has remedied this by adding just the right amount of deflex in the limbs, which acts like shock absorbers.

The bamboo limbs of the Slick Stick are covered in Bearpaw power glass and they have a non-glare matt finish. The handle of the Slick Stick is made of American Black Walnut. The tips are layered Mycarta which can handle any fast flight string.

The Slick Stick is very light, weighing just under 1 pound. This means that the bow is easy to handle and won't fatigue the archer after hours of shooting. The 58 inch Slick Stick comes in draw weights from 15 to 55 pounds in 5 pound increments and can be drawn to 32 inches. The bow is quite and fast with the provided Whisper String, and the bow itself is guaranteed for 30 years! The warranty is with the bow, not the person who first bought it, so if you decided to sell your Slick Stick down the line, the warranty will transfer with it.

For more information on ordering this bow from Bearpaw, visit www.KarmaTales.com. You can also purchase the Archery Focus T-shirt worn by Hannah in this video at the KarmaTales online shop.

Bearpaw QuickStick and Super QuickStick

Introducing the newest, of the now legendary Quick Stick line; the 2015 60 inch Quick Stick and the custom 62 inch Super Quick Stick from Bearpaw in Germany.

The Quick Stick is a hybrid longbow incorporating reflex-deflex design into it's bamboo limbs. This makes this shorter Longbow extremely fast to shoot and forgiving on the shooter. Bearpaw has layered black and white Mycarta in between beautiful Rosewood and Bubinga to create a low pistol grip handle that is comfortable and fits perfectly in my hand.

The Super Quick Stick is the same design and materials just 2 inches longer in overall length and was made to accommodate my 32 inch draw length. The Quick Stick is Bearpaw's signature bow, and they have many subtle variations to fit the shooting styles of all archers.

Henry Bodnik has said, "In our opinion, it's performance and comfort are brought to an optimum. This hybrid bow is a perfect mixture of longbow and recurve - with recurve performance and longbow appearance. Short, handy and quick!" 

So why does Bearpaw in Germany make such a big deal about this little bow? For starters, it is incredibly fast for a longbow and even my 62 inch custom Super Quick Stick is relatively short compared to other stick bows of equivalent power and speed. Bearpaw has accomplished this by crafting very strong, yet very narrow bamboo laminate limbs and multi layered mycarta tips that are guaranteed to last a lifetime. So confident is Henry in his bow design and construction that every bow from Bearpaw comes with a full warranty for 30 years!

What makes this bow so special though is how it feels shooting arrows. Many of us like the added stability that a stick bow provides, but are shocked, quite literally, with the amount of hand-shock that a longbow can produce. The reflex-deflex narrow bamboo limbs and layered Mycarta throughout the handle all but eliminate shot vibration.

…which makes it quiet too!

Stability means accuracy and these limbs are rock solid. Solid, non-twisty limbs are the hallmark of all longbows, and now with the Quick Stick, that added accuracy doesn't come with cumbersome length, noise, and lack of power.

This custom 62 inch Super Quick Stick which pulls 50 lbs. at 32 inches quickly became my new favorite bow. I can honestly say that it is the best bow I've ever shot. Easy to handle and easy on the eyes this bow has set the bar high for all other stick bows. Bearpaw has several models to choose from depending on your needs and budget.

I would highly recommend getting you hands on one for 3D shooting, target practice, or your next big hunting excursion. This bow will get the job done… like the man said, "short, handy, and quick."

For more information on purchasing the Quick Stick or Super Quick Stick visit:

www.KarmaTales.com

Blog post written by Edward Seaton

www.ArcheryInstinct.com

www.EverSeenProductions.com

www.SonomaCountyWire.com

Bearpaw Mohawk Review

Chris Unger, Bearpaw's head bowyer in Germany set out to design a bow with the perfect grip. The result was the Mohawk, 60 to 62 inch, take-down, Recurve. The bow comes in different lengths depending on the size and strength of the detachable limbs, and is a perfect beginner bow to anyone new to the sport of Traditional Archery

Being a 3 piece take-down has it's obvious advantages, like being easy to cart around with you, but it also gives you an advantage if you are just starting out in the sport of Instinctive archery.

Most new archers will buy a bow that is too heavy for their skill level, just so they can brag about shooting a really heavy bow. With the affordable, Mohawk, newbies can purchase the correct limb strength for their skill level and know that when they are ready for more power, all they need to do, is change the limbs. Bearpaw even has longbow limbs that will fit the Mohawk riser.

The Mohawk riser is made from layered walnut, mycarta and then walnut again. The limbs are bamboo and Bearpaw power glass, with a non-glare matt finish. The tips are also mycarta and can handle any string.

The bow draws smooth all the way through a 32 inch draw. The Mohawk shoots fast and quiet and would make an excellent hunting bow at draw weights over 40 pounds; it's key features include being rugged and dependable under all conditions.

At just over $400, the Mohawk from Bearpaw is an affordable yet expertly crafted arrow launching platform with a handle that nears perfection. Limbs are sold from 20 - 55 lbs. so there is a Mohawk for every archer, and every bow made by Bearpaw is backed by a 30 year warranty!

Hannah Gart of Karma Tales is now offering the Bearpaw Mohawk through her Wellness Adventure Outfitter business at www.KarmaTales.com. Hannah originally caught the attention of Henry Bodnik of Bearpaw when she made a video highlighting the Bearpaw Navajo. Hannah plans on expanding the line of Archery Equipment she offers to her students in Sonoma County California and to the world by highlighting Archery's more feminine qualities.

For more information on how Hannah is approaching one of the sacred arts, see her ArcherYoga video below.

Blog post written by Edward Seaton

www.ArcheryInstinct.com

www.EverSeenProductions.com

www.SonomaCountyWire.com

Wind Warrior Bow Review

The Wind Warrior is a very quick, low profile bow modeled after the Hungarian or Mongolian horse bows. White Wolf Archery is located in Thorn Hill, Tennessee, and they make Longbows, Recurves, and all sorts of beautifully hand crafted Archery kit.

On the Wind Warrior Website it explains, "As its name implies, the Wind Warrior is remarkably swift and imparts more kinetic energy into the arrow. This gives the bow a flatter trajectory, making it considerably easier to hit targets at a longer range." Hannah found the bow incredibly quick for such a light draw.

Not only is this 60 inch bow a very stable and fast shooter, but it will win best in show wherever it is taken. The turquoise colors in the riser match with the inlayed fabric covered limbs that Hannah was able to choose for herself, making this an instant favorite in her collection. 

Tony Semenuk, owner and head bowyer at White Wolf Archery says, "I have also continued to step out of the box with White Wolf. I now offer more colors, styles, and personalization than ever as customization has always been my priority. Like with anything else, give me the wood to do it and I'll find a way to make it."

Tony goes on to explain about the Wind Warrior, "this bow has a very small profile for the amount of limb that is actually coiled up and the riser of moves back towards the shooter by almost 3 inches, giving it a great early string weight. The Wind Warrior is immensely stable and is sure to land arrows right where you look. An all around amazing bow, it will steer you in the right direction for hunting, competition, and 3D."

"Wood is an old soul and every ring has its own story to tell. It's willing to teach us to speak its language and transform it into greatness. All we need to do is listen." 

For more information on White Wolf Archery and all of the their beautiful traditional equipment, please visit their website at: www.whitewolfarchery.com

For more information on Karma Tales visit: www.karmatales.com

Blog post written by Edward Seaton

www.ArcheryInstinct.com

www.EverSeenProductions.com

www.SonomaCountyWire.com 

Rinehart 9 Inch Field Target Review

The 9 inch Rinehart Field Target, or RFT for short, is a target that was designed to be taken anywhere. Rinehart's website proclaims the RFT, the ultimate go-anywhere practice partner.

Hannah and I use ours behind our house on an old abandoned railway line. It is a breeze to carry with you.

It's made out of the same stuff as the Rinehart 18 - 1. I've had my 18 - 1 for 10 years, and it's still stopping arrows today, so I'm confident that this 'toss'able version will last for awhile.

It's got a heavier flat base, they say it has a lump of sand in there. This is to insure that the RFT always lands upright and ready. The RFT was made to be thrown.

Stump shooting is great, but in my experience, if you're loosing expensive arrows regularly, you won't go that often. Instead of looking for stumps to shoot, that could be thick on all sides with brush and undergrowth, now I'm looking for suitable backdrops that will stop my arrows if I miss this portable target. I find missing to be inevitable...

I'm shooting 50 pounds of draw with a 125 grain field point, and the RFT can easily stop my arrows. It was built to withstand the much faster feet per second modern compounds and crossbows, so all of you shooting traditional equipment will not shoot through this little target.

You just can't beat such a versatile little target for under 40 bucks. I ordered mine from 3Rivers Archery supply and I got them within a week. Throw it in the car, or down a hill, the Rinehart Field Target will always land on its base, and always give you something to shoot at.

For archery instinct this is Edward Seaton, reviewing the 9 inch Rinehart Field Target. Thanks for watching.

Blog post written by Edward Seaton

www.ArcheryInstinct.com

www.EverSeenProductions.com

www.SonomaCountyWire.com 

Archery Eye-Candy 1

In this, the very first Archery Instinct Eye-candy segment we will be highlighting, Zombies, Chinese lessons, and finally a very beautiful Bow Review Video.

First up is this, unfortunately grainy, very handheld, almost unwatchable, shaky video of a Chinese bombshell having a lesson.

What does this video have to do with Instinctive shooting? Search yourselves, Gentlemen, and I'm sure this video will stir your more basic instincts. After you're done being "stirred" notice the Archery range they are shooting at. It is outdoors, yes, but looks like it is being run like an American bowling alley. We would love to see more ranges like this here in America… that was sincere, and not a sexual innuendo.

Next up in the AI Archery Eye-candy blog post is a Zombie apocalypse!

This short film, was produced and co-directed by, Grizzly Jim of Merlin's Archery Adventures. These guys win "best makeup" and "best effects" in our series. Some serious time was spent on this video. The writing, staging, props, makeup, direction and editing are all top-notch and the acting is up there too. Jim plays himself, and the leading role was carried by Howard Wilkins.

In the description of the video, Grizzly Jim explains that, "Please note that our star (Howard) had never shot a bow before we started filming... you'll be Pleased to know that he has well and truly got the bug now!" Not only did he catch the bug from these zombies, but he managed some decent form and shooting too. Nice work, Howard! This video was great even if you think Zombies are silly. 

Last, but certainly not least is Hannah Gart of Karma Tales in California discussing the Samick Stingray.

Hannah is bringing a different sort of elegance to the sport of Archery. While most manufactures and publications want to focus on their "killing" abilities, Hannah is focused on form and esthetic. As a yoga instructor she is drawn to the mind and body focus that comes with Instinctive Archery.

In this video we see her, looking stunning (must be all the yoga) as she throws arrows at her coastal archery range in Sonoma County, California. It must be true what they say about California girls… and yoga.

Blog post written by Edward Seaton

www.ArcheryInstinct.com

www.EverSeenProductions.com

www.SonomaCountyWire.com 

Shooting Arrows. Shooting Images.

This is my camera. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My camera is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My camera, without me, is useless. Without my camera, I am useless. I must shoot my camera true. I must shoot straighter than those filming around me. I will...

My camera and I know that what counts on set is not the number of frames we fire, the lights or our flashes. We know that it is the focus that counts. We will focus...

My camera is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its glass and lens. I will keep my camera clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

I like shooting stuff. I've always liked shooting stuff, and I consider myself jolly lucky that some how I've managed to carve out an existence where I get to shoot stuff on a regular basis. I shoot places, I shoot people, sometimes I shoot puppies. Thankfully I shoot them all with my trusty camera.

Like I said, I've always enjoyed shooting stuff, and I'm not sure where it came from originally. My mother I suppose, was the one who first encouraged me. A stick and some string with dowel rod arrows was my first weapon. Mother said that I had ancient Archery roots. Our great, great, great, forefather in Ancient Briton was a Yomen and feathered the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Not sure how actuate that is, but I'll buy it because it fits, and it's romantic as hell.

Of course now, it's mainly 24 frames per second that I'm shooting, but recently I've begun to create a real Archery program with my Girlfriend who caught the Archery bug from me. Truth be told, she's a much better shot than me, which is frustrating because she's only been shooting for a fraction of the time.

Here is a video we recently produced for Bodnik Bows in Germany, highlighting their Bearpaw Navajo; a beautiful 40 pound recurve with blonde accents.


The video caught the attention of Henry Bodnik of Bearpaw Bows and he commented via Skype that Hannah had excellent form and "looks like she's been shooting for years." I'll take that too, as Hannah Gart is my first official student.

Hannah runs a wellness retreat and activities business here in Sonoma County, California. It turns out there was considerable interest in Archery from the Lululemon crowd, and that the practice of Archery is similar to practice of Yoga.The first line of the wiki Yoga page reads, "Yoga (/ˈjoʊɡə/; Sanskrit: योग) is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline, that aims to transform body and mind." That is Archery in a nutshell.

Hannah and I have done several classes and workshops, and are gearing up to do more. Here is a video we recently made describing what a Yoga/Archery, or Archeryoga workshop looks like.


We are focusing on the Traditional form of archery, or Instinctive Archery which means there are no sights and no mechanical aides. The only piece of equipment that needs tuning is the Archer.

You can find out more about Karma Tales Archery Workshops on the Karma Tales website and join the conversation at Karma Tales Facebook page.

Blog post written by Edward Seaton

www.ArcheryInstinct.com

www.EverSeenProductions.com

www.SonomaCountyWire.com