Frank Addington, Jr. and his trusty sidekick Eli at the Southern Trophy Hunter's Big Buck Expo.

By Frank Addington, jnr.
 
At a recent Southern Trophy Hunter’s Big Buck Expo in Lakeland, Florida, I performed a series of shows that still have me thinking about just how lucky I am to be in the sport of archery. I love it when everything “clicks” and I shoot well, and that weekend the shooting was smoking hot!

My assistant, Eli, deserves much of the credit. He has a great arm and tosses the tiny baby Aspirin and other targets just right. A good thrower can make the show and Eli is a great sidekick. We met backstage about a month before the Lakeland show at another Big Buck Expo. The show promoter had asked Eli to toss targets for me and within a few tries I could tell he had the ability. 

We did an appearance Friday morning on a well-known radio satellite show called Bubba the Love Sponge. I sat in the studio for the interview, after which we went outside to perform on “air”.  The show staff videoed the show and also shot still photos and broadcast the performance live on their radio show. After a few tries I hit the baby Aspirin three times in a row without missing!
At the Expo on Saturday I did two first-shot shows on the pill. We followed up with one more first-shot show on Sunday. Needless to say, I was very happy with the weekend.

Eli is a fine young man and I appreciate his help. God has blessed me with exceptional vision and good hand-eye coordination. I also have quality equipment provided by folks like Mathews, Sims and Ezy-Eye Archery. My father sets up my bows and is the best equipment man in the business. I think he could tune a bow in his sleep, and I hope I’ve inherited half his equipment knowledge.
But God deserves the credit more than anyone. He gave me the ability and the drive. I will be happy to answer questions on instinctive shooting in future columns. Please send them to Rean at ABH&A, who will forward them to me. 
Here are a few other tidbits of information on my shooting and background:

Favorite bow?
My son’s first bow, a gift from the Groscup family. I cannot wait until he is old enough to draw the bow and do shows with me. He turns two in August, so it won’t be long (I started at age four).
My second favorite is “Old Faithful”, the blue bow made by SKY/Mathews Archery, which I have used on stage since 2004. Third is the signed bow Fred Bear sent me and which has never been strung.  It is on my desk as I write.
 
Do I hunt with a recurve, longbow or compound?
I have hunted with all three. The compound is what I use most of the time but I also enjoy gun hunting. I really enjoy spending time outdoors and the campfire is one of my favorite childhood memories – hearing stories told by my family year after year.
 
What type of broadhead do I prefer?
I like Muzzy. It’s tough, penetrates well and seems to be consistent.
 
Do I ever GAP shoot?
Nope, I only look at what I want to hit. There is nothing wrong with GAP shooting or sights, but I prefer instinctive shooting. It’s simple but takes practice to be proficient. It is also a short-range shooting style, in my opinion.
 
Archery heroes …
My folks, Fred Bear, Earl and Ann Hoyt, Al Henderson, Tom Jennings, Jim Easton, Matt McPherson, Dick Mauch and the late Rev Stacy Groscup. There are more but these are some of my biggest heroes. After my parents, Fred and Stacy were the two biggest influences in my archery career. Fred made me a better promoter and Stacy made me a better man.
 
Do I ever miss?
You bet I do. Sometimes it’s the equipment, sometimes it’s me. When you travel as much as I do, things sometimes get jarred or my body is simply jetlagged. That’s why I will never, ever take risky shots that endanger human life, like shooting an apple off someone’s head. That’s just ignorant and much too risky. 
    
What do I look at when I shoot?
The center of where I want the arrow to be. You have heard of “pick a spot”.  Well, my eyes zoom in on that baby Aspirin and I visualize the arrow going through the center of the pill. I don’t look at the bow, the arrow or anything else, only at my target.
 
Do I ever want to retire?
The late Rev Stacy Groscup could still hit Aspirin in mid-air with his bow at the age of 82. I have 41 years to go until I turn 82.
 
What is my signature shot?
It seems all exhibition shooters have a signature shot. I suppose my legacy will be to be the first archer to do an entire shooting exhibition while shooting every single shot from behind my back, even down to the baby Aspirin. I’ve performed this way since 1994. With God all things are possible.
  That’s the latest. Please send your questions to Rean. Until next time, adios and God bless.