Every experience I've had with Ross Outdoors has always been excellent!
Family owned and operated, they treat you as if you were a friend that came over to shoot the shit in the backyard. They have always provided good advice and tips to my husband, as well as tossing in a free hat or shirt on occasion for his business.
This review isn't about him though, it's about me, and my experience as a 5' nothing first time archer/bow hunter.
Let me start by saying- to ALL the ladies out there that shoot and want to improve, or want to learn-
THIS IS YOUR SHOP
Drop your husband off at Cabellas to sniff around, and drive over to Ross.
Why?
Because they actually want you to be better than your husband thinks you can be. They want you to drop tacks, skunk him and his friends, and feel so good, and so confident that you will get other ladies interested in this amazing sport. If you don't have a man, need a man or want a man to bother with- this place- and Nate will guide you and help you lean and improve so fast you will shock yourself.
Nate is an anomaly in this sport. Just my opinion, not gospel, but he is my current man crush (other than you honey.)
He is kind, patient and sooooo freaking tuned into this sport it's freakish. He knows what and why you can't seem to land your shot where you are aiming. He talks in laments terms and makes sure you understand why he's changing things, and what he hopes you to accomplish after.
I was an archery virgin. I asked for and received a Bear Finesse for Christmas. It was an eBay find from a man who's wife shot it twice and promptly said- "This sport isn't for me."
(Just a long shot- but I bet her husband was trying to teach her to shoot.)
I digress.... I walked into Ross and was treated like a customer, not a chick who was drug in by her husband. They got my draw length and poundage set for me, cut my arrows and adjusted my release. I went over to the archery lane to pop my very first shots.
My first arrow hit the wall, my second thwacked my arm. Some adjustments were made, and I was actually on the target, kind of.
We had to go, so my husband said he would work with me. To his account he was just genuinely trying to help me improve. He never really yelled, much, but, we are married. Married. The ladies reading this understand.
Two weeks later I go back into Ross and meet....
NATE.
Right off the bat I felt at ease. He worked with me, helped me with my posture and grip, fine tuned my bow, and basically told me to ignore my husband and focus on the basics. By the time I left I was hitting decent groupings at 10 yards.
But then I came home, dropped back to 20 yards and sucked. My husband made so many suggestions and tweaks that I was getting frustrated and decided I was the issue, not the bow.
Back to Ross, and Nate to figure this all out.
After about 10 minutes of observation, Nate saw that my whisker biscuit and pins didn't line up. It was slight, but was the reason my shots were low and left. My peep was also slightly off. We paper tuned my bow, and by the time I left I was nailing tight, tight groupings at 20 yards.
Came home, still hitting groupings that I'm very proud of, and finally feel confident and comfortable with my Bear.
Moral of my story- Sometimes you just need a place that is as invested as you are in your success. Go to Ross. Every guy in that place knows their shit, and wants you to improve. They will never be a big box store that gets people behind the counter that don't actually shoot.
And go see Nate- tell him the short blond chick who brought him cookies sent you. read more