Hunting wild Maine balloons: Archery lesson at Central Maine Archery

In a traditional hunter/gatherer society, I would find myself relegated to the vegetable garden, pulling onions from the dirt rather than losing arrows deep in the Maine woods.

Stalking prey isn't on my list of talents. I lack the stealth, aim and noiselessness of a huntress.

That is unless balloons were food, and were found in nature pinned to trees and low-lying brush, in which case I could feed the entire tribe.

My balloon-hunting confidence stems from a recent archery lesson at Central Maine Archery in Auburn.

The bow-centric shop, owned by married couple Jess and Tom Hartford, sells a range of bow-hunting and archery accoutrements. There's also a 16-lane indoor range and four-lane virtual range for fine-tuning skills.

My friend Liz and I worked on our Robin Hood skills last weekend for a story running in the Maine Sunday Telegram this weekend.

Jess Hartford gave us all the necessary pointers before risking her own well-being by handing me a bow.

Ten yards ahead stood a stack of layered foam with two targets affixed to its face. On each of the targets: an inflated red balloon.

Round after round, I sent arrows sailing. The balloon avoided them all.

In the lane next to me, Briggeman was likewise struggling. Our respective balloons had grown bored, I imagined, and were planning a dinner date, believing it was only a matter of time before we novice archers would forfeit.

Somewhere between arrow No. 10 and arrow No. 15, I triumphed. The balloon had no time to react before an audible "pop" sounded as the arrow plunged straight through the heart of it. I echoed the sound with an audible shout.

Briggeman persisted in her attack in the other lane, shooting a few more rounds and cursing the balloon under her breath. Finally, after checking to make sure the lanes were clear, she marched down to the target, pulled an arrow from the backstop and stabbed it into the balloon.

"There," she said. "I got it."

Our inner hunters had emerged. And we were both having balloon for dinner.

Central Maine Archery (30 Belgrade Ave., Suite C, Auburn - though the shop has a move planned in the near future to Washington St.) offers 1:1 lessons with a level II coach for $25/hour, which includes equipment and lane rental. FMI: 783-3060; www.centralmainearchery.com