Trad Gang

I was out enjoying my Kodiak Magnum recurve this afternoon after work when my Dad told me my buddy was on the phone. He's a very serious and successful hunter for his age. In the last 3 years he's killed 2 bucks over 140inches he really knows his stuff. He shoots trad on occasion we actually took the recurves out last year and he got a nice rabbit. Anyhow he asks what im doing and I tell him that im shooting my recurve. He asked why I was doing that this time of year and I told him because I want to hunt with that bow this year.

First thing he says is your crazy and is pretty much trying to change my mind and hunt with the compound like him and everyone else I hunt with. He's not the first one to say this either a lot of peoples first reply is what would want to do that for? Has this happen to anyone else? How do you about speaking to people in a civil manner so it doesn't start a big debate? What doesn't make sense to me is these kills typically kill deer at 20 yards or less so what difference does it make if your shooting the deer at that range with a longbow recurve compound or even shotgun? Please lets keep this clean adult and civil I just want to know if this has happened to anyone else and how they went about it.

Lots have told me its not for them.
Never had anyone tell me I shouldn't do it.

Why in the world would you worry about what someone else thinks about your hunting?

I don't get it.  Who are you hunting for?  Why would anything they have to say make a hill of beans difference to you?

Hunt legally.  Hunt ethically.  And....let everyone who doesn't understand your pursuits pound sand.

tHEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FUN & SIMPLISITY OF JUST BEING ABLE TO SHOOT WITHOUT ALL THE GIZWIZ STUFF. been the wheel route my self, but went back to trad to have fun. it's not about the kill anymore.

Tell them that you actually have fun shooting trad equipment.  :D

I always tell them that it is the hunt that I enjoy and not just the kill.  It takes more time and pratice to get the deer into my range.  The excitment that I get when this happens is the best.  The knowledge that I have won that battle is great.  Sometimes I don't even need to shoot.  They don't like to hear this but I point out that alot of the stuff that I use I have made myself.  It is just not about that 1 day in the woods , but it is the fact that I love archery and the hunt, so if I can do it year round then all the better.  I get to enjoy shooting my bow everyday, so if I bought a compound and only shot in the season my life would seem empty

Ask them if flyfishing is a waste of time since it is easier to catch fish by drowning worms.

When others tell you that your nuts to do something a different way than they do,its usually becuase they are not informed about topic. I taught Hunters Saftey with a group of insructors,all bow hunters,who really didn't know about Traditional and did'nt care to. It's sad to see groups at odds who really have the same common goal.....to hunt and have fun.

My buddy Keith and I shot a tournment this weekend, we had a compound shooter in our group, who asked if we wound alot of animals. Now Keith is one of the best longbow shooters in the state, I am probably above average at hunting distances, the compound shooter was askin a honest question and was not tryin to bash us, he is going off information from others, I as well as Keith tried to explain that you have to be sure the shot is there ie: range, angle, animal posture etc..  and you are comfortable with it and stay within your comfort range, ya might have to let alot of deer walk that he would normally be a slam dunk with the bow he was shootin, and of the dozens of deer I have taken with a bow, its been a very long time since I killed one over 20 yards. ... not sure we ever got through to him, but this seems to be a fairly common thought process, I am not a big fan of posting hero shots of kills but maybe we actually need to, as proof a stickbow can be a superior hunting bow in the right hands...

Just tell him that a traditional bow is the style that you prefer to shoot and hunt with. If he is resonable then he will accept it. If he is one of those folks who can't understand why someone would make a choice different from the one that they made, then the conversation wouldn't go anywhere anyway.

Not to talk down about your friend but a lot of people can't understand that after they made what they consider to be a well thought out decision how someone else could make a different one. Sort of like Ford trucks vs. Chevy trucks, everyone has their favorite for personal reasons, but they both haul stuff and get you where you need to go.

Ask him what he thinks bowhunters did before the wheel bows came along.  We have a history of thousands of years...his bow...about 35 years.
Crutches are okay if you have trouble walking without them.

And from my side, I see more folks who are amazed with what we do, rather than those who are against it.

because they can't!!!

Get new friends...........

Ditto what Biggie said.

all the time  

Not meaning this in a bad way but most people who say things like that are in it for a different reason.  As stated before, for most of us it's about the hunt itself and for a lot (not all) of the guys who have a hard time understanding why we do what we do it's still about the kill.  I say this because as ashamed as it makes me I used to be one of those guys that thought it was stupid to hunt with a stick bow because I was obsessed with the kill  :(  .  But, I am proud to say that I grew out of that with a little help about five years ago  :thumbsup:  .  Not trying to talk down to anyone, to each his own and we're all in it for different reasons.  As long as we all do it legally and ethically and love doin' it.

I get it all the time, and I believe its b/c there jealous that they cant do it and also the are not aware that trad gear is still used all over the world.

Isn't bowhunting about challenging yourself as a hunter(getting close)?
Why wouldn't a bowhunter(compound or trad) understand that?
I would guess there is a LOT he doesn't understand.

I'll tell you what Nick, I had a couple good buddies that were very concerned about me switching over. From there point of view it was hard enough to kill big game animals with a bow why make it harder (in their opinion) than it already is. Well, I am a pretty stubborn guy so I didn't let that put me off. The short of it is that since I switched to traditional equipment I have enjoyed hunting more so I have hunted longer and harder (and smarter) than before. The end result is that I have shot many more critters with my bow than they have including my best whitetail buck and a real nice 6x6 bull elk. They both now own recurves but are not  confident enough in their shooting to hunt with them yet.  My suggestion is go out there, have fun, hunt hard and shut those guys up with your results! Good luck!!!

I give my compound bow buds (including my brother) grief about having training wheels. They give me grief about using caveman tools. None of us either mean any or take any offense by it. They respect me for having the dedication to practice all year so I can stay up to snuff. I actually have respect for them to be able to tune a rather complex piece of equipment to be as precise as they are. Let's face it, under some circumstances the average compound bow shooter can be far more precise than the average stick bow shooter (notice I said shooter, not hunter).

I have never had anyone genuinly not understand why I shoot trad equipment, but if I did, I think I would simply say that it's what feels right for me.

My gal is an excellent shot with her recurve. She can nail a Skoal can lid five out of six times at 20 yards nearly all day, but up until this year did not feel comfortable taking game with it. She used her compound and is darn good with that too. She wasn't ready until she was ready. She was more concerned with a quick, clean, kill than about trying to please me (or anyone else) or trying to be like anybody. She had confidence with the wheels, now she has confidence without.

I think most archers (wheel or sans wheels) understands what archery is about. Trad is meerly a further extension of that same thinking.

I have said it before: Traditional is as traditional does.

OkKeith

I just tell them that I hunt better with one.  I am faster, get more shots off, can move in the woods better and learn quicker.

Do you ever think that maybe they're insecure.....and secretly afraid you're going to be successful with traditional tackle???

Maybe you'll be even moreso (successful) than they are (if they're the types to keep score).

I'd be willing to bet you that deep down there are those NOT among us who hope we fail.

Yes....I said it.

Just do like I do and out shoot them.  :D    :thumbsup:

I actually had a falling out with my father in law over my choice to use only longbows and recurves.  His view was that it was not as productive and efficient as compound bows.  I used compounds for a couple years and killed deer out at 50 yards on average.  But I had no fun at all doing it.  We went for 6 years hunting the same woods and not speaking until I put down a buck he had gutshot from 15 yards out.  I used a JD Berry Serpintine and shot it from about 33 yards with a heart shot.  We are hunting buddies now, have been for years. Only now he knows it too!

Funny....I've never had a compound or rifle shooter question me, belittle me, put me down, criticize me or whatever.  Most of the time they are very inquisitive, but respectful.  I get the impression from most of the guys that they envy my ability and wish they had what it takes to do it.

Other than that, I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks.  

Brett

some times your silence speaks volumes. just listen to their dribble and go shoot your bow and have fun.

I have run into only one person who belittled my equipment. He is a fellow club member who seemingly exists to punch people's buttons. I have not learned his name, though I am sure he or someone has told it to me.

I took the liberty of looking at your profile, Nick, and see that you are twenty. I am an old fart, and have been twenty once, or a couple times. People at twenty are still figuring out who they want to be, testing themselves and those around them. I expect that your friends are roughly the same age as you, and are punching each others' arms and exerting peer pressure and all that stuff. You sound as though you are past that stage, or were never inclined to see to it that your buddies walked the same way as you.

As a human being, I have never walked (easily) the same path as the masses. I have always been just a hair out of plumb, always seeing things from a different angle than most folks.

Traditional archers, and I started before there was the designation "traditional", are typically of that ilk, willing to do things differently, to think more deeply about what they do, willing to do things the hard way because the rewards are greater, and willing to take the ribbing, or the flack. Only you can decide what is important to you, and how to walk your path. If people around you are really insisting that you are wrong for following your heart, then you must evaluate whether these are good or harmful people to be around.
Perhaps they will mellow with age. We all do, to some extent, some faster than others.

Killdeer
Christmas, 1969
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Misspent%20Youth/Christmas19692pspedit.jpg)

Wow this thread took off! Thanks for all the intelligent replies I really appreciate it. It just bothers me cause we've been friends our whole lives. I get the feeling maybe he's worried of me failing because of a stickbow and just wants to see me put animals on the ground like he does. I tell him im not worried about it ive only shot 2 deer with a bow that have been over 25 yards. My Uncle encourages me because he wants to see me excel he's a modern archer but also realizes that a stickbow is an effect killing weapon. Where me and him hunt is mainly brush so are farthest shot is 20 yards.

Like others said were all out there for different reasons my friends are out for a big buck im out for a DEER. Sure id love a big rack on my wall and I pray every year that ill kill a big buck but as much money as we pay for licenses hunting apparel and gear fuel all the things that make it possible for us to hunt not to mention the over abundance of deer I done want to spend a season letting deer after deer go sorry but you cant eat memories.

Has he ever tried shooting traditional? There's an old saying; you will always fear what you do not understand...

I'd just read what killdeer wrote again and let it be. Some of your buddies want you to be like them. Who do they look up to?  :rolleyes:

Trad Bows are Cool! Fun to shoot all year long! Great for hunting in cover and short/quick shots. Alot of my (non-trad) hunting buddies think I'm nuts too. Been at this game for almost ten years stalking and still hunting and still havn't put a deer down with trad gear. Many, many, many almosts. Then comes firearm season and POW! "Cutlets!" But I keep at it with my bow.........

You Have What It Takes Young Man! Stick With It!

... mike ...

I have always had more amazement and entirest than rude comments at shoots and such, part of the reason is that I caught on pretty quick to instictive shooting and could alway shoot as well as they could at close range. The thing that worried me the most early on about hunting with trad bows was the fear of wounding an animal.
 When I shot compounds I used to be nuts about antlers to the point that it detracted from my hunting and made it hard to hunt with anyone. Now I don't worry so much about antler size but more about the time spent outdoors and the relationship building. Don't get me wrong though I think quality management is great but horn lust is something that can quickly ruin hunting.
At the same time I have missed some oppurtunities at big bucks because of my self imposed limits since shooting stickbow, and have yet to bag a mature buck. Maybe this year right.
One thing you might mention do with your uncle is have you both stand with arrows nocked and shoot a certain amount of arrows at the same target as fast and as accurate as possible. Be fun about it, because you will be done(depending on your quiver set up) before he has even started and will probably hit the bulleye too. Thus one advantage for you. This is a big plus for thick brush.
If this is your first year with trad equipment make sure you get your bow as quiet as possible and watch out for string jumping deer, it will bite you if you aren't careful as it did me and is an easy way to loose a deer.
Mostly have fun with him, uncles were made for teasing anyway.

Yea he owns a 45# recurve and a 60# longbow that he rarely shoots. Like I said he just messes with them last year he shot a rabbit with the recurve but for some reason he wont try deer hunting with them. Hes not a bad shot either for someone who doesnt shoot much if he took it serious I really think he would be good.

The same kind of thing happened to me as well..  Twenty plus years ago my "group" of buddies were pretty serious about bowhunting.. The traditional side of bowhunting started to call to me louder and louder. The look on some faces when they saw my first recurve was one of shock..

All I can say is to do what is right for you,, and do it well. Be a traditional bowhunting role model.

BTW, all but one of my buddies from the late 1980's have given up archery and bowhunting. They never did have the fever of "bowhunting" as bad as I did. Also, I have new traditional friends.

John III

I agree with GMMAT .

I remember hunting with my bow for dinosaurs and cowboys when I was 5. As I got older; I hunted for woodchucks and squirrels; raccoons - and did some stalking on deer.

I did though hunt deer with a gun. As I hunted mostly in a short range weapon area; I used a shotgun.
 
Then I saw Mr Bear on 'The American Sportsman'. He shot a grizzly bear. It was not a real close shot; it killed the bear. But what I saw was the flight of that arrow. From Freds muscles at work; to his concentration and then the flight- which connected him in that picture to the bear.

Ishi laid dying and said " we will meet again in the flight of the arrow".

And something clicked inside me when I saw that shot at the bear. I am not an artist; I draw unrecognizable stick men.  

But I had in my years with a bow seen ~my arrows~ fly as true as his did.

I saw that flight as the same as a brush stroke made by a true artist.

I started hunting deer seriously - with a longbow ( someone borrowed my Ben Pearson recurve during my Vietnam era time); and it was not heavy enough to get my arrows much past 10 yards with any efficiency. So; I bought the only bow available to me - a Bear compound.

I eventually found myself looking at the bow when I missed. If I was off three inches at 60 yards- wow! I would panic- what had come loose?

Came a point when I put down the compound and let the mistakes be mine; but more so- let the success of the arrow: be mine.

It required more effort; more time; but I found it way more rewarding. It was me connecting with nature in a way that was over 9000 years old. It was in thinking that any shot could be my last; and if that was true... I wanted my last arrow to be flown just like Mr Bears arrows had flown. As Ishis had flown.

Yes shooting a traditional bow takes more time; more effort and requires more responsibility. You are taking the chance of wounding something if you are not spot on.

But - it is not a fad. It is not something that will change in the future; nor seeks to change.

Traditional bowhunting - is hunting where satisfaction is 9000 years old: in our genetic reaction to the successful shot.

But go back and read what GMMAT said. He is right. He is not expansive in how he said it; like with my ramblings- but I agree with him.

I think the next time someone questions my using a longbow; I will just say - " Because when I don't: I feel like I am missing something."

They may laugh and make the obvious joke of missing... but you know in the back of their mind; they might wonder just what it is they are missing. And if they take traditional bow and find it- I will be happy for them.

2blade,
Sounds to me like your buddy just doesn't want you to change and be 'different' than him.  Maybe he thinks you'll be less of a hunting buddy if you go to a more primitive style of hunting. He's probably too young to realize you already have changed.
1. You're more interested in a good hunt than just 'nailing a big buck'.
2. You're entering into a style of hunting than he doesn't understand yet.
3. You are practicing with a purpose.  He's not...
4. You want to learn how to sneak in a little closer for your shot.

What's important now is for your buddies to realize you can all still enjoy hunting together In spite of your differences, ya'll can still get out there and have a hell of a time together.

Other than that advice, I'd just say "Ditto" what Killdeer had to say...

:campfire:

One of my favorite quotes,
"What you think of me is none of my business."
- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Those are words to live by.

My $.02: They don't know how much energy your trad arrows are packing nor your dirty little peep-hole and sight-pin free secret. Shhh... they might catch on!  ;)

Nice post Brian, as well as many other folks on this thread! Trying to distill down what it is that makes hunting with traditional bows so awesome is difficult because there are so many similar things and so many different things for so many people. All I can say is that I cannot see me changing any time in the foreseeable  future. I hunt quite a lot including hunting upland game with a shotgun with some of my best buddies in the world (mostly my dogs, but some people) but I never feel more like I am hunting then when I am out chasing critters with my recurve or longbow!

I tell them that I am trying to learn arrowhead knapping so I can hunt with stone heads.  They just shake their heads.  I really don't give a rip about what other people think or use to hunt with.  I have noticed that some people can't have a good time without a beer in their hands tho.

Ignore them, many are afraid to switch, and human nature is to keep others from escaping the mental/emotional pot in which they lay. If they choose tech assist that is their choice.  Do what pleases you as long it is legal and along your morale compass. I bet some day they too will switch. You will not be sorry for your decision.

I did get heckled once. Used to go to a local "pro" (retail) shop to use the DART simulator in preparation for elk season (""learn to focus with a screaming monster nearby"), As I walked in a few dudes shooting compounds at the butts made a comment about my "Wrongbow"  I went into the DART booth to shoot without acknowledging them or their comments, and after about my third target, I just finished releasing an arrow at the big screen monarch when the curtain behind me parted and three heads poked in.  They were just in time to see a 10 come up on the screen (Heart shot).  They were gone when I left, and I never saw them again.

Having hunted w/ both.I feel their are tradeoff's w/ both.Most are aware of the ease to become very effiecent w/ modern archery tackle and the luxury of holding at fulldraw but if one applies themself,they can make their trad tackle more useful in some situations than modern tackle.Moving targets are far easier to learn to shoot when one is acomplished w/ trad style of shooting and to eliminate the confusion of gadgets canbe a huge bonus on quick shots,that happen alot in the field.
What ever you and your buddies choose to shoot,challenge each other and all will grow in skill.
.

The conversation of "why do you like stick bows instead of modern compounds" comes up at all the shoots where you are allowed to shoot what you want. In most cases I am told "I don't want to put in the time to get good with a bow that only is good out to 25 yards" or " I like speed" and the list goes on and on. What I see is people who want instant gratification in a sport whose purest reward comes from hard work. When I get these questions I reply " We all must dance to our own music" and you my friend have no idea what you are missing.

this is a great post eveyone has pretty much hit the nail on the head.

I am 57 and have shot longbows/recurves for almost 50 years.  I have flyfished longer.  Most of the people that critize or find fault with my choices are people that tried my way and got upset because they couldn't master it immediately. I could do it better than they did, not because I was better, but I had been doing it longer.  There is a learning curve, you have to practice, and be patient.  Mastering, or at least becoming proficient, takes time-something most people today don't want to invest.  Is my way better, not really, but it's what pleases me.  Am I more successful than the next person, depends on you definition of successful.  I may not bring home more game or fish, but I sure have fun doing it my way. I learned a long time ago, you can never please everyone.  No matter what you do, someone is going to chastise you for what or how you did it.  I only have to live with and please one person-ME!!!!!!

Agreed this has turned out to be a great thread im really enjoying reading everyone's views on this subject as it is a touchy one. You guys shoot trad for a lot of the same reasons I do. One being because its simple fun and as ive matured as a hunter I now realize I want my animals close. I remember when I was younger and much more dumb I use to always think it would be cool to shoot something at 60 yards.

I lost sight of the bowhunting picture which is to get the animal close and not just brag about making a lucky shot. I also find it saves me money instead of replacing 3 strings I can replace one for half the price. I also like shooting moving targets and I cant get enough of a good day of stumping. Ive seen a lot of photos read a lot and watched a lot about traditional archery and it just inspired me. I could just go on and on about my reasons but I wont you guys don't have that much time and I don't feel like typing all that. I just hope I can pull a deer or turkey kill off this fall just so I can prove to these guys its possible

Most folks need you to validate their own choices by making the same decisions they did.

Don't sweat it.  Shoot what you like and smile.

Man lots of great posts and thoughts from everyone! I can't add much other than I've been to camps where someone will offer me a old compound they have thinking I can't afford a good bow! The only thing I might add is another thread going through here kinda relates, trad is not doing it the hard way as most think but actually it's easier just with a more reasonable shooting distance that EVERYONE should follow.

Follow Your Bliss, and all will come to you.

KEEP SHOOTING AND HAVE FUN!!DONT WORRY WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOUR CHOICE OF HUNTING STYLE.DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.THATS WHAT I DO.ITS NICE WHEN YOU GET A DEER.BECAUSE YOU DID IT ON YOUR ON TERMS.GOOD HUNTING...CHRIS

My best and mainly only shooting friend uses a compound. We make fun of each ohter, but in a good way and we respect each others choice.

I am a bit jealous of how fast he laerned to score, on the other hand he still is in the same range of distance.

And after a long day out, when i want to roll a cigarette and ask him to hold my bow he always is amazed and jealous how little weight i lift the whole day...

each to his own, we have fun, thats what counts!

Why is it the compounders are always trying to convert us back.But we never have to try to convert them.They just convert back on there own.

 You just can't seem to make them beleive its funer,easer and makes you a better hunter.They just have to find out for on there own.

I find the rewards greater when you have to work for them.

just one of the reasons I shoot what I shoot.

And its a family thing, even the youngest can have fun with stick n string  :D

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/trapperDave/archery/kids%20archery/115_0145.jpg)

Nick,

You sound like a pretty well grounded young man to me. Everyone has given good advice, and I hope you take what you need from it and do well.

I will be totally honest with you; I started in traditional archery at a young age (5 or 6 years) because I wanted to be like my Dad. He was a traditional archer (of course this was about the time the distinction between archers and traditional archers was developing). He shot the recurve he bought with money he had saved while in S.E. Asia "on his senior trip" as he called it.

I have always shot recurves and longbows. Never owned anything else, but again, to be honest, it had nothing to do with traveling the path less followed or out of a spiritual connection to archery. I simply couldn't afford anything else. When I was a kid, my Dad gave me a garage sale recurve to shoot until I got strong enough to shoot a hunting weight bow. Then he gave me a third or fourth hand bow he got from a friend.

All through my high schools years (Lord save us from the 80's!) everyone who was anyone had a compound. I couldn't afford one and my parents couldn't either. So, I developed this "I like to do things the old way, I like to do things the hard way" mentality to cover the fact that I was embarrassed by my financial situation.

Later in my life, when my career started and I did have some money, I decided that I didn't really want a compound. Not shooting one made me different. I realized that I really did like doing things the old way or the hard way.

I still have both of those bows my Dad gave me. I doubt he realized what path he started me down when he gave them to me, but then again, the older I am, the smarter my parents seem to be.

Nick, you do what feels right to you. Sounds like your buddy is just trying to look out for you (that's what real buddies do). Appreciate his concern and enjoy your hunting.

OkKeith

I have read some truly great responses here to your initial statement 2-blade.  There are many, many thesis and dissertations there waiting to be penned in the words I have just read!

I am similar to you in that one of my close friends that I hunt with shoots a compound (and shoots it very well!).  He was taken aback 2.5 years ago when I bought my first recurve.  He followed along with my progress and I think he was impressed with the bow's performance on the target bags.  He was impressed when I killed my first deer, and totally blown away when I killed two last year with stone points one morning about 5 minutes apart.  Since then, he has never questioned my motivations and desire to hunt with trad gear.  

I am a big fan of the saying "The proof is in the pudding".  Work hard and practice well, and show him what you and your bow can do.

Thanks everyone ill take in the replies and just keep on shooting. I think your right he is just trying to look out for me. I mean last November he seen me head shoot at chipmunk at 15yards I dont see why he thinks I cant put an arrow through a deers ribs at that same range.

I've only met one person who has any missgivings about it. He respects my decision, but kind of jokingly rolls his eyes.

Why? Because they had a traditionalist guest at their lease who slept outside the clubhouse in a teepee and wounded several deer without recovering any.  :knothead:

Moral- When in Rome... If someone is nice enough to invite you to their property you might put aside your dreams of being Ishi, and just hang out with the guys. This person was obviously enamored with the idea of trad, moreso than the hard work of practice. But other people will just blame it on the equipment.

So with big grins they literally asked me "Are you gonna sleep in a teepee if we invite you down to the lease?"

I dont blame them. Sounds like they had a real flake in camp.

For what ever its worth it seems to me to be more about why you shoot than what you shoot.  I and I suppose most of us here shoot our bows for the shear love of the act as much as anything else.  All of the gadgets just get in the way of the feeling you get when the arrow goes exactly where you were looking when you released.  For me its that magic that keeps me shooting my trad bows.

Take care
MAP

To shoot Trad you have to love it first of all. I killed so many deer with my last wheely bow it just wasn't fun. No challenge. Go out and buy a space age wheely bow. Sights, pin ,release, arrows, everything dialed in . I shot a peep with a single pin.  If a deer came in 0 to 30 yards draw, anchor, pin on deer,release, [shot fingers always] DEAD deer. Traditional you have to love just shooting a bow. Wheelies once your there just like a crossbow or gun.

I really like what has been said.  I think your friends want you to be succesful and they have chosen what in there mind is the best path to succes.  My friends have not said anything negative about my switch, they know what I stand for.  I shot compound forever and they come to me when they have a shooting problem or a tuning problem.  I always have extra tips and knocks and some basic tools when we go to a 3D shoot, just in case.  I sharpen all there knives and we all help each other out.  Just cuzz you do it differnt that don't change the way you guys should hunt together.  I am not bragging but when me and my brother went to a shoot I shot my longbow really well and it felt good to hear my brother say man you could take that thing all over the world.  I hope that was not just a good day.  The other compound shooters where really liking that old bear montana and so nice I could not believe it.  The other trad shooters where not near as warm and nice to talk with, I guess they already know the magic of the trad bow cuzz a couple still whooped me a little not to bad though.  thats ok I got a little more drive now.

just tell em you wanted the challenge to be greater...thats what i always said and it seemed to shut em up...out shooting a compound shooter never hurts either  :readit:

i take then to my target and put 3 arrows in it, one standing, one kneeling, and one sitting most of the time they smile and say "thats cool, that must be difficult" to which i reply "difficult but deadly"    :D

This may be off topic but what possessed you to blow the head off a chipmunk?  I don't think that really sets a good example.  or do you folks eat chipmunks in ithaca? anyways good topic and I  not too many years ago had the same thing happen to me as well.  My crossbow toting freinds often made some remarks after I switched as it took 2.5 years  to nab my first deer with a recurve, where previous to that we would all have a decent buck or two during a season.  the funny part was with modern equipment I had missed a couple of really nice deer and was upset about it for weeks, not beleiving how I could have screwed up a chance at a nice deer.  I had two bucks with horns that would have pushed 180 inches bounce happily away from situations that would be pretty much sure things with modern equipment.  The only difference was with the trad bow in hand I laughed and shrugged it off thankful to get so close to such an awesome specimen of an animal.  I am not sure if my expectations are lower, I am more mature as an individual, or I have just connected on a more personal level with the animals I am hunting. maybe all of the above, but I do know that hunting with a trad bow has really improved my overall skill as a hunter. and every deer seems world class when you work at it hard and do it on your own terms to satisfy your own expectations.

I've never actually met anyone that was against trad.  Can't imagine I'd care much though.

I've run in to all types of comments about trad gear. Some will say man, I wish I had the time to learn to shoot like that, others will look down their nose at anything different thatn what they use.

I know a couple people whom I used to hunt with a lot, who seem to think they are too good to hunt with me now that I shoot a stick. They almost act embarrassed to be shooting with a trad guy. It was kind of funny last time we wereall shooting together when I smackedone of their arrows with my woodie. They were worried about the high dollar carbons getting busted. So in retaliation, said it was game on and were gonna shoot at my woodies. I told 'em go ahead, I bet you can't hit it. They didnt. LOL

I've heard the snide comments at the 3D shoots, but in the end, I ignore it. I shoot the gear I shoot by choice. Not to impress anyone, or prove anything to anyone. I so it because its what I enjoy, it gives me much more satisfaction, and sense of accomplishment. Much like golf, my success, or failure, is dependent on nothing more than my own skill and concentration.

AS for the haters, you will find them anywhere you look. Always with a comment, but rarely can back it up. I find little time for them. I gave up wheels because I didnt feel challenged anymore. I don't hate those who shoot wheels. Thats their choice. Trad is mine.

Some like cotton, some like wool. Some like camo, some like plaid.

They're jealous.

I went on my first hunt as an observer when I was 7 years old, from that day forward I new that hunting, fishing and the outdoors would be part of my life. I have hunted with a rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and compound (pretty much in that order). I am new to traditional but see it as a way to reconnect with the peace, feelings of excitement and anticipation not to mention the challenge I had when a hunt was new for me.

So far the only negative came from a professional guide that said he hated traditional. I think his opinion stems from that fact that it is probably harder to connect and changes his success rates.

Most people have looked at my new interest in a positive way. I have also gained access to property that has never been hunted because I am hunting with a bow. I have not harvested anything yet but this just gives me an excuse to be out there more.

I think all hunter need to be tolerant and respectful of each other. I live in an area that has lost major hunting and fishing battles because one group badmouthed the other. If it is legal don't put down that legal choice of weapon and a hunters right to choose it.

I'm sorry to be so long winded but I believe arrogance and intolerance is something hunter and fisherman cannot afford. United we are strong divided, well come to my neighborhood and I'll show you first hand the damage done that a united front could have fought off.
.

I didn't read through all the posts -but most. I've never had a problem. The older folk who remember the Before Compound Era actually have a lot of respect for me, they know it is not easy. The younger compound folk, always say, "Do you hunt with that?". So then I show them my bow, explain poundage, arrow weight, range, penetration, etc. and they begin to understand - keep in mind most compound shooters don't know anything other than compounds.

I've been reading this thread with considerable interest . . . lots of good comments to reflect on for sure. I especially enjoyed what Killie had to say - very well put.

For me, I shoot "simple bows" for a variety of reasons; the feel of the draw, the beauty of the wood grain, and of course the hands on aspect of stringing, shooting, arrow making, broadhead sharpening, etc, etc. Plus the thrill of watching your arrow hit it's intended mark by way of brain and back muscle! It all just seems "right" to me.  Finally, I grew up watching Fred Bear's old 16 mm films projected by an old projector my dad would rent from the local library.  I still wear plaid, wool pants, WWII camo, while carrying a recurve and dreaming of far away places.

18 years ago I joined that archery club. It was a strictly FITA style archery club. I wanted to get into archery, with the intention of later getting a compound, simply because "compound was so cool". Of course, they let me use one of their recurve bows for free, and I have to say I did like it (archery).
I had a talk later with the coach, and spoke to him about compounds. He said they only shot recurves, strictly applying FITA rules. OK, that made me quit and try to look elsewhere. Well, there was no archery club close enough for me to join, at least none that allowed compounds.
So, I gave up.

And not so long ago, somehow I thought about doing it again, but this time trying to go traditional - or at least semi-traditional - and got me a recurve bow here on Tradgang (    :wavey:  @Bushytail) and boy, am I happy. I don't feel smart for turning down that opportunity to learn much, much more 18 years ago, just because I couldn't shoot compound.

So, here you have it; a bona fide mea culpa.

While I don't scorn compound shooters, I certainly do appreciate the skills and efforts needed to shoot traditional gear.

Oh, the vanity of youth!!!

Kennedy spoke once "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..."

I guess it finally got through my big boned head, to appreciate the sport and put effort into it, instead of relying on 'machines' and devices to do it 'all' for me.

I've had the opposite reactions from people. Most are very interested on how I can shoot a recurve with no sights. It makes no sense to them how one can hit anything. And, most wish they could shoot one of "those things" like that!

A guy at Bass Pro Shops this weekend looked at the trad bows and said to his kid, "Why would anyone spend their money on those?" Then he also looked at some other stuff and said it was for morons. It just demonstrates a lack of awareness and ignorance.

I have also had people that are highly impressed that we rough it in tents and hunt with just bow and string.

To each his own I guess.

I tell you... some people should be drowned at birth!  :D

I say 20 paces with arrow in quiver......hmmmm I wonder.

When I switched to Traditional gear to hunt with one of my now former hunting partners berated me pretty bad about my decision. He told me that I had not killed enough deer with my compound bow.

But what I think happened and it took some time for me to realise this is, that he was not sucessful shooting a traditonal bow because he didn't have the paciance to learn how to shoot it well enough to hunt with. He is a very thick headed person and is short tempered if he dosen't get instant positive results.

Unfortunatly we live in a society that live at the speed of light. Computers can give you information so much faster than looking it up in a book. Todays people want instant results with a minimum of work required to get positive results. No one wants to get their hands dirty any more, weather it be to do an oil change on their car or to take care of the landscaping around the home.

So why spend months to learn how to shoot a traditional bow well enough to hunt with when in a matter of days a person can get softball sized groups at 30 yards with a compound.

I am proud that I hunt with traditional bows because it's a harder way of doing it but so much more enjoyable to me. But then again I've always done things the hard way because taking short cuts is less gratifing to me.

This has always has puzzled me.If you ask almost any bowhunter why they bowhunt they will say they do it for the challange, then they will buy every gimic they can to take the challange out of bowhunting.  Go figure.
Mike

I usually tell them that trditional archery is to hunting what flyfishing is to fishing . A beautiful art form and also highly functional . Sometimes they understand and sometimes they get really pisssed off. Either way they get your point.

I started bowhunting with a compound because I didn't know any other way. Everyone I knew that bowhunted, hunted with a compound.

I LOVE hunting and the year I took my first deer with that compound, it was like "is that all there is?" Where's that sense of accomplishment, that "wow" feeling that you pulled something off that required so much patience and practice. It just wasn't there.

The other thing that I think pushed me to trad was the fact that I was getting so disgusted with the entire achery industry pushing bigger, better, faster gizmos that you "gotta have" or you can't kill a deer. So many physical things on the bow itself that could come loose or have something go wrong with. It was then that I realized that if man has been hunting with a stick and string for thousands of years....why can't I do that? So I decided to sell my compound and go cold turkey into the world of Trad and never looked back.

Here's the funny thing though, I sold that compound to one of my hunting buddies. He didn't want to buy it at first because he thought I was making a mistake. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. He said "You know...when that buck of a lifetime shows up at 40 yards and you can't take a shot, you're going to kick yourself in the butt!!" And not missing a beat I told him "No...I'll just be glad I was there to see him in the first place." He waited a minute then just nodded his head. He got it...but still shoots compounds!   :bigsmyl:

Frozen Few has been a TG member since 2006. He has made ten posts. While I chatter, FF evidently focuses on quality. I sense a kindred spirit, albeit not quite so loquacious.    ;)  Nice post, Scott.

Killdeer   :thumbsup:

Unless you have tinkeridous compounds are more idiot proof.  Lots of checks and balances w/ a front and rear sight.  

If you get excessive buck fever its easy to get your head screwed up at the moment of truth.  Most trad guys dont use a sight therefore your mind can tend to wonder or just quit working all-together lol.  

I shot my first trad deer last year and was a little disappointed that it wasnt more exciting.  I'll just take the bow that yells "TAKE ME" the loudest.