Was curious out of our gang here...who has been all trad since thier start in archery.
I started out trad but drifted for a bit,now I'm back. :D
Always since I was 15 years old. I am now pushing 60.
Danny
vt - in 1957 you were not a traditional archer. we kinda had bowhunters and target shooters. toward the mid 60's there was some strain between the sight/peep shooters vs the barebow shooters vs bowhunters. it was pretty clear even before the compounds that target shooters and bowhunters would be somewhat seperate ways sooner or later. Then the compounds came along and shortly 3D ruled. IN the 80's trad bowhunters started clawing out of the closets and here we are today.
I tried out a lot of different compounds but never found one that did the trick of me. when the compounds came on strong I was hooked on HH longbows and never switched.
rusty
I've never loosed the string on a compound. Drawn a couple in a shop out of curiosity but never put an arrow to any.
Guy
I'm 57 years old and been recurves and longbows for 40 plus years.I did try a wheel bow once, I think it was a Jennings Model T. It just wasn't any fun for me. If things aren't challenging , I lose interest pretty quick, That's just me though, I have no problem with people who love the wheels.
Bob
Always been a barebow kinda guy... since I was about 10-11 years old.
I'm 55 now. :eek:
I started compound then switched to trad. went back now I am starting to get back into trad.. I switched from trad because I didn't have a place to shoot because of where I moved to and need to shoot atleast every other day to shoot very good.
Dave
Let's see, I bought my first bow in 1957 (Bear Panda) when I was 10. Was made with the best modern materials Fred could find. So I guess that made me more of a modern archer.
Now my bows are made with bamboo, fiberglass, carbon, unbelievable hit tech glues and some animal horn.
I'm not sure what I am???????
Wanted to try bowhunting so I picked up a recurve three years ago. Haven't shot a compound yet.
Started with a used Bear bow in the early sixties...........sometime in the early 80s someone or something used the "Force" on me and I ended up lured to the "dark side". But you know what they say...."you never stray too far from your roots". It certainly feels great to be back in a comfort zone. I know one thing for sure....I'm certainly in the minority now, especially around where I live. Doesn't matter much.....it's great to be part of such a close-knit community like this.
Started with a compound (mind you, that compound frame was laminated wood, and it still works!!!), but even then at eight or ten years old always wanted a "longbow". Finally got into it after fifteen or so years. Love it now.
I'll confess...I started out "real" traditional...at about 5...freshly cut tree limb, string and some cane for arrows. I eventually progressed to a nice bear recurve in my teens.
Than the dark years....starting in my early 20s i decided i need some training wheels. That lasted unitl my early 30s when i found the stick and string again. I fell off the wagon for a few years in my late 30s (not enough time to practice with the kids and job...I could always pick up my compound and punch golf ball size holes out to 50 yards). I eventually got back to traditional archery in my early 40s.
Ok I can admit it i am a recovering compound shooter....now i'll never get my "Trad Bowhunter" status!!!
If your wondering...I'm nearing 45 now and God willing...wont have to pick up my training wheels agian.
Michael
I started when I was about 8yrs old with a Bear Kodiak my Dad bought at a local pawn shop. Really got back into it big about 12 years ago. I'm 39 now and have never shot or have any desire to shoot a wheelie bow !!!
James
Started at the age of 5 with a red fiberglass Bear Bow. I am now 39, what an appreciation I have developed for this sport over the years--Certainly consumes most of my free time and $$$ :)
60 years old now and been shooting this way since I was a kid.
Since I could walk-- got my 1st when about 4yrs old --it was a dime store kids toy. SUCKER tiped arrow--which shot thru a hole in the center of the bow. My younger bro. provided lots of moving shots. --- Iam 63 so I guess you could say 59 yrs- w/ the exception 1 yr. in the early 70's, I got myself an earlier Bear Compound, turned my back on Cedars, and made me some Fiberglass arrows, from raw shafts sold in the old Herters catalog, and thought man, I got me some bad a$$ equipment. WRONG-BORING-SOUL LESS. Must must have been a brief bout of insanity---apparently it turned out it was not bone deep.-- though others may differ.
Made my first bow in 1953 out of Mom's lilac bush. Shot pretty good for a first try 6 year old. Never did get any credit for ingenuity but DID get a pretty good hide tanning credit :>)
Never have shot a wheeled bow but do instruct wheel shooters. 63 now and hope to be a good shot real soon:>))
Don't know if I count but I've been soley trad archery (for 2 months now). Finally took the leap into archery and I'm loving it!
Not me. First bow was an old Browning compound. Shot it for a season or two - didn't practice much because it wasn't fun. Traded the thing for an old DH Hunter and have been shooting trad since.
My first bow was a takedown browning wasp in the mid 90's. Way too heavy for me, but I loved that old bow. I ended up giving it to my brother and then it ended up in the garage after we discovered sunbears and zippers. Recently I found it and stripped it all down, reworked the grip, and am currently refinishing it for some turkey and bowfishing action. Full circle!
First bow was a #45 Bear Black Panther when I was a freshman in high school, never have went to the dark side!
The answer will almost 100% be a function of WHEN you started archery. Many of us who started PC and some later comers after the start of the traditional ren-ren-ren-a-sonce (?sp?). If you started in the mid-70's to mid/late 80's probably not.
Spring of 1965.
Killdeer
I have always shot recurves started when I was just a tike, in my middle thirties now.
Lucas
Started shooting before I was a teenager, I'm 58 now. I've shot a few compounds but never owned one and have never shot a hook. My first good bow was a Shakespere Necedah; still have it. Like Rusty said, back we were all archers and shot bows. As I recall it, the term "Traditional" was coined by the compounders.
Been trad for about 11 years, picked up my dads old Shakespeare recurve after a particularly scary rifle season and have bow hunted ever since, though I occasionally fall off the wagon, lol! Never shot a wheel bow.
Started with Bear Bows in the early sixties at Camp Lejeune,NC and have never used a compound. In my seventies now.
Add me to the list. I have tried to shoot a couple wheelie bows. I suck at that, and it just doesn't feel right. Those things are HEAVY! I started with a little lemon wood recurve when I as about 7-8 years old. Now I pretty much stick with longbows and probably will as long as I can draw a bow or a breath!
Shot recurves (target)a little, when I was in my teens and twenties. Bought a Bear Kodiak #55 from another ganger for my 35th Birthday. Been shooting it ever since. I think I shot an arrow out of a kids compound once and drawn the string on one or two others.
1965, age ten, broke my left arm, big cast. my father went out and bought a fiberglass ben pearson and a six pack of arrows. wanted me to use the arm.
to this day still shoot canted with a slightly bent forearm like I learned to do with the cast on.
Mid 60's a Bear lefty-righty fiberglass bow,got a Browning Nomad in 65 or 66. Took a few years to get that modern foolishness[A bear Whitetal Hunter} out of my system.Shot a compound 2 weeks ago, put it back in the case and will most likely never shoot it again. I only put 4 arrows threw it but there was just no trill or pleasure in the act. Picked up my Northern Mist Superior right after and then shot for a hour with a smile on my face.Been Shooting recurves and longbows for about 19 years pretty steady now.
I've shot em both, trad and mechanical.
Much prefer the trad, both long bow and recurve.
Prefer the long bow over the recurve.
I've been at this for over 30 years.
Started off at age of seven with an old bear fiber glass bow switched to wheels shooting it bare bow never could figure out those sights when i was 14, took my first buck at 15 then back to trad at 16 im now 25 and havent looked back.
Bowhunting for 50 years ......... never anyting but traditional equipment!!
i shoot recurve and compound, started archery when 8 am 58 now, loved every minute
I started with a fiberglass bow when I was 5 in 1987 and never tuned back (I am 27 now) entirely because of my dad. I shot my first compound 2 years ago and ask the guys that were there it was a funny sight. I could not shoot the bow vertical I natually canted the bow. So of course the arrow would not stay on the rest and all the compound guys got a good laugh out of it. I shot one arrow and that has been the extend of my compound day!! :bigsmyl:
I think I stated about the time I could walk. I am 28 now and have been traditional the whole time.
I borrowed a compound for a day just to shoot one. Very accurate, but not as much fun.
It reminded me of wanting to listen to music, and deciding between learning to play an instrument, versus turning on the radio. Both make a sound, but not much room to express yourself with a radio.
51 and started as a boy. Always recurves and longbows.
I started out trad, but took up the compound for a few years. Now I am back to trad again.
Since 1955, solid fiber glass bow for Christmas from Mom and Dad. Don't remember the make. Then I shot an old Bear bow that belonged to a buddy. Then an American Archery Cheeta. When I was 24 or 25 Jack Howard made me a Gamemaster. Also acquired a Tice and Watts Sparten Hunter couple years later. Compounds started showing up around here around '73 or '74 I think. I've never owned one. I went the other way and Had John Schulz make me a longbow summer of '77. Stayed with longbows. Now I shoot longbows and hybrids. I prefer the looks of a 'D' shape longbow.
Since 1974 killed my first deer in 76 with a K-mag.
I started out with a hardware store special plastic/rubber/fiberglass(?) 'longbow' when I was a kid. Broke it and didn't find my way back until age 17. Friends in Montana helped me see the light. Came home and brought a Bear Montana longbow. 26 now and still going strong although a few times I didn't give my bow the attention she needs.
When i was younger we used to make our own gear, as many here probably did as well.
Straight branches with strings and fireworksrods with nails tied down.
At about 7-8 i got a shiny, green fiberglassbow (no wheels) with a pink handle, and it was the coolest ever!
Still used the same arrows though ;)
Then in the early 90s (10-12yrs old) i found other interests, as often happens,
and didnt take up archery until March this year, had 2-3 practices with olympic recurves,
which were the only bows my club had for newbies.
Felt the something was wrong, so i took off the sights and, viola, trad ever since :)
Broke my first bow as a kit some kinda recurve don't remember, always have shot recurves and longbows; working on selfbow.
Started with a recurve in the mid 70's, then shot compound for awhile. I got tired of all the gadgets and wanted to simplify things. I have sold the compounds and enjoy the longbow.
Ive shot archery since Ive been 5 but always with a compound and about 6 years ago I bought a recurve and I havent looked back since.
Started back in May. My only intention was to shoot traditional.
Started with a recurve and I just picked up a longbow. I'm loving it. Can't put it down.
started at about 8-10 years old with a garage sale longbow and a single cheap arrow. as i got older i picked up a compound but never hunted with it - it just didn't feel right. several years ago i picked up an osage selfbow started hunting and haven't shot the compound since. the allure of hunting with tradional/homemade equipment can't be matched
Ted
Started with one of those fiber glass bows when i was about 12 years old. I think it pulled about 25 or 30 pounds. The local carp population took a pounding from the neighbors and me. Then in my early 20's i bought a nice used Browning recurve that pulled 46#. I started deer hunting with that bow. It took me about 10 years before i shot my first deer a 6 pointer which was taken with a Hoyt Huntmaster i bought new. My first custom bow was an Assenheimer. I am now 54 and have owned many bows since my younger years. I did shoot a wheelie bow for a year. I missed a deer with it and went back to my recurve. There is no better feeling than carrying a stickbow around in the great outdoors.
Got my first real (lemonwood) longbow when I was six or seven, and have been shooting and hunting sticks ever since, with a brief hiatus into mechanical arrow launchers in the mid-70s. I'm 63 now.
Started bowhunting in 1966 with a Pearson Colt. I've never strayed........it's who I am. It's what I do.
1969 is when I got my first "real" bow (Bear Red Bear) and didn't have to shoot the Willow branch with baling twine anymore. Been doing it ever since. Have shot compounds, just don't work for my hunting style.
Browning Wasp was my first bow(I sure miss her), I bought a Hoyt FastFlight compound and shot it for a while---it wasn't for me at all, so trad for me. Forever.
Started out with a Bear fiberglass bow..took a leave of abscence for awhile but came back to the recurves...Coming 58 in March and still loving it..Mike
I started with a green fiberglass recurve. Quickly went to a Ben Pearson wooden recurve. Then a couple Bear bows, then it happened, I tried a compound. It was heavy, noisy and cold. Two weeks later I was back to a recurve, been there ever since.