Gents,
Over the past year, I have been a well rounded archer using both my compound and traditional bows for 3D and hunting...
During that time, I have participated online here and read widely such writers as David Peterson and T.J. Conrads. and various other in TBM. I have also posted to various compound bow hunting forums and always had disappointed results.
What has always struck me is the transcendental way that tradgangers approach the sport. It is less about the kill, and more about the spiritual connection to nature... you simply do not find that on the compound forums. Discussions there revolve around speed, gadgets, and death. The celebration is the kill and how many. It rubs me wrong...
Furthermore I have been touched by the generosity of tradgangers to each other with give aways and advice... clearly this is a family of people, not hobbyists killing animals.
This all in concert with a rather transcendent hunt on Monday with my stykbow has made me realize that I want to be associated with these kinds of people... you are all good company...
SO, I put my wheel bow up for sale today and am going all traditional. I realized that its not about the kill, not about the gadgets, not about any of that, its about God, Nature, and Community. I see that in traditional bowhunting. Plus the damn things are just more fun to shoot! There is pleasure in a good instinctive hit... where with sights and pins, you really cannot miss.
I just wanted to share that with all of you who are true naturalists and outdoorsmen of the highest order.
God Bless,
Erik
Wow. What a testimonial. I'm sure you will enjoy your journey.
Well said, congrats!!!
Good for you..........enjoy the journey.
David
Welcome and enjoy the many experiences. Besides, it's just more fun!
...I reckon so.
welcome.
Well said.
Welcome - enjoy the experience.
Erik,
Well said. You have expressed perfectly the thoughts I had when I sold my compound bows and converted to traditional archery, two years ago.
Traditional archers truly possess a completely different frame of mind and appreciation of time spent afield. I heard someone once say that traditional archers care more about how they harvest an animal, than the number of animals harvested. That certainly resonated with me, and expressed my thoughts when I converted.
I have found that the knowledgeable men and women on this forum have been so generous with me, sharing their experience and wisdom without judgment.
Your decision to convert to traditional archery will enrich your hunting experiences, not to mention your renewed appreciation of game harvested, as it has mine.
Good shooting,
Dennis
Thats a big step Erik, Welcome. I can tell you this You will learn to Hunt now, more than ever before!
Erik,welcome to your new family.I sold my compound on 1994 and never looked back,my 4th place at the IFFA world championchip,at the 80ys killed animals.Now everything is in touch with the nature eye on eye and not through a sight pin with mecanical aids.Felix
Welcome aboard. I've been a traditional bowhunter for 40 years and have been through all the stages. In the beginning we all want to fill all the tags we can get legally. Then we move to trophy hunting. After we hopefully take a few trophy bucks we get much more selective. I'm at a point in my life now , where the kill is the least important thing to me personally.
I was on stand in November this year with my son on stand about 60 yards from me ; we could see each other; and I had a nice 10 point buck [ probably scoring mid 120's] come under my tree at about 8 yards. It was the first day of a 10 day vacation and I let him walk. When we got back to the truck that evening my son asked why I didn't shoot him. My answer was, I chose not too; I had accomplished what I was out there for without killing the deer. I look forward to the day when he totally understands that feeling. I've let quite a few go over the years to hopefully grow bigger and that feeling I get is as good as the biggest bucks I have ever taken. It really is a journey and I hope all of you enjoy the ride.
Good luck to all and may we all accomplish our goals;
Bob
And it isn't a "we are better" thing it just is what it is. Some like it this way. Others . . well, just don't.
ChuckC
Erik, Very well said indeed. I got rid of wheels a very long time ago due to all you stated above. Traditional archery to me is more challenging, yet more rewarding. Other wheelie bow shooters I know still don't get it when I don't get a deer all season sometimes, but don't care. I'd like to think it's because I have matured as I've gotten older, and realized for myself at least, what is important is the connection to the outdoors. Welcome home, as this site has been that and more for me. Mark
Welcome to this side of the fence. You will not find better people than those involved on this site, and in traditional archery in general. As others have said before,"It's not the destination,it's the journey." Enjoy the ride!
Right on Brother!!
Erik,
Welcome to path less trod. Most of us on here have gone through a similar epiphany, but you really put it into words.
Kevin
Well written Eric! There is a camaraderie amongst trad archers that is special and a spiritual connection to the flight of the arrow. Welcome aboard.
My feelings exactly!
You made the right decision.
Well said!
Well come to hardship, but the journey is EVERYTHING.
Jer Bear
Your approach was well thought-out....you will have a blast, my friend. Welcome.
Amen brother its a woulderful life live it to its fullest. Widow
Good for you.....I will say that there are compound shooters who have the same love of nature and the hunt as we do,BUT they are few and far bettween. I hope you enjoy the journey. I did'nt sell my compoud I just put it away,mostly be cause its not worth anything. Maybe I'll give it away!!!
welcome to the :wavey:
Welcome Erik, I myself have just made the decision to go trad. I shot compounds for 14 years and I have the same feelings you do.
I was a national staff shooter for a reputable company, which I enjoyed very much. But, when all was said and done, the trad way was the way for me to go. It's not the journey, but the destination. I have not regretted my decision and have recently had more fun shooting trad than I believe I ever did with a compound. To me, there is less pressure to kill, and more enjoyment involved in just the hunt itself.
Best wishes to you,
Scott
Well said to the point EriK. Welcome.
well said, sir.
it's really not the destination, it's all about the journey, the adventure and the people.
and "if you kill it, you eat it". :D
You have discovered the path traveled by many before you Erik. There is magic all along the way!
You will find yourself totally immersed in this thing.
Welcome!
Enjoy!
welcpme
WELCOME ABOARD MY FRIEND!
It's been a great year for me and I'm glad I took the plunge also...It is a whole new experience in the woods,and so much more enjoyable IMO... Great write up!
Your gonna fit Right in :wavey: :thumbsup:
Welcome
Amen!
Great Move Erik! Alot of us think, talk, walk Trad Bow Huntin' and Shooting All Year Long. That is a big part of why I Love It So Much. Welcome Aboard!
... mike ... :archer: ...
Welcome :clapper:
Welcome, and I think I like you already.
Yes Sir
good deal Eric, I know were u r coming from, I've been on elk hunts with my buds, and they would rag me for seeing a elk at 50 yards away and not taking the shot with that stick,I would have fun hearing all that back at camp, but the next day I would be 30 yards closer,it just makes u a better hunter and keepinge the playing field level with gods gift to us, thats y they call it hunting not killing.WELCOME TO THE CAMP :campfire:
Well said, there's nothing like it.
Your going to like it here.
I feel the same, the sykbow is alot more fun to shoot year round. Good luck!
Welcome aboard! :wavey:
glad to have another archer! :goldtooth:
Welcome aboard. It is nice to hear from another who "get's it." I do try to put one in the freezer because I love venison, but I let lots of them walk. I've never been to the dark side, so I can't comment on making a switch.
so you have seen the light congrats may the force be with you young string walker
Well welcome but honestly sounds like you just have a traditional mindset. I know several compound shooters with the same mind set. They haven't bought in to the commercialization modern day version of bowhunting either. For what it's worth I don't care what you shoot just respect the game. It just seems like more trad folks "get it"! Enjoy this ride we call life. Glad you've decided to shoot a real bow and truly enjoy bowhunting.
I to sold my weel bow in 2007 best thing I ever did.
Erik,
Welcome to the real world of archery. I've never shot a wheelie and don't believe I would ever want to. Won't shoot 3d with them because I get tired of waiting soooo looooong for wheelie shooters to release their arrow. And get real tired of all the talk about this thing called a 12 ring! It's so much nicer shooting with people that appreciate a good kill zone shot.
Congratulations on your decision to live the real life of a bowhunter!
:thumbsup:
I don't believe I've heard the "Spirt" of our community expressed more clearly, very well said friend. Welcome to the campfire!
Enjoy it all, Erik. God rest you merry!
"Simplicity" is how I look at it Erik.You have a time honored tool in your hand that has what it takes to get the job done. Congratulations on your
thought out choice.
Craig
Welcome and I hope you enjoy trad as much as we do. You will find trial and error, dispare and just when you think you cannot do it, experience the highest of highs. We all enjoy sharing and helping here and many/if not most find more fulfillment in your success than our own. When much is given much is expected. I look forward to hearing of your experiences, shared here for others to enjoy and learn. The joy of a feathered shaft in flight combined with close friends you have never met. Pass on all that learn, give as much as you take.
Cheers
Mike
AMEN
Alway's follow your heart,it know's the right path.Welcome to a lifetime of enjoyment.
Leland
Welcome! :campfire:
Well said Erik!
I can certainly relate to those same comments.
Welcome.........and enjoy the journey.
This is probably the best I've seen it put for along time ,so refreshing.Welcome to the Journey,not the end.
Very similar story to a lot of us. Welcome Erik from Kentucky.
Reading your words made my heart smile... :)
Reflecting on your words, it dawned on me it's more about hunting WITH one's heart, than just shooting for the heart.
I, too, know many true outdoorsmen who shoot compounds. In quiet moments, they admit that they revere the game too much to trust their abilities to a stickbow, so they stay with simpler compounds. Same one's they've shot for many years.
So in my small world, I find it's more about the heart of the hunter than his equipment.
It's just that 90% of the trad shooters I've met...well, they already share 99% of my values, beliefs, faith and it's just so renewing to be around my trad family.
Doc Nock,
You got it... it is more about the heart. I just find a primitive strain, a peace with wood in my hand instead of metal. I like shooting compound and would maybe do competitions with it, but not till my son is a bit older and we can share that together... but next season, I'll be hunting bow season traditional.
Welcome home!
I dropped my training wheels in the late 70's, or early 80's,...oh oh,..memory's going?
It's been an amazing journey! I've learned amazing things, about the true nature of bows, arrows, animals, nature, hunting, fishing, myself, & so on.
Yet each time I pick up quill & bow, it is like a fresh brand new experience, with so much more yet to learn. It sometimes feels like coming home to a brand new place of great adventures yet to come.
How would you explain the "excitment" of going to find the feeling of "peace" in the woods or afield? Hard to explain, but easily felt. Like spectacularly humble. I sometimes feel selfish of how great I feel with bow in hand.
Mayhaps it is just the love of the hunt.
How wonderful for you to begin such a journey. Your family here is truly excited for you!
All the best! - Quill
Welcome to the journey and you will meet the best people here.Be ready to have fun!
I'm still tryin' to sell my compound. If I don't get rid of it soon, it'll be out of date! I know my Widows aren't goin anywhere.