Trad Gang

Hey all, just wanted to remind you how good of a site this really is.

This is going to sound like it's off topic to start but I'll make my point eventually.

Recently I started getting back into some of my gun stuff and rifle shooting.  Put a new rifle on layaway that is an oddball caliber so I started doing a bunch of net surfing and signed up for several online forums related to guns.  After about two or three weeks I'm ready to walk away from nearly all of them!  Talk about back biting, arguing, ranting and personal attacks!  

I guess I've been coming to tradgang for so long to the exclusion of nearly all other online chat forums that I'd forgotten what they could be like.  I got to thinking that all forums would be helpful, polite and courteous even during strenuous debates but I'm here to tell ya, that's not the case at all.  Personal attacks abound, "How dare you" type comments are common and debate or discussion of differing opinions nearly always leads to somebody getting the short end of the deal.  Heck, I even had a post pulled by the administration of one site simply because the topic had been discussed before and he didn't want to waste valuable band width...   Of course I have found a lot of good information along the way but it's not unlike some of the other archery sites where you have to wade through a bunch of BS to get there.

Guys, it's sure nice to have a place where we can all get together to talk shop and play nice.

Thanks again Terry!

Ain't it the truth!   :thumbsup:

Couldn't agree more!

I agree!  :)

I agree completely   :thumbsup:

yep..... agreed !!  :thumbsup:

And we owe it all to Terry who put it all together and Rob who keeps it up and running technically and endless hours of the mods combing through stuff to try to 'hold that thin line' tween what is and ain't.

Bet it ain't easy...nor cheap.

So, yup. Gang... we got it good and it's a debt I can't repay.

no doubt about it!

How dare you?!  Erm oh, I mean, "you're right!".

  :bigsmyl:

Amen, Dave. This is the ONLY site I have found where healthy debate doesn't degenerate to name calling and personal attacks. Terry, Rob and the other mods do a great job, but I also like to acknowledge the rest of the gang here who understand that stirring the pot doesn't mean kicking it over.

Many thanks to everyone here. I appreciate all of you!

I second your opinion Mr. Bulla.  We are spoiled here.  Some of the other archery sites have a few "psychos" for lack of a better term that rule.  Thank goodness for tradgang and all that Terry and Rob do to keep this place a wonderful cybercampfire.

Thanks Dave!
Just as we need to clean our glasses once in awhile to see better and sometimes we need to experience the rest to appreciate what we have... and it is good!
I do appreciate you reminding me. Now I don't have to go anywhere to figure it out thanks to you.
God bless,Mudd

PS: 30Coupe is correct also, the members work at it as well as the administrators.

Amen! Brothers!  

We all have opinions.  Here you can voice them and have disagreements without the childish name calling and fighting you see on other sites.  Way to many people have their egos wrapped up in their equipments and personal opinions, and most are are willing to fight and yell to claim they are right even when wrong.

Not here, Thanks to the moderators who work hard to keep it civil.  I checked into the pirates of archery site to see what was up over there.  I gotta say most of them wouldn't be welcome in my camp ever.  Lots of spite aimed at this site from people who have been kicked off, and obvious why they were.  Their bile reminded me why I love this site.

completely agree. i've noticed also that in the off season(not for everyone but a good bunch) that the forums get full of "debate" or basically pointless arguing no matter the topic. this is by far the BEST FORUM and has the nicest and most helpful group of people i've seen!

That is why this is the only place i go

It's the traditional way. Like the saying goes, " It's about the journy not the destination".

I have been a member for 10months and spend most of my time just reading, and reading.  So much helpful info here from everyone that I don't even have to ask.... just search and I find it.  Thanks to everyone here.

Yup!!

this my preferred place to be ... i have looked at the "other" sites and was pretty schocked at what i saw and read .
Recently on the "Dark Continent" forum there was a post regarding what some would consider a divisive subject and that if there was going to be animosity its' ugly head would have reared there and then . To by great pleasure the conversation/debate was conducted in a respectful and informative matter .
Trad Gang is where i spend my computer time ... thanks to all involved .
Ben Maher

I agree this is the best forum.just a great bunch of people on here.

I agree 100%. This site is friendly, helpful, and a pleasure to be a part of. No backbiting, deck-stacking, or other nonsense. Just 100% pure traditional archery the way it should be.

Thanks to Terry and Rob, this site is #1, by far.  Everyone, try and imagine which site(s) we would frequent if TradGang were not available.  I appreciate what we have here!!!
Thanks, Ron

Aside from the recent unpleasantness because of the collector's forum, this place has been a great oasis of politeness and normalcy in an otherwise pretty unpolite and and sometimes downright rude internet.  

Although I occasionally have not agreed with some of the decisions made (google "moose turd pie", read the story and you will know what I mean), I do admire and thank the moderators who keep things on an even keel, and the good people who take the time to teach, admonish, and respect each other on this board have taught me a lot.

RonP

Great site,friendly helpful people and a wealth of information.

I second all of the above

Although I've been bowhunting for 30 years, and shooting a stick bow for 20, I'm new to this internet stuff. I wish I found this site first.  I don't need the aggravation of confrontation.  I get enough of that at work.  I'm really enjoying this site.  Thanks to all involved!

Dave, I agree. Sometimes the well must run dry to know the worth of the water, or take a visit to another site to understand what Trad Gang means. Thanks to all who make this "Cyber Camp of Traditional Bowhunters" possible. I wonder how many lifetimes I would have to live even just 20 years ago to get to know all the good folks and gain access to all the helpful info on the Trad Gang?

i agree 100%...this is the best place i ever visited! i read every post and try to learn along the way, and im commited to taking a deer with my longbow in 2010 with you guys help i will suceed...even got some woodsman heads  :knothead:  
i enjoy this site alot and feel welcome when i visit,i visit enough i want one of them LOST CREEK BOWS!!!...yep the old adriondack hunter shoots very well but i looked at the bear montana but for a little more im going to have a custom bow...my buddy is saving for a new mathews...i told him im saving for a "lost creek" and of course i had to explain what it was...he pointed out the mathews does 340fps. i pointed out its not a bow...its a MECHANICAL ARROW LAUNCHER!  :goldtooth:

As a non-criminal fully functioning anti-social personality who "does not play well with others" (direct quote from my grade school report cards), I've found Trad Gang is about the only place that will put up with me...   :D

Dave, unlike you, I'm new to this site (didn't have the Internet for past 5-6 yrs). In the short time I've been here,....like everthing said above, there is a kinship that just puts other sites to shame.

As I get to know you guys, through posts/replys and pictures....I feel the brotherhood all of you share.

Big Thanks to Rob and Terry

Hear, hear!

But the friendly tone of the good people here is not only what makes this the best forum online!
The site layout and simple visual appeal also has its effect, and the admins hard work to steer the ship well!
Also the ads are in one place and they are safe to click. No bs or trickery!
Sponsors dedicated to the forums purpose ensure that.

This site is great, the fact that there are so many of us is awesome.  There are some other good sites out there.  And I find that once you stray away from trad bowhunting things get ugly!  That may seem eliteist, but that is not intended.  The bowhunting community in general is just awesome, stray over to some of the trapping sites I have been on and they will eat you alive!  Thanks to the guys that make it possible!

Now ya got me curious about the oddball caliber...

Killdeer

Since my main interests these days are archery related I frequent these sites but I still have a very large gun collection and check in daily to keep my hand in it so to speak.  All of the site I visit are well run and tightly managed and moderated, much like this one.  Bickering, back biting, name calling or acting like jerks is not tolerated there much like here.

If you want to PM me I'll give them to you if your interest is there.

If it weren't for the helpful and encouraging nature of Trad Gang, I would have given up on trad archery in just a few months. Now, I wonder how I lived so long without it! Thanks Terry, Rob, and all you wonderful guys and gals who make this place possible!

Ike

I'm with Killdeer, so what's the oddball caliber?

BOB

9.3x57

Try finding ammo or affordable dies.....

I wish there was a "trad-gun-gang"

I AM NEW HERE. BUT I CHOSE THIS FORUM TO BE THE BEST

You mean  there are other sites?  :bigsmyl:

I feel like I have family here, not a better place on the web!! Jason

I visit here most days and like others have said, appreciate the respect shown by posters. I have learned much and hopefully contributed a little. Seems I need to post a little more instead of just soaking it all in so I can become a "real" member LOL.  :biglaugh:  

Just kidding - my hats off too the mods & the many folks who make my time here so enjoyable.

I stopped by to visit Charlie Lamb recently and his wife Billie was talking about a social network site where she has over 200 "friends". Charlie turned to me and asked "What level are you on at Facebook?" I told him I've never and don't want to. He said he tells folks that want to social site with him, "Look for me on TradGang."

Gotta Agree With White Oak!!!  :thumbsup:   If There  ARE  Other Sites, I Musta Forgot 'Em!!  :archer:

Yep, Tradgang is a nice place to visit.(Especially for a guy like me who doesn't get out much...)
Good folks, good stories and good information all freely shared...  :thumbsup:  


Dave- Check your PM's...

Although I don't know anyone here personally, this is where I am the most comfortabIe.

I heard derogatory comments on another site pertaining to the type of people who frequent Tradgang. On that same site, my first post was a question about 2 television "hunters" and someone started insulting me.

The guidelines here may seem a little tight sometimes but at least Tradgang has class.

IT DOESN"T GET ANY BETTER THEN THIS. GOOD PEOPLE

Top notch folks right here!

I have never seen a site like this one Dave,it is truely unique!!!!!

We have our moderators,and they do a WONDERFUL job!!!!!

and then there is "Dad"(Terry)who is quick to come in and throw a bucket of cold water on the boys!!!(after all,this is HIS house that we are fighting in) Then he tells us to go sit in the corner,and come back when we are ready to "play nice".....

This is what makes this site "home" to alot of folks!!!!! There's not another one like it in the world!!!!!

Thanks to ALL!!!!!

This is a great site,and from what I have seen of other sites by far the best. It is easy to navigate people have respect and a load of info to find. Heck if every body puts up with me a gap shooting uninformed archer that can't hit the broadside of the barn type of guy,your all o.k. in my book.  :campfire:

There was a time (as many of you are well aware) when I would have written paragraphs regarding my feelings/support in this thread also - but I'm gettin' older, slower with my two-finger typing, busier pleasure reading, tired-er, more forgetful, and more prone to taking longer naps -but I do still "visit" often -  so I'll just say, "Me2, still!"

Point well made, Dave.

Oh, I do still keep getting better lookin' though (or else my eyes are goin' too)   :goldtooth:

I agree. I am a new trad archer and every one on here is very helpfull. I really enjoy this site. Thanks

Amen this place is like family.  Widow

I lurk here everyday and participate occasionally but love this site. Definately a bunch of GOOD PEOPLE on here! ND Terminator: Your post about your grade school report card made me laugh out loud!!! I seem to do alot of that on this site. Also Thanks to the moderators for the time and effort they spend keeping it this way!!

I will second that! I went to a site same thing, guys arguing & down right mean too each other.

Amen and Amen.

Not too long ago, I posted here about an experience I had on another site hosted by a compound bow manufacturer, which I used.  I was attacked for my question... I simply asked about the ethics of hunting and their approach.  What I got was, basically, "I just kill it and don't think about it. Your question is stupid and you're not a hunter if you're thinking about ethics." The same thread posted here generated a heart-felt discussion that was true to the campfire philosopher nature of our sport.  It was refreshing.  

Another example of the character here was seen when I raised the question of the ethics of bear baiting.  I have always been on the fence about it, and the healthy discussion that thread generated was not only interesting but gave plenty to consider on the issue.

Simply put: The folks here are the best.  They are very knowledgeable, eager to share, respectful, spiritual, and this is the only place I will spend time reading and discussing my love of bowhunting.

Thanks to all who put their time into developing, monitoring, and contributing to this wonderful site!!

ber,
Your eyes are going!
Nothing uglier than us old wore out jarheads!
Semper Fi my brother forever! Lets go swimming at Onslow Beach!
Ditto everyone else, greatest web-site there is.
I check it before my personal e-mail everyday!
John

There's a lot of good folks on here!

LOL, sendero25 - Onslo Beach is pretty tied up in training exercises most of the time these days (years).

Semper Fi

:clapper:

This thread made me think about....what the heck would we do without a place like Tradgang? It enhances traditional archery so much for me to read other folks stuff, opinions, stories, etc. (the number of which I would NEVER meet in "real" life).

It's a great place. I look at it every day.

Amen Dave!  :thumbsup:  

You said a mouthful and it's so true
This place is amazing
Thanks to Terry and all who keep it so  :campfire:    :campfire:    :clapper:

I second that..............

I spent a couple of years lurking here before breaking down and actually joining.

What made me lurk all that time was my observations (and experiences) from other forums/sites.  But I eventually (yeah I'm slow...) discovered that 1:  there were VERY interesting posts on here, and 2:  the folks on here were downright civil (friendly actually).

Know what......in the years since,it's actually gotten better...........kind of hard to say that about anything else tied to this faceless internet.  Some fine and helpful folks associated with this passion of ours!

Yup, some Great People on this Fine Site!!  :thumbsup:   Like  YOU  HaySlope!!  :notworthy:    :notworthy:   I Owe You One My Friend!!  :archer:    :goldtooth:

I agree with what Dave said and also Killdeer!  Thanks for asking that question.  Joseph

I agree, Dave. I sometimes chuckle when, on another site, posters get agressive and rude. I think to myself, "just try going to TradGang and saying that."  Without rules some people lose their manners and come off dictatorial.

The longer the time I spend here the most I feel like I am on a family instead of a forum.

I was away last week when this thread started.  I finally got time to sit down and read all 5 pages of comments.

Many thanks for all the comments.  Most folks don't have a clue what it takes to keep a site like this with so many members on track.  I wont bore you with all that.....but its a JOB let me tell ya.

I had a dream for a forum to be more like a real hunting camp campfire, and, to represent our lifestyle as it truly is.  You guys make it so.

And comments like this make it all worth while.

Many thanks....much appreciated!!!!     :notworthy:          :notworthy:          :notworthy:

Terry, I consider myself very computer savy, but I still havent got a clue how much work operating a site like this takes!  I think it would boggle my mine to the point of my brain turning to jello!  :notworthy:

I am young, pursuiting a career in Digital Film and Video production, and will leave the genious internet stuff to great guys like you!

Oh....and thanks to Dave for starting this thread.

It was timely.    :campfire:

I agree, this is the best run forum on ANY subject I've ever been on.  My thanks to Terry and Rob and all the others that make this work so well.  And Dave, you are one of the guys who make this place good too.  I always read what you have to say, because you usually have a unique view on things.  Plus I like the hat.

No Terry, THANK YOU!!!

Tradgang is a place where all of us can come and unwind, ask questions, blowviate on various subjects and help each other out.  

I still have not forgotten how many guys offered me the use of a loaner bow when mine got run over (by me in my wifes 98 expedition...)  Must have been twenty different guys.  Some of them I knew in person, some via this site and others that honestly I'd never noticed their name before.  Or when I wanted to buy Gene and Barry's new books in the limited editions and signed up for them then lost my job and said I'd have to back out because I wouldn't have enough money to buy both the books AND hunting arrows and I'd rather have arrows to be able to hunt.  Again, a bunch of guys jumped in and offered to hook me up with some arrows so I could still buy the books.  In the end, I accepted the gift of 1/2 dozen carbon express heritage 350's from Biggie Hoffman.  Of course, Biggie being Biggie, I had to convince him I only needed 6 and didn't need a full dozen...

Or, how about all the give aways!  I've always gotten a kick out of those.  I've seen other sites do sponsored give aways but not just regular members doing something like that out of the goodness of their hearts.  And not just little stuff either.  I've seen some pretty darned nice bows given away.  I did a modest little give away myself and I gotta admit it was a lot of fun.

Then how about the St Judes Auction?  Talk about impressive!

Of course, I could go on and on but I expect you all get the idea.

Terry, I gotta say thanks bud.  I bet you never dreamed things would take off like they have over the years.  I'm just glad you didn't drop the idea when it got to the point where it started becoming work and not just fun.  A lot of people probably would have.


You've touched a LOT of lives....


p.s.  If any of you are wondering what the heck "blowviate" means, it's something I heard Bill O'Rielly say referring to talking about a subject to the point of "being a blowhard or blowing your own horn".  All in fun of course.