Well, traditional hunting has officially ruined it for me. I made the trek to cedar point this week and on the way home I talked my wife into a foray into cabelas in Dundee, MI. I spent about an hour in there looking at mounts and then we left. I found more interesting things to buy the last time we went to goodwill. I guess now that I don't use all the crazy gadgets out there I'm not gonna make the trip anymore.
I go to Washington DC every couple of months. I don't even bother to go to Bass Pro in Baltimore or down in Richmond anymore. I don't buy anything. Glad to know it is not just me.
I have Cabelas and Scheels in addition to sportsman warehouse. I bought a shirt last time in Cabelas. This sport isvwaaaaybsimple. No gadgets except for the ones we use in making arrows. Guess we trad shooters are the cause ofvthe economic downturn
I noticed the same thing the last time I was in Cabela's. I guess that's why I left with only fishing and camping things. The last time I went to a Bass Pro and ask for a #70 recurve they looked at me funny.
Yeah same here. I don't use the big retailers much anymore. A very little bit of fishing stuff (although, using mostly glass and cane rods, there isn't much there that I need/want), and maybe some boots occassionally. That's about it.
I know what you mean. The last time I was in Bass Pro, I asked to look at a couple of different recurves and longbows they had on the rack behind the counter. The kid I asked said: "Oh, those are antiques, we just have them up there for show." I said, "I guess that means you don't have any cedar shafts, then, huh?" He says, "I don't know of that brand." Nice.
QuoteOriginally posted by looper:
I know what you mean. The last time I was in Bass Pro, I asked to look at a couple of different recurves and longbows they had on the rack behind the counter. The kid I asked said: "Oh, those are antiques, we just have them up there for show." I said, "I guess that means you don't have any cedar shafts, then, huh?" He says, "I don't know of that brand." Nice.
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :laughing:
Don't look for much in the way of hunting in Cabela's anymore but they have fine fly rods.
Funny! I'm the same way! I still try to make a fuss to my wife about how we need to make the hour-drive to Cabelas every few months... but it's really just to protect my "territory". We go there... but I just don't buy any hunting stuff there anymore. My wife does find nice skirts, though.
I went to gander mountain and saw a bear montanna, sitting on the floor. I asked how much they wanted for it and they said I can make you a good deal on this. I saved a lot of money on the bow. I told the salesman, this bow may not mean much to some but it means the world to me, no need to go back nothing but compounds.
When I need to buy archery equipment I shop online or by phone at 3rivers or one of the trad shops but I don't have anything against Cabelas because of that. I like to visit the store in Dundee. I will be going there next weekend to look at the new Leverage ladder stand. I have always liked their clothing better than anywhere else. IMO we need large companies like them that support hunting; there are enough out there that don't. Case in point; Staples provides wifi and you can access the internet on their display computers but if you try to access a hunting or gun site it is blocked. PC stinks! These days trad hunting is a specialized endeavor and I like it that way. Those who shoot for gold in the Olympics don't buy their equipment at Cabelas either. Doesn't make Cabelas bad.
I'm a little lucky because there are two Gander Mountain stores near me and both have a "trad" man that works there. Both men have "gray hair" so they're very familiar with recurves and longbows.
I checked out their 20 yard indoor shooting range in both stores and there are quite a few ILF target shooters who shoot at both stores.
I don't have a Cabelas or a Gander Mtn very close. With in two hours drive. So I never went to the stores much anyways before trad. I have noticed there are alot more 3rivers boxes from the mailman than cabelas these days. Nothing against them they just dont have what I need. I'm sure I will still buy somethings from them. But it won't be for archery.
Not saying cabela's is bad. Just not a whole lot there that interests me now that I've gone back to basics. The mounts in Dundee are awesome.
I had a local Bass Pro store when I lived in Orlando, but it didn't take me long to shop them out far as hunting needs go. They seem to stock the basics and not many specialty items.
I had to find 99% of the things I wanted online. Now everything I get for hunting is online.
I go into the Gander Mountain here in fredericksburg once a month due to club business & down to the Bass Pro in Richmond maybe 3 times a year as an instructor & each time since I've returned to Trad I don't even look in their archery sections or clothing sections. they do have some decent fishing & camping supplies.
welcome home brother.......
The only time I use the Gander Mountain store is for the 5" right wing Gateway parabolic white colored feathers they carry when I need a few feathers in a hurry.
Kinda funny how it works out huh? By this I mean, to get into one of the oldest methods of hunting you almost have to do your shopping on the bestest most fastest internet equipped whizbang out there! JMHO. Mike
I hear you. I have a BP about 5 minutes from my work, but hardly go anymore.
As a favor to a friend who is just getting into hunting (not trad yet), I'm going to a big "hunting expo" today. Used to get excited about those, but now I just want to go to one of these dang trad shows, which all happen to be at least 600+ miles from my house! I will look at stands and taxidermy I suppose.
Got a nice Savannah long bow at Gander mtn brand new for a really good price. Was at Cabela's at their bargain cave and could of bought some nice new Bears for a good price but didn't need another bow.
QuoteOriginally posted by Night Wing:
The only time I use the Gander Mountain store is for the 5" right wing Gateway parabolic white colored feathers they carry when I need a few feathers in a hurry.
At least your GM has feathers, mine doesn't...
Yep...ain't it great? Welcome.
I love Cabelas and am pretty fond of Bass Pro and then Sportsman's Warehouse. I am hundreds of miles from the nearest Cabelas, maybe thats why I visit them when in the area. I walk through a Bass Pro shop about once a month (about 70 miles from my house).
I don't peruse the archery sections much in any of these stores anymore though. Before I returned to curves a couple years ago I had already found other ways to take care of my archery supply and equipment needs.
However, I like to see the mounts and check out the new hunting clothes and boots. Oh, and cinnamon bears are hard to find except for Bass Pro.
I was just in a Wal-Mart and bought a stuffed dog-chew toy hedge hog to shoot at. They also have ethafoam paddle boards (for swimming) for $6 that I could cut in half and glue together. So for $18 I could have a decent portable target. Kinda bright colors though. Tack a stuffed hedge hog or chipmunk to it and I'm good to go.
Cabelas and BPS are OK for utility fishing stuff, kayaks, duck decoys, headlamps. But for steelhead or salmon or fly fishing I stick with the little shops. Smartest thing Cabelas ever did was hook up with Gary Loomis.
One of the things I really like about trad bowhunting is that most of the stuff is made by the guy I buy it from. That's cool.