Trad Gang

Randy:
 Man,thanks for your effort I was disapointed to hear of the 30 yard shot from 25 ft up. 20 yards and 10 ft up is a very real and reasonable distance that most should be able to do. I have never hunted Ft Stewart but have a couple guys that I think will come down to hunt with me this year. Thanks again....  :thumbsup:

Good on you Whiteoaks, you did a good thing for trad hunters. I wonder if this will spread and eventually be adopted by all federal and state land managers?

Whiteoaks,

Thank-you for all your hard work and effort.  You have shown that one man can make a difference.  Good job!

Thanks Whiteoaks for getting PART of the job done; why aren't firearm hunters being tested?

TDHunter-- no certification which is a scary thought; I don't agree! In all the years I've been hunting I've NEVER seen a wounded animal running around unless I was chasing it.

Just my .02 worth; a little more government regulation is what we need"????

I have hunted Stewart and benning and love it.  I never shot anything over 20 yards and killed at least 15 hogs and several deer.  Thanks for talking a little sense into them.  I can't tell you how many times I shot an animal at dark not in cell phone range and after recovery found out I had my hunting privileges suspended for 30 days for not calling in on time.

Good job White Oaks and thanks. I`m glad for your hard work and results but I do think that just cause a fellow hits plates at 20 yards or 30 doesn`t mean he won`t take a shot at 50 or 60 with poor results. Its attitude and smarts that need testing not the ability to hit plates.I`ll say it again I believe my recovery rate will equal or better any compounder that hunts there.I`ve never killed a critter there over 15 yards and there have been a few come home with me.RC

Thank you for facilitating this change and good luck this season. Chris

Good job Randy!  Thanks for hanging in, asking the right questions, and making the calls!

Thanks Whiteoaks for getting PART of the job done; why aren't firearm hunters being tested?

The job I signed up for was to eliminate the test, or to make it reasonable for TG'ers. My job is finished.

Testing for firearms is a whole different story I do not plan to tackle.

If anyone cares to give it a go, the Fort Stewart Hunting Page is a Google away. Go for it.

Good stuff and thanks WhiteOaks!!

Whiteoaks, don't take me wrong, I am very gratefull to you for getting the rules changed for TG'ers. I was just pointing out that once again, the archers get the shaft and the firearm hunters get a free pass.

Randy    :thumbsup:    :clapper:  I hemmed the pants and they will work fine thanks Kip

Tique,

No Worries. I struggle with all the issues brought out about our rights and the challenge many have with all hunters being knowledgeable woodsmen and practicing with their weapon of choice to ensure kind and humane harvesting of our game.

I take every opportunity to teach, coach, and mentor the next generation of outdoorsmen. They are the future.

When I witness a poor example of an outdoorsman, I realize that everyone was not as fortunate as me growing up, and I wonder what kind of outdoorsman they would be if someone in their past took the time to teach them right from wrong.

There's just not enough Dads, and Grandpas in the world.

Kip,

Good Deal.
I'll send you some more as they fade if you want em.

Randy

Good job!  Thank you for your time on this one!

Randy, Thanks for stepping up to the task. It is because of your efforts I can enjoy Ft Stewart's great hunting again.

Thanks again !
Bill

I appreciate all the thanks but I would prefer 8 digit grid coordinates of hog and deer infested terrain.

WhiteOaks - Thank you for standing up and also for making a difference.

Thank you for your effort and congrats on obtaining a major success to be enjoyed by many.

**Just glad they don't realize how difficult a 5 to 10 yard shot is for many.

thanks!!

Great job Sir!

WhiteOaks is not only very effective and persuasive, but funny too.  I don't use a GPS so I can't provide any coordinates, but I have learned to just follow RC and get ready to shoot.  If RC ain't around, Landshark160 is ALMOST as good.....

Jeff,

Thanks. I've already tried to bribe RC to give me a yell when He's in the area. Through this adventure, I got a chance to talk to the local biologists several times and I think I have another leads that gets paid to scout almost everyday.

My buddy from VA arrived today to bow hunt with me the next three days.  He was told he can't hunt without passing the test, which is 20 and 30 yards from a 25' high platform.  That was from two different wardens and the MWR guys running the permit station.

Apex: So tell your buddy to joinTG right now and he is golden-right?

They didn't want to hear it Bjorn.

Ms Stipply is the MWR director and the voice on the pass and permit sign in number. She's the one that changed it. I'm going this afternoon to take the test. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm the   First certified TGer on Fort Stewart.

Apex predator was right behind me.
Let the piggin begin

Good job guys. Go get'm

sure with MCAAP would go to something like this....

Have Ta Brag just a tad.
I passed first time with a 40+ year old Bear Kodiak and some crooked ole cedars I made myself.
I had my homemade back quiver sporting a deer's ear and a 10" turkey beard.

Life is good.

Outstanding. I`ll probably head over next Thursday Lord Willing for a stab at mine.RC

Did you fellas get your card right away for hunting same day?RC

RC
We got a card on the spot.
You will be fine.

Did you have to shoot the 20/30 test, or did they do the 15/20 test?
If they did the 15/20 test, is that for just TG members or all traditional shooter?
Did you shoot from the ground or a tower?
Do you have a choice of the ground or tower?

Thanks

Also, could you tell us what was the diameter and shape of the targets you shot?  How high off the ground were they?  I want to set up a practice range in the backyard.  Randy, any information you can provide would be greatly appriciated.  And thanks for all the work that you have already put in.

Anyone with traditional gear will take the 15 and 20 yard test.

It was on the ground with 3 9" pie plates.
You will shoot 1 arrow top left which is about 6' off the ground. 2nd arrow goes to top right  pie plate. If you need the third shot the plate is about 5' off the ground just below the first plate. Twenty yard is exactly the same scenario.

Another argument I won was anyone passing the trad test will automatically pass the wheelie test. This was a hard argument but we them over  over.

If anyone wants me to be there to help out just give me a yell. I'll be happy to assist.

Randy,

Thanks for your work on this matter and the answers to my questions. I just retired in May, and have plans to hunt FS several times after the first of the year (2012).

Dennis

Dennis,

No Worries.
Congrats on your retirement and thank you for your service. You are the <1% elite that ever served.

WhiteOaks my hat is off to you. You must have some pull, dealing with the Military is not always easy. Thank you for representing Traditional Bowhunters so effectively.

Butch L

My pleasure guys.
Just happy we could work around a difficult situation.

Sat is the second day of testing.
Knock them targets down fellas.

Is the test going to be offered all year or just Sept. ? If I don't make a hunt this fall , I won't be able to make it until the begining of next year.

WhiteOaks    

Great job!! Great for the archery world.   :thumbsup:    :clapper:    :clapper:

They say they will made the test available to accomodate the hunters. Let me know when you are coming down and I will, in advance try to work it out for you.

Thank you sir for your time in getting this done!

Okay, wanted to know if this still stands.  Wanted to take test this summer.

What? There actually is such a thing as Military Intelligence?    :bigsmyl:

easy there...i spent my 20+ years in Combat Control and Intelligence Operations. LOL

Glad to hear some common sense went into it. Thanks White Oaks.

And I have been a victim of military intelligence. lol!

Just out of curiosity, what is this test?
Do you have to prove how you shoot before you can hunt??

Yes, a proficiency test, not uncommon on Government installations.

Fantastic! It's amazing what a little leg work can do to combat idiotic policies.  :thumbsup:

Well done.
(Of course, it's still five yards too far for me:).
I personally wouldn't take a twenty yard shot on a hog, they move too much. I like em at 8-10.
Thank you for your efforts.

Well
hate to tell you but this is old news and not sure what the new standards are since I understand they are not giving the test at the Base.  Apparently you have to go off base at some archery facility.  I would check with them to be sure.

The policies are not necessarily idiotic, merely enacted by those without knowledge of all facets of the situation.  This is why I am vehemently against any sort of qualification, although this is a good step in the right direction.

I am against it, not because of the test, we should practice until proficient, but because we tend to make a line, be it 30, 40 50 yards.  When others do not conform to that, they are left out.  

What of the folks that can shoot very well to 15, and keep it tight and close.  They won't pass a 30 yard requirement and are left out.

Rifle hunters in control can easily make it 100 yards.  Most compounders would fail that one.   and on and on.

Glad to see that someone took the initiative to supply more knowledge to those making and enforcing rules, as well as to see that those above had the ability to listen and act on that new knowledge.

ChuckC

Well Done white Oaks!

I'm in Alabama now but when I left in January of this year it was still 3 pie plates at 20 yards and 3 pie plates at 15 yards for TG'ers. The place off post they were sending people to was mission essentials. I made the mistake of going there to recertify and they looked at me like I was crazy. They use some kind of shooting range that requires blunts. I went back to the MWR and told them about the problem with communication. I only had broadheads and field tips. I couldn't exacting glue up blunts on the fly. If you go to certify off post take some blunts.

Anyone heard from RC lately.

I also think they dropped the requirement for most of the post and only require the test if you plan to hunt near the contonement areas.

Good on ya.  Thank for the effort

Whiteoaks.  I do believe you are correct.  You need the certification to hunt the bow only areas.  The on line check in will not let you check in if you are not certified.  You also need to make sure they document it in the CPU.  In Feb when we were down there we had to stop by the office to get it fixed.

Alli know is I'm gonna miss chasin the swine through tha swamps. I love to hunt there.

You do have to test off post and pre arrange it. 2 of 3 arrows in a pie plate size target at 15 and 20 yards shooting a "dart" system. You have to pass at least once to be able to bowhunt anywhere on post. You do not have to test every year but must have your passing card on you as well as your other fort stewart stuff at all times. If you are gonna hunt the containment areas which is mostly around houses/town you have to pass every year. RC

RC I guess the budget cuts caused the changes.
Thanks for updating everyone.

RC I guess the budget cuts caused the changes.
Thanks for updating everyone.

So happy to read this. I was at Stewart before coming here to Benning. I've been saying they need to change the test for trad folks as well. But the test is just to hunt in the catonement area like basic training land and housing. I have no desire to hunt those places. I prefer to roam free ahah. I don't kill much but I get by and its a lot quieter. Very proud to see someone stand up (and win!) for trad shooters. You should be proud! Thank you!

I know see the date-time-groups for this thread. Old, dead news. Mia culpa.