I had to post this little bit of a swampers ramblings this morning.
I`ve been hunting my whole life actually. If not by myself with my Uncles or Grandpa. My Dad passed when I was ten and I was raised "old fashioned" by my Grandpa and Uncles.I would have much rather had Dad but the way of life growing up on a farm in the South with folks that depended on the land and God most of all was the best education I could have ever had and I thank the Good Lord for it.Family was all and neighbors were family are at least treated that way.
Now as I type this I still live within a mile of my growin up spot and most all the people then are gone. I`ve only met my neighbors and just know who the are. If you drive by and wave they may or may not wave back.Good thing maybe the closest one is near a mile away or across the creek.
Now we`ll tie this into tradbows. The old fashioned raising I was talking about is the feeling I get when I visit this place daily and a couple more trad places I attend. Its like we all are family and treat each other that way.Priceless.On a general bowhunting forum I sometimes check they can`t evern post about anything without it turning into some kind of stupid fuss. They know so much but have yet to learn to be nice to each other.Awful.
I have been blessed to have hunted with folks I would have never met without this site or a few others. Spent several days afield with folks from a LLOOONNNGG way off and enjoyed every minute and look forward to the same.
So I gotta say keep being nice to each other...respect the beginner and his questions and have patience with the hardheaded old bowhunter set in his ways cause as in my youth we are not only neighbors...we are family.RC
Good point. I was talking to a sales rep that came into my office this morning and after talking business we started talking hunting/fishing. We both agreed that the worldtoday is not like it was in the good 'ol days you here about but like you i was raised with the same mentality as most trad hunters have. Luckily I always had my father because nobody else in my family hunted and he is the one who taught me more about life and treating people the right way then anyone could have.
well said! :clapper: :clapper:
Maybe the reason I'm on here so much myself? Argues are rare. I like that. Way too much time spent here otherwise. It's the hunting we share most similar as you learned when growing up on my grandfather's farm. Like your post as always RC. God Bless & the good folks at TG, b
Never met a bad person on tradgang yet!!
except those few I sold bows to and now they won't sell them back, can you believe them LOL
you hit the nail on the head Robert. That man in the picture with me is my Grandpa---whole time I knew him he made his living digging hand-dug wells (yeah, he could witch water), trappin turtles out of folks ponds (and sometimes out from under creekbanks we'd wade up), fishin and huntin.
I miss him and that time of my life but you're right when you say that this place and these folks can bring some of that back...
Thanks for the reminder...
Reminds me of a saying I heard- IT'S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT BUT MORE IMPORTANY TO BE NICE
TIM B
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Thanks for bringing this back to the forefront of our minds RC.
It is one of the most important messages I've read in awhile.
People don't really care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Tradgang is family and I am blessed to be a part of it.
Thank you.... one and all!!
God bless,Mudd
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Absolutely right.
I live in a town of 800 people 60 miles from the Canadian border on the east slope of Cascades about 3000 miles or so from where I grew up in a small town in Pike County, Illinois. In the whole valley there's probably not more than 4,000 full-timers and another 6,000 part-timers. It's pretty isolated, still good and country, but not to complain too much, a bit touristy and spandexy and Leer-jetty, if you know what I mean.
There are, at my last count, a half dozen trad archers in this isolated valley. I knew none of them 8 months ago.
Guess where I met the first one. Here. At TradGang.com No kidding. Saw his photos from a hunt in Hawaii and said, "Hey! I know that guy!"
Even though I grew up with a recurve and have flirted with trad archery since the 90s, I finally dove into the traditional bowhunting pool just 8 months ago. For the first time in a long time I feel like I'm home and a large part of that is TradGang.
Thanks!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Well said :)
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Had not thought of the similarities before but I also grew up in a rural area and now that you mention it, this is A LOT like it was back then.
Very well said RC!
RC don't say much, but when he does I listen. I spend far to much time on this site because of people like RC. God Bless you all. :campfire:
RC, you are right on! I have met and hunted with with a lot of TG'rs and it is as life should be. It is never about your age , profession ,or location. It is about your passion of the bow and the love of nature. It seems that those of us who choose the traditional way are more interested in the experience rather than the out come. :thumbsup:
Amen Brother!
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Proud to call you all my brothers and sisters. We ARE one big family of human beings and this site, as well as the whole feel of being traditional makes us step back from ourselves and look at the other side of the coin, the other side of the fence and put ourselves in their shoes. Seems to me like everyone here is always holding the thought in the back of their mind "What if He or She was Me, how would I want to be treated" and then they follow through on that thought.
Words cannot describe in detail the warm fuzzies I get when I am reading and talking with other folks here, or face to face with other trad. folks.
RC-You done did it again my Brother! We all can learn by RC's example as well as all of us with this similar mind set!
Thanks again my brudders!
TomBow
I'm only 30min. away from where I grew up but things are so different there. Everything still moves slow and I know most everybody. With the economy and gas prices it has been hard to figure out a way to move back there but this site helps with the wait. Rob
Very well said RC!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :campfire:
RC great post! I couldn't agree more!
Spot on. :clapper:
Well said RC. :archer2: Bullseye!
That was very eloquent, RC, and right on the money. Thanks for posting. You, sir, have an open invitation to come and hunt with me in Oregon anytime you want to get a LLOOONNNGGG way from home to hunt. But, I ain't going where there's snakes and gators... :scared:
Great people here, no doubt. They even put up with me when I am in a crabby argumentative mood. RC is one of the best things about his site.
RC, I applaud you for reminding us all of that. So many good people on here. I am proud to have been able to meet and hunt with you and look forward to the next time.
I am on here alot, every day for sure. I don't post a whole bunch but do like the mentality here. A bunch of good people that just want to help and give great info. Every one loves the bow and arrow. I sure wish the whole country thought like we do.. It'd be a great place..(still is but could be much better)
A simple statement full of divine wisdom.
Great post, some of the other sites could learn a thing or two from Trad Gang and it's members, never been treated rough or put off here, thank.
Yep, well put RC!
Unfortunately, sometimes I (and others, too, I think) respond to a post in a way that isn't negative, but maybe a little too sarcastic. I really don't do it to be unfriendly or cruel, just respond off the top of my head. If I have offended anyone by my remarks, I am truly sorry. As said by others, this is probably one of the best sites out there and about the only one I follow anymore.
RC well said! :thumbsup:
Sound observations, Mr. Carter. I look forward to some time in your neck of the woods in late October at Horse Creek. We'll try to make it like a family reunion. Complete with a little something good to eat...
:thumbsup: Well spoken my friend!
RC has forgotten more bout killin criters than I ever have learned!!! I usually look intently at his posts... but gosh darn it... We all like to get fired up every now and then bout crossbows and other foolishness... Like the Ft Stewart archery testing...
But cooler heads prevail and despite the desire to get up on the soapbox and let llose with both barrels loaded with washers and BB's... RC brings it back into perspective...
You're right but man I can get fired up over some things I am passionate about!!!
BTW- personally I may not agree with some things (like healthy men bow hunting with crossbows) it is like a man's family, wife/girlfriend, dog, or truck- just don't say nuthin negative!!! Cuz those things are worth fightin for!!!
But here on the Gang it seems a lil easier to speak up about such things, cuz we got plenty of company of folks that think alike... kindred spirits and such...
One the things I love most about trad archery, THE PEOPLE.
I'd be rather happy about posting here too if I had downed as many fine critters as RC has :bigsmyl: ...
On a serious note ... nicely put mate .
:clapper: :clapper: :archer2:
Well Said. :campfire: :clapper: :clapper:
Makes a lot of sense to me. I've pretty much written off the other forums now.
Very well put RC ..... :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Turner:
RC don't say much, but when he does I listen. I spend far to much time on this site because of people like RC. God Bless you all. :campfire:
dido
Robert speaks the TRUTH! Well said.
RC, No truer statement. Thanks for your great insight. God Bless
RC, you are 100% right!!!! Thanks for posting :thumbsup:
Author! Author! :clapper:
Well said RC! :clapper:
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Nice post, RC. I don't even bother going to other hunting sites because this site has everthing I need.
I'm with you bother.
Started out life in a medium size town and ended up in a smaller one. It's better here. You know just about everyone and it is a way more simple life. Being a teacher, everywhere I go a kid says, "Hey Mr. Miller!" A number of them have been able to shoot bows with my kids in tha back yard. Now if I can just get trad archery into the school for more kids.
Small towns, experienced older hunters, the country and trad archery kinda go hand in hand I think...
Great post RC and I'm right there with you Tom. This site is all those things combined!
Very well said RC. I am relatively new here, but it did not take me long to realize the greatness of this site, which is merely a reflection of the folks on it.
Best site on the web!
Glenn
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I couldn't agree more RC. This is by far the best bunch of people going. I haven't had one bad expierience with a fellow tradganger. This is a great place and I am happy to be a part of it.
Amen brother :clapper:
Well put, RC. Something about this "way of life" that is different in so many ways from what we see all around us. THIS place offers so many aspects of learning that it's almost required attendance for me. Thanks.
Excellent post Robert!
When I think back to how Tradgang even came about and how it has stayed true to it's vision, it's just like the bluegrass music now playing on my stereo, true to it's roots with some of the most honest and down to earth folks you'll ever meet making it happen.
As some of you know, I have been working at the U.S. Capital for nearly 25 years now, and LORD knows I run into my fair share of type A personalities on a daily basis. Tradgang gives me faith that mankind isn't doomed after all.
I have yet to see another site that carries itself the way Tradgang does.
Thanks Terry and Rob for all your time and effort in making this cyber campfire available for us to enjoy and share our passion.
It's been a great ride!
Jerry