Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: 2Blade on May 31, 2012, 01:25:00 PM

Title: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: 2Blade on May 31, 2012, 01:25:00 PM
Folks ive been doing alot of thinking lately about my success since switching to Traditional Equipment and the results are not good. I havent taken a turkey 2 years in a row now and have not even had a shot oppertunity at a deer. I think alot has to do with the Logging and Devlopment around my hunting area and just bad luck. My question is how successful are you since switching to Traditonal Equipemnt? Id really like to hear from the Western guys too because it seems like it would be close to impossible to kill a mulie or antelope while stalking with a stick.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Biggie Hoffman on May 31, 2012, 01:27:00 PM
Probably about 90%

You need to get out of NY and hunt something year round. Shooting targets WILL NOT prepare you for a close encounter with a live critter.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: ericmerg on May 31, 2012, 01:27:00 PM
i can hit my target once in a while i call that successful
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Stone Knife on May 31, 2012, 01:29:00 PM
QuoteYou need to get out of NY and hunt something year round. Shooting targets WILL NOT prepare you for a close encounter with a live critter.  
That sounds like a good plan, NY is limited on critters to hunt year round. I do still have good success with trad.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: JamesKerr on May 31, 2012, 01:35:00 PM
I manage to kill at least one deer a year, but usually two with my longbow.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: 2Blade on May 31, 2012, 01:38:00 PM
Ive been wanting to hit my old woodchuck spots but yet another new house is near the middle of the field now! Id love to go down south and chase hogs. Ive taken squirrels but as stated they have seasons.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: lpcjon2 on May 31, 2012, 01:41:00 PM
Every time I nock a wooden arrow on my longbow and head in the woods I consider myself successful. To me its more than getting the animal. If that was my goal I would have stuck with the wheels and bullets.

 You get what you want from it.each day afield is practice for the moment that counts,learn from each encounter out, and hone yourself and your equipment. Success is a frame of mind!JMHO
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: yankeevol on May 31, 2012, 01:53:00 PM
Doesn't sound like a "trad" issue - sounds like an access issue. Get out the maps. Knock on doors. Walk the extra mile. NY has a TON of excellent public access.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: gringol on May 31, 2012, 01:57:00 PM
Trad hunting takes a LOT more time to bag game than wheelie hunting; practice in the yard and time in the field.  Because getting close is a necessity, you need to scout a lot.  Logging and development can be a problem but don't have to be.  Chances are the game patterns have just changed.  One of my favorite spots was logged just about 5 years ago. Don't give up!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: bohuntr on May 31, 2012, 02:13:00 PM
Believe it or not my success rate went up considerably as compared to how I had been doing with my compound. I attribute that to the fact that since I was enjoying the hunt more I was spending alot more time in the field hunting. I have shot more critters and better critters since switching to trad equipment back in 2002.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: JO_EZ on May 31, 2012, 02:16:00 PM
Well, the whole purpose of fair chase is to be able to enjoy a large amount of pursuit while having a small effect on the wildlife population. So, a lower success rate is kind of the purpose of the more challenging methods.

I seem to be going above and beyond in the "preserving wildlife" portion of the fair chase model.

Having said that, I believe that time and place contribute 60% to hunting success. Some of us have more time avaiable to go hunting, either locally or abroad. If you have less time, your odds go way down. Also, if the patch of ground that you have available is sparcely populated, you can hunt hard and hunt well and still come up empty.

I think that the type of archery tackle you use is way down the list of success factors.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: ron w on May 31, 2012, 02:43:00 PM
Been doing this for the most part since 1967 or 68. I have hunted most of the time in northern New York. I have hunted Ill. for deer, Colorado for Elk, South Carolina for pigs and New Brunswick for bears. I had a shot in 1972 at a forky buck and missed. I have yet to have another shot at anything. I really must like this or there is something mentally wrong with me.....    :dunno:   If I was planing to fill the pantry I guess I took the wrong path!! Either you love it or you don't!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: RC on May 31, 2012, 02:51:00 PM
You gotta hunt whee there are some critters .I would be fibbing if I told you I could hunt for days and be happy without seeing game. I hunt to kill stuff. Success to me is an arrow through ribbs. I hunt mostly public land but it is gamey and I EXPECT to get on game because I invest time and boot leather to insure I do when its hunting season.
I never hunted with a compound much so can`t say didly about it but we don`t go hungry around here with the longbow.
 Like I said I am spoiled  maybe. I can drive any direction from home and be in the woods in less than 45 minutes. I can Turkey and deer hunt out the back door. I also MAKE time to hunt.I do a LOT of work during the Summer to afford me days off to hunt.Good Luck.RC
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: steadman on May 31, 2012, 02:58:00 PM
I average one animal a year which is not too bad considering I get one to three tags a year. The 2 antelope I've shot were at 7 yards and 20 yards. My muley shots are about 20 yard averages. Wait til Tracy (Shedrock) gets on here  :)

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/steadman_2006/IMG_2506.jpg)

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/steadman_2006/Antelopetouchedup-1.jpg)

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/steadman_2006/scan0006.jpg)
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: BowMIke on May 31, 2012, 02:59:00 PM
My hunting places have dropped to only one, but my success rate on shots is as good as with a compound, because I always shoot 20 yards and under. (and I am enjoying it much more when I do shootsomething!)
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Rob W. on May 31, 2012, 03:01:00 PM
My freezer stays full the same as it did with gun/wheels. The only difference is I love hunting so much more and put more time into it.

I think of it like fishing. 90% of the fish are in 10% of the lake. Find that 10% and your equipment don't matter much.

Rob
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: RC on May 31, 2012, 03:03:00 PM
Good way to put it Rob.RC
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: 2Blade on May 31, 2012, 03:05:00 PM
We hunt to eat here and im with RC I get pretty bummed if I dont see game or get shots. I live next to some Public land but it has its draw backs as alot of folks hunt it. I ran in to one fella who was lost and came on to my property. Oddly he was a family friends younger brother. I told him where to go and wished him luck. My friends joke "Your either a killer or a Wildlife Observer" Lately im been an Observer.....If I see something.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: 2Blade on May 31, 2012, 03:08:00 PM
I can say though the deer that ive taken with Modern Equipent were no further then 32yds cept for 1. They were barebow so im confident in my instinctive abilitys and getting the job done with my sticks I just need the shot!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: James Wrenn on May 31, 2012, 03:24:00 PM
I had a bit of a learning curve when first taking up bowhunting with a c-bow but none at all when switching over to a longbow.Same old thing when it came to the shooting part as far as deer were concerned.Filled all 5 tags the first season.I shoot less now because of time restraints,needing less meat and the terrain of the land I hunt.The kind of bow I am carrying has nothing to do with it however.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Hoyt on May 31, 2012, 04:08:00 PM
I've only been back with recurves for two partial seasons. First season I shot over all the deer. Last season I killed a nice buck and doe.

I hunt public land walking distance from my door and get more than my share of shots. This season I hope to do much better due to much improved health.

After many, many days of shooting I have just as much confidence with my recurve as I did with my wheel bow.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Biggie Hoffman on May 31, 2012, 04:09:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by RC:
You gotta hunt whee there are some critters .I would be fibbing if I told you I could hunt for days and be happy without seeing game. I hunt to kill stuff. Success to me is an arrow through ribbs.
Amen brother    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: chuckbow on May 31, 2012, 04:17:00 PM
I think mine has gone up as well! but for me honestly i have become a trad only hunter and that was a big one for me ! For me i had rather take one doe with my trad equipment than 10 of any the other ways! i think its personal and I am completely happy with the outcome, mostly just happy to be there with my stick and arrow!
best of luck Chuck
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Michael Pfander on May 31, 2012, 04:19:00 PM
Not to put too much pressure on you, but....... I have killed bigger elk with my long bow than any of my hunting buddies with wheels or rifles.  I don't know how everyone else feels, but for me the shooting part is the easy part.  I've been a shooter all my life.  Particularly out here [AZ] hunting desert whitetails is tough.  Maybe that's why elk hunting keeps getting easier.
MAP
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: trad.-ed on May 31, 2012, 04:27:00 PM
I've been at it for a few years and haven't had any luck harvesting anything.  I enjoy getting out with the kids and just being out in the woods, one day I may succeed but every hunt is at least a chance to be out in the woods.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: legends1 on May 31, 2012, 04:29:00 PM
I havnt switch because im a trad guy but traditional archery is not a disadvantage.Take a look at my website and you will see just a few of my and others animals taken.I was born into a archery family.Shot my first Blacktail buck at 15 years old.Im 52 now and alot of animals large and small have fell to my bow and arrow and i never thought about my equipment as a disadvantage.The wheel bow guys i know dont get anymore animals than me.Hunting location and skill play a bigger part.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: macster on May 31, 2012, 04:33:00 PM
over 100 deer, 15-20 ground hogs, 2 turkey, lots of squirrels, rabbits, fish, coon, snakes, just got to get serious and be relentless.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: elkbreath on May 31, 2012, 04:33:00 PM
In all honesty, it hasn't dropped off a bit for Elk or deer.  I got lucky the first year, made a bad shot on a bull, but still nicked a lung and was able to sneak in close to finish the deal.  the rest of the time the kills have been mostly good and consistent.

It sure isn't as quick and easy, but thats the point I suppose.  I'm a better hunter as a result and theres no doubt my consceince is cleaner.  Also, more emotion goes into the whole process.  Taking the life of an animal is now a rite, an exchange, a handshake.  

Now, for antelope, I haven't been able to tie the knot, spot and stalk, since my switch.  Waterholes fill the freezer there.  However, I much prefer to stalk them.  I have missed, flat out, 6 goats in that period, of 4 years hunting antelope (a bunch of years in there, since starting, I didn't have time for goats).  most of them ducked, two of them got lucky as all get out being saved by ghost peices of brush.  

In other words, in all cases, it was my fault.

Spot and stalk antelope is my nemesis right now, its been 8 total years since I killed one not at a waterhole.    This year will be the year!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Kip on May 31, 2012, 04:35:00 PM
I put up the rifle about 6-years ago and I kill less deer but of course all  bow kills than when I was a two season hunter.Do not miss the rifle at all.Kip
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: rolltidehunter on May 31, 2012, 04:36:00 PM
i still have the same amount of chances at game. i do miss alot more. thats going to happen. i have gotten to the point in my hunting journey that killing a deer with a rifle or compound is not fun any more. i do not want to do it. i just dont enjoy doing it. i would rather kill a spike buck with my long bow than a boone and crockett whitetail with a gun. its not about killing numbers. its about getting close. stick bow close. i do not even want to kill one at 40 yards with a recurve or long bow. i want to kill them at 10. there is so much more to it than filling a freezer.

my last year i shot wheels i killed 13 does in one season. yes i was thinning our herd and we had a intense doe harvest that year.. but now i am staistifed with killing 4-5 every year and missing 4-5. i do not get down on my self for missing. i reward my self for picking the right tree, (THE TREE) to  finding the right trail (THE TRAIL)..
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: 2Blade on May 31, 2012, 04:47:00 PM
Good post fellas. Well I cant say I havent had a oppertunity I just couldnt get to full draw because the buck was 10yds. It was thrilling hunt and I think if the buck looked the other way I could have thumped him. That was 2 years ago and far as I know hes still in the swamp. I say this because he was a decent buck for around here and we would have heard about it either on Facebook or around town. Thated be pretty awesome to kill him with my Recurve or Longbow!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: widow sax on May 31, 2012, 04:49:00 PM
I am way more sucessfull with trad then I was with a compound! It all depends on what your definition of sucessfull is. Does this mean I kill more game the answer is no but that is not how I measure sucess in hunting. How I measure sucess is in the experience I have while hunting and how I get the kill not that I get one. How I get a Kill means far more then if I get one so my eithics do not alow me to do things that will make it easier for me to get a kill no matter what weapon I am using. I like using woodsmanship and hunting skills to help me be sucessfull on game.   Widow
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: joe ashton on May 31, 2012, 05:08:00 PM
sounds to me like it is a luck problem.  You have to have opportunity before you can have success.
Hang in there.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: elkbreath on May 31, 2012, 05:13:00 PM
2blade, to address your concerns with drawing, I have been astounded by how often I can get away with drawing right in front of an animal.  Coming from the compound world, I always though I had to draw an hour before they showed their pretty faces. Turns out, thats not often the case. And given the fact that I can draw and shoot acuraetely in one smooth motion now, especially at 10 yards, versus aiming for a few seconds with wheels, its incredibly doable.  just learn how to limit the total amount of motion needed, have the bow pointed the whole time, draw straight back, anchor and let her go, like a viper.

In fact, I switched FROM a compound mostly BECAUSE of its limitations.  I have only found the joy and spirit of a stick and string as a natural result.  

So as not to steal the thread, i'm going to to a seperate quick post on why I switched...
enjoy, Dan
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: riverrat 2 on May 31, 2012, 05:20:00 PM
I like Rob W.'s analogy. I have not been at it nearly as long as most guys here. But my 1st ever bowkill Whitetail was done with my longbow last year,and my 1st ever turkey was longbow killed this spring. So in 2 serious years of Traditional bowhunting,I guess I am 50%? But as
has been stated before,I FEEL THE HUNT now. Connected.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Running Buck on May 31, 2012, 05:35:00 PM
Being successful has a lot more to do with your setup, scouting and basically being where the animals are. Bowhunting is a close range sport, its supposed to be hard regardless of what kind of bow you are shooting. NY DEC's web site has a lot of good information on it regarding deer numbers taken from certain zones. Use that information along with google earth to find your next spot to scout.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: elkbreath on May 31, 2012, 05:41:00 PM
I decided not to make that post, as it was largely about failing of wheel bows, i dont think thats within the rules here.  

Suffice it so say, the gadgets and such kept getting in the way of a real succesful hunt.  That doesnt happen anymore.  

We give up a little range, but that range being gone affords us a much richer hunting experience and hones our skills all the more.  Any inability to kill is just that, our own inability!  the process rewards us as the sower reaps.  regards and enjoy the search!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: centaur on May 31, 2012, 05:42:00 PM
I have killed plenty of whitetails and turkeys with my longbows, but I do live in game rich country. Haven't hunted mulies for several years because I like eating whitetails more, but I have killed some with trad equipment in years past. I have only killed one elk with a longbow, but they seem to be the thorn in my side; I never can get them to cooperate, or I have a cow tag and see only bulls, etc. I never had much luck with elk even rifle hunting, so I don't think the equipment is as big a reason as the fact that elk just must hate me.    :banghead:   I haven't hunted antelope for a while, but I might this year because I have friends that like the meat; I'm not crazy about goat meat. I do have a black bear and one coyote via trad equipment, and lots and lots of small game and grouse.
You gotta be where there are critters, and you have to pay your dues. I put a lot of days in the woods, which ups the odds considerably.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Bjorn on May 31, 2012, 05:55:00 PM
I hunt in California and in Utah. I have 2 freezers that are crammed full and I'm really avoiding going to freezer no. 3. I just hope we can eat most of the Elk before it all starts again in a few months.
I don't know how you hunt or how often but you should not feel at all hampered with trad gear-it has been deadly for a long time.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Bowwild on May 31, 2012, 06:10:00 PM
I love bow hunting. I loved it before returning to recurves in 2010 and even more now. Three deer in two years.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Butchie on May 31, 2012, 06:32:00 PM
Usually tag at least one deer each year.  If not, I more than likely passed on several I could have killed.  I'd actually say my success has increased since hunting with compound ('95 was last yr w/wheels).  I consider myself a much better hunter now though.  It's all about getting close & paying attention to the details for me.  Hang in there, it will click for you and you'll forget all about those compound days.  Good Hunting!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: GreyGoose on May 31, 2012, 06:35:00 PM
We call it "Hunting", not "Bagging".  I try to have fun either way.  I DO like to shoot, and small game and varmints give me more opportunities than waiting for a whitetail, not that I don't do that, too.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: rastaman on May 31, 2012, 06:44:00 PM
At least a couple of hogs and two to three deer a year..but I hunt a lot and have access to good hunting property. I've hunted trad only for quite a few years and don't feel hampered in the least.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: TaterHill Archer on May 31, 2012, 07:31:00 PM
My hunting success has been horrible.  My satisfaction and fun with shooting has been so much better than it ever was with compound bows.  I'll never switch back.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: sweeney3 on May 31, 2012, 08:10:00 PM
I've taken more game/been more "successful" with trad/primitive than with anything else.  It's not that the tackle is more efficient, but it is related to the fact that I enjoy it more so I work at it a lot more.  I'm a much better hunter than before I switched and am steadily improving.  But mainly, I enjoy it a lot more, downed game or not.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Walt Francis on May 31, 2012, 11:36:00 PM
The first year after switching to a traditional bow my success rate was about the same, but the size of the critters dropped a little.  That year I killed a mountain goat, black bear (spot & stalk), a few whitetail does (at least 3 but it may have been 4-5), a whitetail buck, and a cow elk.  

When I started big game hunting at the age of 28, my dad told me: Hunting is like fly fishing, 10% of the hunters/fishermen consistently harvest 90% of the game/fish; Determine what it takes to be part of the 10%, then do it, you will enjoy your hunting/fishing a lot more than the other 90%.  Dad had told all us kids that fishing adage since any of us old enough to remember.  He wasn't a great hunter, but then that wasn't his passion, fly fishing was; I have yet to see anybody catch fish on a dry fly like he did.  

Guess this is a round-about-way of saying that in my experience, it is the hunter, not the equipment that determines success.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Archie on May 31, 2012, 11:39:00 PM
I'm obviously a 90 percenter.  

I get almost no shot opportunities at deer, and it wouldn't matter if I had a compound or a self-bow... I'd be empty-handed, either way.  It has more to do with my hunting time and skills than my equipment.  I just live a busy life and don't have the time or money to drive an hour each way to scout out the property, put up game cameras, or hang tree stands all over the place.  I have to do a lot of guessing, am learning the hard way, and am NOT on the fast track to being the hunting machine that some of the rest of you are.  But I enjoy trad equipment, and shoot it because it's rewarding in and of itself.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Guru on June 01, 2012, 05:49:00 AM
Unless for some physical/mental reason you can't hit what you're shooting at...it has nothing to do with the choice of equipment, but everything to do with the guy using it.

Do you just want to go out and "smell the roses"(easy, anyone can do it) or do you want to put an arrow thru some ribs(takes dedication, effort, time, perseverance....not easy)?
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: nomansland4404 on June 01, 2012, 06:47:00 AM
When I switched I figured on being less successful. But I planned on it....because I wanted the much harder challenge.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Rod Witkos on June 01, 2012, 07:09:00 AM
I would take my limit of turkeys in 2 days with the scattergun, ending my season. I got to hunt 20 days this year with the longbow, didn't kill a thing but had a blast. It's only my second year of trad so my expectations aren't that high but I'm learning.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: nd chickenman on June 01, 2012, 07:58:00 AM
There is a misconception by some that switch to shooting recurves and longbows that they are inferior. Those that I have dealt with don't trust their ability to look and shoot, having started archery with a compound device and sights. I have never looked at my bows as a handicap, in fact our winter hunting methods are much more efficient with stickbow. Some of the compounders that hunt with us get frustrated that they can't get a shot off with the quick pace of deer drives.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Red Beastmaster on June 01, 2012, 08:25:00 AM
Kind of hard to answer.

I only used a compound one year, killed a deer and a groundhog.

Then I switched to traditional. In 25 years I've killed a few more deer, a couple javelina, 228 groundhogs, and a zillion chipmunks and assorted small game.

Would I have done better with a compound? Don't know or care, I'm having too much fun to think about it.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Night Wing on June 01, 2012, 08:40:00 AM
The closer I am to the animal I'm bowhunting, the better my chances of success.

This is why I like to keep my shots to 20 yards and under.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: tuscarawasbowman on June 01, 2012, 08:43:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Walt Francis:
The first year after switching to a traditional bow my success rate was about the same, but the size of the critters dropped a little.  That year I killed a mountain goat, black bear (spot & stalk), a few whitetail does (at least 3 but it may have been 4-5), a whitetail buck, and a cow elk.  

When I started big game hunting at the age of 28, my dad told me: Hunting is like fly fishing, 10% of the hunters/fishermen consistently harvest 90% of the game/fish; Determine what it takes to be part of the 10%, then do it, you will enjoy your hunting/fishing a lot more than the other 90%.  Dad had told all us kids that fishing adage since any of us old enough to remember.  He wasn't a great hunter, but then that wasn't his passion, fly fishing was; I have yet to see anybody catch fish on a dry fly like he did.  

Guess this is a round-about-way of saying that in my experience, it is the hunter, not the equipment that determines success.
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Gapmaster on June 01, 2012, 09:45:00 AM
Being successful is all about what you consider successful in your own mind. I've killed lots of animals with bows and arrows, but truthfully, sometimes I get so caught up in the moment when a coyote comes into a call I forget to shoot. ha ha! But, I go home or back to the truck and still feel successful. Weird huh? Have patience and keep at it. You will do well.  :)
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Izzy on June 01, 2012, 10:33:00 AM
I find myself being rewarded at times from gameless hunts but could never fool myself into calling those hunts a success. I've been hunting traditional for 7 years and killed enough game to satisfy me. I have had 2 seasons without killing a deer one of which I passed a few and lost one but overall my success has increased as opposed to compound hunting days on both guided and unguided hunts. I think Im just enjoying it more now with a pretty longbow in my hands so I hunt harder and pay more attention to detail. Those two things kill animals for me more than anything else.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Orion on June 01, 2012, 03:38:00 PM
As some have pointed out, it's not only where you hunt, but how (well) you hunt.  One needs to get closer with trad equipment. Pretty easy to get within 40 yards of a critter without it becoming alarmed.  Much more difficult to get within 20 yards.  Simply takes more skill and woodsmanship to consistently kill stuff with trad equipment.  I like that.   :archer2:
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: jonsimoneau on June 01, 2012, 03:49:00 PM
I've been more successful since I switched to traditional archery. But I'm also a better hunter than I was then. I only hunted with a compound a few years. Gun hunted a few years. I can remember the last buck I shot with a gun. I knew the second I pulled the trigger that was the last time I would hunt big game with a gun.  I knew in my heart I did not earn him. I wanted to bring him back to life.   I know if I used another weapon I could kill more critters simply because of the increase in range. But what fun would that be?  I'd feel like I was going backwards.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: jonsimoneau on June 01, 2012, 04:00:00 PM
Also wanted to add something that goes along with what Biggie said which is to get out and kill some critters. Gain experience.  I think that squirrels are a great way to do this. Hunting squirrels with a bow is a lot of fun. When you can take them on a regular basis with your bow it will make the shots at deer seem easy. I think a lot of guys don't wanna hunt squirrels these days because of the cost of arrows. Get a bunch of cheap parallel wooden shafts and go after them. It helps!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Scott Teaschner on June 01, 2012, 04:16:00 PM
There are a lot of guys on this site from the west that kill game consitantly Tracy and Randy do very well. I shoot 2 deer and an antelope last year. Missed my bull my fault not the bow. I never have felt handicaped with my recurve. If you dont have confidence you can never win the battle. You might as well shoot a compound if that instills confidence in you. This sport is about getting close. Most shots even in the west are under 30 yards and most under 20 yds. I talk to a lot of guys who are even compound shooters and most talke game at average distances. You need to invest the time in your skills and if your hunting in the wrong places you need to change. Things constantly change and you have to improvise.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Steve Jr on June 01, 2012, 04:38:00 PM
Every time I take my longbow out if I'm hunting practicing in the back yard or at a 3D shoot it's considered successful to me.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: rraming on June 01, 2012, 04:58:00 PM
I'm not but don't blame the bow, I blame the weather!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Arkansaslongbow on June 01, 2012, 05:17:00 PM
If anyone here wants to take a look at my trophy room, they will be HIGHLY disapointed, BUT if you are hungry and open my freezer, you'll be mighty pleased; we have a very long season here in Arkansas (5 1/2 months with no breaks) and the deer are plentiful especially in South Ark; our squirrel season starts may 15th and goes plum through feb 28th the following year; that alone gives me an excuse to be in the woods nearly all year, which allows me to become a better woodsman, which allows me to be a better hunter; let me be perfectly clear, I DO NOT horn hunt as I am very happy with a dead doe; I fill my tags each and every year (6) but do not have much in the way of horns to claim; my trophy room is my kitchen; some will frown on that but I hunt to kill and I kill to eat; that includes ALL legal deer and whatever else that may include;I am alot better hunter with my longbow than I ever was with the wheels.

 :campfire:
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: 2Blade on June 01, 2012, 08:14:00 PM
Thanks all for the replies this thread really took off. Im happy to see alot of people are being successful that really is great. I plan to keep at it because I simply love the bows and like you guys I feel like the hunt is more pure with Trad Gear. I have done stuff to help myself ive improved a leafy suit so I can get close to deer and other game. Ive gone as far to 3-D my gloves so I can melt into the woods  :)
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: modr on June 01, 2012, 09:20:00 PM
Since switching to trad. gear 25 years ago, my success rate has improved, but more important is the joy of the hunt, I hunt each hunt as if it was my last one.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: MISSINGINOHIO on June 01, 2012, 10:28:00 PM
Well i would say the first 4 or 5 years was my learning curve as I missed everything I shot at as of the last three years I have hit everything perfect I just learned to enjoy the hunt and not take the hunting so serious it has really focused me when  i do pull back the string.(If that makes sense)
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: KentuckyTJ on June 01, 2012, 10:53:00 PM
I have to sit longer than I did in my compound years but the guy who is out there the most is more successful on average. As a lot of us have said what is successful is a personal bar we set for ourselves.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Matthew Bolton on June 01, 2012, 11:19:00 PM
I figure I'm in a different category than most due to my age. I shot a compound from the time I was 12 until I was 16. In that time frame I missed 4 deer which were all my fault due to my youth and inexperience. My first season with a recurve at the age of 16 was a total flop due to the lack of scouting and caring that comes with bow hunting. the next season as a 17 year old I had matured enough as a person and hunter to learn what its going to take to kill a deer with traditional equipment and I was able to take two deer with a longbow.
All of my problems stemmed from inexperience and not knowing how to hunt our property which isn't absolutely overflowing with deer. Like all of the others have said it is simply a matter of getting out and making it happen. Now this year I know what I'm looking for and have the confidence that I can make shots and take deer on public and private land.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: old_goat2 on June 02, 2012, 12:51:00 AM
I'm immensely successful, I started hunting trad gear only last year and both last year and this year I counted coup on a turkey and they ran or flew away no worse for the wear and I didn't have to carry them out or clean them and I also got to shoot not once but twice at an elk and didn't have to pack him out. Did you know you can miss an elk by 3 feet at 7 yards and that at 30 yards an elk can completely swap ends and dodge a perfectly aimed and shot arrow after you miss him at 7 yards with a not so perfectly shot arrow. Amazing  but true! I kill something absolutely every time I go afield with trad gear, usually one of the common mullen(sp?) a common weed out west here, or a tuft of grass, we don't have many rotten stumps here to kill. Sunday I'm going scouting in my new elk area I drew this year and I'm sure I'll kill some kind of vegetable matter which is fitting because since I've switched to trad gear, vegetarian seems to describe my hunting results:) but I'm a happy archer:)and soon I'm sure, some protein will come my way, maybe my gal will get something. Keep shooting and keep them sharp!
Oldgoat
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Thumper Dunker on June 02, 2012, 01:48:00 AM
Theres no deer out here So deer hunting is the same . Way less coyotes than with a rifle but I still get more than lots of guys that chase them with guns.Way more rabbits ,might be that its so much more fun and im out there all the time.Need to try for a turky or a pig sometime . The problem with me deer hunting I get board and start chassing coyotes.The two deer that I did take here was less than 30 yards any way pretty easy with my 270.I love trying to put the sneek on stuff.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: toddster on June 02, 2012, 05:49:00 AM
Me, I am extemely successful.  I get more full fillment from hunting with traditional tackle than I ever did with compound.  To me it is about the personal growth and feeling of legacy as well as traditon than about animal size or rack size, but thats just me.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: wollelybugger on June 02, 2012, 06:45:00 AM
I always tell people who are thinking of swithcing to Trad equipment be prepared to pass up a lot of nice bucks. I can't tell you how many nice bucks  were in the thirty to thirty five yard range that I let walk, too far for me with my bows.

I don't have any regrets but I think you are fooling yourself saying you can be more successful with trad equipment. The compound shooters have the advantage. That being said I use a Osage self bow and am going to try to make some primitive arrows out of bamboo fletched with my spring gobbler feathers. I'm trying to find someone  some flint heads to use. Max distance would be about 15 yards. If filling a tag was important to me I wouldn't be using primitive equipment. Making gut piles does not make you a better hunter. Some of the best woodsmen I know seldom kill a deer, it just not that important to them anymore.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: TDHunter on June 02, 2012, 01:47:00 PM
I've had years with no animals down. But I also had a year where I took a Moose, Black-tail, and stone sheep. And another year where I took White-tail, Mule deer and Mt. Goat. Even the years with nothing have all been more memorable then the years when I used to hunt with rifle or compound.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Shedrock on June 02, 2012, 03:52:00 PM
I am pretty successful because I eat, sleep, and dream about hunting with my bows everyday. I do my homework, (scouting), and spend EVERY minute I can hunting.

If there is some game on the tube on Saturday during hunting season, I am not watching the game, I am hunting.

I may be tired after work, but heck, I may have 2 hours to hunt, and so I go hunt!
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: cacciatore on June 02, 2012, 04:11:00 PM
I wanted to become a better hunter,traditional bowhunting teached me that.There wasn't thrill for me to hunt with a rifle or also a compound bow,at longer distances you don't need to be so super cautious and smart.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: LITTLEBIGMAN on June 02, 2012, 11:32:00 PM
they say a picture is worth a 1000 words.....
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7288843056_1c7206ab96.jpg)

I have not shot any thing but trad bows since 1985
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: jsweka on June 03, 2012, 06:55:00 AM
My success rate has gone down since switching from compound, but it has also gone down with gun and muzzleloader over the same time period so I don't blame it on equipment.  The deer herd has been reduced in PA making shot opportunities harder to come by.
Title: Re: How Successful Are You With Trad Equipment?
Post by: Bowwild on June 03, 2012, 08:19:00 AM
Couple deer my first year "back". You notice I prefer digital plaid in stretch fabrick with boo-cou pockets and hide-a-ways!

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/bowwild/Bowhunting/SmallLRBBRoyCurve.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/bowwild/Bowhunting/SmallLRNovember12BB.jpg)

(http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/bowwild/Bowhunting/WatchingCedarFence.jpg)