I hope this isn't an off limits topic. If it is please accept my apologies and delete it.
Are you trad only when it comes to archery or do you switch back and forth for hunting and/or 3D. Elaborate if you feel like it.
I'm caught in the middle right now.
I made the switch to all trad this year for my bowhunting. Flip-flopped back and forth the previous 2 years.
Don't regret it....should've done it years ago.
All of my big game hunting is traditional archery.
I still use a "traditional" side by side shotgun and my "traditional" pointing dogs to chase quail.
traditional only since 1992...if you keep flip flopping you will never fully commit.
outside of bowhunting...i use sidebyside shotguns, blackpowder rifles, lever action big bores, etc. :)
Longbow only since 1980. Get rid of the wheels and commit
As far as bowhunting all traditional all the time. I, like others, like to hunt with firearms too, deer, waterfowl.
Traditional only, my family is too.
Been shooting since the early 60's, never owned a compound.
Sold my only compound about 2 months ago! I do gun hunt for waterfowl, upland game and yotes. I also like to skeet shoot. But ffom bunnies to deer to turkey and everything else I wont let go of my Tall Tines :archer:
There's not a single wheelie bow in my household of 5 people. Each of my 3 kids has a recurve apiece and I shoot a R/D longbow for hunting and a recurve for bowfishing plus I have an osage selfbow that I made and we have one extra recurve bow just in case the mrs. gets interested.
I don't have anything against wheelie bows nor do I have anything against the people that shoot them either.
To me, it's just much more fun and exciting to shoot trad exclusively.
I was pondering the same thing Chris. Trad only here. God bless.
It's been a while since I've shot anything with a compound or a gun. I just own trad bows now.
Sold all 5 compounds. Have 2 recurves and 2 longbows now. I have hunted strictly with a bow since 1990. 2012 switched to trad only. Take the training wheels off and come join the big boys. :archer2:
+1 on the lever action bigbores! 45-70 Guide Gun all the way baby!!!!!!! haha!
There are many who shoot both trad and compound. I hold nothing against the and include some as good friends.
Gave the wheel bow away to a nice guy wanting to get into hunting. That was 10 years ago. My heart belongs to my family and a longbow.
Traditional all the way now.Not interested in using firearms for deer.Its more enjoyable for me now with a bow in my hands.Yes its tough sometimes but more rewarding...............
trad only since 1985
Went trad 10 years ago should have made the change much earlier.
Never had this much enjoyment!!! :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
no compounds here. way to complicated for this guy.
Started trad (target recurve bow) in 84 ,played with compound for a little while 86,87 then back to trad until I shot wheels again for a year (2010) as a promise to a close hunting friend who didn't make the trip we planned .don't own a compound any more. Good kit just not for me . John
I've been all traditional going on ten years now. Never did care for gun hunting and selling the wheels was the best decision I've ever made. I just prefer the longbow.... love it!
Jason
To me; two different sports,two different world.Trad only for 15 years...
Trad only for the last 16 yrs. I can hardly shoot a gun anymore because of the noise. I also lost a lot of hearing from shooting guns years age.
Trad only since '95, never even thought of shooting anything else again.
Trad only for 6 years.
Went back to Trad in 2001. Sold the Compound same year, and never looked back!.....KYArcher
Went back to Trad in 2001. Sold the Compound same year, and never looked back!.....KYArcher :archer2:
All trad all the time.
last 25 years or so.
Went 100% Trad several years ago. When your ready, you will do it. If you wanna shoot both, shoot both...either way, its all good :wavey:
Trad only since 1990.
I double dip as I call it.I love archery too much to exclude myself from wheel bows.
Trad bows have beauty and craftsmanship,wheels have engineering and tech.
QuoteOriginally posted by turkeyslayer:
Trad only since 1990.
same as my buddy, just a couple years longer..cause i'm older :)
archery only for about 16 years, trad only for 6-8, except for a little shotgun for pheasant.
I have been Traditional Only since middle 80's. The last deer I shot with a gun was 85 I think. Never shot a compound. I actually haven't done any gun hunting for anything but I took my sons gun hunting when young. Now one hunts Trad Only the other could care less about it. Guns going off make my head hurt!
sold my wheels a week before buying my first stick i told my friend that was my last deer with a wheel an that was it...16 years ago..
Trad only for all my archery. The culture up here dictates preperation for long sometimes hard winters and it just means too much to run around trying to provide good quality meat with a stick and string. 600lbs of meat for the cost of one 300WSM cartridge is just sound economics, and with 300+ yds range, it's a no brainer.
Love shooting trad and have the addiction full on.
Never owned any other bow aside from Trad ones :)
Like others said, nothing against them just never shot any nor do I plan to :)
Committed fully this year. Will never go back nor do I want to. Never had so much fun with archery-bowhunting.
Started in Trad in the '70s, but went astray to "the dark side" for quite a few years. Am trad only when bow hunting now. Never enjoyed wheelie bow hunting near this much!
I do hunt with rifle, pistol, and shotgun at times too (season and game dictates)... but all my archery endeavors are with a recurve.
I enjoy all types of hunting..modern guns, flintlocks, bows, etc. Three yrs ago I decided I wanted to go back to recurves and haven't shot any other bow since. Been using flintlocks only for gun hunting about 10yrs. I just hunt with what I'm in the mood to hunt with.
I wish I were all traditional, but I am not able to shoot my traditional bow enough to feel comfortable hunting with it since 2010. I owe it to the animal to make a swift kill and I'm just not at the point where I can do that with a traditional bow.
However, my New Year's resolution is to switch full time.
Putt down the training wheels about 5 years ago and haven't looked back! But do pick up the thunderstruck every now and then if the freezer is looking empty.
Since 1966
Not sure i want to elaborate but i will. Have not hunted with a gun in ten years. I got rid of every compound thingy in 2005, went traditional only for 4 years, shot nothing, bought two new compounds, shot my deer and went back to traditional. My goal is to get rid of the other stuff in the next year and a half and go back to traditional only. For some reason the harvest really gets to me and I get to the point where I will quicken it if possible. Not fortunate enough to live where I can hunt close to home. 9 days hunting, 27 hours in the car, 9 tanks of gas, gets me frustrated. Lack of time and public land is the only reason I pick up another weapon. I guy should really be allowed 30 days to hunt, please tell my wife!
I haven't shot a compound in a year.....and may never again. Having too much fun with traditional :-) Back to my roots!
Traditional archery/bowhunting. Wood arrows.
Hunting rifle is a muzzleloading flintlock w/44" swamped barrel.
Hunting shotgun is a muzzleloading flintlock fowler w/42" swamped barrel.
Barn and two chicken coops have no electricity.
Heat and hot water is wood.
Boat has sails.
We're pretty traditional all around. ;-)
Said :wavey: to the wheel bow 20 some odd years ago!!
All trad all the time. Around 20 years now.
Cant shoot trad anymore so I had to go to a crossbow,but I am still hunting and having fun.
IT was around 1976 when my grandfather got me a Bear recurve for Christmas and I've been traditional ever since .that's before it was called traditional.
Been tradical since 1985
Once I entered the wonderful world of traditional, I spent one summer going back and forth. I didn't take me long to figure out which I preferred :thumbsup:
I didn't know there was any other type of archery?
Al
wouldnt have it any other way.
I still go back and forth. Ilove trad way more and shoot trad most of the time, but i spend way to much time and effort right now to have to turn down a 30yd shot at a nice one. I suspect in the near future i will become trad only, but right now im enjoying it all!
As for guns...i LOVE EM! I am addicted to predator huntimg, so my zip code gun is a must in these parts.
Just my .02
I have been pursuing game with some sort of projectile launching device for over 50 years. I played with a trad bow in my teens and early 20s but never went anywhere with it. Started shooting a compound about 15 years ago and then notheing until a little over a year ago when I picked my old compound up and started shooting it. I saw some videos of people shooting instinctive on the internet and dug an old Indian recurve out of the cellar and started shooting it about 1 year ago. I have shot trad alomost every day since. have not shot the wheel bow for a year now.
Trad shooting gets in your blood. If I am going to shoot something with sights, it is going to burn powder and go bang. I like guns and have no intention of getting rid of my collection. However, if I could keep the freezer full of meat with a simple stick and string, I'ld probably never hunt with anything else. Don't know if I'll ever be that good. but I sure am going to try.
I bought a TD Recurve about 1 1/2 years ago, it's the only bow I own. All of my archery friends are compound bow shooters, and I hunt with a friend who carries a rifle, we got all our bases covered.
I was trad only for almost 20 years and will admit that I kinda looked down my nose at the compound and long range rifle crowds. I injured my shoulder in 07 and had to pick up a compound to bowhunt that year. Hunted with that and a gun up until a few years ago when I started getting the trad itch again and started a job that afforded me the time necessary to practice with two little ones at home. Now I switch back and forth between my zipper and compounds and also hunt with my muzzleloaders, lever gun, rifle, etc. I love it all now and enjoy the challenge of mastering new weapons. It's also more about being outside and filling the freezer for me. I like meat and we go through a lot of it. The only thing I haven't shot yet is a crossbow.
I haven't shot a compound in about 15 years. After 40 or so deer with that type equipment... I "found" trad "again".
I have lots of friends and relatives (including my son) that still shoot them though.
I have NO desire to go back. Have only taken about 8 deer an elk and some small game with the recurve. Working on taking something with my LB now.
Trad only since. 1992 :archer2: :archer2: :archer2:
Trad only for me for the past 6-7 years, but most of the guys I hunt with shoot compounds. Not a lot of trad guys around here.
love to shoot my mathews and my black widow pch too, and will keep shooting both till one wins out, or I don't like shooting one or the other. I do however have a strong feeling that when I get the widow shooting huntable groups , the mathews will be retired. right now I am accurate and consistant to 15 yrd. and working my way outward
I'm like Chromebuck, Love archery, but to get the freezer full, I use 3006... I try with archery... but so far didn't connect with any thing big.... I never draw a compound bow in my life, only trad... On and off for the last 25 years.
I will try again this spring for bear, and next fall for Caribou... but for moose...
Bowhunting is trad only but still gun hunt occasionally.
Over the last 20 years I have primarily 90% of that shot recurve. But there was a period that I did not have time to practice, lost confidence in my abilitys and picked up a compound then got a crossbow.
I love to hunt and average at least 30 days a year in a tree stand. I also like to eat deer meat, thus the wheels. Besides I hate to wound deer and bottom line I did not think myself a good enough shot at those times to stick with the trad equipment.
This year I practiced hard and have hunted with trad only. I got lucky and Killed a 186 buck at MCAAP this year, headed out in about 15min to go try for any deer this morning. Yes I will be hunting today with a warfed black bear with trad tech blackmax limbs.
switched back in 1993/94 only regret is that i went to the dark side to begin with.
Switched to recurves for big game hunting after 34 years with compounds in 2010. I hunt squirrel with .22 PCP air rifle, .22, and .17. Every year or two I spend opening morning of firearms season with a single shot .308.
I have always kept a current model compound on the rack. About 80% of the reason I do this is "work" related. I am thinking about not spring turkey hunting with my recurve so I'll have a stonger "excuse" for keeping a compound.
I switched to the curve for big game hunting entirely for nolstagic purposes. There were no shooting issues, I was having plenty of fun, challenge, etc. I just love the extra challenge of the recurve and of course the visual and physical "beauty" this equipment delivers.
Except for the draw hand set and a slight canting of the curve, the shooting process from one to the other is exactly the same for me.
Started deer hunting with a recurve when I was 18,got rid of the compound the same year,I'm 42 now.Only have 1 recurve left all the rest are longbows.
I still have a bunch of rifles,but really don't hunt much with them anymore,except a 222 for coyote and fox hunting.Haven't shot a deer with a gun in atleast 15 years.
Have a bunch of shotguns left too,really love side by sides.Still do some duck hunting.
I went to a black powder shotgun for hunting geese,rabbits,squirrels,etc. but got into falconry about 8 years ago and now do 99% of my smallgame hunting with a hawk. Longbows for deer and turkey.
Stik bows only, never had a compound.
Still take the rifle out though, Winchester M94 .30-.30, I think that's pretty trad as well.
We don't have the archery culture up here like you folks in the US. If we had it in school, I think that would have made a difference. Not hard to get a bunch of kids hooked, especially if they can start breaking balloons. Lots of laughter then.
sold all my wheel bows June of this year and never looked back.
Trad only! Started out as a young boy of 11 with a 25# fiberglass recurve, went to the compound in my twenties and thirties, like most, then back to traditional in retirement. The circle of life I guess.
Tom,
Nova Scotia was the first Canadian province to adopt the "National Archery in the Schools Program". Now there are 5 provinces in the program. Alberta and Saskatchewan have the most schools in NASP ... over 100 schools in NASP each!
Don Lohnes of the NS Archery Association is the co-leader of NASP in Nova Scotia with your education department.
I like them all. Besides, variety is the spice of life.
Trad only the last 30 years!
Hope for 30 more.
I spent my first 15 years in archery as traditional only - that's all there was. Then in 1975 and for the next 35 years I was a compound guy - actually I didn't know anyone who was still shooting traditional so I wasn't exposed to it. I had been thinking of going back to traditional when, in 2008, I shared an elk camp with a guy who was hunting with a recurve and decided then and there that I wanted to try it again. Bought my first longbow in December of that following year -2009 and haven't looked back. The only time I picked up my compound after that was to hand it over to my son to take with him. Oh, I had to carry a buddies compound down the mountain last year as he had his hands full of elk - Do you know how HEAVY compounds are now? :eek: :archer:
I'm trad only for archery. Don't even own a compound anymore, gave it away.......
Sold my compound last year in order to save for a longbow. No looking back for me.
Shot compounds a couple yrs in the late 70s. Switched to trad and have never looked back. My kids are grown now, they also shoot trad. They don't know any different. lol Its been a great time. Love the sport and the people. No regrets
I own recurved and longbows of various sorts. I do not own a compound machine.
ChuckC
Nothing but sticks for me.
I have only shot Trad for the past 13 years.
I may try a compound one day, haven't shot one but does not mean I won't.
Shooting Trad since 1987.
I went back & forth for about 15 years. I gave up the compound completely 5 or 6 years ago, & I've never looked back
I met some great guys who were compound shooters at a 3D shoot last year. (I don't get out much!) I don't have any problems with them or their equipment, but I prefer to hunt with my recurve or longbow.
Since getting into trad archery in 2006, I haven't hunted with guns much either, but that's just because when I do have free time to go to the woods, I like taking a bow instead. I still fancy predator hunting with a rifle, plinking with a .22, and wing-shooting with a shotgun. Just haven't taken time to do it lately.
Traditional only here. Used to shoot wheels,look at them now,and can't believe I used to. I love...I mean LOVE catching the compound shooters at our indoor range checking out my beautiful/graceful longbows with that look in there faces. You know the one. rat'
Started trad (target recurve bow) in 84 ,played with compound for a little while 86,87 then back to trad until I shot wheels again for a year (2010) as a promise to a close hunting friend who didn't make the trip we planned .don't own a compound any more. Good kit just not for me . John
Stopped firearm hunting for big game in 1984, and switched to recurve only in 2010.
I did vote that I switch back and forth though because I am going to do a cape buffalo hunt in the near future, and I may not be ready to use a recurve that heavy when the time comes.
traded my browning compound for an 80# martin mamba in 1992 (it was the only stickbow in the bowshop and covered in dust) and have never went back to the darkside.............
All trad for the last four years.
I can't see going back.
This is way too much fun.
Archery and bowhunting traditional only!!! Squirrels at the bird feeder are at the mercy of my pellet gun!!
Longbows and recurves for me. No wheel bows since '97. Guns? NO way! Too easy. Even when I had a Bighorn Sheep tag, I stuck with my longbow the whole season. I know allot of "bowhunters" that ended up shooting their sheep with a rifle. Not me, no way. I would rather eat tag soup, and I did. Call me crazy, or just call me a guy that hunts only with a bow.
I shot trad only for several years but now shoot both due to joint issues , if im not having joint pain its all trad.
I shoot trad all the time. I do use a gun for some of my hunting though (waterfowl and squirrels when I actually want to kill some.)
Started in the 70's with my Dads Ben pearson colt recurve and in 1980 or 81 I got my first compound but the recurve and longbow had something about them that just lured me back to them and somewhere in the 90's I switched cold turkey back and won't ever pick up a wheelie ever again...I love the beuty of the stick and string ...
I bought my first recurve during the summer of 1976, a Bear Magnesium take down, which bow I still have. I bought my first wheel bow in 1981, I shot 5 deer with the wheelie and have been totaly Traditional since 1985, shooting both Recurves and longbows until this very day.
Tony
Traditional Only, no wheels, no guns.
I was also a recurve only hunter, but have recently got a hill style longbow, which may have to see the woods.
I have not hunted with anything but a trad bow in years, have no desire to change that. If I can't hunt it with a trad bow I don't hunt it.
I did kill a coon and possum the got into a camper at deer camp with rat shot. The guy who owns the camper wouldn't stand for me shooting my bow in his camper. That was an extermination though not a hunt.
Chris
No compound since '86. I sold the shotgun and rifle to buy bows. I still carry a pistol when taking my Dad out gun hunting for deer.
I have gone to full time trad for the last 2 years. Before that I was shooting a Bear Whitetail II (ca. 1989 model), so I wasn't too far out to begin with.
For about 3 years, I shot a Bowtech, loved it, but was missing the feel and reliability of my recurve. That bow was stolen, and prompted my return to trad gear, couldn't be happier!
Tried a compound for a couple of years but it was too much like shooting a gun.When I archery hunt I want to shoot a bow not a gun. All my archery is trad only.I do gun hunt also.
QuoteOriginally posted by lad:
no compounds here. way to complicated for this guy.
x2
i wouldn't know which string to pull. :confused:
I shot compounds for about 2 years starting in 1997. Sold it and got back to my roots. Never again.
Traditional only for archery and bowhunting. I do hunt with rifle, shotgun, and muzzleloaders in gun season, but my first love is bowhunting.
I'll have to admit switching to a 100 year old Ithaca Flues for my bird hunting.
Longbow only, but keep a .35 Rem for when the bears get cranky.
Traditional archery only for 9 years.
I have a case full of long guns . three of which I have never shot and may never shoot. I won't go to a gunfight with a knife or bare hands.
I do all my hunting with a bow and always will unless it comes to literally having to live by my hunting. Then the rifles come out to play.
God bless you all, Steve
All Trad for me!
Bisch
I have more than 100 bows,none is a compound!!
Get rid of them 20 years ago and never looked back!
One hundred percent trad only!If I can't hunt it with my longbow,I don't.Nothing against anyone who use the gun or compound,just my choice.
I am just beginning to become a hunter.
I just received my first bow in November from Bama Bows.
(Other than the ones I made as a boy and the red oak board bow I made this past summer)
I hope to hunt for the first time this coming fall.
The only way I will ever hunt is with a traditional bow, otherwise I will just not hunt.
I don't mind how others hunt or what they use however it is a personal choice for me to be a completely traditional bow hunter.
I've been shooting bows for 53 years now, never shot a cable gun. Drew one back once in 1976, immediately handed it back to the salesman. Told him "that is not a bow". Have never drawn one since.
Stopped using guns in 78 after leaving military. Was talked into using one 9 years ago to hunt Alabama on a gun only property. "Killed" first deer I saw, about 260yds, about as big a thrill as stepping on a cockroach. Convinced property owner to allow me to use a bow. Shot 2 more deer the next day. To this day I'm the only one allowed to use a bow on his property.
Went duck hunting with some friends a few years ago. They insisted I use a shotgun. They loaned me a browning over-under I killed 4 ducks in 4 shots and limited out. Don't even know for sure what they were, I'm no duck fanatic.
Next time I went I hid an old Shrew recurve in my shotgun case, made sure I stayed behind everyone else in the blind. When a lone green wing Teal hen came in from our right, I arrowed her about 3' before she landed in the decoys. :archer: Now they won't let me use a shotgun, they say it was just luck and want to see me do it again. Fortunately for me I haven't been able to hunt with them the past 2 seasons due to work conflicts. :dunno:
Pics of the Teal are somewhere on this site.
I hunt exclusively with trad gear. But I also shoot target compound and Olympic style recurve for 3D and Indoor. Love it all!!!
:wavey: that'd be me
I am hoping to connect on a bruin this spring for my first trad kill :)
Shoot compound for a month got bored, been traditional ever since
Started with trad many years ago and it has always been my first love. Have tried other weapons on and off over the years, however, have hunted with trad only for several years now. The only back and forth now is between longbow and recurve.
Trad only since 2005 :thumbsup:
Bill
I would not be here if I shot one of those wheeled contraptions.
since 94
Havent shot a compound for about 8 years, done forever now. Aside from range limitations, I find trad bows to be more effective as a hunting tool than a compound. Theyre also more pleasant to tote and better to look at as well.
I still hunt with compound crossbow muzz and shotgun. I enjoy all weapons
Trad bows and surf fishing, which I consider traditional fishing ;) , I'll hunt pheasant with a shotty but I do that more for my dog, I feel like I owe it to him to hunt birds.
Haven't owned a compound since '96 or so. Quit shooting it the year before. No looking back, and no worries.
I don't think the poll question was clear--it sounded like "do you do everything "TRAD" " but I think you meant when it comes to bows, not other things. In which case, I answered it wrong since I shoot a shotgun for pheasants etc, occasionally an in-line MZ for deer. Archery is all trad, all the time. Maybe re-do the poll if others did likewise?
Trad only. '66 bear grizzly, 51#@28"
"bow hunting" since 1968. Same style equipment that I started with. Not a "traditional" archer at all, I'm a "real" archer.
Started shooting a recurve in 1976 at the age of 12; Shot my first deer in 1981 with a bear polar ltd compound shooting instinctive. Never used sights or a release; Bought a black widow in about 1984 or 85 and haven't used a compound since. I do hunt with a rifle a few days each season. Recurves and long bows are just more enjoyable.
Stickbow onlt for near 25 years. I do bust an occasional squirrel head with a 22 and ducks and doves with an old Browning.I gotta admit I have a hankering to kill a deer with a handgun for some reason.My good friend Brother John has retired and has shoulder issues and don`t shoot a bow much anymore and has started hunting with a handgun with no scope just sights and wants me to hunt some with him and I will Lord Willing.RC
Trad only since 2004. Still pack Grandpa's old .38-55 Winchester Model '94 (Made in 1897) now and then when hunting with my father or son.
Travis
I have shot, but never owned a compound.
When decideing to make the switch from rifle hunting to archery I was torn on which way to go, That is UNTIL I learend you cna make your own traditional equipment.
Now I am commited to Traditional all the way.
No going back for this guy, I'M off the wheelies and never gonna go back.
Now today at 32 I am trad only.
I have switched between compund and trad on and off for the last 5 years. I shot both reqularly.
Well, I just sold my compound a few weeks ago. This year will be the first year where a compound will not be an option. I am pumped.
All trad as of yesterday ! Shipped the compound to Illinois ! :clapper:
Sold my compound to a guy at work a month ago. Going in all trad and couldn't be more excited. Best thing is I hunt with an all trad archery. Made the transition for me a no brainer!
Traditional archery for me only, however... I pick up a rifle during the season. We manage our family place intensely and that requires keeping the numbers in check. To do this my brothers and I pick up the rifles to help with the population. I hunt for my target bucks with my recurve only and still manage to take a doe or two with my recurve. It was awful hard watching the buck I nicknamed moose walk out and I only had my rifle with me last weekend. I committed to taking him with my recurve and thats what I will do. Luckily he is only 5.5 and I have some photos of him late in the season looking good.
I'm traditional only. I don't have any other kind of archery equipment for hunting.
Read a few pages of responses - just didn't have time for them all today. I'll throw in my $.02 in case somebody wants to read 10 pages to get to it. :)
I played with the compound for one or two seasons. That was around 15 years ago. I did it because I enjoyed the camaraderie of the wheel-bow shooters I knew then and ... I was younger and more impressionable.
It didn't work for me. IMHO, for quietness, lethality, and accurate shooting under real hunting conditions, the trad bow is the superior weapon (in capable hands of course).
I do own firearms but have very little emotional attachment to them or their use. They are tools. But they allow me to experience the camaraderie I mentioned earlier (I don't have any "trad" friends where I live), especially with my two boys who love to hunt with firearms but not bows ... yet.
When I bow hunt, now and forever, it will be with a "traditional" bow. When my boys pick up the bug, I suspect we will be 99% bow hunters. I just prefer it to any other form of hunting.
I had a compound for one or two seasons around 1979-80.I hated it and shot it without sights or a release.
I have always had recurves or longbows before and after that time.
No cams for sure. Strickly a longbow shooter. Havn't fired a gun since 2000 even though I own several nice ones. Just prefer the quiet and solitude of hunting with my longbow. To each his own. :campfire:
I wish I were all traditional, that's my goal for 2013.
If you like getting knee jerking nervous when a skinhead walks up like me then sell your wheels. I want to warn you got to have a strong ticker when the buck comes up!
100% traditional for over 10 years.
Sold three of my four compounds after I first started shooting a friends recurve 1 1/2 years ago. Last spring I bought my first used recurve, fell in love and spent the two archery seasons I hunted this past year (Washington and Oregon) carrying my recurve. My remaining compound is collecting dust in the closet. Don't plan on going back.
I did rifle hunt with my brother and buddy in Montana this year as our tags were already paid for.
sold my compound when I bought my first longbow.
I didnt want to me tempted in getting it out when things were not going well.
Made the switch last year to all traditional. Hunted the early season with my recurve last year, then hunted the rut with my compound.
Enjoyed hunting with the recurve MUCH more than I did with the compound. Made the commitment over the winter, sold my compounds and went all traditional in 2012...and had a blast. Won't be going back, that's for sure!
Archery has always been trad only for me. When I first got involved in archery, the compound bow was not yet on the market. I got out of archery for seceral years when I got old enough to hunt with firearms, but when I again picked up the bow, I still stayed trad. For 16 consecutive seasons now, I have deer hunted exclusively with the longbow.
Sold my compound to my Brother in Law last night. Figured was the only way to fully commit. I really enjoyed my recurve this year.
I'm happy to say I use everything from selfbows to High performance compounds,,, depends on if I need meat in the freezer asap and if its gun season or not. if I'm truely bowhunting for hunt and enjoyment its usually no camo and most likely one of my osage selfbows,,, my passion for 26yrs has been stickbows and I prefer selfbows where I consider my recurves to be high tech, compound since 97 with a full freezer since, like shopping in the meat section.
compounds only get taken when I need meat now, which doesn't always work but beats bringing a shotgun.
when I really need to bring a bang stick its will be a primitive blackpowder, usually a flintlock..
not saying this because of this forum but if I had to pick one bow only for everything it would have to be a recurve and then I'd hide a selfbow up in the rafters and sneak it out when nobodys looking
I had a compound in 1976, and 1977. Went back to recurve for 1978 season. The only compound I have shot since belonged to a friend. We went bear hunting in Michigans UP. Stayed in a friends cabin on a lake. The friend got his bowtech out of the case and asked if I would like to shoot it. I drew it back and shot his arrow about 500 yards out into the lake. First and only time i ever shot with a release!
Trad only for the last 20 years. I had a compound once, got really frustrated trying to work on the dang thing.
Gave it away and never looked back. Longbows are a lot easier to tune, even if the sights do seem to get out of whack once in a while. ;)
I am striving to not only be traditional only but likely go selfbow only in a year or two.....and only take down my glass bows for fun or to share with others. I want to get where I can make and shoot my own....I guess it is an evolution.
Tradbow only, I got away from the mechanical devices for a reason, LOL!
22 years now.
Still addicted to speed, so I appreciate all of the 'traditional technology'.
All tradbow
Trad bows only in my rack...
I only hunt with bows, so I only have bows. I have nothing for NWO to come and get, of course, they could declare a ban on bent sticks, then there will be a problem.
About a year and a half ago my 13 year old son and I went to shoot trad only. Love it.
I bowhunt Trad only, and love it.
Tom
I do still have a few guns, but seldom hunt with them. When it comes to bows, I am strictly stickly.
Nothing wrong with either in my eyes as both are considered legal in archery season. I hunt with a recurve or longbow but have many friends that dont. I dont think im better than them for it though. Easier to shoot trad in my eyes not as much to do before the shot. I will hunt with a gun sometimes and chase ducks around with a shotgun. Good luck to everyone no matter what you use.
Stick, arrow string,
And no other thing.
Since 1996, Haven't looked back and have no plans to. This stuff is WAY too much fun!! :bigsmyl:
I bowhunt trad or primitive only.
I'm trad only re: archery. This is the first year I didn't hunt the rifle season...actually, I did hunt the rifle season, but with a bow. For 15 years before this year, I chased desert muleys in SE NM. Since moving to OK, I've had to recalibrate my thinking A BUNCH. Those muleys in the sand dunes are cake compared to whitetails! But I probably had more fun this year, even missing the only shot I got, than I've ever had hunting. I had deer from 9 feet on out...just didn't get an opportunity until last night. Shot right over her back at 23 yards. Oh well. Still had a great trad-only season. I guess all those rifles in the gun safe are getting lonely!
I'm trad only!
Archery hunting it's recurves and longbows only but I do tend to use different arrow shafting depending upon my bow. While I especially enjoy the company of other traditional archers in a hunting camp, I don't have a problem hunting with a compound user either. Regardless of equipment I appreciate ethical behavior and is one of the criteria I use to choose my hunting companions.
Grew up with a 30-30 in my hands in the woods of New Hampshire. Worked for LL Bean in the late 80's and switched to compound bows. The following year I got rid of all my hunting rifles. Over the years I have grown bored with the compounds. Been there done that... I moved to The middle of elk country two years ago, and haven't even gotten my bows out of storage. Two weeks ago I got my first longbow from Bamabows. I can't put it down! Anyone interested in some dusty compound bows?
Traditional only for me! This season I am more excited about getting a pheasant with my bow, than an elk. But, I will take both....hopefully! :)
I hunt with a Bow & gun, but when I'm hunting during archery season it's TRAD! I've even quit playing with aluminum & carbon arrows. Strictly Trad. bow & woodies! :thumbsup:
Never have shot anything but trad. Just not seemly for a guy that hunts with flintlock rifles too.
I shot a compound for 2 years in the late 70's. Strickly trad before and after. Sounds like a few guys have turned trad only since this thread was started. :bigsmyl:
Archery season it's with Traditional bows only.
I started shooting Traditional bows 2009 I sold all my compounds that same year.
I was a Trad archer when that was all there was... Why change now?
:)
i am trad all the time
I still have my compound though I rarely take it out of the case. Carried it around for a couple days deer hunting last couple days of early deer season. Didn't get a deer but the whole day I was thinking damn this thing is heavy. So it sits in it's case mostly.
Traditional only for archery season but I do hunt the Catskill State Forest region in NY with a rifle during that season. Lou
100% traditional bowhunter.
......Philip
When it comes to archery I' 100% trad. When it comes to gun season I'm 100% trad until Dad comes over to hunt with me then I'll load a gun. He only hunts about 1 day every 2 to 3 years. At his 86 years of age I'll do it the way he wants.
I switched in 92 and what a journey and many $$$$ since and wouldn't trade it for anything..Outside or longbows and curves I really like my TC big bore(.444,.500 etc) single shot pistols or as some good friends call"handrifles".lol