Exotic wood,Wool clothing, the smell of a broken arrow,the smell of a freshly custom made quiver or armgaurd,a old picture of Fred Bear,Art Young,Ben Pearson,Howard Hill or all the others that left a footprint in the great outdoors somewhere,Or how about a picture of a old pickup truck with a big buck laying at the end of a tailgate and a longbow laying beside it? Just looking through an old outdoor life magazine or field and stream and noticeing a article of one of God's creatures with a hunter standing beside his trophy...Walking across a field during a recent rain and spotting a arrowhead made of stone with or without a chip in it wondering did He miss a shot or did the chip occur during a kill?
Seeing a baby fawn curled up in the grass and not moving a muscle or finding a antler that just fell...Walking the forest and getting that first smell of Autumn leaves as they decay ...
These are just a very few of the things that make up the meaning of what traditional means to me...Can you name a few...Oh and almost forgot one important thing...Coming here on Tradgang and sharing this passion with like minded friends...God Bless!
Keefers <><
A kids smile when they hit the target. Most days I would rather watch my boys shoot then even pull out my bow. It's cool as heck seeing kids get excited. Actually put my boys (7&9) to bed early tonight, so that we can drive 2 hrs tomorrow and meet up with a ton of traditional guys (about 50) for a rabbit hunt. I somehow doubt they will get much sleep tonight.
Walking in the woods and looking at every fallen limb and thinking "I could make a bow out of that!"
Amen brother!
Stumping with a good buddy or chasing some squirrels around, just having fun without a care in the world! The simplicity of traditional archery, feeling at one with nature while carrying the traditional bow is a wonderful feeling that only us lucky ones can feel!
Nice sharp knife at your belt, floating down river in a well made canoe loaded with gear and food for 10 days, using a a beautiful paddle I made, looking, calling... maybe fishing a bit to catch the dinner!!
All that was said on the above posts and a bit more, just to spend the time doing what we do! Seeing that piece of barbed wire in a old fence line running through the hard woods or that hand laid stone wall that makes a perfect ground blind. The owl that lands near you on your morning hunt, while he finishes his. The Chickadee that sits on your nocked arrow.....need I say more, we are blessed!
You guys are eloquent. Waking earlier than the alarm. Shouldering a pack while looking up a mountain, knowing the 2 hour hump would tax your legs, but you spring to it. Smell it, sage covered with fresh snow!
Having a close friend make me a self bow that started my traditional archery journey. A great experience, and new friends made that share the passion of traditional archery.
The smell of fall leaves resting on the damp ground ... the sound of a deer walking calmly, crunching frosted leaves, a grut comming out of the deep timber, a cold North West breeze on my face, the sun just starting to edge over a red and pin oak ridge.
:campfire:
Bob.
Wow! Need I say anymore! Good stuff right there :readit:
Steve
Watching the sun come up through the white oaks on a cool October morning,seeing the friendship of like minded people at a 3D shoot and seeing the smile on my grandsons face when he was finally able to draw his grandmothers recurve. :campfire:
The almost weightless tug on the haul line as the recurve is pulled into my stand.
The distraction of my recurve waiting on the hook with an arrow nocked in my tree stand.
The lost 3-5 seconds from when I come to anchor and the dead deer is running to its last bed.
(The mini-cam isn't very "traditional" but I'm just trying to underscore a few memories.)
http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/bowwild/VideoampBowinStand.jpg[/IMG]
Moving words that are oh so familiar. Thanks merger!
Bowwild-I thought I was the only one who lost those seconds! I guess not.
After all the years of raising your child to have them want to come back and spent time with Papa in the woods hunting is a favorite of mine....
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0026.jpg)
That and a good sunset....
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/Hornedsunset005.jpg)
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/HoneyweiiStat003.jpg[/IMG]
:thumbsup:
There's a stone wall runing through my property, it's got to be a hundred years old. As I stump shoot around it I often! wonder how many rabits were taken by the farmer at that spot.
Not exactly words, but I often marvel at the blossom of bright fletching as it appears on the rib cage of a deer.
The smells and sounds of rutting elk.
The sight of big, velvet antlers sticking out of the sagebrush.
The colors of aspens in September, and the sound of the wind in the pines.
Just the way a wood arrow feels when it leaves the string. My 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter Shooting their Maddog pups. Seeing the joy on there faces. My son actually told me that shooting a wood bow and wooden arrows was way better than playing video games. Now that's traditional archery!
The warming feeling that returns during my 1/2 mile walk back to the truck after sitting in a tree stand for 5 hours at 10 degrees. Mike
The smell of old canvas. Daylight in the swamp.
Kirk II, Amen on the sunsets, got hundreds on my mind's "hard drive"! (actually that device has grown a bit softer with age) Don't know why this post immediately recalled a memory of one particular season, where I had to cross and wade the far side of a shallow river to get to my stand. I would hunt as long as I could, but leave before total darkness so that I could make out the rocks of the narrow ledge below the water's surface. On multiple hunts, when I started the 30 minute hike back to the cabin, there would be a fat raccoon perched atop a rock dining on crawdad(crayfish for non-Southerners). I was stunned that this wild creature repeatedly let me pass within 10 feet. He barely acknowledged my presence, save to pause for a few seconds and give me a disdainful look that said, "I've already caught my supper, see you're going home empty-handed again"! I was so amused each time all I could do was tip my hat to superior prowess and continue on my way! Never saw him again after that season.
Since one picture can say more then a 1000 words.....
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p525/FlyingDutchman25/archery%20pics%20general/urban2_zps1915dd40.jpg)
The occasional miss of a buck and the devastation that follows, which is then followed by a small smile and chuckle as he stops out of range, looks back, flicks his tail, and disappears into the woods.
The view down a feathered shaft at an unsuspecting animal !
The sound of a barred owl echoing through the hardwoods and the scent of a fresh gut pile!
Recurve or longbow?
Fastflight or B-50?
Is 40# enough? It might be a bit "iffy"
2 Blade or 3 blade?
Who makes the best Quiver?
Where do I shoot, the heart, lung or liver?
Ground blind or treestand?
Gortex or Wool?
Should I make a cow call or bugle for bull?
Do it myself? or hire a guide?
Back it with sinew, boo, or rawhide?
Wood shaft or Carbon?
How much F.O.C?
It's traditional Archery,
How hard can it be?
I'm just a bowyer,
Why are you asking me?
It's so much more simple,
I read what they say.
So what hunting set up,
You using today?
Recurve or Longbow,
Fastflight or B-50.....
(I figured I'd have a little fun with it)
Being there, in mind, body and spirit....
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/P1020682_2.jpg)
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/0d92ef59.jpg)
The smell of honing oil and sounds of sons talking while waiting their turn at Dad's whetstone.
The smell of new leather on a fine knife.
The special glow of a carbide lamp leading you home after the hunt.
Oiled ground cloth folded around you and the patchwork quilt to keep the dew off.
QuoteOriginally posted by Ulysseys:
The occasional miss of a buck and the devastation that follows, which is then followed by a small smile and chuckle as he stops out of range, looks back, flicks his tail, and disappears into the woods.
God I love it when they do that
Trap
After an uneventful evening sit and as darkness falls all around me I reluctantly give up on the day with a smile and always have a feeling that I just increased my odds just a little more for next day and I'm thankful the Good Lord gave me the opportunity to do what I love one more time.
I'm also thankful that the deer in my neck of the woods are safe for the day and that we can start the whole predator/prey thing over again tomorrow.
Trap
saying a little thanks/prayer to your Maker for favorable winds and blessing you with all the beauty around, you among a cathedral of perfectly spaced 100 ft. swaying pines
The other morning I saw the sliver of the moon at daybreak and I always think "as the new moon returns in heaven, a bent beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold of the hearts of men". You men and women are a testament to this. Thanks for keeping it alive. Job 12:7-10