I was thinking what was my greatest bowhunting accomplishment, and other than still bowhunting I dont think I have hit mine yet.
So I thought what was yours?
Easy here, I stalked and killed a 150" 8 point whitetail with a longbow. The stalk took over 2 1/2 hours. My best buck to date with a bow.
Al
4 Elk!!!!!
I've been fortunate to share some great camps with some great guys, and have killed more critters than I probably deserve....but without a doubt this is my greatest accomplishment...
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=121023#000000
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer015.JPG)
Good double lung shot on this doe with a longbow I made and arrows I made. I still have yet to kill a buck with homemade equipment. That will be the next greatest accomplishment.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Hunting_2012/SAM_0554.jpg)
Bringing the sport to so many, including nieces, nephews, and now my two daughters. Carrying on the legacy of traditional archery is my greatest feat. Seeing the joy and excitement in their faces makes everything else pale in comparison.
My first deer with a recurve, my first deer with a longbow. Then, my first deer shooting left handed with a recurve. The thing I'm most thankful for is successfully swithching from shooting right handed to shooting left handed (being right eye dominante). It was because of an injury so it was either make the switch or hang it up. Thank You Lord!!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010541.jpg)
At age 16 my Dad let me go off on my own. Our hunt spot was a two hour drive away. Laurel Spings, NC. Dean Pruitt's dairy farm, which was Elk Knob Hunt Club, named after a nearby mountain.
We always picked apples from an apple tree that happened to grow at the head of a spring fed creek. Those mountain apples were as big as softballs. I could barely squeeze three in a cargo pocket of BDU camo pants.
I had just climbed down that tree and filled my pockets. As I was walking back to my 73 Jeep CJ5 I noticed what appeared to be a deer feeding in the distant pasture. She was about a half a mile away near the edge of some white pines. I went into stalk mode and quickly learned that with stuffed pockets it would be a loooong stalk. I dumped the apples with intent to return later to get them. I never did.
I stalked her for about an hour and a half and got within 20 yards. I loosed an arrow into her shoulder and she ran downhill for about 30-60 yards or so. I came upon her as she was breathing her last breaths.
She's my greatest bowhunting accomplishment to this day.
Mr Pruitt is now gone. The farm has been sold off. The apple tree was cut down and Christmas trees now grow there.
But the white pines on the hillside still stand to this day, holding in secret what heppened some 32 years ago. They whisper about it from time to time. I hope to hear their whispers again.
has to be getting my kids and now grand kids involved in archery...they are my hunting partners...second would be keeping the freezer full for all those mouthes...
with any luck ill be helping with the great grand kids in a few more years
My biggest accomplishment, personally, comes by way of my love of whitetail hunting.The knowledge I have gained of my quarry over 35+ years of hunting, and the utilization of that knowledge has been my greatest accomplishment.And I dare say the Deer here in N eastern US are some of the toughest to kill anywhere.The learning never stops,and you can never know too much. You got ta love it! :thumbsup:
Helping my son develop as a bowhunter.
Right now I'd have to say my greatest accomplishment has been giving my wheeled stuff away and committing to a stick bow. Haven't killed much with it yet but I have so much more fun now.
Most everyone has prob seen this photo...but it is my greatest bow hunting accomplishment to date...my first elk with traditional gear (a special little recurve) and my largest elk to date.
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e175/Wapiti1/528355ac.jpg)
not killing my partner on the Moose John river hunt in Alaska. :-) - Jay
Jay there has to be a story behind that statement
Two hogs one shot one arrow. In Rays swamp(HogHeaven) SC. Witnessed by Mike Mitchum.
(http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/MGERARDI_2007/62bae7ac.jpg)
Growing as an outdoorsman both in skill and ethics. At 18 years old I can get myself well into longbow range of deer quite often and know what and when to shoot. That doesn't mean I hit what I want to every time but you learn from each miss (thats what I tell myself any ways lol).
Also this isn't bad. This was my second trad kill on a public land doe. 8 yard shot and a 60 yard recovery.
(http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i433/matthewbolton1/Mobile%20Uploads/1021111716a.jpg)
Getting my brother into traditional archery. I wasn't really trying to but he saw a video of me and a buddy shooting pheasants with our bows and now he is all in. To be able to share this lifestyle with him is by far the greatest accomplishment.
The first whitetail buck I took while still-hunting. What a rush!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/Deer02B.jpg)
Hitting something that I actually aimed at.
Wow, Charlie, you were young at one time!
Putting together opportunities to meet and fellowship with good people.
After about a year of learning and practicing, I shot and killed my first deer at 37 yrs old in December. Granted it was with a wheelie bow but I'm now the proud owner of my first recurve. I practice with it nearly every day and will be taking it on my hunts come September. I love being a traditional archer and look forward to posting my first tradionally taken deer on here soon :)
My 23 year old daughter who is an awesome hunter is by far my greatest accomplishment.
God bless,Mudd
First day of trad hunting as an adult. (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/2crazyboys_photos/IMG_0709.jpg) She ran about 150 yards through some of the nastiest rose thickets on earth and died next to my car. Shes in my avatar pic and I can see that arrow spinning through her ribs like its happening right now to this day.
So far I would say that teaching my kids the values of good stewardship of the land and game. I knew it was working right when my six year old daughter said "daddy I love hogs, they taste so good". They are learning that the best groceries don't come in plastic wrap from WalMart. They know an animal died to provide sustenance and the serious nature of providing it. It's very important for me to teach them a balance in the life and death of one of Gods creatures. Those values are trad values that keep me shooting and living with traditional dreams.
Chris
Mine would be just picking up a recurve and giving it a chance. Best thing I ever accomplished.
Taken quite a bit of big of game with my bows but I think the greatest "feeling" of accomplishment is when another person shows an interest in shooting and I build them a bow suprise them with it and get to shoot with them :)
This is a friends daughter who saw the hunger games so I built her a copperhead osage hunger games bow ....
slideshow....
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Adriennes%20Hunger%20game%20TG%20size/?albumview=slideshow
Video clip
This is the first time she ever shot the bow!!!! She's a natural!!!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Adriennes%20Hunger%20Games%20bow/th_AttherangewithHungerGames010.jpg) (http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Adriennes%20Hunger%20Games%20bow/?action=view¤t=AttherangewithHungerGames010.mp4)
Without a doubt, my greatest accomplishment has been getting my 3 kids into archery. We have spent countless hours shooting together and going to 3D events all over Texas.
Next on my list is to get my oldest daughter out turkey hunting-she really wants to get one with her longbow.
Great thread! I have thought about this often in different ways. Hunting seasons remaining are like marbles in a jar to me... how many remain for us all is a mystery but surely it couldn't be enough. I wonder if I have seen, missed or killed the largest buck im going to? I ponder my treasured happiest richest hunting moments and wonder if my brothers and I can "I do it again!" Time is deceptive... tomorrow a gift.
my 2007 moose from 8 steps
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4122/4903974415_27ebe9027e.jpg)
I would say the my favorite traditional bowhunting moment so far was when my best friend Mike got his first tradition bow kill. It took a while but I got Mike converted to tradition last year. He is now selling his compound after 2 hogs and 2 deer this past season with his Sarrels longbow.
there's a few that are special for me. everything i get is a moment to cherish.
for me so far it's a three way tie-
my 1st water buff was special. alot of effort in growing into a heavy bow, making up buff arrows then researching a location then killing one at 10 yards all solo. it was cool.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/DSCF2742.jpg)
then there's my tiger shark. again solo. it was a handfull!
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/8foottigershark.jpg)
i have a passion for high places. i was lucky enough to bag a chamois on the west coast of new zealand last may. it was a 14 day backpack hunt. this one was very special achievement for me personally!
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_4608.jpg)
Having 3 sons follow my footsteps and carry on the tradition
Besides the joy of having kids and grandkids who love bowhunting and the out of doors, it would have to be the colored bear.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/Ibow1/IMG_3464_zpse38a7f9e.jpg[/IMG]
Trying to resize...
Hope that wasn't too wide!
Dog gone iPad!
Nice topic Tim. I have enjoyed reading thru all of these so far, and I am sure many more to come.
My sons first recurve deer!
(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/ddauler/215471_4044816410195_1846127899_n_zps3419bdab.jpg)
(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/ddauler/293003_4029747273476_1107457197_n_zps1eb44b9e.jpg)
(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/ddauler/9927_1179108369285_7961863_n_zpsd12bd2fa.jpg)
A little 5 pt raghorn bull on the 6th day of my first traditional elk hunt. It started a run of four elk in four years but that little bull is still my most remembered.
Mike
Hitting what I aim at.. LOL
One that would be high on my list,would be aquiring that Zipper bow from Izzy.
Lucky man to have such a elegant bow.
I really don't have an accomplishment that just pops out in my mind. I have killed everything from squirrels and turkeys to nice bucks. My children just picked up the stickbows because that is what I shot.
I guess my greatest accomplishments would be taking the time to help my boys become archers and bowhunters (squirrel hunters so far) and also taking the time to share a camp with many good friends.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-24.jpg)
I have always enjoyed archery. I have lots of good memories, but something changed when I began shooting my 1st custom recurve. The rewards that tradional archery brings is hard to explain, even harder to put a price tag to.
Every day I learn something new with tradional bows.
I think my greatest accomplishment is yet to be.
It's a toss up for me. In 1990 I killed a buck I had been after for four years and never saw him until I actually got my first shot at him which was all I needed. Turned out he was a State bowhunting record buck. Second is a DIY moose hunt in Southern NH where it is pretty much deemed "impossible" to get a moose. It was in 2007...last hour of the last day.
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Arrowworks/BillsDeerWEB.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Arrowworks/Billsmoose2_zps27c880a5.jpg)
I've been blessed to have killed a lot of different big game but by far my best accomplishment was teaching my son to hunt and watching him turn into a great bowhunter and outdoorsman.
I would have to say my greatest satisfaction comes from remembering three yrs ago up in a tree and not being able to break over my 50# compound in order to shoot a doe about 4 steps from my tree. Then missing a really nice 10pt at about 18 steps with same bow, because I couldn't get my peep sight adjusted to my eye.
To 3yrs later being blessed with the memories of shooting over at least 10 does all under 18 steps or so my first yr back with a recurve and the next two years killing these two bucks. One with a about 45# recurve and the other with about 50# recurve.
But the most satisfaction comes by the Grace of God to have been able to do it after being 65yrs old and having two open-heart by-pass surgeries, 4 angioplasties, major back surgery and 6 stents in my heart. I really didn't know if I would have the strength needed for recurves or not..and it was borderline for a good while.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/DEER/Acc1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/DEER/acc2-1.jpg)
I have shot some nice deer in my day. Shot the big one in my avatar while stalking .Heart shot another 4 yr. old on the run.
Being able to return to shooting well after having $40,000 worth of titanium installed in my back trumps all the rest.
Is titanium trad?
Bud B. that was a great story! I felt like i was there.
This guy right here would be my greatest accomplishment. (http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s407/JDCovey1/12C8366B-B298-4CC3-8DF2-3C42BD51706B-1040-0000027F997D82F0.jpg)
He hasn't killed anything yet, but I'm just happy to be in the woods with him. 14 years old... Man they grow up fast!
Jason
(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/tradhunter1/0502090816.jpg)
I always wanted to kill an animal with a bow that I made myself....didn't know it would turn out this good!
Over the past 25yrs of hunting groundhogs with stickbows, I have sneaked up on and killed four while they were sleeping. My overall total is 228, but those 4 kills were pretty cool.
I hit a rabbit that jumped into the air at 55 yards. He jumped into the arrow. Actually the greatest accomplishment was amplified in the super fine deer stew I ate tonight. Over thirty years of having elk, deer and bear in the freezer along with a good supply of salmon./
Its the lifestyle , the way of the hunter that is the real accomplishment. A great campfire and thousands of stars and listening to a pack of coyotes or a cow in heat calling in the middle of the night. It adds up to a lifetime of real greatness to me./
God bless you all, Steve
I had killed at least one deer in every Michigan archery season since 1978, until this seasons rotator cuff problems brought the 34 year streak to an end.
So far my Greatest accomplishment is a groundhog! Not dynamic but but I am hoping to do better next yr.
My greatest bowhunting accomplishment is learning how to be proficient enough to successfully take animals with a trad bow with 0%letoff and no sights. That is not an east thing to do!
Bisch
This trophy male snapping turtle.He tried to jump the string but too low to the ground to duck.Just kidding but I would 2nd Bisch comment I am proud of that since I killed my first trad deer in 1976.Kip
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/DSCN1576.jpg)
by the way some very good eating.
Introducing my son to traditional archery
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/MnFn/elk2009010.jpg)
Followed closely by calling in a legal bull elk for him. Unfortunately no shot presented itself. This photo was about 30 minutes later.
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/MnFn/elk2009007.jpg)
Watching my son grow up with a bow in his hands (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/083-Copy.jpg)
And at 10 years old getting the job done. (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/DSC07401.jpg)
And me killing a BC buck with my longbow doesnt mean crap to me compared to his doe.Love you son.
Kip!!!!! That's amazing considering the speed and athletic ability of that Snapper!!!!!
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Kip
I'd have to say getting my 5yr old grandson into archery with a bow and some arrows. Seeing his face light up when he comes over to the house and says "let's shoot bows and arrows"...well that's just the best.
Carp! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Gettin my late brother back into traditional archery after a 30 year hiatus and seeing the love of the sport blossum anew in him the last 6 years of his life. He killed a nice doe on the first hunt I took him on after getting back into it. He was the best hunting partner and I miss him dearly.
Getting my friend Carl back into bowhunting so he could take his first traditional deer out of one of my stands. I miss him everday now that he is gone.
the day I gave my compound away 25 years ago
QuoteOriginally posted by Danny Rowan:
Gettin my late brother back into traditional archery after a 30 year hiatus and seeing the love of the sport blossum anew in him the last 6 years of his life. He killed a nice doe on the first hunt I took him on after getting back into it. He was the best hunting partner and I miss him dearly.
:thumbsup:
Shooting and loving tradtional bows for 55 years and still going. Just love to shoot arrows.
My greatest accomplishment so far is still my first trad deer.
I think some of my efforts have resulted in several people getting involved in this sport, my three kids,their friends, my grandkids, numerous people that have come to our shoots, and literally hundreds of kids that have been introduced to our sport through club donations that purchased equipment for NASP. I have downed a few animals in my time, but they pale in comparison to the previous accomplishments.
Shiras moose with selfbow!
My biggest accomplishment is: coming up with a goose egg this year and being ok with it.
There was a time when I had more blood lust....now, I'm mature enough that I just enjoy being out there.
Learning to call in mature, herd bulls. Elk are my biggest passion in life, and while this hasn't made a more successful hunter, itsmultiplied my enjoyment so many times over, and that's why I hunt em in the first place..... well that and meat.
Teaching several youngsters to shoot and hunt, and taking disabled vets on hunts, some of which were no longer able to use stick and string.
Those hunts far overshadow all of the critters I have been lucky enough to take personally in my 40 years of bowhunting.
Teaching over 50 classes of Bowhunter Ed.to students. Shooting all 5 species of Caribou ranks second.
I second MNBWHTR...I became a NYS Bowhunter Ed Instructor 23 yrs ago and enjoyed all the years of teaching young and old about this great sport of ours.
The best part..I ran into a couple of guys I had in class back in the late 90's and they thanked me for running a good, informative and fun class. All the critters that hit the ground over the years mean alot but giving back to my sport means more.
My first deer with a bow in 1972. It was a seven point buck taken with a Browning recurve and a fiber glass arrow with a Bear razor head on the ground. My 2nd best accomplisment was a 6 pt. buck taken with the first bow I ever made, a hickory self bow. There have been other accomplisments, but these were two of my biggest thrills.
having a grown son and daughter that still shoot traditional and call the old man to join them once in a while......
I'm hoping for a bucket-list check-off this coming October though.
That both of my children shoot.
Teaching my sons to bow hunt and a love for archery. What great hunting and shooting buddies. (nut) :bigsmyl:
Taking a 8 pt so old, he had brown nubs worn to the gum line for teeth, 175# first week in Sept. I took him with a #60, 66"hickory self bow I made, 16 yards on the ground, from the rabbit blind, a natural blind I planted 20 years ago, my most mature deer to date. 2nd would be taking both spring gobblers, Jakes, and then taking all 4 fall turkeys, 2 in bow season, 2 in shotgun season with a bow, here in KY with my Quinn recurve, in the same year. I still aint over that, cause I aint a great turkey hunter, just lucky and blessed!
I love coaching 4H kids, very rewarding to see them fall in love with archery, and be successful in the field and on the target line, but that aint bowhunting, it is a by product.
I've only bow hunted for 3 years but my favorite was this year I went to wyoming for a 2 weeks on a solo mule deer hunt in the bighorn mountains by myself and slept in a hammok in the woods. I saw a lot of animals and on the last day I was there I got my mully about 5 hours before I had to leave to come back to missouri.
Accomplishment for me is to TRUST what I have learned and listen to my gut.
I do both.
Grizzley in BC - nearly didn't live to tell about it, as it ran back on me and then dropped about 10 yds away.
My first deer period was with my grandad's old Wing Thunderbird recurve.
He gave it to me at 18 and we hunted together 5 long years before killing a doe. Unfortunately he wasn't hunting with me that particular weekend and I cried like a baby after finding the deer.
Still, it was a thrill to bring it home.
Day after Christmas, snow on the ground, with Paw paws hunting bow.
Master bowhunter instructor and teaching kids archery.
Teaching two children, 5 grandchildren, neighbors, friends to shoot archery. Also being an instructor for our club for our youth program.
Oh, bowhunting. Then that would be my first deer with a recurve bow or anything for that matter in 1969.
Free range cape buffalo...Mozambique.
Getting rid of my compound
The compound guys who I meet and shoot with all start out pretty sceptical about traditional archery, but before too long they're hooked and buying their own recurves or longbows. The only bad thing is they shoot better than me!
Teaching a couple hundred kids to shoot is also pretty cool.
My own bowhunting highlights are my two buffalo killed this year with my longbow after leaving bowhunting for about four years.
Without a doubt my greatest bowhunting accomplishment has been finding my Soul Mate to share my love for archery and bow hunting. Nancy and I have been married for 55 years.
"Like the bow is to the arrow, we are separate yet we are one"
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/ronandnancy.jpeg)
Amen Ron, Good for you.
Many, many misses before I finally shot my turkey. My only longbow kill so far. No blind. Crawled into an opening, stuck a hen deke up, waved it back and forth to get the tom's attention, crawled back into the woods and got ready. 16 yard shot.
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c318/b1r9i6a6n/P5020283_zps90792217.jpg) (http://s30.photobucket.com/user/b1r9i6a6n/media/P5020283_zps90792217.jpg.html)
To date getting my brother involved in using trad bows. Then being in the tree with him on his first trad bow kill.
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2wefhgg.jpg)
Years ago I would have referenced a white-tail, mulie, black bear or antelope that fell to one of my arrows.
These days though I'm so pleased that my now 35-year old son was brought up a bowhunter and still hunts with me to this day. He called me this afternoon in fact(I'm visiting my daughter about 300 miles away) to report that he missed a turkey.
I've seen some children of bowhunters turn away from bowhunting because Dad pushed them too much or ran it into the ground. I probably came close to running it into the ground but I never pushed...only encouraged and congratulated.
Two weeks ago my 32-year old daughter informed me she wanted to go bowhunting. I'm going to jump at this invitation to take her even though it won't be with equipment I choose to use these days. I just don't have time to get her proficient with curves and I don't want her interest to wane.
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t115/toddsmith5298/todd_smith_mountain2.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/toddsmith5298/media/todd_smith_mountain2.jpg.html)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t115/toddsmith5298/todd_smith_brooks_range_alaska.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/toddsmith5298/media/todd_smith_brooks_range_alaska.jpg.html)
Nothing yet qualifies... I guess my most treasured is an unsuccessful shot at a Dall sheep. The only shot I ever had on a sheep, and probably the only one I will ever have. The hunt was with my mentor John Dodge. Great hunt, many memories. Todd :archer:
Good for you Ron - that's awesome! Todd :archer:
Finally accepting that I couldn't beat the TP shooting right handed and moving to left hand shooting. The joy of the hunt has been reawakened and I no longer have any doubt in my abilities.
ChuckC
Prior to having rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder, my hunting buddy Southpawshooter lent me his 54# Fedora recurve so I could learn to shoot left handed.
Months of practice before ordering myself a 52# left hand Fedora. Managed to take 2 does that fall. Now I'm really enjoying bowhunting both RH and LH but learning to master left handed ranks right up there with all my hunts.
(http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc414/jcs271ar/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140909_114326_243_zpse1c0961d.jpg) (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/jcs271ar/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140909_114326_243_zpse1c0961d.jpg.html)
Finally!
so far for me it's taking a chamios and a tahr, spot and stalk with my recurve. Both were DIY hunts on public land in new zealand, backpack in and out. No choppers!
so far for me it's taking a chamios and a tahr, spot and stalk with my recurve. Both were DIY hunts on public land in new zealand, backpack in and out. No choppers!
I would say all the GREAT people that I had a chance to meet and share camp with.
would luv to say that after 62 years of shooting I finally beat target panic only that would be a big lie!
Passing on the tradition to my son.
Taking my first primitive deer with a selfbow that I made. This was my first deer with non modern equipment.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/Hunting%20Indiana%20Buildalong/SDC15862b.jpg)
Three carp with one shot!
I would have to say it is the friendships I have made at ShrewHaven.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/doublelung/UltimateExperience.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/doublelung/media/UltimateExperience.jpg.html)
My first primitive kill with a cedar self bow. 40pounds
What makes this so special is that the bowyer Rick Byrd from Centerpoint Tx that made this bow, made it by using two cedar billets. He collected the cedar billets from a cedar tree that was about 40 yds from where I shot this buck.
He did not like the bow because it was to light on poundage for him. I asked him what he was going to do with it. He asked me if I wanted to buy it. I said yes how much? He said $50.00
It was a great bow and finally broke one day. I glued it back up but just as wall hanger now.
Here's mine
(http://i.imgur.com/YRjG3l3.jpg)
Learning to bow hunt with the right equipment; trad!
200 lb (8 year and 8 month old) black hear in the north ga mountains. Spot and Stalk. I hiked over 100 miles that summer to find the only ridge I could that had acorns. Saw 29 bears between June and October in about 11 trips. Killed her the first time I hunted that ridge at daylight and put three more buddies on bears that fall.
Not an accomplishment so much as honoring a shared commitment. I mostly hunt with my Dad and my 3 brothers or some combination thereof, and we cannot abide a hit deer left, unfound, in the woods. Three deer stick out in my memory where the five of us crawled on hands and knees in the dark and the rain to find and follow a blood trail by the dim light of small flashlights, circling through honeysuckle and blackberry briar thickets, shimmying under barbed wire fences, wading shallow rivers and picking through cattail swamps to find hit deer that ran further than we would hope. Working together and finding those deer was validation of our "code".
Being the only guy out of my group of buddies that shoots a trad bow. They don't understand what they are missing.
My first trad deer 2008
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/IM000217.jpg)
Having children that like to hunt.
For me it was getting so many kids and people into bowhunting and wildlife, animals come second
When I was inducted into the Michigan BowHunters Hall of Fame in 2005 and my hunting Buddies were there to share the moment.
(http://tradgang.com/ron/ron35.jpg)
This one is easy for me. I just scored my first trad harvest last weekend. Not so much the kill, but a goal achieved. I made a perfect shot on a mature doe (the oldest and largest I have killed with any tackle) at 7 yards. There is so much more to traditional bowhunting than just "making the shot". I got within 7 yards of a mature whitetail doe, one of the wisest critters in the woods. Then I held it all together and closed the deal. I am proud of that.
This thread should come to the top at least once a year. This is the kind if thing that can change from time to time.
Jake
Over the years I have managed to take a few nice critters with my bows, especially selfbows.......
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionLenny022.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/mountainLionLenny022.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/SpokaneCDASylvia015-1.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/AK%20Moose%20Hunt/table122_zps4fcc6f8a.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/2010Buck016.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/2010Buck016.jpg.html)
........However, I consider having passed my love for bowhunting and bow building on to others as my greatest bowhunting accomplishment. Rather it be teaching one how to build a glass bow.....
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/IMG_20140310_215952_149_zpsubjyw3k4.jpg)[/URL]
Or a selfbow.....
Walt-that picture of the cat is beautiful!...as they all are really! Lol
Kenny :bigsmyl:
Where was I, oh yea, Selfbows and my greatest bowhunting achievement.....
There just isn't anything like them. If you have to ask why...............well, it is beyond me to explain the feeling one gets when building and then hunting with a primitive bow. Anyway, I digress.....
Watching the facial and body expressions of the first time selfbow builder as they create a functional work of art:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Bow%20Classes/lox3ghcu_zps6666463a.png) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Bow%20Classes/lox3ghcu_zps6666463a.png.html)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Bow%20Classes/lox3ghcu_zps6666463a.png[/IMG][/URL]
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Bow%20Classes/Jena-Bowbuild2013-14_zpsb9f8732f.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Bow%20Classes/Jena-Bowbuild2013-14_zpsb9f8732f.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/BowBuddies001.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/BowBuddies001.jpg.html)
It is the joy on their face when they realize the piece of wood is close to becoming a reality:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Bow%20Classes/zxtrqweh_zps2281759d.png) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Bow%20Classes/zxtrqweh_zps2281759d.png.html)
It is when the student makes and hunts with special arrows as a tribute to one they admire......
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Bow%20Classes/th_is10wqtc_zps6f4c5149.png) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Bow%20Classes/is10wqtc_zps6f4c5149.png.html)
R.I.P. Larry
However, it is more, much more. It is the sense of passing on a tradition, the heritage, the romance of the hunt, it's teaching others as I have been taught.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Bow%20Classes/31onatyx_zpsbb9376df.png) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Bow%20Classes/31onatyx_zpsbb9376df.png.html)
Passing it on, when someone I helped or taught
"Gets It",
I'd like to think that is my greatest bowhunting accomplishment.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Bow%20Classes/th_kq96qe51_zpsdc4716ae.png) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Slivershooter/media/Bow%20Classes/kq96qe51_zpsdc4716ae.png.html)
After breaking my neck once and my back three times, after living with a terminal genetic syndrome eating my hips, I got suited up and I put a stalk on, for what will certainly be close to the last time.
Who cares if I shot something. I did it because I can do it. And that's worth all the trophies to me.