It seems like thirty years ago when I started elk hunting all of my hunting partners shot compounds but everyone bragged about how close they got to the animals whether they got a shot or not. Now many of the guys that shoot modern carbon tube casting devices consider fifty or sixty yards a good shot!
I had an elk hunt booked for the last five months and when I booked it I told the outfitter I shoot trad bows and we discussed the hunting area etc. I hadn't spoken to him for five months and yesterday he calls and asks me if I shoot a recurve. Obviously he knew this. He says he will refund my deposit or refer me to another outfitter because the country where he hunts is pine forest and they rarely get shots less than 50 yards! I called his referral and he told me there was more cover in his area but he asked me why I don't "upgrade" to a compound! thanks for listening
Be very thankful that he offered you a refund! Not the guy you want to book a hunt with, that's for sure.
Communication with outfitters is so important, and it is very easy for one side or another to misunderstand the intent of a question or request. Maybe in his mind he thought compounds are traditional since that is all he ever sees. :dunno: