Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Sam and I am 19 years old. I found my way to this forum because of my passion for traditional archery. I am not a hunter, but plan on going on my first hunt this deer season. I, thus far have only been a target archer, mostly at S.C.A. events etc. Hunting never appealed to me too much, mostly because of the fact that most of the gun and compound shooters that I know seem to hunt, only to feel more manly(or something). They don't have very much respect for nature, nor do they have much respect for the animals that reside within nature. I came to this site expecting the same kind of people. I was completely wrong. The intuitive and thoughtful posts that so many of you trad gangers write, has completely changed my perspective. Unlike the aforementioned hunters, many, if not all, of you treat nature with such reverence. To you, archery is not only about being able to kill a deer at 30 yds, It is about an art, a passion for the sport. I appreciate all of the thoughts and the information that I have picked up in such a short time here. I am truly honored to be a part of such a fantastic group of people. Thank You.
Welcome aboard Sam! Yep, lots of good folks hang out here. Great place to ask questions.
By taking up hunting you've opened yourself to a whole new world. I wish you many happy hours of hunting this Fall.
:campfire: Welcome.
Welcome aboard Sam.
It is great to have a 19 year old at the campfire.Thank you for your interest. I worry about our sport competing with I-phones, ESPN, rap music and the whole iwannabe ghetto/prison look a like.
Hunting for me has little to do with killing an animal as I said in another thread. I enjoy the process of limiting my capabilities with traditional gear to drink in more of life.
Great people here. I have had stuff sent to me for free from people I don't know or will never meet just cause they wanted to help. Pretty rare...like you.
Paul
Welcome to the campfire :campfire:
welcome my friend glad to see you on here . :thumbsup: :campfire:
Welcome Sam, i realy wish you the best with your hunting, i was lucky enough to have been exposed to hunting from a real young age and have been all over the world chasing adventure, im only 19 to and realy dont know what i would do if i could not hunt! if feel iv been fortunate for the things iv learnt hunting,i think its a great disipline, teaches respect and a different outlook on things that unfortunatly many do not get to see and unfortunatley many do not wish to understand.
we'r lucky to have some very Genuine, Honest people here that take the time to help us out, i realy appreciate that.. Thanks Tradgangers
:wavey: :wavey: hi there, this is a good place
place.
Glad to have you.It is a different group here compared to some sites.Kip
Welcome Sam, I have learned a lot from these fine people. :campfire:
Glad to have you at the fire! Hope you will stay a while.
Welcome Sam!!!
Remember one thing....the journey is more important than the destination. Soak up everything in the woods and worry about the kill last. Good luck and have fun.
Welcome Home Sam.... :wavey: :campfire: :archer:
Welcome! Pull up a chair and set a while. :campfire:
Hi there. Hap
:wavey: :wavey:
Welcome to a fantastic site, Sam. And welcome to traditional bowhunting. There are many on here who can answer all of your archery questions. Some are even medieval reenactors and SCAers as well. The current mass market hunting philosophy truly is a sad situation, but please understand that there are good and bad representatives in all hunting, regardless of weapon choice. This site certainly does have some of the best goodwill you can find on the web though!
Welcome Sam. We're neighbors, sort of. I'm in lower northeastern.
Welcome Sam. I admire a fellow who is passionate about the sport, but hesitant about the kill.
That last sentence might make more sense later...
Pleased to have another thinker at the fire. Thanks for joining us.
Killdeer :wavey:
welcome aboard, i like the way you think!
Sam, travel in the field with that respect for all of nature and I promise you will enjoy your time outdoors.
Good luck.
Sam,
As said above, enjoy the journey, It is too bad that too few understand. I can't explain it but I sure do understand it.
Welcome!
Mark
:bigsmyl:
Thanks for the encouragement, I definately plan on having a great time in the bush this fall.
I am in the same boat as you, 19 going into my first season. I couldn't agree with you more, well said. Good luck this season!
Good luck to you as well!
Hunters, Old and Young
There is no joy to an old hunter's soul
greater than that he feels
when help he gives those young and bold
spreads to something real.
Little by little, he tells what he knows,
admires as it builds, and sees as it shows,
for day by day, as slowly it grows,
what is dimming in him begins to glow.
All that he's learned, at such a great cost,
and thought so soon would surely be lost,
that tells of the life he loves the most,
he sees now again, in a new host.
In each achievement of his young friend,
the old hunter finds fulfillment again,
reliving first joys once more for himself,
and feeling now things, long ago left.
His greatest delight now he does find
in the one young, just his own kind;
a new kindred spirit, in body and mind,
one who will treasure all he'll leave behind.
(Copyright 1994, Ed Ashby)
Welcome aboard Sam, glad to have you at the campfire.
Ed
Welcome Sam,
What a wonderfully written introduction. It gives us a small glimpse of the person that you are at heart. Enjoy your first season and take everything in! Like has already been said, think of the kill last. It is only the culmination of a tremendous journey that you will NEED to live over and over. It WILL get in your blood and become a part of who you are.
I myself am fairly new to traditional (over 30 yrs. hunting however) and as of yet not had my first kill with trad gear. No matter. It is the journey that I long for.
Listen well to the people on this forum. There is an unbelievable wealth of knowledge here. I don't post much here, prefering mostly to take it all in. As I'm learning I'm speaking out a little more.
Lastly but probably most importantly, the people on here are like none you'll ever find on any other forum. This is the place to go with your questions. This is the place to go with your experiences. People sharing everything... knowledge, experience, memories... They are the people you look for to spend time with in the woods. You'll understand that last statement more after you have a few years of hunting under your belt.
Thank you to all of the Tradgang!! :notworthy: and to you Sam...Welcome.
:campfire:
Hi Sam, and welcome. Rare indeed is the insight you show to us in your introduction and at your age. Being a hunter puts purpose into the whole journey, the kill being the goal, but the journey being the reward. The more you can involve yourself, from your gear, to scouting and time spent in the woods, to countless practice sessions, visualizations of the moment of truth, the planning, the new places and experiences....all one day leading to perhaps a harvest and wellspring of memories. This is a lifetime pursuit for most of us, it takes a great deal of dedication, and gives back tenfold in satisfaction if you keep true to the quest and to yourself. Good luck to you and I echo the sentiments of how refreshing to see such youth with disciplined desire. Have fun!
Well, I don't write so good but WELCOME lots of good folks here. :wavey: :campfire: :archer:
Sounds like a Fine Addition to this Family we call TradGang!! Welcome Sam, and I am Impressed by Your Insights as well!!
:wavey: Howdy :wavey:
Welcome Sam, you will no doubt find the kind of people here that share your thoughts and feelings about nature and traditional archery. it is very refreshing to see someone your age with the maturity of one much older. sounds like you have a great head on your shoulders.
as many others here have already mentioned, it's not so much about the kill as it is the adventure and journey getting there. the majority of my most fond memories in the field have come from days i came home empty handed but with a full heart.
see you around the :campfire:
:wavey: glad you could make it young man.
Sam,
Where ya' at in central Ohio? I just moved up to Galion near Mansfield from Pickerington. Pickerington is just outside Columus on the southeast side, if you weren't familiar. Good luck this year, you are very close to some excellent hunting and beautiful countryside. If you don't have a hunting spot, just go to the Ohio Dept of Nat. Resources site and check out some maps. they have all the wildlife maps you could ask for.
Charlie (buckeye_hunter)
Oh yeah, ya' ever need someone to hunt with let me know!
Welcome to the fold. As the others have said, this is a forum without equal. For most of us here, shooting a deer at 10 yards is much preferred to shooting one at 30 yards. It is not the difficulty of the shot, rather the difficulty in getting so close to such a wary adversary and making a quick, clean kill when the kill is made that is important to us. Some of my most memorable hunts did not end in kills, though the kill was the goal on each hunt.
You write well for one so young. I appreciate that as a long-time English teacher. As an even longer time hunter, I appreciate what you wrote.
Good luck this fall. You will find your time in the woods your greatest reward.
Russ
Galion you say? Hah! That is only a hop, skip, and a jump... no just a hop and a skip away! I live in Marion. That is only about about 20 minutes down rt 309 from Galion. Small world this internet is.
Sam - here is a note from another newcomer to this site and a first-time bowhunter.
It is not what gets shot in the field or how long or short the yardage. How you conduct yourself before, during, and after the hunt is what makes you a Man or Woman of integrity.
I got started in this long strange trip by some Kansas rifle hunters who embody this integrity in all areas of life. I have been encouraged by all types of hunters - rifle, blackpowder, wheelies, and trads. The "hunterz" who are less encouraging seem to fit your description of those seeking to be Manly Men.
Keep your eyes open and your wits sharp and you'll learn and live better than most. This was my advice to my 18 yr-old son when he signed up for the Navy Reserve. My prayer is that he and i both keep to it.