Trad Gang

Reading a few threads it dawned upon me that people have different archery things they are passionate about. I'm talking about equipment here.

For many its the bow, for others it's the arrow, and what got me thinking about this thread it seems as if a lot of folks swear by a specific broadhead.

As I try to determine if I have such a strong preference I'm thinking about what would be the most difficult of these three things for someone to change my mind about.

For me it is the arrow. I shot MFX Classics until they were replaced by the Axis Trads.  I've shot many different bows. It wouldn't bother me to shoot one of several different broadheads, but I won't even consider a different arrow.

I won't consider anything but wooden arrows, just like I wouldn't consider hunting with a fiberglass laminated bow. I suppose some might consider me passionate about hunting with wooden bows and arrows, but the way I see it, it's just my preference. A very strong preference  :)

Wood arrows.  Feather fletching.  Good companions.  Kentucky Burbon.  Obedient dogs.  Steady improvement.

And a patient and understanding wife.    :archer:

I love old recurves and wood arrows. I can stare at 'em all day. I'd like to shoot another deer with my old Necedah and one of the remaining two cedars left from my first batch of twelve I made a few years ago.

We don't have to choose just one, do we?

good question.  I'm overly passionate about none of it, or all of it I guess!  I don't get at all wrapped up in bow or arrow typed (speaking only for traditional gear here, I have no desire to ever shoot a compound again), and don't look down or up to anyone on their choices as I like the personal preference part.  self bows, modern laminated bows, metal handle bows, wood arrows, aluminum arrows, carbon arrows, its all good with me.

what I am passionate about, is elk.  plain and simple.

I have my preferences in bows, arrows broadheads, and pretty much anything else we could talk about.  Fortunately there are so many good products made today that there are several alternatives to each I would be happy with.

Longbows. I like all the types of arrows, broadheads, heck even the types of bows are great. For me though, when it comes to what I really like and what I think of when I talk about "my bow" it's always a longbow. I've been shooting a new recurve I made a few months ago, and though it's helped me bag a couple deer and squirrels this year, it still doesn't "click" for me.

It doesn't matter what style or what materials, I'm a longbow kind of guy!

Most passionate about archery.    :archer:

The process and upkeep that is being a traditional archer. I like the mechanics and the instinct behind it. Not really a stuff guy.

When a good shot goes through the chest of a whitetail is pretty awesome!

First is Hill style longbows. They are just something special to me. Also, I have a preference for wood arrows with shield cut feathers pushing a two blade broadhead. Lastly, I want to carry these arrows in a back quiver.

We often prefer, and are adamantly protective of, that which we are familiar with.  

I use "***" kind of broadhead, and it is awesome, the best.  But ya know, I haven't used all of them, I haven't killed 1000s of animals with these and in reality, there may be something out there a LOT better but I do not have the knowledge to see that because I didn't experience it.

Its the way we are.  

I cringe when I see posts asking for " the best broadhead", "the best longbow". "the best anything".  Like all tools, each is best for a certain task and maybe not any others.  

In fact, if I always used a pair of pliers to remove nuts and bolts, and had good luck with them, I may have a big opinion that they are better than 6pt sockets and wrenches of the proper size.

We are what we are.  Take all of the info here with a grain of salt and use the info to build your own knowledge base, to make your own decisions.

ChuckC

Its the flight of the arrow that does it for me. Watching the bright big ball of fletch arch to the spot you want is a priceless feeling.
The other big one for me is how the bow brings me outside. I can find a lot of excuses to not do chores or work outside. I can also find a million excuses why I HAVE to be outside with my bow shooting or hunting.

I shoot longbows, recurves, all different kinds of arrows but once I started shooting concave heads( Simmons and Centaurs) I knew I found something g I would never stray from. Accurate, tough, deep penetrating and amazing blood trails♥

To me it's the feel,It only feels right when I am hunting with my bow.

Fast shooting 64" long recurves.
Simmons Tree Sharks.
MFX Classic arrows..I stocked up.
Magnus 3" shield cut natural turkey feathers.
Good split finger tab.

I did break down and get a 62" recurve..but won't again.

Its the self accomplishment of hunting with a basic tool, and the feeling of doing it like they did back in the beginning.
 And when I make my own arrows its very fulfilling and euphoric. I feel like I am more with the earth and nature with my trad gear.

I guess for me it's perfect arrow flight. I'll tinker and fine tune until I'm totally happy with the arrow flight.

Longbows, wooden arrows, big whitetails on public land the chess game that never ends.

Just the whole process. I enjoy getting ready as much as the hunt. Already making plans for next year, made a new Torges seat, fine tuning my Waldrop pac seat, making arrows.......heck, hunting season is only 9 months away. Shooting everyday that weather allows......like I said, the whole package.

The raging passion of the traditional has numerous roots such as crafting arrows, the sensational experience derived by loosing an arrow, extensive hunt preparation, splendid harvests and the kinship bonds founded in genuine camaraderie. The roots bore to incredible depths and continue to fervently dredge towards quintessential embodiment.

My passion is to continue to strive, yet often stumble in an attempt to relinquish myself and maintain an open mind as to absorb and share in the bounty of the wonderful treasures exposed by these branching and descending illustrious roots.

I'm passionate about killing my first trad deer in the fall with my omega delta longbow I just purchased! I'm passionate about the preparation and the "journey" to get in the tree stand and make it happen!

just passionate about it if i can make it myself or at least modify it. not a go to the strore and buy it guy.
will spend thousands of dollars  on tools so that i can show my loving and patient family- hey look what i made - you know how much money i saved- this is a $1 000 bow- well sort of!

i just love the process of building and fiddling.

and then just plain passionate about the bush- in any shape or form.spending time in it is all i want to do. from a kid i have been a loner- and spent all my time in the bush.
heck when i ran away from home when i was 15( as all good boys should!!) for some weeks- i went to the mountains- but they knew where to find me. still took em a few weeks though!

I'm passionate about the challenge of traditional archery. The challenge of being the best I can be w/ equipment meant for short range hunting, finding that weakness in the game I hunt to get that close range shot, try to alter the game's movement by strategy or manipulation, ect. Just passionate about being a predator!

I am not really caught up on equipment!  I strive to better mysef and love to hunt.

Sure I have my preferences of equipment but they are all exchangeable or replaceable except for a sentimental bow.

for me its not the 'stuff' but rather the experience and sharing it with my family and friends. i prefer my recurve over any other means of hunting and my wife enjoys the works of art that i create out of my arrows. she also enjoys seeing the joy i get out of it. she bought me the bow that i currently shoot so im fond of it because of the sentimental value it holds...ive thought of selling for a 'higher' end bow but i enjoy this one so much i've decided to just make it my own by adding some accents to it and some snakeskins. but its the experience for me  :)

I am passionate about traditional bows/instinctive shooting and hunting. Everything else doesn't really register.
I like the skill it requires and the fact that it forces close shots so I get to spend more time watching and less time shooting.

A beautiful Recurve!  I can shoot a longbow better, but, a well made recurve is just blissful "Art" to look at and "Sexy" to hold in my hand........Horserod

EASY-bowhunting. I just love bow hunting. Tree stand sits in a golden timber, stalking up on an unsuspecting mule deer (next year!) Sitting ground side on a beautiful spring morning coaxing a gobbler into my setup. I just love to be outside with a bow in my hands.
I love all the gear, from bow and arrows, and especially broadheads. I sharpen my broadheads after looking @ them too long haha. I love to blood trail and the feeling of accomplishment when walking up to an animal. I would bowhunt every day if I had the means.
I really like all the planning and strategizing that goes into hunts for new species or new places. Sitting in the bow shop listening to the old timers stories. The whole deal for me, I thank God every day that he made me a bowhunter

If I had to pick some gear I'd have to say my blackwidow recurve. I got it used, and it's the only "custom" bow I've ever owned and I love it! I shoot it well it fits well in my hand and it just seems to fit for me. That being said I'd love to try some other kinds someday. But I will have a hard time shifting gears from something I know fits so well.

But even before I acquired my widow shooting other bows I just loved the act of being in the woods hunting with a bow and arrow. Even though my last several big game seasons have been a bust I have cherished them and the experiences I've had with my bow. Not to mention small game is an adventure all it's own with a bow. So I guess that would sum it up most for me.

Iowabowhunter you took the words right out of my mouth! I could'nt have said it any better.

Sitting in a tree with recurve in hand on frosty mornings in early Nov.

As I have said before, if my back was better, the only deer that I would ever shoot would be the ones that got between me the rabbits, the pheasants and the turkeys.

I'm wanting to get more out of the entire experience which is why I desire to switch to traditional.  I also really like the flight of the arrow.  I'm passionate about having a carbon arrow (finally just got one that flies good up to the weight I want) to avoid bent/broken arrows.  I haven't shot an animal so I'm not set on broadheads but I do have a 6pk of Woodsman's that I'm gonna start with.  I haven't really 100% settled on a style of bow but my hands seem to fit best on the hybrid long bow handles.  For now I just need to committ and get to the woods.  Already planning for the 2014/5 season!

Hunting big game with my longbows, and waterfowl hunting. I have thousands of dollars invested in both.

Right now...Summer!

Getting outside with a bow to shoot and or/hunt.  Which relates to shooting traditional equipment, because I have to work to stay sharp, and small game hunting, because there are more opportunities than focusing exclusively on deer (and a more manageable workload when a hunt is successful)"

QuoteOriginally posted by LB_hntr:

The other big one for me is how the bow brings me outside. I can find a lot of excuses to not do chores or work outside. I can also find a million excuses why I HAVE to be outside with my bow shooting or hunting.

This for me too.  When I finally get on stand, get set, and lean back against the tree and feel the earth and my small part in it, I'm home. The stresses of the modern world melt away. I watch the critters go about their lives, searching for food or whatever, listen to them communicate, and realize that somehow we (man) have lost our way.

Shooting every chance I get . Doing a Techno Hunt league now with some friends and its a blast .

I love the whole traditional part of hunting. The beauty of well made bows and arrows, the feeling of them in my hands, the sight of the flight of a well placed arrow hitting the target that was intended for whether an animal or a stump. It is all in my blood passed down from my father who is dearly missed but fondly remembered. I am truly blessed to have been given the chance to experience this great sport.

like others, after bowhunting for 40 years or so, you become pretty fixed in your equipment list of what works.. call it being passionate about your equipment i guess, Black widow recurve, 2020 aluminuimn and zwickey delta 4 blades.. proven over and over im pretty passonite about that.. but the true draw for me is just the experience, i do alot of out side activities, canoe, camp, fish, hike etc..and love it, but bowhunting is my true passion.. im to poor to hunt out of state much, but i save all my vacation to hunt and dearly love the pursuit of critters with my bow..my gun hunting friends just dont get it. I am tickled to death to kill a mature doe that i have done a good job of placing a stand on, while they sit in thier box stands day after day waiting on some monster buck..thier only enjoyment is when something gets killed.. Man, im having a blast the whole dang time !!! i just love to bowhunt !

I just love bowhunting and anything related to it. When I was younger, it was more about being out there and killing something. I was not into the equipment nearly as much as I am now. Now it's more about just being out there sitting in a treestand or in a ground blind just enjoying the whole experience as well as tinkering with equipment, making arrows, building wood bows, etc. I find that the more I put into it, the more I get out of it.

The replies are interesting.

As many have said the passion or strong bias for certain equipment has no meaning without the hunt.

While the hunt is my purpose I love shooting and experimenting with and fine-tuning gear during the off-season. I doubt I'd have as much fun year-round if all my equipment decisions were behind me.

Wood arrows, longbows, old wine and obedient women!   :biglaugh:

Bjorn, 3 out of 4 aint bad...LOL  Shooten the longbow with wooden arrows and then a glass of wine.

The flight of a well tuned arrow, all of us can agreed on that- i think

For me it is the flight of a well tuned arrow and the perfect release, hitting the target just as you wanted.

Everything about this Traditional Bow journey has taken me on I love it.

I never ever tire of watching arrows arch through the air to the mark.

If they happen to be arching toward a critter, I consider that to be the icing!

traditional adventure hunting

Indeed....PERFECT arrow flight....THAT is my passion.

If I am shooting, and my arrow flight is ANYTHING but perfect it gets under my skin. If my arrows fly perfectly, I can shoot until my fingers bleed.

I shoot big, bright feathers, dipped or capped white or yellow so that my arrows are easy to see in flight JUST so every shot is a testament to good arrow flight!

For me it's all about building these things...Well maybe not all of my passion.... the thrill of the hunt goes without saying...

There just isn't anything like working my hands in wood and letting the creative juices flow.... The challenges of building something special for a fellow archer who sincerely appreciates the hand crafted product is what keeps me smiling...

The crackle of the fire in the shop woodstove on a cool December morning....

The taste of the sawdust in my coffee....

The feeling i get from shooting a new bow for the fist time....

Every bow i build, i put my heart and soul into... If that isn't passion... i just don't know what is...

My BlackWidow bows and my Marlin leaver actions.  Widow

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Originally posted by katman:
Most passionate about archery.     :thumbsup: