"A wise man learns from his mistakes...
A wiser man learns from the mistakes of others".
It's a saying my brother and I remind each other of periodically.
There is a vast amount of knowledge and experience within the ranks on this site. So much so I believe that volumes of books probably couldn't capture it all.
So in the spirit of passing on a portion of this wisdom I ask you this question,
"If you could go back to the beginning of your trad bow hunting, knowing what you do now, what would you do differently?"
I anticipate common themes and occasional nuggets, both well suited for the purpose.
I will begin by saying that I wish that as a younger man, prior to the commitments of work and family, I'd sought out a successful and ethical trad bow hunter as a mentor. Someone to shadow on hunts and give practical advice on killing game with a trad bow. I've enjoyed the trials and errors, but in hindsight knowing there were a lot more errors!
Perhaps this thread can remedy some of that.
Thanks.
I would have , from the beginning, learned how to shoot with proper form.
For starters I wouldnt have grown up in NYC! I was born geographically mis placed. HA HA Not a lot of Trad Hunting and shooting there, Anyway I would have started out with a lighter bow, coming off wheels like some of us,and OVER BOWED I created bad habbits that are hard to break, like snap shooting, not anchoring target panic stuff. I would have like you said, find a mentor...
There is very little I could have done differently.
When I started there was no internet, no Traditional Bowhunter Magazine, the available books on traditional archery were not well known or available to a kid, Traditional archery wasn't even invented yet (the name). I had some mentors, but frankly, I would have been better off without some of their teachings.
In the beginning I thought I had proper form, and I think, the actuality of proper form has morphed since then anyway. I though I shot OK...boy were my eyes opened.
Nearly everything I learned I had to learn by trial and error. Heck, most of the guys on here that started before early 1970's did.
If I had the internet and its available information (direct and indirect ie. being able to look up and order books I didn't even know existed) and its ability to give me more and more mentors, in spite of distance or language, I would have been in heaven.
Heck.. I want to learn how to fly fish and it is slightly overwhelming to me, in spite of my lifelong addiction to "regular fishing". I just spent a few days on-line looking at videos put out by Orvis and a few others and heck. . . I'm ready to jump in (with both feet !). It was that much different.
My next project may be brain surgery (always wanted to do that) !
OK.. to your question. What would I do differently ? Not screw up so much. Not waste time. Not sit at home dreaming when I could have been out pursuing. Not putting myself into dangerous elevated situations. a good start.
Oh, and get all kinds of out-of-state hunts in while they were all legal and still affordable !
ChuckC
I would like to have joined tradgang sooner!
I would have bought every garage sale bow for $15 and invested in the new Damon Howatts and Bears at the sporting goods stores that they were selling at cost in 1975.
Definately wish I had concentrated on bowhunting more. My gun nut phase could have funded a lot of archery and bowhunting.
I did have the great good fortune of meeting a traditional bowhunting mentor back in the 1980's. I wish I had sought him out sooner. He passed away in 2003.
But, you can't dwell on the past. The only thing you can change is now.
Found a way to spend more time outside.
:knothead: double post
I would have never pickup/ :knothead: shot a compound bow! I started with real bows at 7 :thumbsup: and till I was 20 something and then(after the army) went to the dark side :banghead: for 25years, what a waist. If I had stayed with trad I would not have had to relearn good :archer: / and unlearn bad :archer2:
Also spent more time with my children in the out doors, before they grew up(worked way to much to put food on the table, but missed a lot)
I wish Id never picked up a compound in the 1st place. Ive never been against them because any "less challenge" mindset I just never liked the lack of reliability and lack of beauty in them to my mind.
I hunted for many years with a compound and killed my share of game but when looking back, man I wish I would have had a pretty stick bow in my hand and see those arrows go where I wanted them too. I always had a feeling that I wasn't enjoying bowhunting as much as I should have been when hunting with compounds but never knew why until my 6 year old son put me onto traditional bows.
Shooting a compound lead me to shooting a recurve and seeing the joy of shooting a stick bow and wood arrows...so I can't say it was all bad or misplaced time.
The form issue has been fixed somewhat by spending time with Rod Jenkins...still working on it.
I guess just making the time to be in the woods more than I did. But as a young guy it was hard when you work long hours and sometimes 6 days a week....trying to make up for that now! haha
Can't say I'd do anything different. It has led me here.
I was way overbowed when I started. I didn't have much confidence in killing a deer with a mere 50lb bow. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Since there was only "bowhunting" when I started & no compounds yet I guess I couldn't have done much different. If I knew then what I know now about deer hunting I would have killed a deer sooner than 5 yrs. of starting but overall it's been a great run!
I would of tried to gear my life style better so that u could spend more time hunting and being outside. Once you get set in a career, married, kids, the expenses of the life style start to load up. For years we have been trying to get to a simpler life style so we can spend more time hunting all over and living a self sustaining life style. But I look back at all the hours and dollars chasing worthless material dreams that could of been used to make memories and quality time.
IMO every minute spent outdoors is precious and that now every decision we make is to try and gain one of those minutes.
I also spent too much time in my early years with bows that were unneccessarily too heavy, hindering my true accuracy potential. I shot 65-70# bows for 20+ years.I got sucked into the heavier is better mindset when in reality it was a lot of wasted energy, and struggling to maintain proper form. It eventually took its toll with a damaged muscle, resulting in 2 years of missed shooting and eventually forcing me down to 50# where I should have been in the first place.
Would have shot that cow elk at 12 yards that walked right past me on the second day.
I am pretty happy where Iam at I shoot trad an so do my sons.Jake my oldest took his first deer at 13 yrs with trad equ. Ben is 11 yrs an soon to follow.WE have mentors. well seasoned guys we shoot with an who keep us on tract.hunting with my boys is a dream come true an watching them grow in the sport makes me VERY proud.
When I ordered my first new longbow, 1972, I should not have been so dumb and stubborn, and taken the advice from John Schulz about poundage and draw lengths. I got smarter and took his advice very serious, then one day I must have had a testosterone over load and ignored it again. Just because I can draw and shoot a 90# bow, that does not mean that I should or there won't be consequences.
I'm still what I consider a Traditional hunting novice. I've shot a couple Whitetails and two Turkeys with my Trad bows. Never been out of state,or hunted any BIG game animals. So to that extent I cannot add insight. I only wish I would have discovered traditional archery earlier. I'd love to get out west on a hunt in the next few years. But work,and family makes time small in some ways. As a younger man,without a mechanics back it would have been nice to go on a hunting quest back then if I'd only realized how great trad archery was versus a Jack Daniels & Marlboro migrane from my youth. rat'
I'd have started at least 50 years sooner and would be a lot better shot by now :)
I would not change a thing. I like the way my archery evolution has gone. Without the experiences I went through I would not be the same person I am now and I really like ME the way I am.
Same story as most of the guys above.
Bought a heavy bow because I was sure I could handle it. Shot 80lbs with my wheelie bow, worked back breaking, ball busting construction work my whole life so no problem.
After a while I quit having a solid anchor and went to holding on target and drawing the bow to my anchor and it was gone, called it snap shooting.
That led to full blown target panic. Took a lot of work to work out of it.
Had Norm build me a 42lb Blacktail I used after surgery and wound up shooting one of the largest deer I ever shot, arrow blew right through it.
Kind of an eye opener, I quit bashing light weight bows after I seen first hand what they actually can do.
Not one thing would I change in my archery or my life. It has gone the way God wanted and I am happy.
I would have kept the Bear take down that I sold for 275$. I paid 70$ for it and thought I hit the jackpot. Young and dumb!
I would have liked to discover 3D shooting and trad oriented organizations much sooner. For quite a long time, I just was not aware that there were other trad shooters in the area.
I would have held on to bows that fit me like a glove and fit my style of shooting perfectly. I have gone through numerous bows and gobs of cash trying out different bows. The bows I have now will be with me until I can no longer shoot...unless :bigsmyl:
I would have never agreed to use clear fiberglass, and I would have stuck to just making longbows, and not made recurves.
If I could, I would have had a Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Cousin, Brother, Someone that was Real Close that i could have learned and Hunted with. Only Child Syndrome, Worthless StepFathers, Everyone else is/was too Old to mess with The Kid of the Family.
Thats ok, I am Content and Happy with My Life. I Agree with Danny Rowan, just the way God intended!!
I would adapt you shakes but it looks like you're 2 years older than me.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Mecredy:
I would have never agreed to use clear fiberglass, and I would have stuck to just making longbows, and not made recurves.
Sounds like I might have got Mike's last recurve, clear glass and all!! It is stunning and I can't wait to post some pics. Thanks again Mike.
Less draw weight and more arrow weight.
Keep it between 50-55# and 10-11 gpp
I also started before compounds, turned to the dark side in my late teens, started a family in my 20s and quit bowhunting till my 40s when I bought a longbow , even though I live in central Mn with tons of good public land. Don't make that mistake.
Great thread idea and interesting posts...
I would tend to sum it up more along the lines of "God bless the broken road" that led me here. I don't hate my compound or the many, many days afield with it. They are very fond memories but traditional archery is simply way more challenging and rewarding for me. I can honestly say I never felt more like a hunter than being on the ground inside 10 yards from a buck that has no clue I am there.
To more specifically answer the question... I regret not spending more time with my brothers and father in the woods and on hunts. I love them all but they are tough to get together with. We all keep busy with our very own version of life but tomorrow is promised to no one. Make time for those you love and be certain they know how you feel!
That's my 2 cents.
:deadhorse:
Noooooo, I'm still going to use clear fiberglass, just because something is a bit challenging doesn't mean I'll stop, if that were the case I wouldn't be using traditional equipment. If that were the case, I wouldn't still be using hand tools, I can go on and on.
I began bow hunting in 1982 when compounds were the rage. I enjoyed all my years bow hunting with wheels, which helped me to develop good wodsmanship skills. I killed my share of deer during those years and had a lot of great experiences. As I matured as a hunter, like many folks, I went through typical stages; e.g. limiting out stage, trophy stage...and ultimately to the sportsman stage.
For me, archery has kind of been a quest. At first, a quest for superior archery technology to aid me in killing deer as I transitioned through my hunting stages. Now, it's a quest to simplify my hunting methods and savor every God given minute remaining. Sometimes I envy those of you who have never shot a compound, and your life-long commitment to trad archery. That said, I don't have a lot of archery regrets. I'm glad I switched to trad archery and have loved every minute spent learning from so many of you here. Regret? I guess I don't have any true regrets for my archery journey. It has lead me here and I'm happy with my passion for trad archery now.
First off I have to report that I'm very happy with most of the road-forks I've taken over the years. So many of them lead to learning and terrific memories.
I do wish I hadn't been so picky in the early 80's when I had the best whitetail spot to hunt that I've ever had. I passed up a lot of deer that I wouldn't dream of passing these days. I do remember an election day deer in early November of 1981 or 82. Had him at 10 yards, then 15, and then the opportunity disappeared. To this day the largest live deer I've ever seen. I was afraid I'd spook him at 10 and at 15 the quartering away was too steep too risk.
The only strictly do-over I'd take would be to have stuck with curves when I attempted to return to them in 2001 with a Fox High Sierra. I lost my hunting spot that year and settled for a new place I didn't know well. I passed on small bucks that season with not a single opportunity at a Doe or a buck I wanted to shoot. I returned to the compound in 2002 and didn't come back to curves until the 2009 season.
Not change a thing in my archery journy. I learn better by trial and error and its alot more fun that way. Wouldnt have married either ex wife though and bought more bows and did more hunting................
I would like to think I would have gotten some training from someone that knows something about shooting. Went to Rod Jenkins class last year. Since my shooting has become much more consistent. Before I had my good days but too many bad ones. Also I started bow hunting in the late 70s went to an archery shop and looked around at the compounds they had. Then asked the owner if they didn't have any recurves. His reply was "bow hunting is hard enough with a compound, you don't want a recurve" maybe he was right in a way, I learned a lot and enjoyed the compound. But maybe should have kept looking for a recurve.
Also I am in the process of building my first bow. Something I have thought about for quite a few years. Wish I had done that a lot sooner
I should have kept my first custom recurve (robertson stykbow montana falcon) 60" 57# @ 28" draw. back in 1994..
i have bought and sold so many bows since then it's crazy
Should have used all that wasted money on hunting trips.
live and learn
2 things I would like to do different.
I wish I hadn't passed up hundreds of deer when I was young waiting for a trophy. Maybe then it wouldn't have taken me 22 years to kill one with a bow.
When I was younger, I wish I had spent less money on Beer and More money on hunting trips.
Would have spent more time in the woods when I was younger and more free to do what I wanted to do instead of what I have to do.
That said, I wouldn't change my responsibilities for the whole world right now. Love every one of them.
-Jeremy :coffee:
I wouldnt have stopped shooting in 1973 , or was it 74 ? I definitely would not have used the pages from all those comic books for targets, and be a bit richer today. Brought up in NYC, got real good at shooting ground and sky rats, that's pretty much all we had. If I knew anything about archery back then, I wouldn't have had to use good old Kentucky windage, and I may have been even a little better, and been able to shoot with all of the great names.
But now to come back down to earth, thanks to me getting back into Trad at the end of 08, I do shoot with great names, Mikey ( mcgroundstalker ), Charlie (stump killer), Mikey ( the crazy Hungarian ), Tammy & Darren ( from PA ), Kathy ( Killdeer ), just to name a few. Anyone who is willing to go that extra mile with Trad, is a big name to me. That being said, I wish I didn't miss the 3-D shoots for all those years.
Oh yeah ! Wish I had started elk hunting out west a lot sooner!
Would have shot less as a youngster if possible. I spent hours everyday shooting and learned bad habits that seem impossible to correct. That being said I still shoot as much as possible and love it!
Why would I wish to go back? I mean it's soooo much fun learning (and then re-learning) all about hunting and trad archery... :rolleyes:
... mike ... :dunno: ...
Started with a lighter bow.
I will tell you in twenty years!
Would like to have started much sooner than I did, and with lighter weight bows.
Other than resisting the urge to try a compound for a couple of years, I can 't think if too much. Maybe sticking with my original plans on how to hunt a specific location. I have missed out on a good shot or two because of my impatience.
Ugh- phone issue.
Duplicate post. Stupid-phone.
I probably would not change much... I have been lucky to meet some great people shortly after I got started in shooting traditional that lead me in the right direction.
I truly believe that anyone starting traditional archery needs to find a good mentor as soon as possible. A good mentor certainly takes a big chunk out of the learning curve.
I would have not spent so much time in the Adirondacks with a gun......I missed some bow hunting when it was much better than it is now. But I will try to do more now.....or as much as I can!
Nothing I've enjoyed the the ride its a long strange trip I hope it continues
I would have paid less attention to what I read on forums.
I would only change one thing...when my family fell apart, and dad went to prison when I was 17 I wouldn't have left my Kodiak Magnum at my aunts' house when I ran off to "do it all on my own". I should have kept it. I have regretted losing that bow for 18 years now.
QuoteOriginally posted by Todd Cook:
I would have , from the beginning, learned how to shoot with proper form.
Bingo!
Bisch
I guess I should have (and still need to) dive right in. I shoot quite a bit up and to season then when it's time to hit the woods I take the wheelie. I only have 1-3 shooting opportunities per year (hunting public land) so I feel like I need to maximize my chances, plus I love the taste of venison. I enjoy my hunts quite tremendously but I also enjoy the harvest portion of the hunt as well.
I figure when I have the extra time to devote to it, then I keep telling myself the switch will come. However, I'm not sure that's how I need to approach it.
A lot of wasted time/mis spent youth shooting before I knew much about tuning. Could have been so much better so much sooner.
Well so far no regerts. I've been shooting the recurve for almost 10 years. Never shot a compound... I've had a great mentor, "Paw Paw"
Let me tell you one of his regrets.
Back in the 70's he was president of the Alabama Bowhunter's Association. Apparently he and some buddies were the first to have 3D targets at the shoots. He made them out of heavyduty styrofoam and berlap. I've seen pics. They looked great! Well, they toyed with the idea of getting a patent... but never did. A few years later some "Mckenzie" guy did.
It sounds like most of the people who posted have few if any regrets, however like myself if I could start all having the knowledge I have gained over the last five decades I would do a few things differently.
That pretty much applies to most everything.
If I could do it over again, I would have started with a light weight bow and got some professional coaching to learn proper form, right from the beginning. My first bow was a 50# Kodiak Magnum; a specialty bow that was too short and too heavy for a newby. Check out the Masters of the Barebow DVDs; some good advice on form and training exercises.