Looks like I will be forced to retire April 1, 2015. Now I can go to all the shows and shoots I always wanted to.
The first thing I am doing is a hog hunt down south in April. I used to love to go down and see Ray and Mike at Hog Haven. I intend to do some DIY hogs in Georgia first.
In September I will be going to Colorado for DIY elk.
That leaves an awful lot of time for shoots.
I will be doing Whittingham in NJ and the Baltimore Bowmans Shoot in Maryland.
What are some good trad gatherings to hit in 2015. I can't wait to go and camp for a few days at all the ones I missed over the years.
Thanks
Gil
The Hill Country Shootout put on by the Traditional Bowhunters of Texas is a fantastic shoot! It is April 11th and 12th, 2015 in Vanderpool, Tx.
Also, The Texas State Longbow Championship shoot is in Fort Worth, Tx on Memorial Day Weekend.
Those are 2 of the best shoots in Tx!
Bisch
Gil would love to shoot a round down at Baltimore with you. Look me up. I'll be camped just past the sign in Pavilion as usual.
See you then and congrats on your retirement!!
Big Ed
Always wanted to see Texas. I will have to stop and see Jack Harrison while I am down there. Maybe get some Javelina hunting in too.
Thanks
Gil
Thanks Ed I will. Did you make the bunny hunt last year? I was sure sorry to miss that one.
Gil,
If you happen to be in Colorado or near here in late June, the CTAS (Colorado Traditional Archers Society) High Country Shoot is as good a time as you could have. Also, the North American Longbow Safari usually the end of June or if in Canada sometimes over July 4th or there about if it conflicts with the Calgary Stampede. One year it is somewhere in the US and the next in Canada. It alternates each year.
Closer to home is the Sawmill shoot in June and ETAR in July near Coudersport, PA. There is a good shoot in Sept. in central PA called Shade Mt.
Thanks guys. Isn't there a big rendezvous in Wisconsin or Michigan?
Yes there is, Compton in Berrien Springs, MI. Very nice shoot with lots of vendors and a free chili/hot dog dinner on Friday night. Camping on site. Around mid June.
Real nice shoot in Kentucky the first part of April.
I second The High Country Shoot in Colorado. Over 500 shooters the past two yrs. Right in the middle of The Colorado Rockies.
Gil,
You need a retirement consultant. When I retired two years ago Joe Lasch (Whip) stepped up to the plate and I never looked back :) Also try Denton Hill @ the end of July...Jeff
Check out the Howard Hill Classic at Tannehill State Park near Bessemer, AL in June. It is a fun shoot. You can combine it with a trip down south to check out some hog hunting.
Rumour has it the Traditional Bowhunters of BC rendezvous in May will be in Rock Creek again.
Three hour drive from Spokane WA, or fly into Kelowna and drive an hour and a half or fly into Vancouver and drive for six.
If you get to Texas for the Hill Country or the Comptons in Michigan stop by the trailer for a visit.
Yea Gil, something not to far Shade Mountain in Pa.and the Greenecastle,Pa. Standing Stone also.All in the summer.
11th Eastern Ohio Traditional Rendezvous, Aug.8th & 9th 2015. www.gcsfc.org (http://www.gcsfc.org)
Compton in Michigan is a great time and I will be there.
Seems like the E.T.A.R. in Denton Hill, PA would be perfect for you to attend. It's on my list for the future.
I highly recommend the High Country Shoot in Colorado, it's a must attend at least once, after that you will be back.
Retired myself, at the end of June this year and relocated back to my roots in Southern Illinois, always wanted to attend Compton, and I believe now that I am closer I will this year.
Gil don't you have a Harrison Cane Classic or a baleen backed bow you'll have to sell now ? :pray:
CJ I will send you a PM.
The one I always wanted to do was the Compton shoot. I am definitely going to try that and the two shoots in PA for sure.
Some of the others are are pretty far and most likely will be tried in 2016.
Thanks for the advice and I am making a list and looking at when the shoots were scheduled in 2014, to get an idea of when they may be scheduled in 2015.
Gil
Gil,
Definitely come to Compton, but stay for the week and do some trout fishing and sight seeing and go to Grayling the following weekend for the Michigan Traditional Bowhunters Jamboree...10x the shoot with 10x fewer people. Trust me ;)
Steve is right about Grayling and you can even take home a beautiful hand painted 2D target.
Hmmm maybe it is the Michigan Traditional Bowhunters Jamboree I was thinking about.
One of them had a target you would shoot at from a canoe. I am going to have to go back over my old Longbow magazines to see which one I meant.
Thanks
Gil
Shoots are all fun, but during the week I would suggest a nice boat and a mess of walleyes to keep you in action. I have found it rounds out the retirement days very nicely.
congrats on the retirement, good to see you have a plan.
Is there a calender somewhere that has all the traditional archery events and rendezvous encampments? We are planning to go to Alafia in January. Its a muzzleloader shoot but I will be there camping making bows, arrows, and archery tackle. Hoping to blacksmith some hunting points too while there.
For sure you will want to go to Compton. I had a great time there, met some great people. The folks who ran the campground and club there were awesome, almost twenty years later I'm still talking about going there and hoping to see old friends there this year.
In a similar situation here, making plans to go to some archery camps and rendezvous this year as I have officially retired from sailing so will have time to concentrate on traditional archery.
Oh, Gil.....
Maybe Mike and I should join you on your Georgia hog hunt....I'll bring the good stuff and do some cooking.....Mike will drag our hogs out for us.
Whatcha think???
Gil, It is MTB shoot in Grayling that you can shoot out of a canoe at a handful of targets.
You make it to the MTB and I will see to it you get an MTB shirt as a retirement gift. If you get there, look me up. I will either be setting up, tearing down or selling MTB Merchandise.
Congratulations on the retirement Gil! For me, it is absolutely everything I had hoped it would be, but of course is only going to be as good as you make it.
Between hogs, javelina, turkeys, whitetail, bear, mule deer, elk, moose, and who knows what else you can keep plenty busy with hunting trips. PBS group hunts and Odd Year gatherings are a great place to start.
As for shoots, Compton, Denton Hill, Tannehill, and the Tennessee Classic are some of my favorites so far. Colorado High Country, TBOF, Michigan Longbow all are high on my list for the future. And we have a bunch of good ones scattered throughout the summer here close to home in Wisconsin.
All in all, I've never been so busy in my life - I think you're going to love it!
The Great Lakes Longbow Invitational (GLLI) is one of my favorites.
http://www.michiganlongbow.org/great-lakes-longbow-invitational/
Gil,
Here is an old thread from MTB. Yes there is a canoe shoot and it is the best shoot you will find for quality and low crowd fun laid back hunting practice. Tons of blue ribbon stream trout fishing close by.
MTB 2009 (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=075643)
That little boy in all the pics is now a 6' 220# linebacker! Still has great form though ;)
Hate to hear that you will be forced to retire but surely you will enjoy yourself. I too am retiring at the end of May, really looking forward to it.
You bet Ray. The first thing I do after April 1 2015 is arrange a hog hunt down by you guys. I intended to contact both you and Mike to see if you guys are interested. We were going to try last year, but my life was so hectic I couldn't plan or do anything.
Steve that looks great. Can I arrange a day from your son to get some shooting lessons?
Gil