Many of us are attracted to the equipment we use for different reasons. Probably the only identical thread among us is, from time to time we want a full length arrow moving through the chest cavity of critters we cherish.

I've advised my son regarding hunting (and a couple of long-time friends). As long as he follows the law, he should pursue his personal hunting goals, not mine, the neighbors, a celebrity's, etc.  

Do what gives him what he wants out of bowhunting. Realize these goals will likely change over time, opportunity, and experience.  When he does something, take a certain deer for example, that doesn't fulfill him like he thought it would, don't regret it or feel bad, use the experience to adjust his behavior next time.

I can't add much to Chad's words other than sometimes I think people want to make traditional archery "primitive" archery.  It is all in YOUR definition.

I always think it would be the coolest thing to shoot a deer ith a self bow, and every time I shoot one, I change my mind.  I don't want to make shooting my bow physically punishing.  A little bit of refinement goes a long way!

chromebuck,  no need to apologize.  Your journey is starting and people here are happy to help you along that path.

chromebuck, I have enjoyed this thread as I often struggle with a good way to explain the levels of trad myself. I've tried to blog about it several times and always fail to get the point across without asking myself "what am I trying to prove anyway?"

As humans, we label everything to help us understand and classify things. Archery isn't any different. I see each level as a degree of challenge getting closer and closer to whatever step is indeed your final step. Some move towards the modern, some move towards the primitive.

Gear-wise, I get the most enjoyment out of archery when I shoot equipment I've made and tuned myself. The more I learn, the more I build, the better I feel. I feel I'm in a good place right now with longbows and wood arrows but my ultimate goal is to take game with a self bow of my creation.

The downside of the "levels of trad" is the passion often applied to them. The lines in the sand are comical but fervently defended. A concept I find somewhat ironic considering that traditional archery is such a unique thing. Why make others do it YOUR way when you wanted to do it your way in the first place?

Relativity is ever present in life.

Compared to what the caveman had.. the Native Americans might as well have been using brand new compound bows.

If you like it, shoot it, learn it, become proficient with it.  Apologize to no one, for you are yourself and the only one to answer to is yourself.
I like primitive.  I shoot a snakey Osage Selfbow, Cane arrows and "sometimes" stone points.  
If I were truly primitive, I wouldn't be typing on a 'puter!  maybe carving in stone, instead.
Traditional is in your Heart and Mind.
Don't worry about what others think.
Everyone has had this argument with theirselves, wether they want to admit it or not.
Welcome to the real world of archery.  Learning is a blast.  Everyone at Tradgang will chime in and help a newbie thru the rough spots.  Ask what you need and some one will respond.
JAG/Johnny

Many 3-D shoots do categorize dependent on the the type of trad equipment you use but for example in Wisconsin we all shoot together even though your scores might be seperated by equipment. When I shoot I usually don't score but that might have something to do with my 3-D shooting skills. I've always seen it as an individual persuit, both the type of practice and the hunt. The one to please is myself and my competiton is myself. When we gather we enjoy talking about the differences amongst us in what we choose to shoot now and what we might shoot in the future. But we all seem to share the passion and new friendships come easy when we meet. It's all good.

Now sights make you non traditional LMAO

Sights on bows have been around a long time... before compounds.

I've always felt the difference between modern and traditional was the use or nonuse of mechanical advantage. I've always liked recurves and longbows, but ultimately I went with a compound out of a desire for accuracy and range, and then gradually I discovered that I never really needed the increase in range and that the sites were just a crutch to avoid shooting my bow every day.

Now that I only shoot traditional, and being relatively new to it, I'm finding it -- just my subjective opinion -- so much richer of an experience than modern archery. The people, the quality of the equipment, the beauty of the equipment, the witchery of it as well as the science of it. The unavoidable imperfection of it. I just really like every part of it and if there are people who get that out of modern archery, good for them.

Happy 4th of July everyone.  I'm heading out to fish with the fam, and today I think I'll wear my Lil Skinner neck knife.  It is who I am...At least today!  Thanks for the insightful replies.  My ultimate dream is to arrow a dall sheep in the Wrangles while I'm here and still of good health.

~CB

While the national archery organizations have rules to describe a whole bunch of categories, what I'm seeing at "traditional" shoots are three simple classes: Sights, barebow wood arrows and barebow all other arrows.  Above all that, it seems very few pay much attention to even those categories and just shoot for the fun of it; score keeping optional.  All the technical categories might be fine for national shoots, but at the local level I really enjoy the "Just shut up and shoot" attitude I'm finding.

Swamp Yankee    

You hit it in my eyes JUST SHUT UP AND SHOOT.

Wood bow with wood arrows is all I know.