My cousin.

My Uncles Roy and Dusty.

My Dad amd Mom.

Dick Robertson.


Thanks more than any of you will ever know.

Thank to watching the movie Robin hood.I woorked all summer to buy me a Pearson recurve. 1971or72

My grandfather for lighting the hunting passion and Ken Beck with Black Widow for sparking the traditional interest.

There are so many who have helped me in my journey, two stand out. One is my Uncle Bud who got the fire burning and taught me about all associated with the sport, and a guy named Joe Thompson. He owned a little archery business in Baltimore and was instrumental in my transition to longbows. He showed me so much during those few years that would fill a book. The strange thing is he shot a recurve, but could find a way to help you to get the most from  yourself and bow. I still think of them everytime I see the arrow fly.

Jim Hamm.  

For this young boy it was the romance of my Native American heritage fueled by newsreels of Fred Bear at the Saturday matinée and stories in Boy's Life and Field & Stream...

Fred Bear. Used to watch his movies every sat. morning when I was a 9 year old kid. and God for wiring me up this way with a deep appreciation for his creation.

Dad got me into hunting. I got myself into bowhunting.  However, like Blueridge and others, I was enthralled as a kid watching Fred Bear and Ben Pearson on TV hunting with bows.  

I don't even know if that's what really got me interested. I made a bow out of stick and string at about 8 or 9 years old and terrorized the local Robin population -- no Robins were harmed in the making of this bowhunter.

Frankly, I imagine the Injuns (with affection) in my favorite westerns turned me on to bows.

My Father for introducing me to hunting, specifically archery. My traditional mentor and long time friend Gordon Whelan for convincing me that trad gear is the only way to hunt. Thank you both!

Howard Hill. He gave a shooting presentation when promoting his movie "Tembo" when I was a kid, I was hooked after that, also Fred Bear from his appearances on the old American Sportsman show also when I was a kid been shooting and hunting with a bow ever since I was 12 or 13, at 61 years of age I still savor the woods and hunting with and shooting my recurves. It clenses my soul and renews my spirit.

My Stepfather who bought me an old Ben Pearson Longbow as my first bow, with a used back quiver.

Bob Holzhauser who sold me my first arrows, glove and armguard.

Ray & Renee Grenier who sold me archery supplies and bows at great prices for helping out at the shop when they owned Lost Nation Archery.

And most of all the Boys of White Mountain Traditional Bowhunters, Kevin Coleman, Tom Tellier, Harry Hubbard, and Jaques Bonin, etc... But especially Kevin Coleman, he taught me 80-90% of all I know about archery, and Bowhunting,  he let me borrow from his emmense archery library, and always made cool trades with me. They all taught me so much, I will never be able too repay any of them, they are all great people, Thanks to all, J  

My uncle Milt. I still miss him...

My Grandpa, my Dad. Mr. Fred and an old boy from Missouri name of Gary all had a big hand in it and my son keeps me going these days. I owe em all.

Rick Pauls. Every time I went over to his house and he was shooting one of his Silvertips he would hand it to me. I was hooked on the first shot, but was in denial for a few years. I got a longbow a couple years after that first shot with the Silvertip, that helped me along, but I still yearned for a Silvertip. Then one year I decided I was going to hunt with my longbow, and shot a doe but didn't get penetration past the broadhead. My arrow weight was to blame on that. I hadn't found this site yet so I had no idea it was so important. I was always told that lighter get more penetration      I know how dumb that sounds now, but back then I didn't know any better. After a conversation Rick he agreed to sell me a set of Silvertip limbs and he would make me a riser to go with it. Well long story short I love that bow and now have an original Silvertip that is very near and dear to my heart. I've only been doing traditional archery for 2 years now, and it's seriously the most fun I've ever had with hunting. It's made me a better hunter, I still have along ways to go, and I've learned to respect the animals and nature more.

I also have to thank ALL OF YOU here on TradGang. The info I've gotten from this site is amazing, and the friends I've made is even better. So thank you all!

My brother Jay was very instrumental in my traditional journey.

First my dad, God bless him, and second my best friend Pete Osimanti, who got me back into it over 3 years ago. And now I try to shoot 3 times a week. Traditional bow hunting is a beautiful thing.

I got into this end of bowhunting because I saw Bowhunting October Whitetails. The last few years tho Mudd has kept me in it. If it weren't for Roy, I'm sure I would have quit. Thanks Buddy!

I got interested after watching Fred Bear movies. I had a young couple that both hunted take me under their wings and taught me all about shooting my first year to hunt back in '82. Their last name was Groshong and they got me started the right direction and I was able to harvest my first deer that fall.  They also served as officers in our local archery club, now defunct, The North Central Oklahoma Bowhunters.

I guess for me it was myself and my dad. He bought me a recurve and at age 14 I was allowed to go out back alone hunting with a bow not a rifle or shotgun he isn't a hunter but provided and supported me.