Hi all my name is Aaron Lee. I have been quietly reading this forum for 4 years. I started bow hunting 5 years ago. In my first season, which took place in WA state, I not only found some deer but managed to arrow a little black tail. After that season I was sure I'd be taking the bow hunting world by storm.  

Then 3 years ago I moved to central Vermont. It's the place of my birth and must be one of the most beautiful place on earth. Althuogh after seeing some of the Montana pics I'm stating to wonder?  I showed up here with a wing archery red wing hunter. I was shooting a compound before that, and it was fun but it didn't have the magic one finds when loosing an arrow from a simple stick and string.

For the past 2 seasons I have gone afield with the wing in hand and during that time I have seen exactly zero deer. I must confess I have not made the task of filling the freezer easy. I like to hunt public land and big WMA's. I like the bigger woods and the fact that there are not too many other people in there with me, in those semi-wilderness places. A lot of folk might not know this but Vermont is 80% forested. I am starting to believe that the deer are living in the other 20%.

So this year I decided to try something new and humble myself, swallow a little pride. You know, reach out and ask for help. Three weeks ago I PMed vermonster13. What I hoped for was a little advice, maybe some suggestions, places to go.  What I got was totaly unexpected. Dave invited me down to his part of Vermont to do a little scouting, deer 101, and chase some squirrels.  Wow.

So yesterday I showed up bright and early. The first thing I will say about Dave is he is one of the most generous people I have met in awhile. Upon greeting me he handed me the back quiver shown on his post. The funny thing about this gift is I had been trying to get a quiver together all week. Needless to say it was greatly appreciated. We pile in the truck and head for the woods. There we walked and talked, going over basic white tail fundamentals. Due to the lack of squirrels, the stumps took the brunt of our arrows. All in all, it was a good day in the woods.

Next came the part every newish trad shooter should get to do, shoot a bunch of sweet bows. Dave opened up his collection to me and let me sample a who's who of bows.  All I can say is that the mags and website don't do these bows justice. Of all the bows I shot the Grifin stands out as the one. As if that weren't enough I was then handed a handful of arrows to take back with me. Truly unbelievable.

So now I would just like to say thank you, Dave, for a really cool day of archery fun. Because whether you kill or don't kill something, fun is what it's really all about.

PS: I would like to take this time to thank TradGang as a whole. Thanks. I have quietly learned so much from so many people on this site that it's not even funny.

Here's a small list: How to build a bow, which I did and gave to my girlfriend for x-mass, fletching arrows, tuning a bow, making nutters, stalking tips from too short, and just reading all the great Charlie Lamb stories.

Thanks for reading,
Aaron

Aaron,

Thanks for sharing.  Dave is quite a fella, as you say.  He's a gentleman's gentleman.  And his willing to share his knowledge is quite encouraging and often unbelievable that he cares so much about his sport.

Bill

I'll second that about Dave! I just bought a Shrew Samauri from him at a very good price. He is a first class guy who is a pleasure to do business with. Very knowlegeable and helpful to many of us on this site. I look forward to returning his favor sometime in the future if the opporunity presents itself!

Dave's a keeper, for sure. He told me  exactly  where to go, once, but I musta fudged the directions, 'cause I'm still here. :confused:  

Killdeer  

Dave is top notch. pick his brain clean, maybe he will send me that bow and forget where he sent it. glad to have you Aaron, if anyone in VT can put you on a deer i suspect Dave is the man.

yeap... sounds like Vman. top of the line kinda guy!<><

Nice meeting you Aaron (edmund,,,middle name?). You've been blessed with a great friend in David Knipes,,,you can't see it as I'm way in the ocean blue (Maui,Hi) but I'm as green as the Vermont you live in with envy! David is a wealth of knowledge and he does Tradgang proud as a member and as a mod. His giving nature I have experienced first hand. The Gang here at TG is top shelf! I wish you all the best in your quest to become whatever you want to be  as a person, archer,,,everything.

real nice guy is our dave. welcome to the family aaron

Anytime Aaron and the same goes for anyone else who would ever like to visit.

You won't find a better group of people anywhere in the US of A. Because they are everywhere.    Glad to see you are posting!

                 Brent

I'LL ECHO THE SAME RESPECT FOR DAVE. FIRST CLASS ALL THE WAY.
WELCOME AARON!
GOD'S PEACE, JED

First class all the way! Attaboy Dave!

Alright you guys are embarrassing me now. I didn't do anything any of you wouldn't have done and I got just as much out of it as he did. I like having someone to shoot with myself. Fun is multiplied when shared.

 Stories like this is why this is  the site I live on!

David

Dave is a class act..fer sure. And to spend a day in the Vermont woods...priceless.....  

Anytime you want some time in the VT woods just say the word Scott.