Hello Trad Gang,
 I'm Gary from Kaliforniastan.  

I'm 45 and wanting to get back into traditional archery.  Up until about 15 years ago I was REALLY into it...  I subscribed to Traditional Bowhunting and Primitive Archer.  I was an associate member of the PBS for about 5 years and a member of my local bow club in Northern California.  We had an amazing outdoor long course.  I spent most days off there and countless hours shooting and walking.

My first trad bow as an adult was a 70# Martin Howatt takedown recurve that I still have.  I also have a 50# Bear Kodiak Magnum recurve and a Darton Ranger recurve.  My pride and joy is a 70# Shadow Longbow Eclipse in Hickory, Bamboo, and Osage.

My two "big" bows are "too big" for me now.   At one time I could shoot them "all day" and in fact did many field courses with both of them.  The upside is my 18 year old son is already stronger now that I ever way so he will be putting them to good use...

Now, though, as I am wanting to get back into the sport I am looking for a new bow.  I'll do as much research and reading as I can on this forum.  I plan to hunt so I'll likely settle on somewhere around #52-#58.

 What a great place this is.  I wish I had this sort of information and community available 25 years ago when I first started poking around with it all.

Thanks in advance for all the patient answers to my questions..  

Welcome back.

Welcome from SoCal

Welcome from your northern neighbor!  

welcome from redding.

Wow!!  What an awesome response.  Thanks everyone for the welcomes.  In looking at the banners above I am reminded of a time when I drooled over a La Clair
takedown longbow called the shrew.  I even traded some phone conversations with Ron.  At least I think it was Ron...  Anyway, back to reading...  

Welcome from Texas!!!

Welcome Gary.  When I saw your user ID, I had to check your profile out.  I see that you are a power plant operator.  Did you go the traditional route in education or did you start in the Navy?  I am also 45 years old and was a Reactor Operator in the Navy myself.

Hi PDK,  No I'm not Navy.  Though the vast majority of guys I work with are out of the nuclear Navy.

Were you on a sub or a target?      

Oh yeah, I took the handle "nuke" for some of my internet handles to agitate some of the more arrogant co-workers of mine...  It's petty, but what the heck huh???

Welcome aboard!  

Welcome from central California.

Welcome from Florida!

Welcome neighbor  I'm about 3 hrs. from Paso Robles.

Like the handle. I was on fast attack subs out of Point Loma.  594 class primarily. Lots of good folks and info here

Welcome. You will like Trad Gang.

Welcome Gary

Welcome from NY.  Pull up a log and sit a spell      

Again, Thank you fellas for the greetings.  I've been reading lots of threads.  I need to dig out my jo-jans and Bitz jigs and see if I still know how to use them..  I'm gonna need some overtime here before long...

Hey Gary,
Welcome from Petaluma. I get down to your neck of the woods from time to time my daughter is going to school down there at Cal Poly.
If ya want to have a good time and meet a few hundred kindrid spirits there is a two day shoot comming up at the end of Sept. up here. The info is on line I believe on the Traditional Archers of California web site.