I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT AGAIN

muley40 · May 09, 2009, 10:20:00 AM

One of the members here suggested that I should post this thread seprate from the one I just posted in another thread, anyway I have returned to hunting with a real bow again, I started bow hunting in 1973 with a Red Wing Hunter recurve till, 77 and 78 had to try wheels than back to a real bow, I was Black Widow dealer from 1982 till 1988 when Ken Beck dropped the dealer program, I have taken over 40 whitetail and mule deer, couple elk, 4 bear,antelope, javalina, turkey, and small game with a recurve, than in 1994, got caught up in the wheely game again and was killing lot of p&y whitetails and couple 300 plus elk, there just wasn`t the satisfaction of taking animals with a compound bow I was missing something, I became a bionic bowhunter I had to have all the hi-tec stuff, this winter I saw the light, I sold all that crap,and I`am going to be hunting this fall with a real bow again,its a great feeling,

redfish · May 09, 2009, 11:02:00 AM

It is a liberating feeling, isn't it.
Glad to have you back.

Arkansaslongbow · May 09, 2009, 03:17:00 PM

I too got caught up in shooting the "machines" but NEVER felt satisfied with shooting no matter what I done; I was always in search for better gadgets and the money I spent would scare anyone yet the joy just wasn't there;as Dave2old stated,if a person wants to shoot a traditional bow bad enough,they will MAKE time to practice; I'm so glad I went back because no matter what anyone says, there is something about the mystical flight of a arrow that is sent forth from a longbow or recurve; glad to once again share a trad campfire with you...

May 09, 2009, 05:51:00 PM

Welcome back to the Dark Side!

Bisch

RookiePaul · May 09, 2009, 06:50:00 PM

I hear you - I sold my Mathews Thursday night. I never really enjoyed shooting it no matter how well I did. Shooting the recurve although I am not very good always brings a smile to my face.

longbowben · May 09, 2009, 07:31:00 PM

Glad your back from the dark side.

joevan125 · May 09, 2009, 09:24:00 PM

Well said Dave

AdamH · May 09, 2009, 09:48:00 PM

I too had a "fit" about 2 weeks ago, after 20 years with a "stick" ......... That "fit" is over already ...... 2 weeks ago ..... Once you have it,, it never leaves !! Glad you're back !!

jacobsladder · May 09, 2009, 09:57:00 PM

wheelie shooters see how far they can get from the target and still hit it....... real bowhunters see how close they can get to the animal without missing.

Ybuck · May 09, 2009, 09:58:00 PM

Very cool, my hats off to you.

Myself, i still enjoy the compound,
along with my recurve.

BRONZ · May 09, 2009, 10:49:00 PM

I too started with a recurve, switched to wheels, killed some p&y animals, and then sold all of my mechanical stuff and purchased a couple new recurves. I love everything about trad hunting! There is a direct corelation between effort and reward. I think it was Orion that wrote, "when you start caring more about how you take an animal, instead of how big or how many animals you take, you'll shoot only stickbows."

Congrats on making the switch!

Altiman94 · May 09, 2009, 10:53:00 PM

I'm in the same boat as all of you, except I never started with a recurve. I picked up bowhunting when I was 12 (11 years ago) with a fred bear compound bow. I got big into the gadgets, sights, etc. Now I sold all that and am devoting my time to recurve. It makes me feel like I can become a better hunter, instead of a better "shooter." Of course I practice more now, but part of the game is getting close

GRINCH · May 10, 2009, 12:21:00 AM

I haven't killed a deer using my trad gear but I wouldn't trade any of my hunts for a successful one with anything else,there is nothing like trying to get close.

Travisc406 · May 10, 2009, 01:20:00 AM

I too am in the same "Canoe" as you. I still own my Mathews Drenalin and have all the gear, but I can't give it up becasue my Dad bought it for me and I just can't sell it because of that. I don't shoot it anymore. I had been off and on with trad and Wheelies up until last year. I was sitting on a ridge with my dad looking over a valley when it didn't matter to me if I seen an elk I enjoyed just being there. It made it easy for me to step back and start to enjoy the things that I was missing because I was caught up with "having" to get a harvest.And getting hooked on getting the next best thing to do it. I realized I was totally missing what it was all about. Ain't it funny when you are in that mindset, you don't realize that everything you used 10 years ago to take an elk still would work today?! I wish I could have the money back I blew on all the hype!!!

Wannabe1 · May 10, 2009, 08:42:00 AM

I made a comment on how I've never shot a deer in my life time yet. (Been hunting since I was 14) Someone suggested that I should hunt with a rifle just to get the experience. My answer to him was, it's not about killing a deer for the first time, it's about the challenge and enjoyment of trying!

I'll stick with traditional and my time will come.

muley40 · May 10, 2009, 08:42:00 AM

The one thing that I have learned in all this, if you are switching back to a real bow and you still have a wheel bow, is when you go hunting and miss a shot,the first thing you think about is getting the compound out it becomes a crutch to lean on, in my case since I sold all that junk ,is I have 3 options practice more and get closer,2- use a knife, 3- use my truck and try and run over it,I think I will stick with number 1,

Wannabe1 · May 10, 2009, 08:50:00 AM

Yah, number 3 could become a costly hunt due too repairs on the truck!

I'm still in the practice a lot stage.

tarponnut · May 10, 2009, 08:58:00 AM

The "practice a lot" stage is what is fun about trad. archery(one of the many fun and rewarding things). For me, practicing with a compound was not the least bit fun.Sure, I could hit a golf ball (OK, pie plate)at 40 yards, who cares?
If traditional archery hunting suddenly became easy for us I doubt many would do it anymore.

trad_bowhunter1965 · May 10, 2009, 10:54:00 AM

WOW I just love this stuff I am having the time of my life shooting Traditional Bows.

paleFace · May 10, 2009, 11:13:00 AM

im right with you Muley! the satisfaction gained from the why and how you hunt is far greater when things are simple.

I keep my wheel bow around as a reminder some times when things just don't seem to be going right. I can look at those wheels a see how easy it would be to grab it, go out and shoot something. then at that moment the fire is fanned and I grab the longbow instead. The path that requires much greater effort is far more rewarding.