I know that I've been here since Moby Dick was in a fish bowl but we have added a few more members since  I joined at number 184. I'd love to get to know you better, so please tell us a little about yourself. I'll start....

My name is Roy L "Mudd" Williams. Why Mudd.. well if you've ever heard.. "Boy! Iffen you do your name will be Mudd, or Boy! Iffen you don't your name will be Mudd!" But dads' most serious threat was "I will stomp a mudhole in your rear and walk it dry!" So when asked my name, my stardard answer was "Bout half the time it's Mudd". It has been that way for so many years I can't honesty tell you how long that my name has been Mudd.

I owe my life to Christ, as He and He alone is my savior.
I am 59 years old and have been married 3 times. My current wife Val,is my trophy wife and has been my partner for the last 26 years now. We have two daughters, one by her previous marriage. Heidi, 40 has been married going on 2 years, a really good daughter and a great christian woman. Our youngest Marijane is 21 and is a work in progress..lol Mj will be giving us a grandchild sometime in July. I wish it were different or at least under different circumstances but it's not, so I'll love and support her in any way I can.

I love archery and hunting. All of my hunting is now with the bow and arrow. It doesn't matter what the critter is I'm after, it will be with a bow or not at all.

I spent years trying to make bows but the best I could do was sticks with strings that would fling an arrow. I gave up trying to build them. There's a bunch of pretty bows out there that are faster, sweeter and more durable than anything I could hope to make.

I don't try to make arrows. I love a good arrow and love a pretty arrow that flies like its supposed to but none of that kind were ever made by my hand. I hate making arrows! Enuff said!!

I've been told I'll talk to a doorknob and I can be a crowd all by myself. I'd rather work a trade than eat when I'm hungry. That said, I think if you saw me you'd know I don't miss many meals. Not that I'm not in shape, as long as round is a shape.

I am grateful for all the blessings in my life and I count this site as one of them.

Mudd, you sound like a man I'd like to share a camp with. I think we all have been and actually still are a "work in progress". I am sure you standing with her is a great comfort and your testimony will have an effect on her. I accepted Jesus as my Savior in 2003...late bloomer! I am not perfect, but I am forgiven.
I have two daughters that are married to good men. One has blessed us with a 2 yr old grandson that loves it when I pull out the recurve and "shots arras".  
I gave up my compound when I discovered how much simplier and more fun it was to shoot a recurve. This happened about 5yrs ago I guess...time flies.  
I love making arrows and do so for guys like you. So I guess we all have our own talents and it is great when we can share them with each other. That is why this site has been so wonderful for me. A lot of great people who are willing to share what they know.

Bryce Lambley of Fremont, Nebraska.  47 years old, have hunted since I was quite young.  Married for almost 10 years.  Two daughters, Hayley and Emily (9 and 7) that love hunting, fishing and running...things their Dad does.     I'm probably most proud though that they're doing great in school and love Sunday School!

I'm a high school teacher/coach and also do a little writing when I can find time, mostly for TBM, BHM, and PBS as well as a weekly outdoor recreation column for my local paper.  Also put together a book in '08 (My Neck of the Woods) and am closing in on a second one.  

Big game bowhunter the last 30 years, the last 23 with traditional bows.  I still have my old shotguns and a couple very cool lever-action rifles but 99% of my hunting is with bow, but every now and then enjoy walking for upland birds or spending a day or two in a waterfowl blind if the opportunity comes up.  Have carried my bows to IA, SD, CO, MB, AB, AK and South Africa and Zimbabwe in addition to my home state of NE.

I've got a couple Pronghorn TD and White Bison longbows and a Schafer Silvertip TD recurve that are my 'varsity.'  I shoot best in the 55# range.  

Hunting is important to my entire family, and has been a binding agent for us I believe.  Enjoy the company (here or in camp) of like souls.

I'm 61 and never did decide what I should do with my life. Along the way, I worked as a machinist, farm laborer, construction worker,writer and copy editor. Took a buy-out from my newspaper employer last August and am trying to find other ways to earn part of a living.

I picked up a copy of "The Traditional Bowyer's Bible," Vol. I, back about 1997 and have been making wood bows and arrows ever since. I had bowhunted with a solid fiberglass recurve before that, but it's been more fun since I started building my own tackle.

I too am a believer in the work of the Christ. I and each member of my family are works in progress. I'd be thrilled to forget about archery in the glory of His return!

I found this site in March of 2004. It's a great place to keep track of who's doing what and what's going on.

Great bunch of archers here.

Jim (soon to be in Kentucky!)

Brad Cayton from Buckhannon WV. I'm 49 and have been married the second time to my wonderful wife Vicki for almost 16 years. We have 5 children total, hers, mine and ours. We both feel strange saying the word step as in step child so we don't use it. Our 15 yr. old daughter, Beth, is the only one left at home. We have one grandson.

I am a operations manager for an oilfield service company and Vicki is the office manager for a oil and gas drilling company.

My 3 sons all love bowhunting and 2 of the 3 shoot traditional. My 2 daughters used to go hunting when they were small but don't really care to go after they got older. They do understand the role and importance of hunting even though they no longer hunt themselves.

I had just about quit hunting until I found my old recurve a year or so ago. It put the zing in it for me. I took a small buck this season and felt the excitement that had been missing.

I enjoy making arrows but can't seem to be able to grasp the bow building.

I have a new found love for hybrid longbows and shoot these more than my recurves.

I think this site has the best group I've ever had the privilege to be a associated with.

Well, my name is John Berry.  I turned 50 last October.  I met my current and only wife when I was 18 in 1978.  We were married at 18 and still happily together.  I was born in southern Illinois in 1959, but grew up in south and central Florida. My dad was a thoroughbred horse trainer and this is where his job took him.
I am currently a farrier (horse shoer) and have been for 27 years off and on.  I was a U.S. Marine and Regular Army, as well as Army National Guard, and Army reserve.  I went to college in Colorado at Colorado State and double majored in Animal Science and Wildlife Biology, I have an MPS (Masters of Professional Studies) in Wildlife Biology from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
I live to hunt and fish, I hunt with rifle, handgun, and a longbow or recurve.
I tend to hunt more with the bow or pistol than modern rifle, but I still love to shoot.
I currently shoot a Black Widow PLV 46# @ 27 most often, I also own a Tomahawk Diamond Series Desert Fox, a Martin Serengeti 50@28 and a 2007 Bear K-mag 50@28.
Like a lot of others I imagine, I shot a compound for a long time.  I bought my first Bear Polar II in 1976.  I never shot a compound with sights, a mechanical release or mechanical rest.  I always shot a compound with fingers and a stick on flipper rest.  I got out of archery for quite a few years as compounds got shorter and more difficult to shoot "instinctively" and with fingers, (and more expensive). I finally had enough, and about 3 years ago, went to the Bear factory in Gainesville and bought the K-mag, mostly for nostalgia, picked up a copy of Traditional Bowhunter magazine, and a demon was re-born!
Now I have fletching tools, arrow saws, etc..and my garage is a mess!
I live near enough to to the Gulf of Mexico that saltwater "flats fishing" is my other passion.
Been married nearly 32 years and no children. My work, study and hobbies/sports take up too much time I guess.
I love to hunt deer and am fortunate enough to hunt a private lease that allows me to hunt hogs year round, and I would rather chase them than another animal.  
My dream hunt would be caribou in the far north!

Michael Golden a Sinner Saved By Grace. I have been married to the love of my life 30 years in about 3 weeks-Lanette. We have two daughters (22 and 19) with one grandson Hayden. I am 49, and have been hunting appoximately 44 of those (mother has pictures) with 29 behind a stick and string.

I have made a few longbows - never good enough for me - selling 20 or so. But mostly I shoot recurves, a Robertson, Rocky Miller, and Chastain in the Rack now with the Vision Falcon as a go to.

Mudd and Leatherneck recently "flung" a craving on me for a MOAB, and with that fever came an order. Should arrive in June.

I really enjoy this site as it relieves stress from teaching 5th graders all day.

Nice to meet ya.
Michael

Hey, I am Matt Hamilton

I live in Round Rock Texas. Military brat and was born in Germany. Scottish and Chickasaw Indian by decent.  I love anything traditional, bows, knives, swords, Kilts.

I have been in Martial Arts since I was 12 yrs old. Golden Gloves Boxer and hold a few titles. I am also hold a few Black Belts in various disciplines.  I like to throw leather whenever I can get the chance. Also, I am pretty handy with a knife, stick, bare hands or gun. I can't stand a wife beater and/or freak. I regularly teach Woman's Self Defense and Stranger Danger.

So, if you know anyone Jack***es like that, I'd be glad to meet them. And, show them how the cow ate the cabbage.

I have been married to a fantastic woman for 25 yrs. She was my Sweetheart since I was 17 yrs old and is a Cancer Survivor.

Currently, I work for a Custom Home Builder helping other folks build their dream home.

I have been out of hunting for many years. I lost the taste for it, with guns, here in Central Texas. I don't see the sense in feeding deer corn and then shooting them with a rifle from 100 yrds. Where is the sport in that?

I have a rekindled love for hunting with Trad Bows. Since, I am new to the Trad Bow Brotherhood; I recently discovered 3 D Shoots and just love them.

My Dream Hunt would be a Buck in a Box Canyon and me with a knife. Best one wins!

See you around the Campfire. Door is open, come on down.

Matt "Raging Water" Hamilton


   

Washed in the blood, 54 years young ...Im still learning everyday , Im blessed with friends and family , I miss a lady in Texas to this day, looking for companion a ( dog) right now...          

Hi, all.  I'm Dave Mitchell--a pastor in Charleston, WV.  I'm 66 years old on the outside but only 10 on the inside when I have one of my many bows in my hand    :D   I grew up in west Kentucky--son of a coal miner who was saved by God's grace at the age of 30 and later entered the ministry so I'm a PK (preacher's kid). I have served four churches over the course of my 44 years in ministry.  My Wife, Ellen, is the joy of my life and my treasure.  We have been married for 45 years.  We have two children by birth and one by "adoption" as a young adult.  They have given us seven wonderful grandkids ranging from 3 months to 17 years.  Boy is that fun.  

I started shooting bows waaaaay back when I was about 12.  Got a lemonwood longbow from Indian Archery that I couldn't even string by myself.  But I had fun and it got in my blood until this day.  I love to hunt with my bow and have been privileged to hunt in my home state of WV, northern Ontario for moose, Colorado for elk, Florida for hogs, and Maine for bears.  I had the joy of introducing my son to bowhunting and now my grandsons.

 

MY name is Sam Koger,hence my handle here. I am 47 years old, married to Paula Koger, love of my life, married 29 years this July. We have 2 children, Tara 25, who teaches in Col. OH, and Reuben who lost his life at 19, nearly 8 years ago. My wife and my children are Christians, born again and saved by grace, look forward to seeing my son again in the future.MY wife is a true hunter, has taken 16 deer, her 2 biggest archery hunting and a 4x4 elk here in KY this year. I was blessed to grow up around several skilled people who taught me a lot of blacksmithing and gunsmithing skills at an early age, I suspect to help keep me out of trouble. I have competed on a local, state, and national level with trad. Muzzleloaders, have medaled 31 times at the NMLRA events and won the state championship and second in state also.I have built over 100 custom rifles, several ML's and 2 longbows, one for me and a buddy. I figured out quickly that I am better off buying quality bows and enjoying shooting them than making mediocre bows. I have shot trad bows off and on my whole life, have been a pretty sucsessful hunter, but since going strictly trad archery the last few years I have had more fun, and accomplished things I never thought possible. I work as a counselor for the Dept. Of Juv. Justice here in KY, at a group home with youth, 10 of them, that have been committed to the state. Hard work, but very rewarding. We have a high success rate, and along with the treatment for addiction, we learn the youth a work ethic, independent living skills and giving back to society along with taking them to church every chance we get. In my spare time I coach 4H archery, farm some, play with my bows a lot and pester all manner of wildlife in my neighborhood. I enjoy reading, making knives, and rehabing old knives. Great thread, keep posting guys.

JAG, aka Johnny Gottler checking in.
Southern Redneck.  The Lord has spared my life on three occasions.  I used to ask why, but a friend once told me, that I would know, when the time came.
Married to my bride, Angela, going on 29 yrs.  One son, who was a handful.  But now hes a Sgt. in the Army, fixing to deploy to Kores. (already a veteran of the sandbox)
Angela is my favorite hunting parterner.
Worked for Alabama/Usda Depts. of Ag. for 27 plus years.
Was a Rodeo Clwn/Bullfighter fo 20.
Worked as a Farrier fo longer than I care to remember.
Had some great mentors, when I started Trad. Bowhunting.  Sterling and Krista gave me my first self bow.  Russ, RIP, helped me build my first selfbow.
My wife raises and trains horses.  I ride a wicked mule!
Drive Big Rigs, for fun, and a little cash.
Bunch more, but my wife says I'll argue/talk to a stump, so I'll let it go.
One last thing, been teaching the IBEP courses for a long time.
Johnny/JAG

I'm Don Ward. I was born in Reed, Kentucky a little over 66 years ago. I lived in 3 different locations in Kentucky, then Tenn., Ill., and Evansville, In. before ending up in N.C.

As a kid I hunted squirrels and rabbits in the fields of Ky and the hills of Tenn. I made sling shots and sapling bows as a kid.  (In basic training I knew that I was going to do well on the rifle range when the rifle instructor spoke of Kentucky windage and Tenn elevation.)

Toughest (and most foolish) thing that I ever did was to swim across the Ohio River (over a mile wide) and then had to swim back in the dark.

Luckiest moment was winning the "Eagle Eye" competition at Denton Hill in 2008.

Dumbest moment..., I'll pass.

Some of the most satisfying moments were getting some letters published in the local paper which I had written after praying for His oversight and inspiration. I also signed them, prefixing them with "In His Name".

I truly believe that life is all about our living according to God's plan. If we forget that then our lives are for nothing.

Hey Gang,
  My Names Edward and I go by Ed, Eddie, Edward and a few other alias`s. I am Dutch, Danish, Irish and Castillian. I rightly don't know why I joined this forum. I think because I don't know anyother traditional archers. Perhaps maybe to answer some questions I might have. I for the most part arch for my own pleasure and try to keep it simple. Meaning I don't know all the parameters and technical stuff I now see that can be involved after joining this forum. I just make sure my spine is close to my bow and throw 125gr's on the tip. I do enjoy bow fishing and the occasional land and sky game I take.
 I grew up in N. California and have been fortunate to move about and see my great country of the U.S.A. I am now stuck in the swamp of S. Florida and hope to make it out of here someday. I work real hard in the outdoors and have been a laborer for all my short life of close to thirty years I think. I don't have any good luck to speak of but have quite a few hobbies and skills I am proud of. I long to live a long way from other people and live.

Hi  My name is Joe Ashton,  I have been helping people regain thier lives and health with drugs as a Chiropractor for 34 years.  What a great job.  Been hunting for 34 years.  Picked up a bow 17 years or so ago and hunted with trad gear ever since.. Long bows are my passion they are a dis-ease for sure. I've gotten 3 Elk, 6 mule deer, a bunch of white tails and a bear. And buckets of small game.  Married to a great wife 3o years and have two grown kids.
Also I am crazy about kayaking (40+ days / summer)

Joe  

HELLO MY NAME IS WINDELL HENRY AND FAIRLY NEW TO THE GANG.  FIRST OFF I AM A CRISTIAN. BORN A SINNER AND SAVED BY GRACE.
  MY PASSION FOR TRAD ARCHERY BEGAIN WHEN I WAS AROUND 5YRS OLD WHEN MY FATHER GOT ME TO SHOOTING WITH HIM AND HAVE LOVED IT EVERY SINCE. I AM 43YRS OLD NOW AND STILL LEARNING EVERYDAY ABOUT TRAD ARCHERY.
   I JUST MARRIED MY FIRST WIFE BETH JULY 11 2009 AND SHE IS THE BEST THING THATS HAPPENED TO ME OUTSIDE MEETING MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
   I DONT POST ALOT ON HERE, I JUST LIKE TO READ AND LEARN FROM EVERYBODY ELSE ON HERE AS I DONT FEEL LIKE I AM AS KNOWLEABLE AS MOST OF YOU ON HERE. I LEARN SOMETHING EVERYDAY ON THIS SITE.
  I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH HUNTING WITH TRADITIONAL BOWS AND SOME DAY WHEN I FIGURE THIS COMPUTER THING OUT I WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME PICS WITH YOU.
   MY DREAM HUNT SINCE I WAS A YOUNG BOY IS TO GO HUNT MOOSE WITH A TRADITIONAL BOW. MABE SOME DAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE IT WILL BE POSSIABLE.

GOD BLESS  
 WINDELL

Hey ya'll, names Kiefer Mogensen. Have no real aliases. Went by I'm Not Ted for a while but this place feels like home so I went to my name.

I'm part of trad archery's youth at 15 ripe ol years of age. Have two of the greatest parents in the world. Ain't real religious, just ain't. And I my best friend is my dog named Parker.

Been shootin for aboue a year and half now. Got started because I wanted to try something different than a bang stick like everyone else around here. Last year was my first hunting season, but I didn't get anything.

I learned about this forum from Chad's (LBR's) website, and became a lurker. Then I finally joined, and here I am. This website has helped me more than you can imagine, and the people are the kindest I've met. Very generous.

I have a Savannah longbow, X-150 recurve, and my grampas Asahi longbow. I got a Check Mate Raven Recurve on the way that I hope to be my new go to bow also. Gonna have Greybark limbs and a Zebrawood riser.

That's about it.

My name is mike king and am 33 years old.  Gave my life to Jesus when I was 14, had a few "hard times" but am going strong now.  Married my second time to my wife Patricia and we have two sons who are 7 and 5.  I grew up with out a dad so did not get into hunting until I was 20 years old.  Started with a compound and used it for about 10 years.  Then for some reason I picked up a copy of TBM and had a very strong desire to "try out" traditional archery.  I had a very rough start, just could not figure out why I could not hit the target.  So I searched out some info on the net and low and behold I found TradGang.  I put a few videos of myself on the shooters forum and JC provided me with a lot of valuable info.  well that was about 3 years ago and since then I took my first "trad" deer 2 seasons ago and am going to try my luck with the turkeys this year.  I'm now longbow only and would not have it any other way...

P.S.  Only have two bows, both are Thunderstiks and yes one is a MOAB.

Mudd, Thank you for starting this thread its nice to hear a little about everyone.
My name is Bob Lamonte Jr and I am 30 years old. I have a wife Lacey and my little girl Lilly who is 4 years old already. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV until moving to a small town in Oregon a year and a half ago. It has been a huge change for me and has been hard adjusting here but I Love the outdoors so that has made it a little easier. I have been in the Real Estate and Lending industry since I was 18 years old.
About 2 years ago for whatever reason(I didn't know anybody who shot stickbows)I was intrigued by trad archery and my father bought me a used Ben Pearson Colt. I fell in love with shooting that bow and the rest is history. I now have a Toelke TD Recurve and a Whip Classic. I only shoot my whip and am facinated with the longbow right now. I love tinkering with trad archery and enjoy making arrows etc.
God Bless
Bob

Hello, my name is Gordon Jabben and I live in Bartlesville Oklahoma. I have been married 28 years to my wife Debbie.  I have always had a love of history, especially of the American Indians and I think this where my love of archery first started.  I have been shooting bows for most of my life and I am 56 years old. I bought my first longbow in 1983 and have shot one ever since. I do a lot of small game hunting with my bow and squirrel dog named Molly.  I started a hunting journal when I bought my first longbow in '83 because I had read where Howard Hill had one.  Now that my memory is fading, it is enjoyable to read back on all the great times I have had hunting. I enjoy the traditional shoots and the seeing old friends at them.