I've not posted to Pow Wow before but this was on my mind all night.  I have piddled with making bows off and on for a number of years without guidance, help, or resources.  Since finding TG in December I've jumped in and have had some little successes and lots of fun.

Recently my oldest son (20 yrs old) got hot and heavy wanting a compound.  I've used a couple so I helped him select and buy a nice Bear package deal. He pledged a fraternity last year at LA Tech and his "big brother" uses a compound. I figured that was why he just had to have one.

To make a long story longer, my wife went to BPS in Shrevesport with him yesterday. He confided in her that he was trying to find a way to spend more time with me!

Well, I know wheelies are a no-no but in this case...

He's a good kid. Worked hard for me when I coached his athletic teams and so forth.  I just thought he was a typical kid who resented his parents...dad. But who knows.    

Proud Pop
Stan

Take him out with the compound and be glad he wants to come!    

Let him learn how fun bare bows are to shoot by borrowing yours and attend a couple trad shoots if possible.    

Eventually the forces of good will win him over to trad, but encourage him along the way!

Just my 2 cents,

Man if he wants to spend more time with you, I wouldn't care if he was shooting a rifle. Take time with your kids even if it isn't doing what you like.

I missed out on a lot of opportunities with my dad, because of a lot of reasons that now don't mean beans, but I lost that bond with him for good. I miss him and he's still alive if you know what I mean.

get him a stick bow and shoot with him.

Other than Chunky... pretty much everyone I hunt with uses a compound or a gun. If you or anybody else for that matter will not take a kid hunting because he has a compound...... well I juist don't know what to say.
   
That is just sad

I am in agreement with those who say the trad thing will come in time.....

But in the meantime, who cares what you are shooting?  

He wants to spend time with you, that is the main thing!! and at 20!!! I have a 13 yr old who doesn't like to do half the stuff I do.   So I do what he likes to do just to spend time with him.  
You are blessed in this case......don't let the bow thing put a stumbling block in there.
Go buy a compound off of craigslist, and have fun with him.   Or go shoot your trad with him, he may be surprised at how well you shoot, and the interest will be sparked that way.

Congrats on him wanting to spend time with you.

Farmer

It's all about your relationship with him, not the kind of bow he shoots. I know lots of trad archers I would not want to hang with and there are a bunch of compound guys I would love to hang with. It's about the person, not his choice of weapon.

Hunt with him, however and whenever you can!
Who cares if he is shooting a compound? Trad is not for everyone, but who knows he just might end up a trad man after a few years. By the way, if need be hang up your trad for a while and pick up a compound if that is what will enable you to spend time with your son.

With a dad thinking in the positive way's you are thinking, nothing could be better for him (and you) than that time together. It doesn't matter what he's packing as long as the relationship grows.  Of course you'll have opportunity to comment on your bow choice vs. his choice.  Maybe you like the simplicity of the traditional equipment. Maybe traditional reminds you of your start in archery or someone in archery. Maybe you like the idea that game has to be even closer with traditional.  Maybe its the sweep of the recurve limbs (If you like longbows I can't help you explain that deranged... ---- sorry I couldn't help but to josh with you a bit there).  The point is, as you already know, the choice your son is making is far more important than the archery part of this deal.

My dad is gone now. However, when I walk in the squirrel woods his instructive presence is very strong. If I see a pile of freshly pulled leaves covering something on the trail that dad walked, I'm very careful not to step in it -- he about threw up laughing the time I did!

My son is 31 years old now. We went through all the sports -- I coached him (baseball) from 5 to 17 years old. We've been shooting archery since he was 5 also.  We bowhunt together. When I began tinkering with traditional again, he wanted to also.  He lives close to me. His sister lives an ocean away but we (and my wife of 32 years) are very close because we spent lots of time together. I can't imagine going through life regretting not having spent enough time with my kids.

my son hunts with a wheelbow and I don't disown him for it. he is 21 and with work, school, girls and so forth he just dosen't have the time to practice with his vintage Bear to be comfortable to take an animal like he can with the wheelie. he can grad the wheeler and hit the stand with confidence he can make a lethal shot. I'm just glad he can go every now and then. anytime you can spend with your child is time well spent.

Yup, who cares what he shoots, who cares if he ever even picks up a trad bow, just spend time with your youngen!  Ya'll sure are blessed that you want to spend time with each other.  Just run with it and thank God for the situtation you are enjoying.  

most of my friends shoot compounds, my father shoots rifle, my little brother doesn't even like hunting very much.

But WE ALL love spend time toghether in the outdoors, so who cares, trad archery is not for everyone I guess.

Everyone I hunt with except my  brother uses a compound and he just started with a recurve last year. Shooting trad bows requires a lot of time and practice, especially in the beginning. Not everybody has the time or desire. Sharing time in the outdoors is about a lot more than equipment choice.

Brothers and I shoot trad but Dad still carries a compound.  I don't think we've ever talked about the difference in our equipment.  We all kill deer just the same.  Only difference is he practices alot less than we do.
I do however have a brother-in-law that shoots a compound and we rib him mercilessly.  "Hey! Lose the training wheels!  Did that come with a free oil change?"  He's a great guy and takes it like it was meant... just for fun.

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm all for hunting in any capacity pretty much. I just didn't realize HE was thinking about the togetherness. We've been hunting together since he was 4.  I'd take a blanket and lay him on it when he went to sleep.  Then I'd hope a deer wouldn't come so the shot wouldn't scare him. LOL! I coached his baseball, soccer, basketball, and HS football teams. I didn't know he was missing me.
Stan

Stan,
That's terrific!  Sometimes as the kids get older and take on different interests and activities we might think they don't value the time with us they used to. As they get older the kids might not even be as comfortable being open and frank with us (especially us dads) and sharing exactly what's on their minds.  Seems like he was hoping Mom would pass on his desire to you.

You are reaping what you sowed -- you spent the time with him and he will always cherish and remember.  These days when my granson says, "Papaw, come play with me" I jump to do so. Sometimes I'd rather keep on doing what I was doing but I quickly remember he won't be 7 for long. And maybe I won't always be able to answer the call.

The little fellow accepted Jesus as his Savior two weeks ago and was baptized yesterday. He did what so many adults have a hard time doing - he let his heart march those little legs all the way to the front of the church, solo. At lunch he described the day as the best in his life. Wow, out of the mouths of babes!

Stan, you are a Lucky, Blessed man. Spend all the time with your son you can, on whatever terms it requires, and cherish every second of it. Life is way too short. You obviously have been a great Father for your boy to want more time with you. Father/Son relationships can be a hard road, I know mine has been with my Dad. It's the biggest regret of my life. It makes me feel good to hear of yours with your son. Thanks for sharing!

my dad ran off when i was seven and never looked back.spend time with your boys no matter what it takes

QuoteOriginally posted by red hill:
Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm all for hunting in any capacity pretty much. I just didn't realize HE was thinking about the togetherness. We've been hunting together since he was 4.  I'd take a blanket and lay him on it when he went to sleep.  Then I'd hope a deer wouldn't come so the shot wouldn't scare him. LOL! I coached his baseball, soccer, basketball, and HS football teams. I didn't know he was missing me.
Stan

And that is what it is all about right there! Trad or not!  

My sons only 4 now but having him WANT to hunt with me would be an incredible thing. Your a lucky man. Who cares about the compound!! When you think about it we're the weirdos out there with the silly little wooden bows and arrows!