Let's see. I shoot Long Bow, Recurve, Compound, Shotgun (12, 20, 28 & 410), Rifles - Bolt, Single Shot, Lever, Auto, - (.22-458), Black Powder, Sling Shot, Blow Gun, Rabbit Sticks, hmmmmm.... If I had a self bow I'd give it a try! Guess I better check the Trad Classifieds. Love Fred's enthusiasm and dedication. He's helped encourage me along. Man's got sense of humor.

Really like his show and I understand why he has to shoot the compound at times due to his sponsors. I really like the fact that he sees a doe or a small buck as a trophy with trad equipment. That is obviously not what you see on most of the other shows. I think he is a great ambassador to our sport.

I have never shot a compound-maybe one day I will-and I have no issues with those that do.

He hunts hard and well, enough said.

His main dedication is to trad....but whatever he hunts with I dont care if its a bazooka! (where leagal) lol hes still  a super cool dude!

Fred is a really decent guy - that is to be commended; and he might just rattle in a few compounders to the use of traditional bows.

however
"He's a trad man, but if someone said to you "hey I'll give you your own show and you'll hunt all over the world but you have to shoot a wheelie bow sometimes" I think most would have a tough time saying no."

I am not in the 'most' category.

Jim Dougherty and M. R. James put down their recurves a long time ago, but they're still two of my bowhunting heroes. I enjoy reading about their traditional bowhunting exploits in my old archery magazine and book collection.

My wife doesn't want me to be with any other women, but she thinks it's fine for me to hunt with any legal weapon I choose to use. I feel the same way. My favorite hunting is with traditional archery equipment, but I enjoy all the aspects of hunting, regardless of the weapon. I am the same way with fishing, even though I prefer using a fly rod. I am by no means a purist of any sort. I think Fred and many others (like Jim Dougherty, who sold me my son's first recurve, and M. R. James) have done more for traditional archery than pretty much anyone in the last century, and the fact that they chose to shoot other weapons does nothing to detract from their stature as traditional archers. Heck, Ron LaClair shoots one of those "fire sticks". I suspect that Howard Hill, Ben Pearson, and most of the other traditional archery greats would have shot compounds at times if they had been invented back then when those fellows were alive. Fred Bear put his name on thousands of compounds and made his living promoting them. I'm glad Fred Eichler has someone willing to pay to have his show on TV, because I really like it -- especially when he is shooting his recurves or the one time I saw him shooting a longbow when he was hunting in Hawaii. If you want to know how dedicated Fred is to traditional archery, look at the records for the North American Slam with a traditional bow.

Allan

i plan on hunting with both for this reason.some of the areas i plan to hunt are not real trad friendly,meaning they are condusive to longer shots that i am not willing to make with a trad bow.but are more of a wheel bow scenario.we all have choices to make and only we can make them.

As has been posted before Fred is required to shoot some shows with the compound, but with the new recurve coming out you will see less and less compound use on the shows in the future and he is definitely a trad guy at heart and much prefers using a recurve for his hunts.

Man...some of y'all need to grab your favorite bow and get in the woods.

I shoot everything so I guess its okay if fred does too..

QuoteOriginally posted by Chris Surtees:
Man...some of y'all need to grab your favorite bow and get in the woods.

Well said Chris.

Oh Well,, Man's gotta eat ...

Chris, you hit the nail squarely on the head!!!

Do what makes YOU happy and content.

Travis

I think it's great when anyone hunts with a bow...trad,compound and even a crossbow.  Shooting arrows, having fun is what archery is all about.  Anything that let's you spend time in the woods is s GREAT THING!!

He has always shot a compound...even barebow compound.  But he is the recurve man.  Why should it dissapoint you he is a bowhunter through and through.

not an issue with me.  

Joe

in fact Tiffany doesn't even shoot trad and I watch her show too.