After a tough wrestling season, i invited some friends over for a bbq and just to hang out with. One of whom is a fellow traditional bow shooter. Taking a walk through the woods behind my house and starting up games of who can hit what and watching the arrow fly just made me feel a whole heck of a lot better. Just wonderin if you guys feel the same why about your bows and the meaning they have for you.

I always feel better after shooting just seems to wash away all the stress.

I forget everything when im shooting my bows.

Yep.  Focus on something else, meditate and burn off some stress.  And with stumps there is no hunting pressure.

I have a 20 yard range in the cellar and I start the day and end the day with a few shots.

I always feel better during and after shooting. Just seem to forget about everything else when I have a bow in my hand. Wish I could maintain the feeling all the time.

It's great when I'm out stump shooting, the rest of the world ceases to exist for that time and the only thing important is the flight of the arrow and finding more targets. Wonderful !!!

Shooting a bow has gotten me through some of those rough patches that come along from time-to-time. And I say that with all sincerity. Maybe it's the concentration that's required in shooting that forces you to put all other things out of your mind. Or maybe it's the fact that shooting a bow is just plain fun. Either way, I find shooting a bow to be almost therapeutic and a great way to relieve stress.

Yep, great stress reliever for me, too, even when I have an inconsistent shooting session.  When that happens, which is quite a bit, unfortunately for me, I then take a break and do some other trad-related activity, like make some arrows for instance.

I enjoy shooting my bow and even just carrying it in the field. Something about traditional that just brings me satisfaction. I have a range in my basement and can shoot up to 60 feet and some late nights I just go down and shoot for a while. It helps me sort things out and recognize how blessed and fortunate I am. I enjoy throwing slivers anywhere and anytime. Making strings or arrows, sharpening broadheads or oiling a leather quiver, it's all good and worthwhile. I really enjoy what folks have to say and discuss here at Trad Gang and the respect they show and help they offer each other. You all are a part of what makes Traditional Archery so good for me. Thanks to you all.

Yep.Sticks and dirt clods will never jump the arrow.

Thankfully it doesn't happen much these days but when I'm feeling over-whelmed or under siege, especially in the wee hours of the morning, I go to the basement range and shoot and end or two of arrows. Almost always does the trick. I imagine I'll need this therapy from time to time again around the last week of April through May 14th. The toughest time of the year for me for about 9 years now.

Yep, Helps me tune up for the day. Focus, form and feel of the bow handle in my hand are very relaxing to me. Have a good one.

Definatley man, i love just walking through the woods shooting at anything i can. BTW ive wrestled my whole life, unfortunatley my college carreer ended before it even started with a blew out knee. So now im the head coach at the Middle School. Enjoy it while it lasts its gone quick!

I think its just the whole fact that trad archery is just so simple and easy to flow with. Yes theres form and tuning but its not like you have to connect the release, draw until the wheels lock then set your pin. Your just draw and let fly.

"just draw and let fly" ...I like that.

I wrestled as did my father. I am a 6' tall lanky guy, and didn't fair near as well as my father who was 5'2 with a 52" chest.

He got full ride into college and broke his collar bone his junior year. Blasted right through his skin. Ended his career