Trad from the start

[Chad Duit]

First bow was a #45 Bear Black Panther when I was a freshman in high school, never have went to the dark side!

[Steve H.]

The answer will almost 100% be a function of WHEN you started archery.  Many of us who started PC and some later comers after the start of the traditional ren-ren-ren-a-sonce (?sp?).  If you started in the mid-70's to mid/late 80's probably not.

[Killdeer]

Spring of 1965.

Killdeer

[Lucas K]

I have always shot recurves started when I was just a tike, in my middle thirties now.

Lucas

[Fletcher]

Started shooting before I was a teenager, I'm 58 now.  I've shot a few compounds but never owned one and have never shot a hook.  My first good bow was a Shakespere Necedah; still have it.  Like Rusty said, back we were all archers and shot bows.  As I recall it, the term "Traditional" was coined by the compounders.

[slivrslingr]

Been trad for about 11 years, picked up my dads old Shakespeare recurve after a particularly scary rifle season and have bow hunted ever since, though I occasionally fall off the wagon, lol!  Never shot a wheel bow.

[Bob Miller]

Started with Bear Bows in the early sixties at Camp Lejeune,NC and have never used a compound.  In my seventies now.

[30coupe]

Add me to the list. I have tried to shoot a couple wheelie bows. I suck at that, and it just doesn't feel right. Those things are HEAVY! I started with a little lemon wood recurve when I as about 7-8 years old. Now I pretty much stick with longbows and probably will as long as I can draw a bow or a breath!

[razorback]

Shot recurves (target)a little, when I was in my teens and twenties. Bought a Bear Kodiak #55 from another ganger for my 35th Birthday. Been shooting it ever since. I think I shot an arrow out of a kids compound once and drawn the string on one or two others.

[Renaissance Man]

1965, age ten, broke my left arm, big cast. my father went out and bought a fiberglass ben pearson and a six pack of arrows. wanted me to use the arm.
to this day still shoot canted with a slightly bent forearm like I learned to do with the cast on.

[ron w]

Mid 60's a Bear lefty-righty fiberglass bow,got a Browning Nomad in 65 or 66. Took a few years to get that modern foolishness[A bear Whitetal Hunter} out of my system.Shot a compound 2 weeks ago, put it back in the case and will most likely never shoot it again. I only put 4 arrows threw it but there was just no trill or pleasure in the act. Picked up my Northern Mist Superior right after and then shot for a hour with a smile on my face.Been Shooting recurves and longbows for about 19 years pretty steady now.

[Pepper]

I've shot em both, trad and mechanical.
Much prefer the trad, both long bow and recurve.
Prefer the long bow over the recurve.
I've been at this for over 30 years.

[BJP]

Started off at age of seven with an old bear fiber glass bow switched to wheels shooting it bare bow never could figure out those sights when i was 14, took my first buck at 15 then back to trad at 16 im now 25 and havent looked back.

[PAPA SMIRF]

Bowhunting for 50 years ......... never anyting but traditional equipment!!

[shakeyslim]

i shoot recurve and compound, started archery when 8 am 58 now, loved every minute

[Tim Fishell]

I started with a fiberglass bow when I was 5 in 1987 and never tuned back (I am 27 now) entirely because of my dad.  I shot my first compound 2 years ago and ask the guys that were there it was a funny sight.  I could not shoot the bow vertical I natually canted the bow.  So of course the arrow would not stay on the rest and all the compound guys got a good laugh out of it.  I shot one arrow and that has been the extend of my compound day!!  

[Jesse Minish]

I think I stated about the time I could walk. I am 28 now and have been traditional the whole time.

[boznarras]

I borrowed a compound for a day just to shoot one. Very accurate, but not as much fun.

It reminded me of wanting to listen to music, and deciding between learning to play an instrument, versus turning on the radio. Both make a sound, but not much room to express yourself with a radio.

[sgrogg]

51 and started as a boy.  Always recurves and longbows.

[Morgan Anderson]

I started out trad, but took up the compound for a few years. Now I am back to trad again.