What Year did You start shooting/hunting Traditional gear ?

[levibear]

1966 with a kids lemonwood bow given me by my mentor Mr. Palmatier (thanks Karl)(thanks Mom)  

[ArrowCrester]

Started in 1994 with a Stotler 3 pc LB... Now shooting  a Fred Bear T/D recurve.
                 

[pickaspot]

Shot a kids recurve in 1975. picked up a compound when I was 16...took me until 1997 to re-discover the fun of a real bow - Bear Kodiak Magnum given to me by my friend Bubba Kirby.

[59Alaskan]

2010.  I love it.

[Arkansaslongbow]

Started bowhunting in 1976; Bear recurve super kodiak 45 @ 28; went to the dark side in 1982 came back in 1999; Bear montana 50 @ 28; will soon be 50 (nov) will never go back;

Want to buy my first custom next year {Lord's will} searching longbows now; want somewhere between 48 and 52 lb @ 26 in draw;

BTW, filled all tags since 1979......  

[Jim Stewart]

Started in 1960 with a $10 Gladiator recurve that had a twisted limb.  I remember bowhunting the following year with a very patient older brother and friends - had to drive from west central Indiana to the southern part of the state to deer hunt, as there were few/no deer in our area of the "corn belt"...

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

This is so cool to hear your starts !! Thanks

[Ken Taylor]

Thank goodness there are some younger guys around here because it was starting to look like everybody on Tradgang was going to be camping at the "Happy Hunting Ground" around the same time!

They should think about going to a draw. LOL!

[Blackstick]

In 1989 I put sights on my compound and found out that I no longer had to practice. Since I just plain like to shoot, I bought a 67½ SK for $25 and have never looked back.

[bill langer]

1975

[frassettor]

2006

[paleFace]

started bowhunting in 1978
switched to traditional in 1999.  
1st Tradbow - Martin Dream Catcher 55# @ 28"
The name says it all, caught my dream.....  

[DeerSpotter]

1962 with a fiberglass (Red) Bear bow

But I didn't get my first deer until 1974 (north central Indiana)On a Wildlife management  game reserve ,And that was with a longbow not the same bow ,It's been too long ,I can't remember the name of the bow I had in 1974. I remember the only allowed in deer hunting in the Wildlife management game reserve every five years .Otherwise I don't think I've been able to hunt deer then,Because there were too many around like there are now .

It's great fun .It's been quite a journey ,


Carl

[bwana]

1969 kill a button buck on my first hunt with a bear recurve, went to wheels 1973, rifle hunted 1973 to 2003, back to recurve in 2004.

[Dave Alaxanian]

1961, a 35lb. Outdoor Mfg. flatbow, I still have it & it's still a shooter! Never had anyone get me started, I guess I fell in love with it the first time I saw an arrow fly when I let it go! I was hooked forever the first time I stalked through the woodlot a few blocks from my house and caught a bunny holed-up about 5 feet in front of me--I can still recall vividly the whole day-50 years later-Especially the look on my Mom's face when she caught me skining it with her paring knife! If this happened today I'd be at some shrinks office & labeled a future "serial killer." I've been blessed with a son who is mentoring his boys to be a part of the circle of life, bows in their hands and a respect for themselves and wildlife, and the simple truth that fuzzy bunnies belong in a good stew and not on TV talking about the bad men with traps,guns, and bows!!

[graybark uk]

started in 1984 ,just after my 18th ( target shooting with a recurve )met a guy who shot instinctively & was so blown away i went home & threw my sight away !!!! didnt hunt until 2006 though ( africa ) my widow will always be at my side in the woods or on the veldt.

[Archer Fanatic]

1968 with a Browning bow

[longbowray]

1976

[myshootinstinks]

In 1966 my great granpa built for me a longbow & arrows at age 10. First real deer hunt in 1972 in the Routt forest in N Colo. Had a looong lay-off from archery starting around 1980 to 2001, got heavily into rifles during those years but never got into mechanical bows.

[T.A.C.]

1958 lemonwood longbow, did my first bowhunt (deer) 1966.