What makes you....

[Kingstaken]

Knowing that traditional archery is one of those few things in life that 100% comes from the heart what makes you druel or get that warm and fuzzy feeling and why is it?

[stevewills]

the first shot

[Jim Wright]

When you loose the arrow and you see for a split second a tiny, tight rotation of fletching and then just as quickly it is sticking in the target.

[Hawkeye]

Originally posted by Jim Wright:
When you loose the arrow and you see for a split second a tiny, tight rotation of fletching and then just as quickly it is sticking in the target.

Or see it zipping cleanly through an animal in the PERFECT spot!

[Casper]

The connection to the past is what get me. Plus watching an arrow in flight

[Bowwild]

Just holding one of my recurves works wonders.  In fact, right now pictures on this site of certain bows fire me up.  Everyone time I go to Trad Gang I turn straight to classifieds to see if a bow of 1 or 2 particular models is up.   Then to Pow Wow to see if these bows are being talked about or shared.

In the woods I love to warm up my draw pre-dawn by drawing quarter, half, and then full in a couple of directions to "get ready".

[Kingstaken]

Been lQQking, gazing, starring what ever you want to call it at Ron's LeClairs Autum Legend and Shadow Night arrows on his website for quite some time now that I just had to order both. Ya know it is Christmas time when giving is the spirit and who better to give then unto thy self. (Atleast once in a while  :D  )
The Autums remind me of a video I've seen with Howard Hill shooting and pulling from a target attacehd to a tree on Tradgang here.

[Al Dente]

Knowing that it is me, and only me who controls where my arrow flies off of the string.  No gadgets, gizmos, or thingamajigs.  Just a stick and string; simple, efficient and deadly.

[Rainshooter]

I'd have to second casper,, the connection to the past. Making a bow and showing to your family and friends makes you feel pretty good also.

[joe ashton]

arrows in flight.  
that quiet thump of a longbow
an arrow zipping through a deer.
   or
fletching magically appearing in an elks ribs.
that idea of no sights, or systems just instinct and hitting your target.  
and the  thought "Wow did that just happen"

[Huntschool]

After all these years I am still amazed at the sheer simplicity of it all.  It makes me take a breath when I shoot.... Usually after I release...  I hope.

[lpcjon2]

Just the look of a wooden arrow,the fletching, the shaft, and the point.It's just an awesome creation by our forefathers that only the cosmetic principal has changed much through time.

But what really makes me drool is when my wife holds it in her birthday suit.              And no I wont post a pic!

[mcgroundstalker]

I can't seem to put it into words... I mean I dig trad bows and arrows so much can't shoot them enough and LOVE to stalk and still hunt with a longbow... There! I Did It!  :p

... mike ...

[GingivitisKahn]

Just killed another doe today (  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=096806  ) and that's cool, if somewhat sweaty and goopy, but it's not what keeps me coming back.

I like seeing and hearing the weird stuff, I'd never otherwise get to experience (like the hawk that nearly ate my thumbs - shouldn't twiddle them, I guess).  I like the sunrise and the possibility of seeing game.  I like the quiet.  I like the time I spend out there with my son.  I like the whole experience.

[Dick in Seattle]

Again, connection to the past, and the creativity of building.   I build the same bow I read about in Outdoor Life, Field & Stream and Sports Afield as a boy, when fiberglass first came on the scene and excited everyone.   Howard Hill converted early and never went back and I dreamed of someday owning one of those wonderful new bows.   Of course, now they're wonderful old style bows and are "traditional".  I get tremendous satisfaction in knowing that I'm building them the same way and with the same materials they used then... no fast flight, no carbon, no wiggly limbed improved designs.   Nothing wrong with those new things,  the bows I love were "new and improved" in their day.  But for me, they're now my traditional, and it's really satisfying to know that I can make them, shoot them and enjoy spending time at such a satisfying activity.

[greyghost]

The mystical tradition that I feel with bow and arrow in the woods.

[S.C. Hunter]

Knowing I rely on my instinct not aiming equipment to make the shot and then trust it as I loose the arrow. Watching the arrow on the way to the target is incredible.

[Bonebuster]

It`s along the lines of what S.C. hunter said.

Pure honesty. There is no faking the ability to shoot a trad bow. If you have done it, you can do it, if you haven`t you can`t.

There are no short-cuts. No gadgets. It is just you.

Get an arrow to match the bow, and it will do what it is told with the reliability found in very few things that are man made.

[landman]

For the most part, it's the bows.   I shoot alright, but I'm not great or consistent, but i damn sure love the bows.   IMO there is no craft like that of a great bowyer....

[Eric Sprick]

The simplicity of feeling the bow bend and seeing the arrow sail.  Eric.