Trad Gang is not Popular Mechanics - UPDATE page 30

[Terry Green]

Not sure how we are going to handle it...but I'm chatting with some of the charter members about the site taking on more of a compound mentality, and I'm not going to let that go any farther.  I'm not knocking compounds or folks that hunt with compounds.  I wouldn't trade my compound years for nothing.....those years made me a better hunter when I gave up gun powder.  But I got into trad to push myself even further. For more personal satisfaction of what I did than what my equipment helped me do....or 'supposedly' helped me do. Instead of 'looking' for an edge, I started creating an edge.

It looks as though many folks are way more worried over the 'performance' of their equipment than the performance of their own self.  What once use to be more 'self improvement' questions as the norm here, now as of late, seem to be more 'equipment fix' discussions.  It really does sound like the 'must have/gotta have - make you a better hunter' battle cry of the equipment hype in other facets of hunting.

I see the same threads and same arguing over and over and over. Some even have a rabid agenda to cram it down folks throats, and even call others unethical if they don't 'do as I say'.  Even going as far as taking personal pot shots at those that 'don't abide by the new fangled fix'.  Most of the folks that argue over equipment don't even congratulate other's when they post a successful hunt.  They seems to be more worried over what broadhead someone use than the ten pointer they posted or HOW they succeeded on taking him....or his set up....or what clues tipped him off to his pattern.

Why is it that folks do not want to improve themselves instead of using a crutch that often is made of straw?

Nothing is going to get you closer to an animal but YOU.  Nothing is going help you draw the bow at the perfect time but YOU.  Nothing is going to make that arrow go into the vitals but YOU.

I just saw GMMATT's question...."Shooting with a pack on"?....I've seen this guy ask question after question....and all he seems to be worried about is his self improvement.  That's the way it use to be here.  Not to say there there shouldn't or wont be equipment discussions....but they have been running amok lately, and we are going to do something about it since its seems to be causing too much divisiveness.


When is the last time you've seen a guy put up a pic of his property and ask for stand location advice based on the terrain?  This use to be pretty normal along with many other scouting questions and tips threads.

I don't know if its just me this morning or what, maybe I shouldn't be posting this, but this is just not what I see, but many of the guys I hunt with and many that have been frequenting this site for years have been bothered by the direction lately.  Something to think about folks.  I am not trying to slam anyone, or single anyone out....just calling a spade a spade.  Maybe we should all take a minute to look in the mirror....me included!

Do we really want to rely more on our equipment than ourselves?  Do we really want some other gadget to dull our woodsman ship?  Do we really want to argue over a broadhead to the point that we don't work on our shooting skills?


Trad Gang started with a vision and it grew and grew and grew....and that vision is not going to fade or morph into something that wasn't intended. Not on my watch.

What say ye?

[K.S.TRAPPER]

 

Tracy

[Last of the Breed]

I Agree.

[CDR]

Well said TG!!!

[Doug Campbell]

Amen Brother      

[jbuck9]

I'll go along with that!!!!!!          

[Featherbuster]

Thank you Terry

[Paul Mattson]

I have noticed the same thing lately.  My take on the subject is not so much a compound additude but more of a rocket science.  Example, How much will a cap wrap change my dynamic spine?

Nothing wrong with trying to get the best set up, but at times it goes way over board.

Have Fun, Shoot Straight, Keep it Simple.  

[SpankyNeal]

I agree 100%!

[steadman]

Amen!! Thanks Terry!      

[Broken Arrows]

I have been on this site about a year now and have learned more in that time then I have in years in all aspects of trad hunting. I do agree with Terry and this is one of the best sites if not the best site out there to learn all about trad hunting.

Dave

[Steve B.]

This thread is a breath of fresh air.

I've been asking for a long time if half the guys on tradgang even hunt?  There's lots of gear questions and debates and then lots of pics of whatever that don't teach anything.  There's also lots of silence from those who know what is required to take game.  Interesting.

I've often wished for a Hunting Forum with rules that disallow any gear talk.

[SveinD]

Well spoken!
Though everything has it's place, we must learn that in the end, it is mostly ourselves that make the differance.
This is the same with all other fields with man involved.
In photography as well you can have a really expensive camera(bow), an amazing lens (arrow) but in the end it's all up to the man or woman behind the equipment to makeit a good shot!

Maybe make a new forum for the mechanics, to take some of the load from PowWow?

Anyways, thanks for keeping watch!  

[Terry Green]

I'd also like to apologize if I've seemed 'edgy and short' lately.....this has been wearing on me for some time now.

Sorry.

[wingnut]

I feel your pain.  You can sure tell when the hunting season ends.  Cabin fever sets in and stuff starts hitting the fan.

Lots of this vs that threads and tell me what bow or what arrow threads.

I do like the sharpening threads, can't get too sharp.

Back when I worked in a archery pro shop, we called it "just add water bowhunters".

Gotta put the work in to get the results.

Mike

[Chris Shelton]

I must admit that I am guilty to this "gear talk", but a hunter is nothing without his stick.  However, I must agree that we have gone a bit overboard on some threads.  Terry I think it is just cabin fever, and a bunch of bored hunters that have money burnin a hole in there pocket!  At least that is my excuse, minus the money  

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by wingnut:

I do like the sharpening threads, can't get too sharp.

Mike

Yep....that is a SKILL we all need to know!!!!  That's the kind of thread we DO need.

[cacciatore]

Well said Terry,I agreed completely with you.I would like to know how became a better hunter since bows are as good as we are and the time we spend to set them up.

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Chris Shelton:
Terry I think it is just cabin fever, and a bunch of bored hunters that have money burnin a hole in there pocket!  At least that is my excuse, minus the money    

I hear ya...and it usually does happen after the season ends to a degree....but this started 9 months ago.  Several of us have been monitoring it.

[Mack_S]

Not to stir the pot or anything...BUT...is this rise of 'mechanics' more of a cyclical event due to it being the off season for most hunters??  Once it gets closer to hunting season, don't these 'mechanics' post wane??  Again, not trying to stir the pot, just a question/observation.

-Mack