Traditional or Semi-Traditional

[njloco]

Like Tommy said, I don't think it will help you, however if it does, use it !, I think it will end up, at beast,  being a pacifier.

[Fletcher]

If I need a rangefinder, it's too far.

[Mudd]

One of the main reasons I gave up on the modern bows is so I could give up thinking about yardage.

I look at what I want to hit and let'er rip.

I shoot a lot of arrows from.. wherever.... I guess there are spots I kind of know the yardage but it doesn't matter except for knowing how far I need to walk to pick up my arrow..lol

God bless,Mudd

[jmrsyrs]

I shoot instinctively so no need for a rangefinder. One of the reasons I gave up the wheels was to get rid of all the gadgets.

[wasapt]

I think rangefinders are fine to use along side your trad bow... the greater the distance, the greater to room for error. You may not need one but if you like to know the animal is in your trajectory flight path, why not know instead of guess?

[danbow]

Just say you hunt with a longbow. The term Traditional is defined in many ways!

[Ric O'Shay]

I think I'll stay out of this one.    

[Bowwild]

I rarely use the word "traditional" in archery because of these kinds of discussions.

I have developed allergies to: Plaid, longbows, wood arrows, fancy hats, non-target archer form, ground hunting, heavy bows, slow bows, and the list grows.

There is nothing old-fashioned in my bowhunting world except me.

I'm simply a recurve shooter.

[buckeye_hunter]

I agree with most. It is your hunting experience, as long as it is legal, ethical to you, and fun...DO IT!

For me, and this is only MY OPINION, I shoot animals at about ten yards and don't ask any questions. Done deal. Still eating the 2nd of last year's deer and haven't been out hunting yet this year. I will be hunting soon enough with my recurve made from all modern materials! To each his own...

The "what is traditional?" water is murky. Everyone is going to have a different opinion.

Shoot straight and enjoy,
-Charlie

[David Mitchell]

I personally hope for the day we stop worrying over what is or is not "traditional".  There is virtually no agreed upon definition for it anyway.  We can at least distinguish "traditional bows" from "traditional methods".  Once tree stands were not "traditional".  Sights were perfectly fine in the days before compounds.....as were thumb releases, stabilizers, etc.  But most "traditional" shoots today don't allow those things.  Go figure. Personally I just shoot what I want how I want and if somebody has a problem with that it isn't my problem--I let them stew over it.

[Mojostick]

To me, the term "traditional bowhunter" is the antithesis of a bowhunter who uses a compound bow or a crossbow. It's the bow itself, that is what sets the whole of bowhunters into descriptive subsets.

As far as other technology, go ahead and use what you like to use. At least for now, this is still the land of the free. However, I think you may come to the conclusion that less is more and that your "hunt" with a recurve or longbow is better without all the gadgets, which can remove the human element from the hunt.

If others take issue with your rangefinder, ask if they use such things as GPS, Thinsulate, hand warmers, eye glasses, binoculars, takedown bows, carbon or aluminum arrows, flashlights, portable chairs, portable treestands, rubber boots, trail cams, etc.

Like it or not, we're all in the modern world. We are discussing this online, after all. But like at the end of Star Wars when Luke Skywalker turned off his targeting computer right before firing the shot that blew up the Death Star, I think many would benefit from turning off some of the gadgets that others see as must have. The most effective tool a hunter has is the one between his ears. More hunters would benefit on using that tool and relying less on other tools that they think they must have.  

I'm not against gadgets. I owned my own sporting goods store for over a decade and worked at several other outdoor companies including an Orvis endorsed store and Cabela's. I'm merely suggesting that if one decides to use a "traditional bow", that they may want to try and stay in that general realm as much as possible. That is merely my opinion.

I've found that traditional bowhunters may have less "stuff" overall, but when they make a purchase, it's often of higher or much higher quality and price.

Now, I use a rangefinder for my rifle hunting. I use it all the time. But for my short range traditional bowhunting, I shoot deer from about 10 steps to 15 steps away. For me, anything past my preset trail setups is too far and my brain can calculate that faster and with less movement that using a rangefinder.

[Mr.Magoo]

I keep forgetting to take my range finder when I hunt from a treestand.  But zapping some landmarks from the stand would give me a better idea of actual yardages for sure.  Things look different once you're in the air.

I know I'm not wearing a loin cloth no matter how 'trad' it is.

[Bob Baur]

Originally posted by Mr.Magoo:
Things look different once you're in the air.

Things look different when you know the range too.

Couple years ago I went to a 3D shoot with some buddies who brought their training wheels & assorted gadgets. When I went 1st I didn't know the yardage, I just let the ole internal computer do the figuring & let her rip with mostly good effect. When my buddy went 1st he would range the target & announce it. I would then think "Wow 28yds, I didn't think it was that far" and for whatever reason that KNOWING the exact yardage got in my head & messed me up. Without exception when he went 1st I didn't do as well as when I shot without knowing the range.

Originally posted by Mojostick:


As far as other technology, go ahead and use what you like to use.  At least for now, this is still the land of the free.  

Unfortunately, in our home state of Michigan, if some groups have their way, that won't be the case for much longer. They want to legislate what a quality buck is based only on the size of his antlers.

Today it's the size of the antlers.  Tomorrow it will be the equipment we use.  It's only a matter of time.

[bruinman]

The only distance that matters to me is, (to far), and I know it when I see it.

[Mojostick]

Tooner,

The majority of Michigan deer hunters want rule changes. In the two last DNR surveys, 69% and 72% wanted the changes. From working at Cabela's, I can tell you most customers want it too.

Bag limits and rules always evolve. In Michigan, most deer hunters who've never left the state don't know what a more balanced herd looks like. Michigan leads the nation in yearling buck harvest due to our liberal buck tagging system. Most deer hunters in the state, myself included, are willing to try some new rules for a trial period and virtually every survey in recent years backs that up.

[drewsbow]

only you can draw the line in the sand for how you hunt and what you use .

Originally posted by Mojostick:


The majority of Michigan deer hunters want rule changes.  

True enough.  And the majority of deer hunters shoot compounds and crossbows.  We'll see if you feel the same way about majority rule if and when they turn their sights on the traditional bowhunting community.  "At least for now, this is the land of the free."

Using your terminology, basing a deer's worth solely on the size of his antlers is the "antithesis" of a traditional bowhunter.

[Jon Stewart]

That's like asking "what is primitive".

I use a self bow, make my own wooden arrow shafts and stone points but used modern equipment to build those hunting items..

[Bjorn]

If the bow has wheels you are not traditional-the rest; that is up to you.