posted
The first year after switching to a traditional bow my success rate was about the same, but the size of the critters dropped a little. That year I killed a mountain goat, black bear (spot & stalk), a few whitetail does (at least 3 but it may have been 4-5), a whitetail buck, and a cow elk.
When I started big game hunting at the age of 28, my dad told me: Hunting is like fly fishing, 10% of the hunters/fishermen consistently harvest 90% of the game/fish; Determine what it takes to be part of the 10%, then do it, you will enjoy your hunting/fishing a lot more than the other 90%. Dad had told all us kids that fishing adage since any of us old enough to remember. He wasn't a great hunter, but then that wasn’t his passion, fly fishing was; I have yet to see anybody catch fish on a dry fly like he did.
Guess this is a round-about-way of saying that in my experience, it is the hunter, not the equipment that determines success.
-------------------- The broadhead used, regardless of how sharp, is nowhere as important as being able to place it in the correct spot.
Walt Francis
TGMM Family of the Bow Posts: 3172 | From: Montana | Registered: Nov 2003
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I get almost no shot opportunities at deer, and it wouldn't matter if I had a compound or a self-bow... I'd be empty-handed, either way. It has more to do with my hunting time and skills than my equipment. I just live a busy life and don't have the time or money to drive an hour each way to scout out the property, put up game cameras, or hang tree stands all over the place. I have to do a lot of guessing, am learning the hard way, and am NOT on the fast track to being the hunting machine that some of the rest of you are. But I enjoy trad equipment, and shoot it because it's rewarding in and of itself.
-------------------- "The problem with quotes and other information obtained on the internet is that it is difficult to determine whether that information is genuine." - Abraham Lincoln
66" Black Widow PLX 48# @ 31" 64" Black Widow PMA3 49# & 69# @ 31" Posts: 1057 | From: Illinois | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Unless for some physical/mental reason you can't hit what you're shooting at...it has nothing to do with the choice of equipment, but everything to do with the guy using it.
Do you just want to go out and "smell the roses"(easy, anyone can do it) or do you want to put an arrow thru some ribs(takes dedication, effort, time, perseverance....not easy)?
-------------------- Curt } >>--->
"I love you Daddy".......My son Cade while stump shooting 3/19/06 Posts: 16229 | From: NY | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
When I switched I figured on being less successful. But I planned on it....because I wanted the much harder challenge.
Posts: 27 | From: OH | Registered: May 2012
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posted
I would take my limit of turkeys in 2 days with the scattergun, ending my season. I got to hunt 20 days this year with the longbow, didn't kill a thing but had a blast. It's only my second year of trad so my expectations aren't that high but I'm learning.
-------------------- “'I don't go into the woods to "rough it"; I go into the woods to "smooth it". I get it rough enough in the city.'
Horace Kephart, 'Camping and Woodcraft'; 1917” Posts: 74 | From: Hardwick, MA | Registered: Jul 2011
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posted
There is a misconception by some that switch to shooting recurves and longbows that they are inferior. Those that I have dealt with don't trust their ability to look and shoot, having started archery with a compound device and sights. I have never looked at my bows as a handicap, in fact our winter hunting methods are much more efficient with stickbow. Some of the compounders that hunt with us get frustrated that they can't get a shot off with the quick pace of deer drives.
Posts: 227 | From: Portland North Dakota | Registered: Oct 2006
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I only used a compound one year, killed a deer and a groundhog.
Then I switched to traditional. In 25 years I've killed a few more deer, a couple javelina, 228 groundhogs, and a zillion chipmunks and assorted small game.
Would I have done better with a compound? Don't know or care, I'm having too much fun to think about it.
-------------------- There is no great fun, satisfaction, or joy derived from doing something that's easy. Coach John Wooden Posts: 1063 | From: Meyersdale, Pennsylvania | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Walt Francis: The first year after switching to a traditional bow my success rate was about the same, but the size of the critters dropped a little. That year I killed a mountain goat, black bear (spot & stalk), a few whitetail does (at least 3 but it may have been 4-5), a whitetail buck, and a cow elk.
When I started big game hunting at the age of 28, my dad told me: Hunting is like fly fishing, 10% of the hunters/fishermen consistently harvest 90% of the game/fish; Determine what it takes to be part of the 10%, then do it, you will enjoy your hunting/fishing a lot more than the other 90%. Dad had told all us kids that fishing adage since any of us old enough to remember. He wasn't a great hunter, but then that wasn’t his passion, fly fishing was; I have yet to see anybody catch fish on a dry fly like he did.
Guess this is a round-about-way of saying that in my experience, it is the hunter, not the equipment that determines success.
posted
Being successful is all about what you consider successful in your own mind. I've killed lots of animals with bows and arrows, but truthfully, sometimes I get so caught up in the moment when a coyote comes into a call I forget to shoot. ha ha! But, I go home or back to the truck and still feel successful. Weird huh? Have patience and keep at it. You will do well.
-------------------- " I say we blast off and nuke'em from orbit--It's the only way to be sure" Posts: 312 | From: Escalon,California | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I find myself being rewarded at times from gameless hunts but could never fool myself into calling those hunts a success. I've been hunting traditional for 7 years and killed enough game to satisfy me. I have had 2 seasons without killing a deer one of which I passed a few and lost one but overall my success has increased as opposed to compound hunting days on both guided and unguided hunts. I think Im just enjoying it more now with a pretty longbow in my hands so I hunt harder and pay more attention to detail. Those two things kill animals for me more than anything else.
-------------------- "A Fear Of Weapons Is A Sign Of Retarded Sexual And Emotional Maturity." Sigmund Freud Posts: 5987 | From: latham, new york | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
As some have pointed out, it's not only where you hunt, but how (well) you hunt. One needs to get closer with trad equipment. Pretty easy to get within 40 yards of a critter without it becoming alarmed. Much more difficult to get within 20 yards. Simply takes more skill and woodsmanship to consistently kill stuff with trad equipment. I like that. Posts: 5852 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I've been more successful since I switched to traditional archery. But I'm also a better hunter than I was then. I only hunted with a compound a few years. Gun hunted a few years. I can remember the last buck I shot with a gun. I knew the second I pulled the trigger that was the last time I would hunt big game with a gun. I knew in my heart I did not earn him. I wanted to bring him back to life. I know if I used another weapon I could kill more critters simply because of the increase in range. But what fun would that be? I'd feel like I was going backwards.
Posts: 2328 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Also wanted to add something that goes along with what Biggie said which is to get out and kill some critters. Gain experience. I think that squirrels are a great way to do this. Hunting squirrels with a bow is a lot of fun. When you can take them on a regular basis with your bow it will make the shots at deer seem easy. I think a lot of guys don't wanna hunt squirrels these days because of the cost of arrows. Get a bunch of cheap parallel wooden shafts and go after them. It helps!
Posts: 2328 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
There are a lot of guys on this site from the west that kill game consitantly Tracy and Randy do very well. I shoot 2 deer and an antelope last year. Missed my bull my fault not the bow. I never have felt handicaped with my recurve. If you dont have confidence you can never win the battle. You might as well shoot a compound if that instills confidence in you. This sport is about getting close. Most shots even in the west are under 30 yards and most under 20 yds. I talk to a lot of guys who are even compound shooters and most talke game at average distances. You need to invest the time in your skills and if your hunting in the wrong places you need to change. Things constantly change and you have to improvise.
-------------------- Don't ever try to be like any body else and don't ever be affraid to take risks. Waylon Jennings Honesty is something you cant wear out. Waylon Jennings Posts: 898 | From: Cody Wyoming | Registered: Apr 2010
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