Post by: LJOHNS on November 19, 2022, 04:19:50 PM
I have been out of the trad game for about the last 20 years. Work and family life limited my practice time so I went back to compound back in 2004 or so…
I now find myself in a stage of life where I have much more free time again (unfortunately, I am turning into an old fart now!).
Seems like there is less interest in trad overall now days. A lot less bowyers around and I dont know anyone shooting trad anymore.
What is the current state of traditional archery and trad hunting now days? Are the events still well attended? Just curious…
Post by: mgf on November 19, 2022, 05:00:22 PM
I can buy what I need on line and I just do what I do.
Post by: goingoldskool on November 19, 2022, 05:08:29 PM
Post by: McDave on November 19, 2022, 05:12:20 PM
However, I think most trad shooters, including me, are like mgf: we're not out to win a popularity contest. Honestly, if I was the only trad shooter in town I would probably shoot my trad bow as much as I'm already shooting it now. I would miss the company of other trad shooters, sure, but I wouldn't change my habits.
Post by: Pat B on November 19, 2022, 08:11:27 PM
Post by: Sean B on November 19, 2022, 09:34:16 PM
Post by: stevem on November 19, 2022, 09:58:18 PM
Post by: Maclean on November 19, 2022, 10:08:00 PM
Post by: MCNSC on November 19, 2022, 11:12:00 PM
Post by: GCook on November 19, 2022, 11:57:01 PM
Just because guns are in the timber to doesn't change me sitting in it with a longbow.
Traditional archery is going strong in Texas and there's some great folks representing it.
Post by: Maclean on November 20, 2022, 12:06:13 AM
Post by: Roger Norris on November 20, 2022, 07:20:21 AM
My son, son in law, and one of my best local buddies are not. My son missed the buck of a lifetime 3 years ago with a longbow...he switched to a compound and we won't see him back until his life slows down.
Traditional archery is different now, at least for me. 20-25 years ago a lot of things were "new". Heck, even the internet and this website were kinda new. We spent a lot of time defining/arguing what traditional archery was.....which seems silly in retrospect. I remember serious arguments about carbon vs wood arrows...longbows vs recurves, is a short longbow really a longbow, etc. etc.
These days, at least for me....I have taken on a "live let live" attitude. I shoot recurves and longbows for ME. Not to be part of a group....although many of my friends make up this group. I do things exactly how I want with regards to bowhunting. If carbon arrows and a Krylon painted short recurve make me less traditional, I could not possibly care less.
There has always been an element in traditional archery that I call the "look at me" crowd. Guys that do it to stand out, rather than a true love of a more simple bow. 20 years ago they were everywhere...I see them less now...they must have moved on to some other hobby. The traditional bowhunters I see today are less "show" and more "go". 25 years ago you could go to a large shoot like Compton, and some groups looked like a costume contest...Fedora, plaid shirt, beautiful cedar arrows, gotta be Bear Razorheads... etc....and most of those guys couldn't hit their rear end with both hands. Today at the big shoots, I see folks of all ages very serious about being able to shoot well.
I think it is positive and interesting to see some of the younger traditional archery enthusiasts as they find their way. 25 years ago, I might have made a comment about a 20 year old wearing Sitka gear and shooting skinny carbon arrows 3 under. Now I am just glad to see that they are carrying on the tradition in their own way.
Post by: Tajue17 on November 20, 2022, 08:21:06 AM
maybe theres a few new comers to the sport and I even gave a few stickbows away to some of the new compound shooters I met thru my job to maybe get them interested but in the end its pretty much only me getting the funny looks out there now..
shooting and hunting alone now I notice I keep to myself more and don't really bring anything up about what you seen from the stand or any stickbow related stuff because if you bring up that deer at 40yds you just watched because it wasn't 20yds their comments back being wheelie shooters with the latest gear are exactly what you can imagine so I don't bother talk about anything archery related anymore.
So my opinion based on what I see locally is trad is done and yes maybe theres a few still doing it but I see very young kids with their joad inspired recurve bows who most likely will go to wheels soon I really don't see anything happening anymore.
Post by: BAK on November 20, 2022, 10:04:58 AM
Post by: MnFn on November 20, 2022, 10:22:21 AM
One year later I was back to recurves and longbows just for hunting. Most all of my friends shot compounds and most of them have gave it up a few years ago. Don’t know why, I guess they didn’t enjoy it like I enjoy traditional equipment.
I have a couple of guys I talk with fairly often and have elk hunted with my son but for the most part I am alone hunting. The old archery club went kaput but I see some activity with it and guess it is starting up again.
I’ve been to Canada bear hunting five times. There have been a number of traditional guys on all of them. Great times when you share a camp with like minded folk.
Post by: MnFn on November 20, 2022, 10:26:15 AM
Post by: mjh on November 20, 2022, 11:07:55 AM
In my local club we have a great diversity of shooters and hunters. Shoot and hunt what you like and are proficient with. I've only ever shot traditional. Longbows--recurves--even a selfbow now and then. Hunt primarily with recurves these days. Last few years with work and family the hunting has been minimal. Still a primary reason to be out there doing what I enjoy doing.
Post by: PrimitivePete on November 20, 2022, 11:31:07 AM
Post by: TGbow on November 20, 2022, 01:20:37 PM
I would say there's more trad shooters in my area now than 20 plus years ago.
Back in the 70s my dad got us boys into deer hunting with recurves..4 of us both a a couple nephews. Now there's only me n my younger brother that still hunt period.
Post by: Squirrel Hunter on November 20, 2022, 01:46:34 PM
Post by: Terry Green on November 20, 2022, 02:59:01 PM
WOW!!! That is really sad. It sounds like NFAA is going 'woke'. :banghead:
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on November 21, 2022, 04:56:33 PM
"but I’ve been told many times that trad bows should be banned and I was even told longbows and wood arrows are not allowed at local NFAA shoots."Yes Sir I think that NFAA forgot how that club was formed in 1939. As for Traditional Archery I don't if we peaked but I seen a lot of folks come and go in my 41 years of shooting a bow.
WOW!!! That is really sad. It sounds like NFAA is going 'woke'. :banghead:
Post by: GCook on November 21, 2022, 05:36:59 PM
Post by: TSP on November 21, 2022, 07:35:17 PM
It's pretty hard to thinks of todays composite arrows, sophisticated bows (in design and materials) and gap/mechanical aiming systems as 'simple' in the context of what that aspect meant to archery 70 or 80 years ago. Not even close. There's no set identity now, it's just an ever-moving technological machine designed to make the 'trad way' easier to hide behind and pretend we're still doing it the hard way (no compound, no problem). Sort of the same kind of smoke-and-mirrors logic as eating a patty mix made of plants and chemicals and convincing ourselves its a 'hamburger'. The things we do to satiate our desires to have our fake and eat it to.
Maybe that's really the answer to the current state of trad archery...thinking of how it was back then compared to how it is now and using that as a measuring tape. I'm not talking about whether it's better (whatever that might mean), just about whether it's different. Same approach? Same values? Same mindset? Same direction? Definately something to ponder as we walk the trail.
Post by: MSU on November 21, 2022, 08:12:28 PM
It is all good, but I see nothing on any scale that indicates traditional bowhunting is increasing. I do not believe that will happen. With the steady increase of crossbow use, to the newer generations the compound bow will become the new traditional.
Post by: TGbow on November 21, 2022, 09:15:25 PM
When I got into archery in 1975 a lot of archers used sights on their bows and a lot of aluminum arrows.
Before fiberglass bows you had self bows and self nocked arrows...
Shooting off your hand.
I guess most modern longbows are a big jump from what Pope n young had to shoot.
Guess I'm not a purist. When you say traditional archery it depends on how far back you are referring to.
Post by: Terry Green on November 22, 2022, 07:47:29 AM
I think the state of tradbows is alive and well. :campfire:
Post by: David Smith on November 22, 2022, 08:05:27 AM
Post by: George Tsoukalas on November 22, 2022, 08:26:05 AM
Post by: McDave on November 22, 2022, 08:32:17 AM
I've been teaching classes of youngsters how to shoot at my club for more than 30 years. We offer each participant the option of a recurve or a Genesis compound bow. 30 years ago, all the compound bows would be chosen first, and if there were more students than compound bows, the ones that were left had to use one of my own recurves that I brought to the class until they could finagle a turn with one of the compounds. In more recent years, I’ve convinced the club to buy some recurves to supplement the compounds. Now all the recurves fly off the rack first and the finagling is between the students who were stuck with the compounds to get a try at one of the recurves.
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 22, 2022, 08:39:55 AM
Post by: Mark R on November 22, 2022, 10:56:07 AM
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on November 22, 2022, 11:33:49 AM
Post by: Paul/KS on November 22, 2022, 11:50:19 AM
Come to the Tenn Classic outside of Nashville at the end of April next year. You will see 600 to 700 trad shooters there. Only trad and primitive allowed there.
Yep, there were a lot of people shooting a wide variety of traditional bows plus a bunch of vendors. Great fun and an amazing range(s). Here in NE Ks./W Mo. there are a couple traditional clubs and there is still MOJAM and OJAM for the primitive archery enthusiasts to attend.
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on November 22, 2022, 01:27:51 PM
Honestly most folks shouldn't be hunting with trad equipment. And it's questionable if they should with compounds.
Then what should they be hunting with?
Hunting is not a risk free sport no matter what equipment one is using. People wound, miss, lose and cripple deer with shotguns, rifles and crossbows every year.
I think the current state of traditional archery is in a weird stage. You have two sets of people in the sport and neither are right or wrong. You have old timers that are doing it the same way it's been since the 70s with wooden bows etc. Then you have guys that are into the extreme curves and metal risers/ilf rigs etc, about as close to a compound as you can get with a single string. I really don't care either way, as long as one is happy with what they do.
I used to frown on people for equipment choices and so on. But honestly who cares, I'm just glad we are still able to hunt in the current world we live in.
Post by: Terry Green on November 22, 2022, 01:55:54 PM
Good to hear Paul!!!
No one has posted that here in years.
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 22, 2022, 04:20:50 PM
This is my idea of trad archery.
Just now I glued up a BBO trilam with a purple heart core lam.
Believe it or not, there are a few trad guys out there that would turn their nose up at me because it's not considered a real selfbow.
I just smile.
Life is too short to nick pick on others.
Oh and I shoot glass recurves and had my compound converted into an ILF Bow and my favorite bow is a Bear Victor Viking take down I bought new I. 1971.
Post by: Paul/KS on November 22, 2022, 05:48:15 PM
Post by: flntknp17 on November 22, 2022, 06:02:27 PM
"but I’ve been told many times that trad bows should be banned and I was even told longbows and wood arrows are not allowed at local NFAA shoots."
WOW!!! That is really sad. It sounds like NFAA is going 'woke'. :banghead:
This is simply untrue. The NFAA is honestly about the least "woke" of all the national organizations. They have a traditional class that is separate from barebow and you surely can use any arrow material you like for it. I bet the folks you heard that from were talking about the NAA and not the NFAA....NAA is definitely more progressive and aimed at a different type of archer. I am a member of both.
My own traditional archery journey started in the late 80s and I actually see more traditional shooters shooting more types of traditional bows nowadays that at any time since then. I used to be the oddball because I was the only guy who would show up to a shoot with a traditional bow....now there will be a bunch at my local shoots. It is still 90/10 of 95/5 around here compound/trad, but its far better than the 99/1 that it used to be.
Matt
Post by: Pat B on November 22, 2022, 06:09:23 PM
Post by: Russell Southerland on November 22, 2022, 06:29:24 PM
I posted on the wrong post.
Looks good of you have visited the New Members post.
Post by: Squirrel Hunter on November 22, 2022, 08:04:09 PM
Post by: GCook on November 22, 2022, 08:16:56 PM
I understand your point and I should have said many instead of most, but way too many pick up a bow as an extra season weapon. Even the two guys I own a ranch with seldom shoot their compound bows outside of season and very little during season. Do they kill stuff? Sure. But there are always a few can't find ems each season. That's with a sight and release aide.Honestly most folks shouldn't be hunting with trad equipment. And it's questionable if they should with compounds.
Then what should they be hunting with?
Hunting is not a risk free sport no matter what equipment one is using. People wound, miss, lose and cripple deer with shotguns, rifles and crossbows every year.
I think the current state of traditional archery is in a weird stage. You have two sets of people in the sport and neither are right or wrong. You have old timers that are doing it the same way it's been since the 70s with wooden bows etc. Then you have guys that are into the extreme curves and metal risers/ilf rigs etc, about as close to a compound as you can get with a single string. I really don't care either way, as long as one is happy with what they do.
I used to frown on people for equipment choices and so on. But honestly who cares, I'm just glad we are still able to hunt in the current world we live in.
I lose some as well. But do better than many of the compound archers I know. Maybe I'm just expecting too much of others. I expect more of myself though.
Post by: GCook on November 22, 2022, 08:29:06 PM
Post by: mahantango on November 22, 2022, 09:07:08 PM
Post by: BigJim on November 23, 2022, 08:19:16 AM
I can see where regular 3d events wouldn't continue to attract and grow trad classes as trad shooters find out about existing trad only shoots.
For the most part, I don't see trad archery as much of a social group except on forums and close friends. I also see new bowyers popping up at every turn.. and some getting out of business because they don't like dealing with the public as much as they like building bows. Same old same old.
Like every other thing in life, it revolves. As we get older, some leave one passion to go to another.. Others step in and fill the space quietly.
BigJim
Post by: McDave on November 23, 2022, 09:23:46 AM
What the new members do like is the ability to drop in casually and shoot a round in an hour or so on their own terms and their own timetable, with or without friends. The ability to offer this spontaneity may be a reason for our uptick in memberships in general, and possibly even the uptick in interest in trad archery vs compounds. Trad archery has always seemed more spontaneous to me than compounds, but that could just be the way I feel about it.
Hunting is an activity that requires dedicating a large chunk of time, more than a round of golf or a club shoot (although less often, generally) and the lack of desire or ability of young people to commit that much time to an activity could be a reason for the decline in hunting among that age group.
Post by: Mike Bolin on November 23, 2022, 11:24:00 AM
I understand the sentiment that some should not be hunting with traditional equipment from the shooting I have seen at some of the local shoots. BUT, just because you see poor or inadequate shooting on a 3D course doesn't mean that those folks are hunting with their trad bows. One young man made the switch to trad recently and only felt comfortable out to 15 yards. He made the decision to hunt with his recurve this year and to limit his shots to 15 yards and under. He passed on a couple of nice bucks at the 20-yard mark, but filled two tags, one with a nice young buck, and another with a mature doe. We all had to learn how to shoot. I shot a recurve at bow shoots for several years before I actually hunted with it. Even though I shoot fairly well now, I still try to limit my shots to under 20 yards and I only let go of the string when it "feels" right.
Overall, I'd say that traditional archery is growing here in the midwest. I frequently get calls and texts from younger guys that are looking to make the "switch", asking about bow weight, length, arrows...the whole gamut. A couple of my friends have several bows, and they loan them out to new shooters on a regular basis. It's not uncommon for newbies to come by my house or a friend's house to try out different bows and get a bit of coaching.
Post by: Wild Bill MCP 808 on November 23, 2022, 11:39:39 AM
Post by: TSP on November 24, 2022, 09:01:08 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlCWXzLVU8Y
Post by: Burnsie on December 15, 2022, 06:11:59 PM
Reading Big Jim's post made me recall some changes I have observed myself in recent years. Young people (under 50) don't seem to have the patience or desire to spend as much time on activities as we did. In our area, country clubs are dying on the vine due to the lack of desire of many people to spend all day playing golf. 20 years ago, I and my close friends looked forward to our monthly archery club shoots, which fizzled out about 5 years ago. Since then, somebody or another would comment at monthly club meetings that we should start it up again, but nobody wanted to take the reins, so I finally volunteered. After 8 months, I can never seem to get more than a dozen players, so I plan to fold it up again at the end of the year, because a dozen people is really not much of a competition out of a club with 350 members.I agree and disagree with your statements about the younger crowd not wanting to spend as much time on activities. I think it is the amount of time and effort it takes to do/master the activities that determines if they will participate. People will spend hours on end in front of a monitor and play video games, they will spend an entire weekend binge watching the latest series on their streaming service. But if its something difficult, or its requires a commitment, or it may cause you to break a sweat, then participation rates drop greatly. An example that hits home with me is the wrestling program at my High School Alma Mater. It was always a force to be reckoned with. We were/are a tiny school, but were always able to hang with the best in the state. We had kids 3-4 deep fighting for varsity positions at every weight class. Up until about 10 or 15 years ago this was still the case. This year they are barely able to field a team and many of the weights have to be forfeited for lack of people. The amount of work and commitment required to be good at the sport is not appealing to many any more.
What the new members do like is the ability to drop in casually and shoot a round in an hour or so on their own terms and their own timetable, with or without friends. The ability to offer this spontaneity may be a reason for our uptick in memberships in general, and possibly even the uptick in interest in trad archery vs compounds. Trad archery has always seemed more spontaneous to me than compounds, but that could just be the way I feel about it.
Hunting is an activity that requires dedicating a large chunk of time, more than a round of golf or a club shoot (although less often, generally) and the lack of desire or ability of young people to commit that much time to an activity could be a reason for the decline in hunting among that age group.
I know, I sound like an old fart "back when I was young....bla bla bla" but it really does feel like there is a growing attitude of "if it ain't easy, I'm not doing it"
Post by: Sam McMichael on December 15, 2022, 09:43:57 PM
Post by: JohnV on December 15, 2022, 09:55:22 PM
Post by: Hunter74 on December 16, 2022, 10:44:02 AM
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on December 16, 2022, 12:53:57 PM
Reading Big Jim's post made me recall some changes I have observed myself in recent years. Young people (under 50) don't seem to have the patience or desire to spend as much time on activities as we did. In our area, country clubs are dying on the vine due to the lack of desire of many people to spend all day playing golf. 20 years ago, I and my close friends looked forward to our monthly archery club shoots, which fizzled out about 5 years ago. Since then, somebody or another would comment at monthly club meetings that we should start it up again, but nobody wanted to take the reins, so I finally volunteered. After 8 months, I can never seem to get more than a dozen players, so I plan to fold it up again at the end of the year, because a dozen people is really not much of a competition out of a club with 350 members.I agree and disagree with your statements about the younger crowd not wanting to spend as much time on activities. I think it is the amount of time and effort it takes to do/master the activities that determines if they will participate. People will spend hours on end in front of a monitor and play video games, they will spend an entire weekend binge watching the latest series on their streaming service. But if its something difficult, or its requires a commitment, or it may cause you to break a sweat, then participation rates drop greatly. An example that hits home with me is the wrestling program at my High School Alma Mater. It was always a force to be reckoned with. We were/are a tiny school, but were always able to hang with the best in the state. We had kids 3-4 deep fighting for varsity positions at every weight class. Up until about 10 or 15 years ago this was still the case. This year they are barely able to field a team and many of the weights have to be forfeited for lack of people. The amount of work and commitment required to be good at the sport is not appealing to many any more.
What the new members do like is the ability to drop in casually and shoot a round in an hour or so on their own terms and their own timetable, with or without friends. The ability to offer this spontaneity may be a reason for our uptick in memberships in general, and possibly even the uptick in interest in trad archery vs compounds. Trad archery has always seemed more spontaneous to me than compounds, but that could just be the way I feel about it.
Hunting is an activity that requires dedicating a large chunk of time, more than a round of golf or a club shoot (although less often, generally) and the lack of desire or ability of young people to commit that much time to an activity could be a reason for the decline in hunting among that age group.
I know, I sound like an old fart "back when I was young....bla bla bla" but it really does feel like there is a growing attitude of "if it ain't easy, I'm not doing it"
Kinda like the way people hunt these days..
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on December 16, 2022, 02:23:34 PM
When I was in school everyone hunted, very few with traditional bows, but many of my friends and family hunted and did outdoor activities. Those that do hunt seem to only be interested in the easiest way to get a set of horns. And of course when I was a kid I wanted a big buck, and I am still pumped to chase big bucks, but I just wanted to hunt and I still just want to hunt. I'm just as excited about harvesting a doe as I am any other deer. I just love this stuff.
I know not everyone is like me or has the same mindset. But it would just be nice to go back to the days when people just liked to hunt and got excited about learning how to hunt. When I was a kid it didnt matter if you shot a big buck, small buck, doe or button buck people were just excited about hear about it. I'm afraid this has changed, and the state of trad archery has sort of followed suite. I think a lot of people still enjoy and appreciate trad bows, but I don't know of anyone in my area except myself that actually hunts with one :dunno:
Post by: GCook on December 16, 2022, 02:41:35 PM
As mentioned it isn't easy and takes time and commitment. In my decade plus as a scout leader I saw a lot of young men who came into the program but didn't finish the program. Oh it wasn't because camping was too hard or earning merit badges caused them to sweat too much.
It was just that life was busy. Most of them were in band or sports. Some were theater people and others it just wasn't their thing long term. Then they are dealing with all the demands of high school and college and romance and starting a family and broke and working to get ahead. Then start carting two, three or four kids to all the different activities, both parents working and life gets full and stays full for a long time.
When I was in that boat and working sixty to eighty hours a week a compound was the easier way. I shot year round but often just a few arrows once or twice a week. I was intrigued by the traditional side but knew I didn't have the time to do it right.
It isn't always easy to even have a place to shoot. I don't know if you've noticed but cities are growing. Rural communities not so much. In fact there are a lot of empty old houses around my place in Missouri.
Personally I think we were on a great upswing and COVID helped in a way but also hurt with people staying away from ranges and shops.
As mentioned there is always an ebb and flow to things. But like a short person who puts on five pounds it's easy to see it. If they lose it as well. Not so much with someone six foot plus tall. We are a small segment. Single string in general is and hunting single string archers even more so.
There are some things we can do to nurture growth but honestly it's never gonna be a group that dominates the industry.
But accepting that very few will come into this discipline wanting to sport a fedora, flannel shirt and smoking a pipe would go a ways. Most of the new traditional shooters will be coming from wheeled bows. Will want to still use camo, scent control, gps, cameras, single step and saddle climbing and a few other things you see some say isn't "traditional". And I guess in a lot of ways it's not if you think it's a reversion lifestyle that defines it. Unfortunately most of us do what works for us. For some it's smoking our hunting clothes. For others it's a whole system of detergent, soaps and sprays. But is that difference worth telling someone they are traditional enough?
It's seems archers beating up archers has become one of the most prevalent things you see on forums anymore. Whether it's tab vs glove or feeders vs food plot vs crop fields. Traditional vs compound vs crossbow . . . Even competition groups make rules against gap or crawl shooters to edge out what they define as cheating.
Seems anymore we have no love for those who are doing it differently. Not much fun being around in groups like that.
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on December 16, 2022, 06:09:56 PM
I agree and disagree with what you're saying. I always respect what you have to say. I love bouncing things off you. I think when you want to you find time for important things you just do. My dad worked swing shift in a glass factory and raised 3 kids in the early 90s yet always found ways to teach us to hunt and fish. I just don't see it with these kids at school and it breaks my heart.
I still think there is plenty of love for others in the hunting community. Just not as many people doing it for the right reasons which is what causes the disconnect in my opinion.
Post by: GCook on December 17, 2022, 09:17:58 AM
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sharing my kills, but it's not why I hunt.
Unfortunately I know guys who hunt only horns but hate venison.
I live on deer meat. Horns are just a remembrance of a special kill. Next year it's on too the next one.
My son has wicked allergies. Cedar and oak and other stuff tears him up. So the outdoors was always tough with him. He went a different direction. My helper wanted to shoot a pig. Brought him down to the ranch and he shot a couple. He enjoyed it but has other priorities.
Some folks it gets in their blood. It becomes more than a hobby or annual pilgrimage. That's why I sitting here freezing hoping to take a doe for a family I know. Would be a lot easier to buy them a couple of roasts at the grocery store. :biglaugh:
Post by: Kirkll on December 17, 2022, 01:57:56 PM
As a hunting tool alone Traditional bows will never be the top choice. There are too many other choices making it easier to harvest game, with less time invested to become proficient.
For some the stick and string is a more challenging way to hunt which takes an investment in time to be successful, to others its cherished as an art form that has developed into an instinctive level.....
Then you have the competitive crowd of single string archers that pursue the tournaments and 3D shoots much more than hunting. Others do both.....
Some folks are really into it, and build all their own arrows, and some even build their own bows. They have as much fun tinkering with their gear as they do hunting or shooting 3D. Lets face it.... This can be a time consuming sport if you want to be proficient at what ever you do....
I think the bottom line on the OP's question is... Traditional archery has evolved into many things, and is doing well if all things are considered.... Kirk
Post by: Stump_pounder on December 17, 2022, 05:30:53 PM
Post by: Gunru on December 22, 2022, 02:54:45 AM
Honestly most folks shouldn't be hunting with trad equipment. And it's questionable if they should with compounds.
Then what should they be hunting with?
Hunting is not a risk free sport no matter what equipment one is using. People wound, miss, lose and cripple deer with shotguns, rifles and crossbows every year.
I think the current state of traditional archery is in a weird stage. You have two sets of people in the sport and neither are right or wrong. You have old timers that are doing it the same way it's been since the 70s with wooden bows etc. Then you have guys that are into the extreme curves and metal risers/ilf rigs etc, about as close to a compound as you can get with a single string. I really don't care either way, as long as one is happy with what they do.
I used to frown on people for equipment choices and so on. But honestly who cares, I'm just glad we are still able to hunt in the current world we live in.
The highways around here are loaded with rotting deer carcases. The local police told me they're were not responding to calls because of how many strikes are occuring a day. That combined with the behavior I see on a daily basis by other fine young pickup driving males would leave me fairly convinced that they don't all of a sudden become mature, wise, responsible individuals when you put a fancy compound bow or even a rifle in their hands instead of a steering wheel. That said, I don't personally think traditional archery is the greatest threat to the humane treatment of animals. Just my opinion.
Post by: Overspined on December 27, 2022, 04:20:46 PM
I think many people just need to be introduced, and given a quick lesson. Amazing how many people want a bow when they get a lesson, they have no bad habits, and they start shooting lights out immediately. Lack of a local shop or friends who do it are probably the biggest barrier.
Post by: mgf on December 28, 2022, 05:46:08 AM
The results so far are... 3 votes for recurve/longbow...18 votes for compound and 20 votes for crossbow.
In reading the thread I think a lot of people posted without voting and it seems like the majority own and use a compound sometimes even if they still use a compound sometimes.
It also seems that most deer hunters (this was in the "deer hunting" forum) are deer hunters with the goal of killing deer the easiest or most efficient way they can without any other weapon bias.
I work with two other deer hunters (well, one of them passed away last week). One is strictly a firearms hunter and the other uses a crossbow to take advantage of "archery season".
In all the years I've lived in this area and tromped in and out of local public land I have never run into another "traditional" bow hunter. The one exception to that would be back when my son lived in the area.