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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: acolobowhunter on January 02, 2025, 04:11:55 PM

Title: Retirement
Post by: acolobowhunter on January 02, 2025, 04:11:55 PM
I've got a bow that I have been shooting for probably 40 years and having trouble drawing it the way I used to.  It draws about 70# at my length and I have taken many animals with it, as well as many successful 3D shoots.  It breaks my heart to retire it, but I seem to have no choice due to age and less strength.  It is like letting an old friend stay home when I take a lesser poundage bow hunting.  A lot of good memories with that old bow. 
They say people get attached to their animals.  Well I feel that same attachment to this old bow.  I probably should sell it and let someone else start their own memories with it.
Maybe I'm the only person that seems to have an attachment to an old bow (friend).  Has this every happened to any one else?
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: Kirkll on January 02, 2025, 05:12:04 PM
You are not alone my friend. As far as strength goes, If you don’t use it you loose it.i had to part with my heavy stuff over 70# years ago. Now I struggle with 60# at age 69. It happens brother…
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: Orion on January 02, 2025, 05:16:23 PM
Yep. yours is a pretty common sentiment. I've had a few bows I've hated to part with, but just couldn't shoot them anymore as I aged.   

kirkll.  When you get old enough, you lose it even if you do use it.  :bigsmyl: 
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: Wudstix on January 02, 2025, 05:29:26 PM
I have a stable of 65#+ bows, now I hunt with my latest bow a Moosejaw Razorback x@60#, still can shoot the others, but hunting is better served with the Moosejaw.
 :campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: David Mitchell on January 02, 2025, 06:54:32 PM
"kirkll.  When you get old enough, you lose it even if you do use it.  :bigsmyl:"  Yep, that sure is true. :saywhat:
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 02, 2025, 08:32:09 PM
At 65 I'm on the downslide and my 60# and 55# bows are gathering dust.  I'm still clinging to some at 51 to 53# . . . but I feel it places I never used to.  And those 45# to 48# bows are calling to me.
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: SJP51 on January 02, 2025, 10:33:37 PM
I hung up my 57# limbs some years ago.  47# seems to work fine and shoulder likes it better anyway!

Getting old sucks.
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: Ryan Rothhaar on January 03, 2025, 08:58:00 AM
Hey Gene, have you thought about getting the weight reduced on the limbs? There are guys that have done some pretty large reductions successfully, what do you have to lose?

R
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: frassettor on January 03, 2025, 09:59:47 AM
Yes. I have 3 VERY sentimental bows that I will never part with even though they are to heavy for me to shoot. Heck, I even have an old lantern that has been on many nightly tracking jobs with me that I feel the same way about. A lot of my things that are related to traditional bow hunting I have had since day 1, and are still with me to this day . I think it’s only natural to have attachment to things that was there when you created these wonderful memories.
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on January 03, 2025, 11:49:06 AM
I feel good shooting bow and good Dogs are hard to let go of.
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: M60gunner on January 03, 2025, 07:02:56 PM
I gave up my last set of 60# limbs a couple years ago. The real heavy stuff left about 10 years ago now. At 79+ even 50#’s is pushing my limit. I just wrapped up a couple sets of 55# ILF limbs for storage and 3 risers. My 45# bows are more fun these days. Can’t get rid of a couple bows, presents from family. But I am better off than a number of my classmates and platoon mates. Many are looking into assisted living or they are dead
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: WhistlingBadger on January 03, 2025, 08:35:23 PM
Sometimes I get asked why I name my bows.  It's because they feel like living things.  I shoot wooden bows these days, but I still have Thumper, my first glass-backed hunting bow.  A lot of memories with that guy.  And it was a sad moment a couple years ago when Jubal, a black locust longbow that got me my first archery deer, popped a big splinter on the back.

Some stages of life we look forward; others we more look back.  I'm kind of in the middle and doing a lot of both.
Title: Re: Retirement
Post by: Gordon Jabben on January 03, 2025, 09:06:48 PM
I guess you could take a chance on sanding down the limb fiberglass.  I took seven pounds off a bow I made and that I'm attached to.  Now with my age, it is getting to much for me again.