Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: woodchucker on July 06, 2010, 08:20:00 PM
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This is more for you "Old-Timers".....
Not really "old" but those of you who have been at this game for a LONG time. Regular guys who are probly "middle-aged" and have kids who are pretty much grown.
I grew up with traditional archery equipment,went the compound route for a few years,then gave up bowhunting completely in the early 1980's. I started shooting traditional again back in 1999. Raised 2 boys shooting traditional,and even had a custom bow built for my wife which she shot VERY often.
Now, my oldest son is in college and never shoots at all. My youngest is 11 and usualy shoots with me when I ask him,but never asks me or shows the enthusiasm to grab his bow and go out by himself.(which he is completely allowed to do) Like any else,we are far from poor. My wife and I both work very busy jobs,which we are both VERY blessed to have in this day an age. There are always bills to be paid,which just makes us work more. Rule number 1) NEVER say NO to overtime!!!(you never know when it will dry up!!!) Lately we have been fighting car problems... As of today,2 out of 3 cars are out of commission!!!
Maybe I've just got the blues LOL!!! I'm feeling "old" (gonna be 50 next month) and feeling sorry for myself (Oh POOR ME!!! I've got problems,and bills to pay) Honestly though, I'm a VERY Lucky Man!!!!! I've got a wonderful wife who loves me,and sticks by me through thick and thin!!! 2 of the best boys that a man could ever ask for!!! AND, I've got a secure well paying job that some men would kill me forif they could get away with it and just step in and take my place!!!!! I am truely blessed, Things are tough!!! But,they could be alot worse I know!!!!!
My problem is this.....
I try and get out and shoot my bow when I can. However, I just can't find any enjoyment in it. Most times I only shoot a few arrows and come back inside. There is always something more "important" to do.(like work lol) I used to shoot almost every day,sometimes for hours. Now,I hardly shoot at all. To be completely honest,I haven't even touched my bow since April when I was getting ready for Turkey Season.(Btw,THAT didn't happen either)
Traditional Bowhunting is in my heart. That is the way it is and always will be!!!
But, It's just not "fun" anymore.....
Thanks for listening!!!!!
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I dont think it is anything more than life Chuck. I have had a spell very similar with my Dad passing, troubles with the wife, etc. Now I find myself looking forward to having time to shoot...the muzzy, and the fall.
Try this, instead of forcing yourself to shoot, go for a long walk in the woods without your bow. Ten bucks says that within a few hundred paces, you will be missing your bow, and smiling.
Best of luck my friend.
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A good dose of Denton Hill with a bunch of other Trad Gangers and you'll find the spark again.
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Your working too much and its clouding your happy vision.Itll do that to a man.Just say no, life flys by us way too fast and when your on your deathbed you aint gonna say "Damn, Im Glad I Worked So Much!" Good luck to you buddy I hope all turns out well for you.I suspect getting out with that Mountain man pal Ken of yours and acting and feeling good like a child again will fix your blues.
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Chuck my son doesn't shoot with me much at all in fact I almost have to beg him, that is unless I'm going to a 3D shoot. He likes to hang around with the guy's and so do I. Most of the time around the house I shoot alone, I like to go woodchuck hunting, shoot carp you have to mix it up if your just pounding away at a target it will get boring fast.
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Funny but I have felt a slight dip in my enthusiasm lately too.
I am 57 and started shooting a real bow when I was 12. I have taken some prolonged breaks for one reason or another through the years, but not in the last 22 years.
The outdoors is my life and the whole family used to shoot a bow. Now my son and daughter live far away from us and my wife quit shooting a few years ago for a variety of reasons not the least of which is a bad shoulder.
I am the only bow hunter for at least 200 miles in any direction.
I always, always shoot alone. I don't mind it that much but it sure would be fun to have someone to share that passion with.
I will always be a bow hunter but sometimes my spark needs a little fanning too.
Come to think of it though, I have had a lot on my mind lately, I didn't get a job I was counting on, my son is getting married this weekend, my right knee is finished, and I have been fishing instead of shooting my bow.
It must be normal for guys in our age range that have been shooting a long time. I HOPE!
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Im at that point now, with way to many Bows !! Anyone lookin to buy some {ha Ha} they're All Lefty's ... Seriously, the Spark's just not like it used to be ...
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Why dont we all just quit :campfire: .
Chuck, I hope you find it in your heart to shoot again. Everyone needs something away from work or else they end up with this void and can easily turn to depression.
Good luck brother, I hope to be flinging arrows with you soon.
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Don't worry about it. Shoot only when you feel like it. It is a hobby and does not need to be an obsession. I think most of us have ups and downs every now and then, but after a while the urge to string the bow comes back into the picture. Here,in Georgia, it is often very hot in the summer, which is when I most often get out of the mood to shoot. You guys have had some extreme heat this year - could this also be a factor with you?
When this happens, I shift my focus and start doing an inventory of hunting accessories like clothes and camping equipment. Consider the stand locations for the upcoming season. Read good hunting books or watch the videos.
This usually perks my interest in the approaching season, and a natural desire "to be ready" causes me to want to practice.
Another thing is to shoot with other people if possible. Practice does not always have to be a solitary quest. It can, and should, be sometimes a social event. Group therapy is often just the thing needed to lift one out of the doldrums.
Good luck. I feel certain that when a little fall crispness is in the air and the season is approaching, your interest will again skyrocket.
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I'm in my mid 30's and when I get to your point I just find something else to do. Between seasons I usually work on bows, quivers, arrows and anyhting else that revolves around this sport. When I get a hankering to shoot I go shoot when I get a hankering to do something else I do something else.
When I do shoot I quit leaving myself wanting just a little more and that usually keeps me looking forward to the next round.
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First off, I'm NOT in any way, shape, or form nocking anyone that shoots by themselves and enjoys it. I have and do occasionally shoot by myself......but......I have found for me, I enjoy it MUCH MORE when shooting with a friend. I was "trudging" along shooting by myself and sometimes it didn't seem like as much fun as I knew it could be.
Then along about last fall I met a local man and started shooting with him on at least a weekly basis out at a club that we both belong to. I have since.......really started enjoying shooting to a much greater degree. Lets face it, lots of things are fun.......but for me anyways, I enjoy it much more when I have someone to shoot with that enjoys it as much as I do. We have never been so serious that it ruins our day if we shoot badly.......heck, if that was the case I would have already given up learning to shoot a stick bow.
I have some grandchildren that are approaching an age when they just "might" strike up the interest to come out and shoot with Pa Paw, then again......perhaps their interests will go elsewhere, that remains to be seen. I am and have done everything that is possible to get them interested, but that choice is ultimately THEIRS.
I enjoy going to traditional gatherings and shooting with different people. I'm not a self-conscious guy and don't really care what other people think about either my "style" or "ability" to shoot a traditional bow. I just go to have FUN.......and part of what makes it fun for me is being around like minded people that love watching the flight of the arrow as much as I do.
By the way.......Thank-You......Bryan for putting up with me on at least a weekly basis. I have came a long way with my shooting ability since meeting you....and you have too, whether you notice it or not. It's always a good thing to have someone to bounce "lifes problems" off of and not be judged while doing it. That is the "true" definition of a friend. Thanks for being one.
Winterhawk1960
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I'm 55 and the enthusiasm and fun of archery is more intense then ever. I am a loner though and enjoy the freedom of not needing company to make something fun. I am not saying i don't enjoy shooting with others ,just saying the desire and the fun of shooting is there either way. with or without others. If its not fun anymore, do something else. Life is too short to not be having fun.!
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I am 63 years old and have been shooting since 1968. Every weekend our father brother and I would shoot together some place. We would also hunt and just have fun. Our father past in 1978 and my brother past in Nov. 1999. I think it started after my brother past. I stated to lose interest in shooting. Then our son wanted to learn to shoot so I helped him to get started and he did learn fast. In fact he learned so fast he won the state championship. He shot for awhile longer then he found girls. Then he left for the Army and he just got back from Iraq 3 weeks ago. I really lost interest really bad after 2005. I still haven't got fire or ambition to shoot much anymore. I think it will happen to almost everyone some time in their archery journey. I also think it is just life.
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I shoot by myself in my back yard everyday. Usually really early in the morning before my 2 girls are up and late at night when they and my wife are in bed. Being out of work and having the stress of not being able to find a job, shooting my bow is the one thing in my day that I can do and not think about money or anything else going on in our life right now.
I wish I had another person to shoot with that shoots traditional bows but I just don't know anyone that does. Sometimes the low points in life can suck the fun out of anything and as soon as things pick up, whaddya know, the passion is back for whatever was lacking.
I think it may just be the ebb and flow of life.
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After 38 years of work I was BLESSED with the chance to retire at the age of 55. I took that chance and never looked back. Now 3 years later I have more people to shoot with than I ever had all because of this site. I have made shooting and hunting friends and shoot a lot. I still shoot by myself and at times I need that. Chuck, sit back ,take a breath, think about what you want from this pastime. I think you'll be fine and continue your journey!!!
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Plan a hunting trip you've always wanted to do. That would get me excited.
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I have been there on other things and have to say you are not tired of archery you are tired of the trials of life. Been there too. I use archery as my release from life. I can just shoot relax and enjoy it without thinking of anything else. You said it yourself when your shooting you think about work and other things. You need to let those go and just get into the shooting with no distractions.
Archery is supposed to be fun and relaxing.
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I think I know what you mean...
As far as I can tell (from looking at me and my friends) everyone goes through times like this. It feels a little weird to me when I don't get super excited about something that I usually love to do, but ultimately it isn't a big deal. Life is complex. Some parts take precedence over others, then fade into the background.
Don't feel like you have to shoot, shoot when you want to. I think you'll find that you're more than just an archer.
Kirk
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Yep same here, bought another house and been fixing it up using pretty much all my spare time. Sometimes I think about taking the bow out and shooting when I have time but usually opt to just rest. Strange cause one of the reasons I wanted this house was because of the few wooded acres it sets on, plan to make a nice archery range. Feel sure the desire will return when I have less on my mind.
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Woodchucker.. I just took a hiatus for a few months... from Jan-May, I don't even think I logged on TG... I am early forties with lil ones... a road warrior who never has enough hours in a day or days in a week... However, I find that when I get in a rut it is usually because life gets in the way!!!
When emotionally I am not there for hunting or archery, it goes to the back burner... But when I get a new traditional bowhunter or get a new trad book... It becomes a relevant priority in my life.
Traditional archery and bowhunting give me more than anything I put into it! I am a better husband, a better father, a better person and employee..... It just takes making time for it and making it a priority! Plan a hunt, go to a shoot, or plan a trip with some tradgangers you never met! I am sure it will come back to you and you'll be a better person for it!!!
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I had kind of an opposite thing. I was heavily into trad archery, but a few years ago, I got into milsurp firearms. Oh, I had them all: Soviet capture K-98s that I refinished, Mosin Nagants, British SMLEs, Finn M-39s... Well, first I ran out of the cheap 8mm ammo. Then I ran out of the cases of 7.62x54mm I had. Then it just stopped being fun and was just too expensive. By this time I also had an AR-15 and a mint condition M1 carbine (Winchester manufacture.) Then I got laid off and had to sell most of them. But I couldn't afford to shoot any of them anyway.
Then I remembered: Hey! When I was into traditional archery, I could RE-USE my ammo, provided I didn't break or lose arrows. I got back into traditional archery and have an activity I can actually afford now.
:archer:
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i took 2.5 yrs off after about 5 of shooting every day .i would drive from vegas to globe az: about 7 hrs drive . to shoot a couple hrs and go back to vegas. id go anywhere to shoot within reason my reason . than i just got to the point mostly financial but lost track of friends and really had no one to shoot with .i eventually got bored. so i just didnt shoot . life was in the crapper . i finally got out of vegas and as soon as i did i couldnt wait to go shooting and made new friends and some old ones . life is good again . i love to shoot alone but not as much fun as with friends . join a group or club make some friends that shoot trad also. go out and stump shoot take crazy shoots have fun broken arrows are replaceable shoot areals learn to make arrows or even bows .work is a necessity but happyness is just as important if not more.
if i had money id definately be planning a hunting trip . have a custome bow made the one you allways wanted . go have fun man . you only live once . dont go out saying "i wish i had...."
:campfire: :coffee: :coffee:
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man this sounds all to familiar.
It's been a few years for me. Started when I started taking the fun to a sort of side buisness. I was doing it anyways, building arrows for people, it only made sense to get a couple dealerships to help curb the cost.
Being x military and working for the military, obviously most of my friends and hunting buddies are yup military of some sort, mostly active which creates a small conflict of interest. Alaska unlike the states takes time to teach. People show up here with a 'kill list' more often then not and as time went on I found out real fast that those friends were friends only because of the knowledge I had. Luckily I kept my mouth shut for sheep.
Over time my close hunting partners pcs'd or ets'd outta here. There is still a couple guys I think are in my shoes that did retire here. We were all hard into it. I have been for almost 20 years now. Then the 2 years before divorce, stopped building arrows and strings for people, gone most of the summer guiding home just in time to catch what was left of moose season, missed all together sheep season.
Those hunting partners were gone......and so was the fire that had spawned a lifetimes obsession, if you come into my house, you'll quickly learn this is not a hobby! Though most of it is still packed today from the move a couple years ago, there is enough in every room to convience even the most uneducated otherwise. I still go home and hunt whitetails or turkeys (though this year chose not to do it with the longbow), I did shoot a black bear this year with the liberty another first, again only finding out military guys trying to pawn info to the point a friend went out less then 24 hrs and sat my stand and shot another bear off of it...kinda irked me a little, on the other hand I'm happy he did shoot his first bear.
Seems there's one thing in common with most of us that have posted on this thread......friends, someone to shoot with. Traditional archery, well all archery for that matter, is when it comes to hunting, typically a loner's approach as my one close hunting buddy puts it. But in there the comradre of it all is why most of us got into it in the first place.
I work my tail off like the next guy, still dream about hunts coming up and hunts past. Finding a hunting partner, something almost needed up here, is harder then finding a spouse. The fire that had me shooting daily all winter, and summer, for hours isn't there. Now I can hardly shoot more then a handful of arrows before the joints in my string hand are sore, my concentration is gone. Or I'm start stewing again over the poor arrow quality, buisness relations (at the dearship level) and life that has led me up to this point. I WILL change it alone if I have too......it sure as hell aint gonna be as much fun though!
There's my resume, need a hunting partner? :smileystooges:
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Try making your own bow out of a piece of wood. It is relaxing and you will be thinking about something else rather than life.
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I'm 63 (started shooting bows in mid 50's) and love shooting and hunting more every day.
I have never tired or got bored with it, but did take about a yr break after my first open heart surgery (when I was 43} and divorce.
I've since had major back surgery, knee, another bypass surgery (16yrs later), 4 angio-plasties about 20 heart caths, have 6 stints in my heart and supposed to have a total of about 13 as needed. By passes don't work for me..thus the series of stints. My last open heart, 5 bypasses all closed up within a month.
I am a loner and enjoy hunting and shooting alone. The main reason it doesn't get boring for me is I realize every season could be my last and I try to get as much in as possible.
I will score myself when shooting around the house. Sometimes I'll shoot 4 arrows from 4 different distances at 10 rounds. I use a deer target and only kill shots count..10pts each.
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I hear you Chuck. I haven't been shooting much and haven't really hunted whitetails the last 3 years (and it doesn't look likely for this season either). Similar story, just a few years ahead of you: 30, two small kids (3 and 6 months), wife who's not working anymore (and was at a non-profit earning pennies b4), mounting bills, not enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to get done; forget about what I want to get done!
When I do get to shoot there's always the nagging thought in my mind that I should be trying to finish something "more important"
Sounds like a bunch of us need to share a campfire in the Catskills this Fall and recharge the soul.
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Hey Chuck... We are all the same here. Guess you can say that "life happens" and we are all caught up in it. Working, Honey-Do-List and Family Events can take up most of our time. I'm a guy that has not slept past 5am in many years... Anyway...
We (you) NEED to make the time to have fun with your trad gear. Gonna have to get the green light from your wife first. That will make it work out. Just my 2 cents. ;)
... mike ...
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Well when it quits being fun I quit doing it.It is a hobby not a priority.
I shoot only when I feel like shooting.I never go out and shoot because I feel like I need to practice or anything like that.During this time of year with a lot of high ninety and over days I seldom get in the mood to just shoot.When the weather cools the mood always strikes and I might shoot several times a day.But only when I want to. :) This stuff is not a job. ;)
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If you've lost interest in other hobbies as well and you are having trouble eating and sleeping then you may be depressed. That would require attention. If none of those things are true then why be hard on yourself over something that should be fun?! I don't shoot everyday by any means and I usually shoot even less during most winters as I love to ski. The only "should" I feel about this or any sport is the one that says I need to remain proficient enough that it's ethical for me to hunt. I'll still take many days off to go bird hunting with my buddies instead. Some might act like I'm "betraying the faithful" if I do that but this trad thing shouldn't ever be cultish and I never argue about having fun-with anyone, or myself even! :)
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Shooting your bow is kind of like sex. Sometimes it's a hassle to get started but once you do, you are usually glad you did. Second, it's rarely any fun doing it alone. Third, if all else fails, try some new "gear"
:laughing:
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Chuck,Does that job offer therapy...LOL You should find some guys who are your age to shoot with on a regular basis.Some of the older gents have a Wednesday night shoot club and they are a joyful bunch to watch.And prep with the grandchild for when they are ready.Or go out and build an archery range,"if you build it they will come".start a over 50 shoot in your yard every 3rd Saturday,at worst you will meet new friends.Stay strong my brother.
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Thank You My Friends for all of your kind comments and concerns!!!!! :notworthy:
Curveman,Yes in fact I have also lost intrest in my other hobbies..... But, I really don't think it's "depression". More like... "FRUSTRASION"!!!!! :mad:
The vehical problems are KILLING ME!!! We have 3 people in the house(with my son home for the summer) who have to get back and forth to work,and with 2 out of 3 cars out of commission it's TOUGH!!! (I had to walk 2 miles to the gas station to get transmission fluid for my son's car just to find out that it's pouring out in a stream and I won't be able to drive it to the shop and get it fixed. Looks like it's gonna have to be towed,but heck,at least I got some excercise LOL!!!)
A few years ago, I trade in my old pick-up on a little blue BMW convertable for my beautiful wife's 40th bithday present. Figured it was time to get rid of the "Mom Mobile" and get her something as goodlooking as she was to drive around in. I miss my old truck.....
It wasn't anything special,just an old black 1994 Chevy 1500 Ext.Cab. Heck,it wasn't even 4WD. But man it was reliable!!!!! Oh yeah,it broke down now and then like all trucks do. But I called her the $500 wonder... It never took more than $500 to get her running again!!!!! Right now the most frustrating thing is that I couldn't get in anything and "go" even if I wanted to!!!!!
That was where the shooting came in. If I want to go fly-fishing,I have to drive to one of the many wonderful trout streams around. I'm not much of a fly tyer,but I don't even have the enthusiasm to tie any.(I've got BOXES of them anyway) I figured shooting my bow was easy,no need to drive anywhere,just grab my bow and arrows and walk out the back door!!! But, I just don't enjoy going out there anymore. Oh well, I guess I'll just keep working and "keep on,keeping on".....
Thanks Again My Friends!!!!! :notworthy:
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Chuck,
Sometimes life can get a little too crowded in our heads. I understand what you are calling "frustration".
I have been without a job for 10 months now, not looking for any pity, I just tell you this as a sort of bonafides. I am a really active guy. Always have a project or an outing planned. I got really down on myself, let the bows and the flyrods both get real dusty. I felt a little guilty about going and doing something fun when things were tight for us. It took the very special gal I love (and who loves me) to tell me "Get your butt off the couch! Go build something, go loose some arrows, go snag some flies in the trees!"
I called a buddy, we threw some Spam and 'tater chips in the truck and spent a few days in the woods. I felt a lot better.
I know how you feel, I really do! Life drains our batteries. We have to do things that recharge them. Sometimes it takes a little effort to break through the rust that forms and get the gears turning again. Do a little something fun so you can remember what fun is. Start small, play some catch with your son, go get ice cream with the family.
Time to start your Recreation Rehabilitation!
OkKeith
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I think it depends somewhat on WHY did you get into archery in the first place? Was it to develop a skill, to have use for social interactions with a certain person or type of person, was it for hunting, or was it to escape the chois of life by finding some release from worldly ways?
Regardless, if you are not enjoying it, then the "spark" (reward) of what got you into it in the first place has deminished. If you enjoyed shooting with your kids, don't get into "routines." Don't just stand in front of a target to work on "practice" or form. Keep the enjoyment in it as well. Find archery games to reward your son's participation in order to develop his interest. To do this, buy a case of cheap cola, shake it up and have him shoot at it with blunts. Or, water balloons, or perhaps eggs...something to put emotion/drama into archery...to REWARD him. YOU WILL FIND PLEASURE IN HIS PLEASURE. I promise you that. Somthing else that might help BOTH you and your son is to let him shoot at least 3 shots for every 1 time you shoot. Shoot with people that are fun. Don't use score cards and if at a 3D shoot, don't turn in a score, but just shoot a fun round from whereever you want to shoot. Just focus on the fun. Keep your shots close so you don't have to spend time looking for arrows that miss. Keep it fun.
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I have been shooting trad bows for over 50 years- I love the flight of the arrow wouldn't know what to do without it. Hope it comes back for you.
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I feel ya. I shot most my life and just recently got back to Archery after a couple year hiatas. Now that I'm on this site maybe it will help keep me interested again(well plus the new BW bow I have coming).
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Originally posted by Turkeys Fear Me:
Shooting your bow is kind of like sex. Sometimes it's a hassle to get started but once you do, you are usually glad you did. Second, it's rarely any fun doing it alone. Third, if all else fails, try a new "bow."
:laughing:
Best... quote... EVER!
I don't care what anyone calls it. The blues, depression, frustration... it's all different names for the same thing. As long as we have responsibilities and bills we are all candidates for a bout of it now and again.
When I get it I treat it. Eat better, sleep a bit more, take vitamins, more exercise, etc.
Just this weekend I was feeling it a bit. My brother REALLY let me down (no need for details) and no one asked me to a 4th of July BBQ or anything and I got bent a little.
Took the dog stumping (it could just as easily have been a hike) near the Delaware. The walking, the heat, watching the dog do her thing... completely changed my attitude.
Ran to the PA side of the Delaware and picked up some fireworks, invited a buddy to the house. Grilled up some grub, lit some fireworks and enjoyed the cooler temps that the night brought. And didn't think about any of the stuff that was bringing me down.
It isn't about losing interest in anything, I think. It's about being burdened with other things.
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Try to get a Young Neighbor or Friends Child interested in Trad. Archery, or Archery Period. Its Amazing, even if YOU dont Loose an Arrow to see the Excitement and Just Plain FUN in their Little Eyes!! That will bring back some of the Fun, I guarantee it!!
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The last time I felt like life was taking over and I was old and that things were not fun anymore I stayed out till 3 in the morning frog giggin. :campfire:
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I havn't read all the post but I will give you my opinion. I try to shoot 4 or 5 times a week in my yard. Maybe 25 to 30 arrows maybe 100 depends on how I feel. This keeps me sharp and ready when hunting opportunities present themselves but it is also a way for me to relax and clear my mind. Next, I highly recommend a shooting/hunting bud. Someone who has similar likes and interest who you enjoy beiong around. Someone who loves traditional archery if possible. Maybe a son, grandson, friend or neighbor. Next, attend 3-D shoots with your friend. Make it an annual affair. My bud and I have two big shoots(weekend events) we attend every year and a few other smaller ones if we can. Plan these trips like a hunting trip, well in advance, and go come hell or high water. Clear the calendar and let everyone know you will not be available that weekend and stick to it. When your not shooting and have free time, stay active in archery related activities. Arrow building, equipment adjustments and upkeep, broadhead and knife sharpening etc. Join and become active in your state archery association or a local archery club. You don't have to be shooting to enjoy traditional archery but it is always nice to have someone to share the experience with.
Finally, as a financial planner, I am always telling my clients to write a check to themselves each month. This mostly applies to retirement planning/saving. It is just as important for you to make time for yourself each month doing something that you enjoy doing. This is after grass cutting, honey do's, etc. There are plenty of things you can do that are archery related that will recharge your battery if you'll just take the time to do it. If you don't chances are you are a heart attack waiting to happen. Good luck and God Bless. :knothead:
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sounds like you need to head to the dealership and buy a new or fairly used truck and maby on other good used car. heck take a cab and drive home.
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I've been shooting seriously since I was 13. I began bowhunting big game in 1969 at 16 years old. After God and Family archery has been the most important thing in my life since the first chipmunk wandered in front of my Pearson Cougar driven Deadhead (I know -- overkill). I do other things also and before retiring from Fish & Wildlife I "donated" 3 months a year of overtime doing my job. But, I had to find time for archery. I "lost" archery (at least shooting) for 8 months last year -- hurt my shoulder during DIY project at home --. I feared I would never shoot a bow again. I've been back since last August and shoot on average at least daily. I think having almost lost archey caused me to appreciate it even more. I built a 3-D range this past week (22 targets) for the exercise as much as shooting. I enjoyed making the trail as much as I love to shoot it. I also like scouting and hanging stands almost as much as hunting. I shoot by myself most of the time but my son shoots with me when he isn't working. Here's the ringer for me. I shot recurves until 1974. Then I switched to compounds (and loved every minute of it). I came back to recurves this year. I shoot the recurves daily and the compound about once a week -- 2-3 arrows. I think the 3-D range with other archers is a great thing but you'll have to go in a positive have-fun frame of mind. If you go focused on results and you aren't result-ready, it could be torture. Finally, NY is a relatively new NASP state. You can contact your wildlie agency and find out where your nearest NASP school is and offer to assist some young people. Your NASP coordinator is Melissa Bailey -- contact info at: www.archeryintheschools.org (http://www.archeryintheschools.org)
The only time in my life when I didn't have fun with archery was when I had target panic really bad in the early 1990's. It is long gone now!
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Originally posted by LITTLEBIGMAN:
I'm 55 and the enthusiasm and fun of archery is more intense then ever. I am a loner though and enjoy the freedom of not needing company to make something fun. I am not saying i don't enjoy shooting with others ,just saying the desire and the fun of shooting is there either way. with or without others. If its not fun anymore, do something else. Life is too short to not be having fun.!
Insert 45yrs. old for me....couldn't have said it better myself...just gets better and better!
Good luck Chuck :pray:
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Chuck,
I think you need a good rain or snow dance to get the juices flowing again. Wish I was still out there buddy I'd be over and take you out for a day of stumping. Hang in there, I'm sure it will pass.
Good luck my friend,
Curlis
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I remember when i was in college playing baseball during the winter months me and my roomate would shoot our bows for hours everyday.
I had everything paid for and my dad would send me about $75.00 dollars a week just to have some spending money, life was good.
Jump ahead 20 years and i have a house payment, child support, credit card debt, car payment, $30,000 dollar loan because i had some health issues and then the first of the month bills.
Dear God how in the world am i going to make it through this. Yes sometimes shooting my bows takes a back seat to all the problems i have going on in my life.
My ex just moved her and my daughter 90 miles away and im having a really hard time dealing with this situation.
I still love to shoot and try to at least 3-4 times a week but all this crap is still floating around in my head so it takes some of the enjoyment out of shooting.
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I'm with winterhawk...get a shooting buddy! Their enthusiasm will help charge your batteries...theirs too! There is nothing wrong with laying the bow down for a short period of time and take up some flyfishing, flintlocking or some other activity for a while...diversity is the spice of life! In a short while the bows will bw calling your name...you'll answer. It's in the blood, cheif.
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I'll echo the words a few have written. Find a place to shoot with friends!
Next, visit Binghams project web site and order the plans for two bows, one for you and the other for your son. Then plan it all out together, this will create a time for the both of you to talk, make plans for future hunts and dream. In the end, the time you will have spent with him making those two bows, will live in him forever! And in the end, you both have two brand new bows! I hope you both find it again, it is there!
Kevin
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Chuck, if you want to get fired up about traditional again do the following. Contact Tom Phillips and put a few bucks away a month for the next year and be part of Bear Quest V 2011 next June. The best time you'll ever have with people that enjoy Trad Bowhunting. My wife just didn't understand it when I went last month. "You're going to drive 16 hours, by yourself, to a place you've never been to before to hunt with a bunch of people you've never met. I don't get it." My answer was "Yup". Most fun I've ever had with a bow in my hand :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: