The Majority of Trad Gangers are in their 40's!

[Hawken1911]

...if you take the "How old are you?" thread as a sample survey.  I crunched my numbers after 187 responses.  Here is the population breakdown on Trad Gang by age group:

40-49: 29%
50-59: 24%
30-39: 21%
20-29: 10%
60-69: 09%
10-19: 04%
70-70: 02%
80-89: 01%
00-09: 00%

After I did my tedious counting, then the math, I saw someone else had the same idea on the original thread.  I do find the topic interesting, and I always wondered what the age breakdown here would be like.  Only 14% of us are under 30, which goes along with all the talk of declining numbers in hunting and the outdoor sports.  Especially considering the younger generations are the ones you would think would be embracing technology the most, and would be spending the most time on forums like this if they were involved with traditional archery.  These percentages also seem to go along with what I've seen at traditional shoots; it's mostly middle-aged people with young-ins few and far between.

Then the question that comes to mind is, when were most of us hooked on TA?  Is it common for people to take up the sport later in life?  If so, these percentage breakdowns might remain similar over a long period of time.  But if most of us were hooked on TA when we were young, and fewer young people are being introduced to it every year, our "majority" will obviously keep getting older.

Paul

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

Hummm ... 65% age 40 or above? Take a kid hunting!

Ed

[Bill Shepard]

Speaking for only myself, I've been doing archery most of my life.  But, I didn't become interested in traditional archery until I was in my late 30's.  

In my case I had wondered if archery was a progression in which the better you become the more basic means you crave?

When I see kids exposed to trad gear, whether boys or girls, I usually see some spark of interest.  My gut feeling tells me our sport will be very healthy in the future.  

Be well  

[Jim Parsell]

Is that 1% for 80 to 89 because Ron LaClair just had a birthday????  TeHe   Jim
Gosh, 50 to 59 is 24% and 60 to 69 is 9%!!!!!!  I turn 60 in 3 weeks, think I would rather stay 59!!!  Jim

[Kingstaken]

Paul,

Thanks for thread and results.
Regading the old age of most of us tradgangers to me most younger shooters are compound shooters and most don't come around unless they have a great passiion for archery and have gotten bored with hittin 1/2" target at 20yards.

Maybe the question could be what age are you and include any traditional archers in your family such as wife, children, grand child, nieces and nephews (if they don't post on tradgang).

I say this as most children are not on a tradgang line posting. I have 3 in my family who shoot traditional archery including 2 sons one at 15 who will start bowhunting this year and the other 8 years old.  This cuts tha gae of a average trad shooter down to 23 yrs old in my home. This will make the average age above look much better ..I Hope..LOL.

Maybe time to star another thread

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

Don't feel bad Jim. There's more than that of us in the 'senior citizen' group. I know they didn't count me!

Welcome to the real 'Survivor' show!

Ed

[dudley152]

I started hunting with a recurve when I was a kid. I took a break when Uncle Sam came calling and resumed in 1973. A few years later, the compound bug bit me and I didn't return to the fold until 2005. Unfortunately, medical issues hit me about the same time. I haven't had a chance to actually hunt with my recurve yet but I'm hoping I can get out this year.

I can't stress it enough, we have to get more youngsters and women involved in our sport. Whatever it takes, we need to do it. If you can afford it, give someone a bow and arrows. Show him or her how to shoot it safely. Be patient. The Lord didn't make the world in a day so we shouldn't expect them to be Robin Hood overnight.

[whitebuffalo]

I'd have to say that the gadget kids prefer their gadgets. I was alway kinda interested but never got serious until my late 20'S. But I had gadgets galore before that.

[Jim Parsell]

Dr. Ed,
Lets stay in touch each year all the way to 70!!!  I think I will be needing encouragement!!!!   Jim

[Dave Worden]

Jim, me too!  Though I have 3 months to wait, not 3 weeks.

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

JIM !!!! ... 70 ... How about we up that bar a bit! I'm just now getting STARTED GOOD! Don't figure I'll even peak until my age exceeds my bow's draw weight! (That's the REAL reason I like heavy draw weight bows, gives me more TIME.)

Ed

[John3]

74% 30 years or older.  I agree, get a kid involved.
I started in 1986 with a compound, got tired of the gizmos after a few years and a few deer killed. Loved this idea and challenge of a trad bow and love my recurve everyday. I remember getting my first black widow catalog in 1992. Bought my first recurve SKY HAWK by Earl Hoyt JR. that same year, I was 25 or 26 when I got serious about traditional archery.

John III

[The Singing Bowyer]

Most guys can't figure out if they are coming or goin til they are almost 40...

I haven't hit the 40 bench yet, but then, my wife carrys a big club...so I got a headstart!

[ZaneD]

well, i'm 15 and I started hunting with a 20ga. when i was 8, then with a muzzleloader when i was 11, then when i was 13 i got a compound and hunted with the that for two seasons and even won first place in the only two competitions that i went to, and then got bored with it and i got a longbow, and it is much more fun to shoot and i can't shoot a 2-3" group at 25 yards with my longbow, but that's ok, mabye one day. i can shoot about a 5" group at 15 yards with my longbow and i practice every day to try to improve that. but i really love archery and the compound was just too easy for me. that's why i made the switch.

[Kingstaken]

Zane
Nice to see a young man who know whats he wants in life.. and nice to see you undertsand that you as most can make it in the easy way of life and are stepping up for challanges.