Trad from the start

[LP Kelley]

Since 1955, solid fiber glass bow for Christmas from Mom and Dad. Don't remember the make. Then I shot an old Bear bow that belonged to a buddy. Then an American Archery Cheeta. When I was 24 or 25 Jack Howard made me a Gamemaster. Also acquired a Tice and Watts Sparten Hunter couple years later. Compounds started showing up around here around '73 or '74 I think. I've never owned one. I went the other way and Had John Schulz make me a longbow summer of '77. Stayed with longbows. Now I shoot longbows and hybrids. I prefer the looks of a 'D' shape longbow.

[Kip]

Since 1974 killed my first deer in 76 with a K-mag.

[LongbowGuy83]

I started out with a hardware store special plastic/rubber/fiberglass(?) 'longbow' when I was a kid. Broke it and didn't find my way back until age 17. Friends in Montana helped me see the light. Came home and brought a Bear Montana longbow. 26 now and still going strong although a few times I didn't give my bow the attention she needs.

[SveinD]

When i was younger we used to make our own gear, as many here probably did as well.
Straight branches with strings and fireworksrods with nails tied down.
At about 7-8 i got a shiny, green fiberglassbow (no wheels) with a pink handle, and it was the coolest ever!
Still used the same arrows though  
Then in the early 90s (10-12yrs old) i found other interests, as often happens,
and didnt take up archery until March this year, had 2-3 practices with olympic recurves,
which were the only bows my club had for newbies.
Felt the something was wrong, so i took off the sights and, viola, trad ever since  

[mjh]

Broke my first bow as a kit some kinda recurve don't remember, always have shot recurves and longbows; working on selfbow.

[ranger42]

Started with a recurve in the mid 70's, then shot compound for awhile. I got tired of all the gadgets and wanted to simplify things. I have sold the compounds and enjoy the longbow.

[Whitetail Nut]

Ive shot archery since Ive been 5 but always with a compound and about 6 years ago I bought a recurve and I havent looked back since.

[LimbLover]

Started back in May. My only intention was to shoot traditional.

Started with a recurve and I just picked up a longbow. I'm loving it. Can't put it down.

[Northwoods]

started at about 8-10 years old with a garage sale longbow and a single cheap arrow.  as i got older i picked up a compound but never hunted with it - it just didn't feel right.  several years ago i picked up an osage selfbow started hunting and haven't shot the compound since. the allure of hunting with tradional/homemade equipment can't be matched
Ted

[doubleo]

Started with one of those fiber glass bows when i was about 12 years old. I think it pulled about 25 or 30 pounds. The local carp population took a pounding from the neighbors and me. Then in my early 20's i bought a nice used Browning recurve that pulled 46#. I started deer hunting with that bow. It took me about 10 years before i shot my first deer a 6 pointer which was taken with a Hoyt Huntmaster i bought new. My first custom bow was an Assenheimer. I am now 54 and have owned many bows since my younger years. I did shoot a wheelie bow for a year. I missed a deer with it and went back to my recurve. There is no better feeling than carrying a stickbow around in the great outdoors.

[Orion]

Got my first real (lemonwood) longbow when I was six or seven, and have been shooting and hunting sticks ever since, with a brief hiatus into mechanical arrow launchers in the mid-70s.   I'm 63 now.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Started bowhunting in 1966 with a Pearson Colt. I've never strayed........it's who I am. It's what I do.

[vermonster13]

1969 is when I got my first "real" bow (Bear Red Bear) and didn't have to shoot the Willow branch with baling twine anymore. Been doing it ever since. Have shot compounds, just don't work for my hunting style.

[Spectre]

Browning Wasp was my first bow(I sure miss her), I bought a Hoyt FastFlight compound and shot it for a while---it wasn't for me at all, so trad for me. Forever.

[Mike Manassa]

Started out with a Bear fiberglass bow..took a leave of abscence for awhile but came back to the recurves...Coming 58 in March and still loving it..Mike

[glass76]

I started with a green fiberglass recurve. Quickly went to a Ben Pearson wooden recurve. Then a couple Bear bows, then it happened, I tried a compound. It was heavy, noisy and cold. Two weeks later I was back to a recurve, been there ever since.