When to take off the trainin wheels?

[KentuckyTJ]

When I got the first glimpse of my intended target slinking through the woods toward me and I in it's realm sitting there holding a stick and feeling very inferior, I knew. When sitting in that ground blind and thinking I was actually going to get a shot heart racing, I knew. Holding my bow up trying not to shake to hard and realizing I had to wait for her to turn her head as not to see my draw, I knew. As I saw my big trad fletchings spinning toward their intended brown haired background and striking their mark, I knew. Standing over my first trad bow kill, I knew. I knew this was how it was supposed to feel for me.

[Stumpkiller]

You know, reading through this thread make me wonder if there is a group who seek out the "vintage" compound bows to hunt with.  The old wood riser Brownings and Dartons.

Anyway, I started out with a recurve target shooting and, after college, I was convinced you needed a compound for hunting.  After missing five deer in five trys I went back to a recurve.  That was in the mid 1980's.  The bow wasn't so bad - a Martin Cougar II - and I could probably have shot it instinctively just fine.  I tried once when a buck appeared - out of habit.  Didn't work so well not having practiced that way.        It was all the other crap that accompanied it that messed me up.  Rests and sights, etc.  When I started looking at release aids I did an internal reevaluation and just said "no".

[CAT22]

I just decided to take the wheels off this year. I kinda went thru the common "hunting stages". Just shoot a deer, then how many can i shoot, then shoot a buck, then get choosey for a big buck, etc. Now I'm no master for sure, but getting better at hunting big deer. So it was thenext logical step in the progression for me. Another goal to achieve. Funny thing is I'm back to just shoot any deer right now! I've very much enjoyed the process with all the help from members. You will too. Good luck.

[dot 1]

for myself, the wheels had to go as soon as i shot a longbow the first time. im an all or nothing kind of guy so my buddy got a hell of a compound for nothin and i got adventures gallore. plus my young daughters are in love with trad archery too! i chereish our time together in the field watching arrows fly. all the elk and deer i shot with my wheel bow were under 10 yards anyway and i started to feel like a looser needing sights for that. good luck bro.

[moththerlode]

Actualy just one big circle, I ended up right back where I started 40 years ago.

[JohnnyWayne]

Never picked them up to begin with  

Pure win. Welcome to the club  

[Thumper Dunker]

Never had any wheels. But you can never have too many weapons.

[BowHuntingFool]

Originally posted by Orion:
You'll have your answer when how you kill a critter becomes more important than how big or how many you kill.      

I agree with Jerry on this one.....

[Bighornangler]

I started way before compounds came on the market. I went through the phase, but never felt right about it. Then I went back to stick bows and never looked back. It was like something heavy came off of my back. I think we all go through the different phases of hunting like someone else said. First it's how many. Then it's how big, and eventually it's just enjoying the whole experience. I would advise that if you do make the switch, don't go back and forth between compounds and stick bows. Some folks can do it without problems, but most can't. If someone is really that concerned about taking those 30 to 40 yard or more shots, than maybe they need to stick with the compound.

[Hippie Chris]

I try but seem to go back from time to time! My buddy decided to just sell all his toys with wheels and that was that he had no choice but to grab that Long Bow and go. Well this was his first year straight up trad! one cold November morn he calls me ."Man I just had that 170" at 15 yrds and couldn't take the shot he stayed in the cover or was movin a doe back and forth for 15min. He was crushed 15 yards is a chip shot with the Compound even in cover but the story and the fact he did film all of this.

[Jordan]

I shot compound for 14 years.  I made the switch to Trad about seven months ago and never looked back.  It took me about six months to decide I would never shoot compound again and sold EVERYTHING less than a week later.  I still have never regretted doing that.  You will know when you are ready.