Introductions

[LongStick64]

Seeing that we may have new issues with the Classified section changes, might be a good idea to have new members send a introduction post, or maybe whe have an Intro section.

I've posted over 1000 posts but I still consider myself new so I'll introduce myself, here goes.

My name is Pete and I choose the name Longstick64 because I love to shoot longbows and I was born in 1964. I have a very understanding wife and two amazing kids that think my archery skill is extremely worthy. I started making my own bows out of sticks and any strings I could find and I tore up my Dads bushes making arrows. My first hunts were after neighbourhood squirrels.
Traditional Archery has been a passion that never seems to flame out and I only hope to one day share a hunt with my son. That would be the ultimate experience for me. My daughter though is a natural archer, awesome form but is terrified of getting dirty. No problem, Archery is a sport of many forms.
As for bows I love any bow made by Zipper, Dan Toelke and Great Northern. I prefer longbows but I've been known to dabble with recurves.
Well that's me, good to meet you.

[Green]

Great idea Longstick....let's continue.  I'm a relative newcomer to TG, but have been involved in shooting traditional since I was 10....42 years ago.  Still have the first bow I saved up and bought at that time.  Bought a compound in '88.....shot it for a month, sold it and picked up a Bob Lee recurve....wheels weren't for me.  

I bowhunted groundhogs and gar as a kid.  In the late 80's early 90's I managed to trick a deer, a yote, and a gobbler into bow range and knocked 'em over.  I've always made my own wood arrows and love shooting them.  Have recently dabbled in carbons and like them too....but wood is my first love.

Had to put my equipment away in 1998 when a career change and divorce side tracked me.  I found TG shortly after pulling my bows back out of their cases last November and have called TG home ever since.  This site is always open in my browser at work and at home.  I have been fortunate to meet/make friends with quite a few Texas shooters....better people you'll never meet.  I've also made some very close friendships here with archers 1000 miles away....one of whom I shared an Ohio turkey hunt with via text messages this morning.
I posted the other day that our members have the highest ethics and respect for one another I've ever seen on any internet forum.  I for one shall strive to keep up my end of that Tradgang attribute.

[horsehairhunter]

I'll keep the ball rolling on this one.  No one in my family or friends hunted when I was growing up.  14 years ago I met my WONDERFUL wife and I mentioned I wanted to go upland bird hunting.  With her pushing me along I brought home a pup that turned into a great hunter and I fell in love with chasing game.  About 5 years ago we moved into our new house that butts up to 10,000 acres of DNR land.  I thought heck, hunting birds isn't that hard, how much harder could it be to hunt the deer behind my house? (Yes, I hear a few of you that hunt blacktails laughing at that idea, eh?   :D )  Of course the guys I knew that hunted all had compound bows, so I got one too.  Luckily I figured out the error of my way and took up trad gear 2 years ago.

I have a ACS long bow, 53# @28, and just switched from aluminuim to carbons.  I feeling learning and doing new things help keep me young and I love learning all the stuff that goes into tuning bows, building up arrows, shooting form, scouting, etc.

I am very lucky to have a friend who is very knowledgeable about stick bows and he's been a wealth of information and support.    He's hunted since he was 10 and now has elk camps in three or four states.  Right now I can't afford to hunt that much, but I've  been lucky enough to get invited on his local "stick bow only" trips a few times.

I rarely post here because I don't feel I know enough to be offering up advice, but I read alot and it has helped me learn.  And if there are any trad gangers Western Washington that have the patience to let a "newbie" tag along, that would be great.  

Besides hunting I enjoy traveling with my wife, riding horses, home woodworking, and reading.

Nice to meet all the rest of you.

Mark

 

[bsoper]

Like many others, I was fascinated with archery from a young age. I was always tearing the bushes up to make bows/arrows. I never bought anything though once I grew up, and didn't know where to start.  last year I decided to give it a start. I got off to a rough start because I didn't do my homework and got the wrong type of bow, but I got hooked good. I have just ordered a proper bow from white wolf archery and am looking forward to shooting it.

I have a wife and 17 month daughter and they are my greatest happiness. I an graduating on the 7th with a master of public administration degree and am hoping to find a job in  a nice small town where I can go hunting in my "backyard." I haven't been out to the woods much lately because of school and am very excited for my first turkey hunt with my brother next month.

Glad to be part of this community. I love learning new things and you guys have all taught me so much. Thanks!

[LONGSTYKES]

Good Stuff, Hear goes. My name is Don Vancil, 63 years young. I shot Traditional years ago, a Fred Anderson long bow 72# @ 28". Loved the hunt, approximately 12 deer and 2 elk. Motor cycle accident in 1979, damaged shoulder.

Doctor said I would never shoot a bow again. Hunted rifle since until  2003, with new compounds and carbon arrows, buddy talked me into trying one. Worked well, but was never into it.

My friends, Doug Campbell and Tom Stock talked me into going to the 2008 Traditional Bow Hunters of Montana Banquet. Now I have 11 Long Bows and still going. Joined Trad Gang last year and love it, learning a lot and enjoying.

Retired Engineer, still work at local sporting goods and mercantile store for fun, great family. Good wife who thinks I am little excessive. Two grown children and one wonderful grand daughter, who loves to shoot with me.  

Trad Gang is a great forum of many old friends ( I love PowWow )
and I hope many more new ones.  Great to meet everyone God Bless

[Old Chief]

Looks like a good way to do an introduction.  My name is George and I started with a Gordan Bow about 50 years ago.  No one around to learn from, so just read and tried to teach myself.  Killed my fist deer with that bow about 3 years later.

 With school, sports and the U.S. Army, my bowhunting toook a back seat until the early 1970's and then I started shooting a Martin compound.  I really took off then as we were able to hunt Santa Cruz and Catalina Islands and there were several folks who mentored me.  I went several years this way and then had a neck and shoulder injury.

Did not shoot a bow for over 10 years and when I picked up one of my compounds and shot it for the first time I was amazed at how well I was able to shoot it.  Then it struck me, sights, release, 50% let off, I had good old equipment, but it was not what I wanted.

Bought a used recurve off of one of the auction sites and tried to teach myseld how to shoot traditional.  I found this site and the information here has saved me countless hours and untold amounts of money.  I am still in the learning mode, but aren't we all.

I just joined the Tradgang so I would be able to search for information, but I really injoy the quality of the people on this site.

My next big event will be next week when JJ calls me to let me know my new Bob Lee is ready to ship.  

There are so many people here that I would like to thank for all the information I have gained.  God Bless and thank you all very much.

[Stumpkiller]

My name is Charlie Pearsall and I've been tossing arrows since I can remember - starting out with a bamboo self-bow that was about 30" long and had "Niagra Falls" written on the belly.  From there a solid fiberglass Indian recurve (both well used before I had them and still passing through the nephews and nieces and new generations).  My immediate family were all shooters (rifle and bow) but not hunters.  Grandpa was before WWI but never afterwards.  

In college I shot target archery with a Howatt Catalina recurve (and pin sight).  It wasn't until after I married that I had a good excuse to hunt and I joined up with a friend's family who brought me up to speed. I bought a compound and aluminum arrows in 1978 but by 1982 was back to traditional gear and wood arrows and have been there ever since.

I moderate on a traditional muzzleloading forum but the camp name "Stumpkiller" stems from my bowhunting mentor.  He noted I would rather be shooting stumps at lunchbreak at a canoe-in bowhunt/camp than be out deer hunting.

Have way too many interests: sailing (we own a Pearson 31), kayaking, flying R/C airplanes, fishing, hunting with traditional flintlocks & bows, raising chickens & turkeys (and occasionally sheep or goats), about 5,000 sq ft of vegetable garden and have been married to my best friend (who fishes, target shoots and used to hunt) since 1980.

 

[Mudd]

Hi all,
My name is Roy L Williams aka Mudd. I'm a 60 yr old kid of the King. He is the only reason I get to be here or anywhere.
I love traditional archery and use it as an outreach tool for Christ and fun. The flight of the arrow is a beautiful sight.

I hate sin(by definition that means to miss the mark) and I do it all the time in so many and in all of the ways possible.

I will shoot about anything that'll fling an arrow but my preference is a longbow.

It took me years and a lot of trial and error to figure this one out.

That's the style that now makes up the majority(small as my collection is) comparatively speaking.

I'm on a mission as of now to get the perfect bow that will be made just for me.

If for no other reason to see if it can be as sweet as the one I shot a few weeks back.

If I missed anything I'm sure over time you'll hear about it.

My wife always said that I'd talk to a doorknob..lol

 

 

God bless,Mudd    

[Archie]

Hi --

My name is Roman Gray Jr.  I'm the son of Roman Gray, founder of Roman Archery Co., an archery business that operated out of San Diego (El Cajon) California in the early '70s.  Dad was a fantastic archer, and got his 2 sons into it.  I grew up shooting a compound, but have made no changes to my compound bow or setup since about 1987.  I have never used a release!  I rarely shoot it anymore, but probably could go out this afternoon and shoot pretty well with it.  

(If any of you out there knew my dad, I'd love to know who you are.  Dad died in 2007, and it wasn't until after that that I became more interested in traditional archery.)  

I'm the youngest in this picture:
 

From left, here's dad, my brother-in-law, and me, in about 2006:
 

Now I spend all my archery time shooting two Black Widow bows, a 64" PMA recurve with elevated rest and homemade sights, and a 66" PLX longbow that I shoot off the shelf, gap and instinctively.  I shoot aluminums, and enjoy fletching and otherwise setting up my own arrows.  I don't care much for gimmickry, traditional or otherwise.  When I go out to shoot, I want to hit my target; I don't want technological advances to do it for me.

I love to stump shoot and bowhunt, but at this point have never been to a 3-D range nor any type of competition.  

I've successfully bowhunted lots of small game, and have lost count of the squirrels, rabbits, grouse, and gophers that I've taken, most with my recurve.  I've gotten a few woodchucks and porcupines, as well.  I shot one small deer with my compound 6 years ago, and none before or since! No turkeys, yet, either!  I'm a very busy guy, and don't have much time to invest in taking deer, but always give it a try when the season comes around.  I go it alone, and have never hunted with anyone else with my trad gear.  It's harder to learn that way, and I make a ton of mistakes, but TradGang forum talk has really made a difference for me.
 

Archery is not who I am; it's what I do when I have the time.  I am an old-fashioned Bible-believing Christian, a husband, a father, a pastor of a Spanish-speaking church, a full-time internal auditor in our local government, and a piano player, and I use archery as a way to take a "mental vacation" when I need it!

My dream archery excursion would be to go on a 2-3 week bowhunt with my friends and family, enjoying time camping, fishing, and hunting.  I grew up (20 years) in Fairbanks, Alaska, and miss it a lot.  I now live in northern Illinois, and..., uh..., find Alaska a better place for hunting!  My dream bows are the ones I have.  I really have no need for any others.  I have been interested in getting a bow from Tim at Acadian Woods for some time now, but I'm really becoming QUITE content with what I 've got!

God bless -
Roman "Archie" Gray

[bryan r]

My name is Bryan and I am addicted to archery.

I discovered my passion about 8 months ago when I picked up a bow for what was basically the first time. It was a Mathews compound, that I ended up spending more money on than I ever thought I would.
After six or seven months of great success at the range, and three deer in the freezer, I decided to hang up the wheels... It was probably the best decision I have ever made. After a few weeks of research, I picked up an ilf recurve and watched my consistency fall right out the window.
Going from shooting X's to praying I hit the paper was a huge wake up call. I knew if I wanted to achieve success I would have to dedicate myself to this sport... And that's about where I am right now. If I'm not working or out on the Harley, I'm in the back yard with bow in hand.
No wife, no kids. Just me, the dog, the bike and the bow. But hey, at 25, who would complain. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[long shot]

hi,  my name is jeff royster.  i am 46, have the world's best wife lana,  2 great kids cameron and caitlyn and a wonderful daughter in law amanda.

[long shot]

sorry about 2 posts,  i will continue.  i chose my handle, long shot because i figure it to be a long shot that i ever get good with one of these bows.  i took up trad because i am right handed and have slowly developed poor sight in my right eye, to the point of shooting bows and guns with sights left handed. i asked one of your fellow tradgang members about shooting trad and eye dominance problems and he loaned me a bow and arrows and told me to give it a try.  i enjoyed it so much i now own 3 trad recurves.i see that you are going through a difficult time here and would just like  to add that as a newbie,  i will honor and respect all your rules as they apply to me.  if at anytime i cannot do this i will remove my membership without complaint.  thanks for the opportunity to be a member, and to support trad, jeff

[Bud B.]

Howdy all. Bud B. here.

I started trad shooting back when I was about 14 or so. I was heavy into the compound thing but talked my Dad into buying me an unfinished Bingham project bow at #65. Now as a youngster I thought I could shoot anything. That #65 longbow didn't get shot much. Then at 16 and with a driver's license I happened upon a salvage place that had bought out some archery stuff. In the heap of stuff was a killer looking Super Grizzly at #50. I promptly took it home and camo'd it up with auto primer paint and drilled it for a Kwikee Kwiver and a Berger Button with flipper II rest. Oh now the horror I committed.

Anyhoo, marriage, kids, USAF for four years and back to a police career in GSO, NC I am now settled in Zoo City, NC with three years until I retire from chasing bad guys. Then the stumps and critters better watch it....

As a southpaw I had to take up leather work that has helped with some archery things too.

I have two Brittanys. My goal is to take them on an archery hunt for quail and pheasant if I could find some to hunt.

Been married 26 plus years and will be around, Lord willing, for the 50th and beyond.

I've met some great folks here on TG.

[JLeMieux]

I'm very new to traditional archery and love it. I bought my first recurve, a Martin Hunter, last year but didn't really start shooting it until after hunting season. I shoot at least 4-5 days a week now and recently got a Jeffery Royal Hunter that I'm trying to get used to. Like many others I don't post a lot but visit the site everyday to soak in info. Hope to keep shooting and get a lot better.

[scharms]

Greetings and salutations!  I am new to the forum so I thought it would be polite to introduce myself:  

I'm Nik and I still have my 1st Ben Pearson fiberglass recurve than was passed down to me from my mother when I was eight yrs old (circa 1983).  I do admit that I dabbled in compounds from the late 80's to early 90's.  I came back to recurves in the mid 90's & now consider compounds "training-wheel bows."  

For Christmas 2009 my wife bought me a Martin L100 longbow.  I'm still trying to master the transition!  

I'm a classic "two-season" hunter, but for the past several years I have restricted my firearm hunting to handguns and traditional muzzleloaders.  

I work as a mechanic, a part time FFL dealer, and NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.

[Casper]

How are you guys doing. I am Jonathan I have been shooting traditional  for about 5 years now before that i shot compound but once i got my first recurve  it has been only traditional for me. Grow up in North Carolina but now i live in South Carolina

[droz il]

Hello, my name is Dale I'm from Il. I've always liked traditional archery. Shot a Ben Pearson when I was younger, then tried a couple of compounds and didn't care for them. Started shooting traditional again around 1990 for a couple of years and stopped again. Well now I'm 66 yrs. old and started shooting again about a year ago. I haven't hunted with one yet, but I really like to shoot my longbows.

[BOWMARKS]

Hey there good idea!!                            My name is Mark Sharpe I have been into archery scince I was a teenager. Started with one of those old red fiberglass longbows for quite some time then I thought I moved up in my ways to the wheels for another time in my life. A few years ago I ended up stuck in a wheelchair for life and found the archery that I am now in love with. This sight has become a second home and will hopefully enjoy the ways of TRADGANG for alot more of my life.

[Bud B.]

Found this while cruising the back pages.

Thought I'd bump it ttt.

[Rdog]

I see it has been a while since anyone has posted here, but I didn't think I should start a new thread just to say hello.

I have been out of archery for 19 yrs, had a couple of compounds back in high school, did some bow fishing with them but never hunted.  The first bow was a cheap starter, which I shot without sights and loved, the next one was a top of the line model with all the bells and whistles...and it basically turned me off archery.  

I had always been interested in the traditional bows, but every year something stopped me from getting one.  Then sometime this summer I was inspired to make one out of a board...(or at least try) I am presently making two longbows and loving every second.

I hope to finish them soon and start on arrows and strings and then teach them to fly.  I would like to hunt next season with one and I have no plans to stop making these simple bows.

I look forward to learning as much as I can from you folks.