Gotta share this story (proud Dad)

[Sharpster]

My youngest son Ethan (10) has been shooting trad for a couple years now, he even qualified for the kids eagle eye shoot-out at ETAR this year. While at the local county fair a couple months back my wife and Ethan went into the 4H booth where he was very excited to hear that they have a local 4H archery program. He came home all exited with the contact info and we got him signed up. Since then he's been super excited about it and he's been counting down the days to the first meeting like it was Christmas... The first meeting was last Thursday so I called the night before just to make sure we had the time and place right and before I hung up with the leader it occurred to me that I should probably ask... "Do the kids shoot trad or compounds"? The answer actually surprised me... The kids shoot compounds! Okay...  :rolleyes:   I told Ethan and without batting an eye he said "forget it then, I'm not going". He sure made me proud the way he spit that out without the slightest hesitation!

Ron

[frassettor]

      that's cool!!

 Give me a shout when you have a minute , Ron

[jsweka]

 

That's great.  Not that he should shun our compound brethern, but it's great to see he's already that dedicated to trad bows.  Maybe he should still go, just to expose other kids to traditional archery and show them how effective a traditional bow can shoot.  If he qualified for the kids eagle-eye, I'd bet he can shoot better than a lot of kids with compounds.  They'd look at him like he was a modern day Robin Hood    

I don't regret my compound days because that taught me how to hunt and track, and led me to traditional archery, but looking back at it now, I do wish I would have learned how to shoot a traditional bow at an earlier age.

[KodiakMag]

I have shot trad since I was 6. Never liked the thought of a compound. Good for him!

[moebow]

I understand where you are coming from and why but I also see it as kind of a shame too.  4H uses the Genesis bow and yes, it does have wheels BUT!!!!  It shoots just like a trad bow.  It can be adjusted for draw weight from 10 to 20#.  It DOES NOT HAVE A LET OFF OR WALL and it is shot barebow with fingers.  Ethan could have had some coaching, competition and social interface with new kids.

This program along with NASP (archery in the schools) program give the kids great opportunity to get archery instruction and competition.  I'm as "hardcore" trad as anyone on this forum but feel that the Genesis bow is the greatest and best beginner's bow made today.  Also for institutional shooting it greatly reduces the bow inventory required to fit the bow to the student.

Just my $0.02.

[NoCams]

Hey Sharpster, reminds me of Mason, then 11 yrs old,when he told me, " Hey Dad please put my compound on *bay and get rid of it ! " Again, not putting down compound shooters or burning the bridge that got me here. It is just the fact that after going trad Mason and I lost all interest in wheels. I plan on sticking to my handle..... " NoCams".....  

[xtrema312]

4H ust be different in places.  I just went and watched my good friend’s two daughters shoot at the 4H state championships.  One won first and the other placed real high in class and probably only out of first because her late round was in the rain and she was shooting feathers.  They had compound and non compound plus sites and no sites and some form of unlimited.  His girls shoot compound with fingers and have shot in no site and site classes. They seemed to have something to cover a wide range of archers in MI.  There were plenty shooting bare bow recurves.  Then there was the skeet, trap, muzzle loader 3d and so on.  I was very impressed with the variety of shooting sports they had.  Maybe have to get my kids into it.  

Those girls would blow the doors off a lot of us and don’t go thinking it is because they shoot compounds. They are shooting plain old garage sale quality short compounds and often with nothing on the bow including sites.  It is not easy to get off a sting clean and consistent with fingers on a real short compound.  

So did they say you can’t shoot a trad bow?  I can’t imagine there is a rule against it. Maybe they just don’t have anyone in that class. Why not do it anyway?  Expose others to trad bow or maybe go more Olympic style bow or something and still stay more trad.  Do it for the fun of it.

I agree about the Genesis bows.  Not a compound and great for kids and new shooters.  We have one.

[bentpole]

Ron, looks like your raising a fine boy there Bud!          

[Ragin Bull]

Ron,

Great story.

You should be proud.

Sounds like your son has a fine head on his shoulders and a good example in a father      

[The Whittler]

Please do not take this the wrong way. Is your son not going because he really doesn't won't to or is it because he thinks you don't wan't him too. Kids try to please their parents all the time.

I don't know you or your son but why would any kid not wan't to have fun. Talk to him, maybe if you went both of you just may have more fun then you think.

Again if I am out of line I apologize.

[Mudd]

I would ask about whether or not he could participate but shoot his own bow.

Could be there might be others who might find out they like shooting without wheels also.

Just my way of approaching it.

I am in agreement that you have much to be proud of in your son.

God bless,Mudd

[Sharpster]

Yea, That's only part of the story... I try not to be a "you gotta do what I do" dad so we signed him up anyway. The first meeting was just that- a meeting and basic orientation. I actually want him to be exposed so that he can make up his own mind. Hopefully at some point he'll be able to bring his recurve and show the others how much fun trad can be too. It's just that my chest swelled a little at his initial reaction to the news. Thanks all!

Ron

[KodiakMag]

I shot 4-H shooting sports..10 year member. We had only trad bows but, they were looking into switching to compounds. What I got from 4-H is there are a lot of people there that think they know how to shoot trad when all they know how to shoot is compound with a release. I hardly went to any practice shoots and mainly showed up to shoot for trophies. I still won a trophy every year there and learned more by shooting without some guy who thought he knew more about my shooting abilities then me. It was a nice place to start with but my 4-H club went downhill fast! Hopefully it's not a trend in other 4-H clubs.

[Bill Carlsen]

Ron: Encourage him to go. I have shot my stickbows along with compounds in many shoots. He may just turn some other kids on to trad. In any event, I truly believe its not the bow you shoot that makes you a better person...it's your ethics and honesty and treating others with decency and respect. Some of my best friends and hunting partners over the years have shot and hunted with compounds.

[b.glass]

It's cool that he is/was so excited. I wish my son was as interested. I don't want to make him do anything like this. I want him to want to.