The Traditional Journey - A Great Ride....

[KyRidgeRunner]

Thanks Tim!  Good thread!  I have fooled with trad archery on and off for 6 years now and just this past year sold my last compound.  This site has helped me tremendously!  When I first started shooting I didn't have the Internet so I couldn't ask anyone questions.  That cost me a lot of money in arrows and lots of discouragement at first.  I understand that lots of guys started and was successful years ago without this site or
The Internet, however I'm lead to believe there was more mentors and men that still shot trad bows then that were willing to help and had the "know how" to set up and tune a bow.  The county I live in is heavily populated with archers and I'd say there is less than a dozen that could help set up a recurve or longbow.  So my hats off to you guys who answer the simple questions and let us newby's pick your brains and use your knowledge as our go to resource!

Wes

[PaPaFrank]

Good Stuff Tim!  There's no place quite like Tradgang, is there?  I wish it was around when I started ...

[Homey88]

Great post! I just started to shoot traditionally in December oh 2013 and was lucky enough to take my first buck with traditional equipment this past year. I can't tell you how touched I was by the congratulations I received from everyone on here not mention all the advice I have received and the great people I have met on here! One of the best things I could have done was join this site! Thank you to everyone!

[ranger 3]

In like helping when I can, thanks Tim

[Broken Quiver]

Thanks Tim! That attitude has kept me interested in the bow for many years before I actually started back shooting. I have notes from 04 that I gathered from Trad Gang. This site is refreshing and reminds me of the sharing gentleman that mentored me with the bow as a young teenager. Life finally made room for me to shoot again last year. I now have three sons and daughters and grand children pulling a string. It's a family thing! I'm glad to be part of this extended family, and yes, please keep answering the same questions over and over; it's what families do!!
John

[woodchucker]

I shot & hunted with recurves as a boy, in the 1960's & 70's...

When the compound craze hit, I was right in the middle of it!!! My friends all switched to compounds, back in the late 70's. I was the last holdout... Switching to a compound in 1981.

We shot recurves with Bear "Weatherests" and aluminium arrows with plastic vanes. We didn't have the knowledge or the "internet" at our disposal, it was mostly "Trial & Error" LMAO!!! I was fortunate enough, to work part time in an Archery Shop, after I got out of the Marines. Guys who were "making the switch" to compounds would come in & I'd offer to buy their recurves from them. The $20-$25 I gave them, usualy paid for arrows or a quiver or something for their new compound... I wish I still had most of those bows!!!!! Compounds started to get "Newer & Faster" and I saw the trend coming... I gave up bowhunting in the late 80's.

In the mid 90's, I had a friend who was VERY PERSISTANT, to get me back into bowhunting! I told him, "Bob, If I ever get back into bowhunting... It'll be with an old recurve & wood arrows!!!"

Enter, My very good friend, and fellow TradGanger... Joe Skipp    

Joe hooked me up with a 55# 1967 Bear Kodiak Magnum, and a dozen of his BEAUTIFUL wood arrows!!! Suddenly, I was a kid again!!!!! I learned that there was a huge resurgence in Traditional Archery! I learned that there was a very large number of "Custom" Bowyers out there! I also learned that you actualy COULD buy a "Production Bow"!!! (I remember asking him "They REALLY still make these???")

It has been a wonderful journey, with both of my boys,(especialy my youngest Tyler) Following in my footsteps... Enjoy the Ride!!!!!          

[Tim]

Joe Skipp....????  Never heard of the guy?    :cool:

       Yeah man, Joe is one of the good guys!

[Scott E]

 well said sir.

[britt]

Great Post, thank you.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great Perspective Tim!  Thanks!

[snakebit40]

I know personally I would be YEARS and YEARS behind where I am without TradGang. It's a daily stop for me. I have nothing but good things to say about this site. I'm a contributor because what the site has givin me, not so I can look in the classifieds. It's been invaluable to me. I have some life long friends I would've never met.

I'll get back on topic. I know I just do a lot of reading myself. When I first join TG I asked a lot of questions, most of them I could've probably found using the search tool (had I know about it). But like others have said I never had a negative responce. If I feel I can contribute to a thread I chime in. Otherwise I enjoy reading and learning from those who have been around for awhile.....like Tim....  :p