Traditional bow supplies

[mossie]

I am looking to get back into traditional bow shooting and I am located in Meadville PA. I can't find anywhere near me that carries this stuff. I would like to shoot some of the newer re-curve and longbows but can't find anywhere that even carries the stuff anymore.

Anyone know of places near me?

[northern lights]

Wish I could help more but for some reason think there used to be a club around  Meadville that had shoots for trad., they might  be able to help, Denton hill in Potter is probably your best chance at seeing and trying a lot of stuff, love your part  of state and looking at moving somewhere close to Pymie, in a couple years, lived and worked there in the 70's  and used to chase the whitetails  around on Cussawago and by Woodcock but the fishing is what's calling me back.

[mossie]

Hello NL;

I left a message for the Meadville Field archers Pres. to find out what their club is all about. The website looks like there are a lot of modern bow shooters.

It's really hard to find anything in the way of stick bows anymore. Golden Grain in Sharpsville is still in business but the website looks like modern stuff as well. Looks like it's going to be buy and try from Lancaster or some other company like 3Rivers. I sure would like to handle a bow before I buy it.

Some of the counties are a bit much of a drive to go to in person.

I grew up in Jamestown and lived beside the lake for 30+ years. Moved up to Meadville about 5 years ago because of work but I fully intend to get back to Jamestown for the same reasons as you. I miss fishing that lake bad.

I hunted the Woodcock dam game lands this year and it was horrible. The fishing isn't much better either. I miss Pymatuning more every year.
My parents used to own Moss Furniture in Greenville.

Good to talk to a former local.

[DSP]

I just got back into traditional archery recently and had the same problem. I am about 15 miles south of you and had the same problem. All the shops I've found within an hour only have the occasional stringer and endless loop recurve string. If you find anything let me know, because I've struck out as far as bows go. If you really want to try some bows, Cabela's in Wheeling might be the only game in town. The last few years, the fishing at Pymatuning has been decent, but they drop the water level so drastically in the summer that some of the launches can't be used.

[Cavscout9753]

If you really want, some of the smaller bowyers offer "test drives". I don't know what budget youre working with, but shops such as Black Widow do it if I'm not mistaken. My 2 cents would be to narrow your search (there a few thousand pages of pictures, reviews, and bowyers right here) and ask to try a few out. You may have to cover shipping, but its better than a shot in the dark. Maybe make a thread titled "Test Drive" with some parameters (recurve, R/D, Longbow, etc.) and see if any bowyers offer it?

[mahantango]

Sorry, don't know of anything in that corner of the state. ETAR at Denton Hill is definately the place for hands-on shopping if you can wait that long. There are a couple great trad shops in Pa. J&M Traditions in Dornsife and Shaws in Boyertown but they are a little bit of a hike for you.