Old timers roll call

[Stinger]

 Guess I don’t qualify as an old timer.  I was very fortunate as my dad had been shooting bows off and on since the 30’s as a kid growing up in Kansas.  He was and still is my mentor at 95 yrs old.  I got my first bow, a 30# Ben Pearson Jet,  at 13 in 1966 and took a rabbit in the backyard with it later that year.  Moved up to a 40# Shakespeare Yukon the next year and a 50- Shakespeare Necedah the following year.  Took my first deer with that bow and Herters aluminum arrows in 1969.  In 1971 I began a 26 year archery draught while serving in the Navy. Upon Navy retirement, I went to the dark side and finally came full circle in 2007 when I rekindled my love for stick and string.  In 2008, I took a nice buck with a bow my dad had made for me in the 70’s and I haven’t looked back. Hunting is a little thin in San Diego but my wife and I enjoy flinging arrows at every opportunity.

[2fletch]

 :archer2:Looks like a lot of us had either a lemonwood or fiberglass bow. Lemonwood bows had great cast but were prone to break in cold weather. Is anyone familiar with the "Panther" model laminated bamboo bow. It was all bamboo with edge grain and flat grain used for optimum performance. I believe that it was called a semi recurve. It was sold by Malibu Archery in the early 1950's. They also sold Bear and Ben Pearson bows. It was an all natural bow that was ahead of it's time. While I was in the service, a friend of my younger brother strung the bow backwards causing it to break. Dang, I wish that I had it back.

[levibear]

I was about 8 years old when I received my first bow, prior to that I made my own bows and arrows from saplings and kitchen twine my mother braided into a "bow string". Having no father at home I was taught the archers craft by a close friends of the family, his name was, karl Palmatier. Some of you may remember his name or have been fortunate enough to meet him. I could not have had a better teacher, he presented me with several bows, one a Bear polar I took my first deer with. I am 61 now so 50 plus years ago, it all went by so fast.

[lablover]

Don't miss it by much started in 67. 

[evworld]

Born 1961.  I guess some might consider me an old timer.  But the fire is still burning in the furnace....

[Sam McMichael]

I started in 1959 at age 10 at the base range at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. I used a green fiberglass recurve by Indian Archery. The first bow I purchased was a Ben Pearson Gamester bought on sale at K-Mart. I used it to kill my first deer ever. For a number of years, I was in and out of archery, but in the late 80's my interest was strongly revived. Now, it has been 25 years since I hunted with a rifle. Hill style bows are my favorites at this time. I am now 70, so I guess I qualify as a low end old-timer.

[2fletch]

After a few hurdles, it looks like this 76 yr old kid will be back to shooting in a week or so. Three months is a long time not to be able to shoot.     Isn't life good..., isn't god great!

Terry, I posted a photo of the EFA Light Quiver on the Sponsers Classified section. It's real handy for hunting frogs, hogs, or whatever at night. Will you guys night hunt in Africa?

[hickstick]

I guess I'm still a 'young'n'. wasn't born until 68, but started shooting old bear recurves in the 70s.

[Blackstick]

How do you guys remember back that far? I can't do it. I still have my first bow. It is a Colt Captain, solid fiberglass, dual shelf. I also have my Dad's Indian longbow made of lemonwood.

[Stinger]

Going through some of my father's things in prep for a move, I found a few items with dates on them that puts him in the OLD old-timers group.  He was 9 years old when the first of these was awarded in 1933.  He is still with us and getting ready to help me make a bow. 

(Name crossed out to protect identity)

[Stinger]

I goofed one of the photos

[SS Snuffer]

Got my 1st bow in 1958. Shot an arrow in the air and it stuck in the roof of the house next door! Didn't get my bow back till 1961. Dad was mad!

[Pine]

Got my 1st bow in 1958. Shot an arrow in the air and it stuck in the roof of the house next door! Didn't get my bow back till 1961. Dad was mad!

There's something vaguely familiar about that.... 

[Tomas Stieber]

Dad brought me a #25 Shakespeare Jet bow and my brother #35 Rocket bow. That was in 1962.

[woodchucker]

I was born in 1960 and my Grandpa was a Penobscot Indian.
He used to make me split sapling bows, as fast as I could break them and he made my arrows out of old bamboo tomato sticks.
My first real bow, was a glass Red Bear recurve. got it for my 5th birthday. Killed my 1st & 2nd deer in 1976 & 77 with a 50# Bear Alaskan recurve and wood arrows tipped with green Bear Razorheads.
I've been at this awhile... 

[Fletcher]

My first laminated bow was a Shakespeare Necedah 55" in probably 1964.  Carried a green Paul Bunyan solid glass longbow before that and wood bows before that.  I've shot a compound, but never owned one.  Still have that Necedah.

[Kelly]

1961, Ben Pearson Colt bought with paper route money!

[Bladepeek]

I'm 79 now and not shooting as often as I should. Back around '53 we moved from Detroit out to the then small town of Farmington on about 3 acres. Other than a couple of 20# lemonwood bows I got at a yard sale, my first "real" bow was a solid fiberglass recurve I got for Christmas. The neighbor and I were out in the pasture and naturally had to take a shot at the massive flock of starlings straight over head. We were both passing bricks when we lost sight of that arrow that was flying straight up and had no idea of whether to stand stock still, or pick opposite directions and run like mad. Did a ten-year tour in the Army and then stayed overseas for much of 20 more years as a customer service manager. Started shooting again about 20 years ago when we moved back to Michigan. I now have at least 4 times as many guns and bows as I need, but enjoy shooting them all.

[Bill Leeming]

Been at it since a kid with a sapling and string. Golden rods with finish nails for tips. First store bought bow about 1953.