Never, Never, Never give up!

[South MS Bowhunter]

Hey guys it been awhile since i've posted, work, family, other priorIties you know the story.  But since i've been lurking in the last couple of weeks I've seen a lot of topics from some of our fraternity considering quitting or trying an easier way? And I thought I would  remind some about why we chose this way, for the challenge, or for some the attraction of this traditional way.  The latest issue of TBH has a good article by GFA about "Resisting Easy" I suggest reading and considering it's merits. More in a minute......  Gotta eat  

[South MS Bowhunter]

Anyway I thought I would share with those that are frustrated and are considering quitting.  I brought my first bow a Browning Safari (compound) back in 83-84 and hunted with it that first year but never was able to develop that relationship that I was looking for.  I grew up watching my step dad coming home from a hunting trip or a NFAA (?) event and wiping down his Drake recurve (80# and he didn't weigh 140 # himself at that time) and wanting to shoot one when I grew up.  It seemed we always had an archery magazine around the house back then and I would look through them at all the recurves and pick out the ones I wanted when I got bigger.  There were Bears, Wing, Pearson's and others, these were real bow and that was real bowhunting back then to me.  Well in 1985 I got orders to go to Germany (I was enlisted in the UASF) and was there for 3 years and there was no hunting to be done at that time for me.  Upon arriving back stateside I renewed my love for hunting and my desire to hunt with the bow not any bow but a traditional bow. I sold the compound that had been in storage and I order my first traditional bow, a real bow in my mind and heart.  it was a "Custom Bighorn" by GFA (I still have it) and couldn't wait for the day it arrived.  It took a little over 6 months to receive and the "Journey" began. My expectation were blown away on just how difficult this would be to actually learn to shoot effectively much less get within reasonable range of a deer or any game for that matter, and then to actually pull off the shot!

[imhntn]

But the commercials say "Easy is Good!"  I know where you are coming from man.

[South MS Bowhunter]

I had no one near by or no "Trad Gang" back then (1989) to guide me, boy how I appreciate the Gang now! My first dozen arrows were with vanes because "that what everyone else used" my buddy who fetched them said, Let me tell you vanes don't work shooting off the shelf! I missed 5 deers that first season before I changed to feathers, Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting difference results" what a goober I was back then             That was in 1989 and it would be till 1999 before I killed my first deer with the bow.  Did i get frustrated? You Bet'cha!  Did I think about quitting? Many times.  Did I doubt  I was ever going to actually kill a deer?  Oh a few time, but I never gave up.  I kept plugging along kept being persistent, kept believing I could do it, other had I could too. There a Political commercial being run right now where Reagan is speaking and he say "If not us then Who? And if not now then When?  I like it.  My Pastor say often "it doesn't always have to be the church down the road! It could be us having revival, so why not you and why not me having success? It take determination and a never give up attitude to put it all together...    

[South MS Bowhunter]

[South MS Bowhunter]

[South MS Bowhunter]

I was 38 years old and it had been nearly 10 years since I began my "Journey", give up?  Who me? It not in me to do it, i'm hardheaded and stubborn at times and when I know i'm right watch out! I'll try and out last you           Friend that the way you need to be we've all heard the phase "If it was easy everyone would be doing it" Well it not and everyone not doing it, because it is hard, it is difficult, but it is so rewarding when it all come together... ..... This picture was taken last year (48 Years old), you say just a squirrel? Hey I say just another step in the process, another step in the "Journey" remember it the ride that thrilling not just the final arrival at the destination....  

[South MS Bowhunter]

This year make 11 years from since 1999 when I took my first traditional deer, that right you read right 11 years.  You may be saying why so long I Have Too!    That's a long time to keep at it, stay persistent, stay the course, ah yes but remember the rewards, the satisfaction that comes from toughing it out.  I remember how I felt right after completing the obstacle course in basic training such excitement I had done it! I thought "I made it"! Shear satisfaction knowing I did something that others had failed at.  Oh it wasn't because I wanted others to fail no sir I wanted everyone to finish, but not everyone does and I did, that's what made it so special. I had competed and overcame every obstacle I had finished!

[South MS Bowhunter]

Ok guys i'm getting a little long here and brevity is the secret to good listening. It has been 11 years since my last bow kill deer harvest but there has been 11 years of exciting anticipation of the next hunt will be the one! And if you stay the course that day will come............  

[DEATHMASTER]

She looks like a nice one.
Great story.

[buckster]

Excellent story, I hope it helps keep the dream alive with those who are frustrated.

[Mike Vines]

I know the feeling.  I went fully tradtional (sold the compound) in 2003.  I built my own recurve and hunted with it for 2 years and took a fine doe with it.  My Dad/hunting partner passed away in March of 2006, and was unable to hunt in 2005, so deer season really didn't mean much to me anymore without him being there with me.  I never gave up hunting, just deer hunting.  I moved onto birds.  I took many pheasants, turkey geese and even a hen mallard with my Howard Hill longbow to the amazemant of all my hunting buddies, and often my own.  My boys are starting to get the bug, and I would never turn them the other way.  They both outshoot me in the back yard often, and they both have joined me this year back in "The Saddle" deer hunting.  

I have imposed a ground hunting only rule, due to a fall I took back in 2001.  I broke my anke 1/2 mile from my truck while doing something stupid.  It was a very long crawl on hands and knees to the truck then I had a 3 1/2 hour drive home using my left foot for the gas and break (try doing that one just for 1 mile and you will see some of my pain).  I never gave up, but I did however evolve my hunting skills.

Is it more difficult hunting from the ground?  You betcha, but it is just another obsticle I have to figure out how to overcome.  That's half the fun of it.  I could sit in a bar and talk about how it used to be, or just forget hunting altogether, but why?  I love being in the woods watching mother nature wake up, or putting her to bed.  There are so many things that you can never see from a bar stool, or the couch just begging all of us to partake in.  Just get outside.  It's a great place to be.

[ripforce56]

If not shooting a deer was all it took for me to give it up I would have never got into Trad archery in the first place! Every hunt I have a a new observation that I would not have expieranced if I was not in the woods with my bow! Like yesterday morning a weasel walked along the top of my blind stopped and looked at me as much to say what the hell are you then went on his way! Last nite I had a around a doz turkeys that flew in and roosted in a big oak right next to my blind talk about a thrill and right at dark no less! And I have seen a few deer but no shots as of yet! If I want to sling arrows I hunt grouse and squirrels which are more of a challenge to hit with a bow than anything I have ever hunted! I gave up gun hunting years ago because it got boring, and I shot lots of deer! There is just something differant, almost magical, about being in the woods with my longbow, to me it will never get old!

[South MS Bowhunter]

Sometimes we overlook the most important things in pursuing what we think is important, make sense? There is a saying that says "The most important thing is to keep the Important thing important" Traditional Archery is a way of life a pursuit of excellence in how we do things not just getting things done.

[DannyBows]

Nice Thread. Many words of wisdom here. I love that Reagan quote too. He was always so positive and inspiring. I admire your attitude and persistence. I'm also looking for my first Trad harvest, but not so blindly that I miss all the wonderful experiences along the way. I love the Woodcraft involved in getting close to wild animals and watching them in their environment. I see people all day long that can't get their eyes off their cell phones. They just peck away at it while the world goes by. I'm sure many of us spend some time like that too, but we understand and appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature and partake of it as much as our lives allow. We need to get close to it, it's why we choose Trad gear. It's the Journey, not the Destination. But you know that already. Thanks for sharing with us!

[limbolt]

Great story,sounds like you have your priorities in order.Thanks for sharing.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Thanks Guys after nearly 21 years of off and on bow hunting traditional (as in when other priorities didn't get in the way     ) and only 2 deer to show for the effort other would say why persist? Because it's so addictive I really enjoy the close encounters, now i'll be honest I don't particularly enjoy those near misses over the years but again it came with the "travel package".