1 percent of deer taken in Illinois

[J. Holden]

A 1% patch?  Hmmm......

-Jeremy  

[Whip]

You nailed it Walt.  Shooting traditional gear does take more dedication to become reasonably proficient.  It naturally draws those who are dedicated to the sport.  

I don't know if Gordon's numbers from AR would still hold true but it really wouldn't shock me if they did.  Obviously it will vary greatly state by state and with different species, but overall I wouldn't doubt that traditional guys have a pretty good edge in the success department simply because of the types of hunters they tend to be.

It would sure make an interesting study for some wildlife resources graduate student.

[Overspined]

Illinois keeps track via mandatory call in or check ins where you select the weapon used.  I would say they ought to be very close in their #'s.

[Gordon Jabben]

I agree Walt.  I think we enjoy our bows more which in turn makes us more persistent.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Funny Joke Jon.

Walt, well said.  I would think most Trad hunters wait for better shots at closer animals increasing their success.  It burns me to hear about some guys who wound 4 and 5 deer a year with expandable broadheads and long shoats at deer that are not broadside.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I'm not saying all compound hunters do that, just the ones that do seem to talk the loudest.

[Toad Frog]

I'm pleased to see so many quality bowhunters in the traditional ranks. I think I would give up archery before I would go to a compound, at 64 traditional is all I have ever shot.

[Toad Frog]

I'm pleased to see so many quality bowhunters in the traditional ranks. I think I would give up archery before I would go to a compound, at 64 traditional is all I have ever shot.

[Toad Frog]

[Arrowhead80]

I hunt with a compound and a longbow but i know my limits with both, some people just have no respect for what they hunt and try to push the limits of their ability.

[statedriller]

Why do you feel it necessary to belittle and insult compound shooters?

[jonsimoneau]

I didn't see any posts knocking on compound guys. All I'm saying is a statistic claiming that less than 1 percent of all deer taken in my state are taken by bows. I don't consider the new compounds to be bows. I think if you are going to hunt during bow season then you should use a bow. This thread will get pulled for sure.  Didn't mean to make it controversial or a compound vs. recurve/longbow thing. Just sharing what I thought was an interesting statistic.

[Mitch H]

Having been the president of a 700 member archery club for 16-17 years, and having hunted in archery camps all over the place for more than twice that long with both trad and wheel bow archers, I feel safe in saying two things……

1. The weapon has no bearing on dedication or ethics.
2. The "average" archer, including the "average" traditional archer is certainly no gleaming testimonial to the term "ethics".

I`ll say one more thing……even though I personally have made the switch to full time traditional archery, when the anti`s make a serious run at archery hunters, and they will because we are the smallest block of big game hunters by far, I sure hope that those wheel bow guys are there to help defend our heritage. They outnumber traditional archers by 5 country miles.

[statedriller]

Jon, your first post was very misleading to me.  I see what you are saying now that you clarified it.  I don't agree though...  

I think many here would benefit by Mitch H's wisdom...