How many were successful?

[Shadowhnter]

My first season using a trad bow, I took a big doe from the ground at 8 yards in late October ...then later that winter in mid December, I took a little rag horn buck from a tree at 10 yards. That was years ago, and ive never even thought about hunting with anything else since then.

[Warden609]

I purchased my first custom stick in 1996. I shot way to much and it felt like my fingers might fall off, but I killed a doe that same year. I have shot all kinds of archery over the years and enjoyed every minute of it. Stickbows are my absolute favorite and I feel fortunate to do what I love.

[threeunder]

I'll echo what's been said.

I committed to trad hunting 4 years ago.  First 2 years were spent learning how to truly hunt and setup (I stay on the ground).

That first year, I had zero opportunities.  I realized I was hunting with a compound or crossbow mindset.

The second year, I started getting deer closer.  Even had some opportunities that were blown because I got caught moving.  But things were improving greatly.

My 3rd year was dismal.  I missed a whitetail at 22 yards, a Sika bull at 19 yards, another Sika bull at 19 yards, and cut hair off the back of a whitetail at 14 yards.  But, at that point, I realized I had become a much better hunter as I was having opportunities at reasonable ranges.

This past year, it all came together with a 17 yard shot on a small whitetail buck.

I started shooting trad in 2006.  Had some health issues that caused me to stop for 14 months and 6 months.

I've never had more fun and worked harder at anything with regards to hunting.  And yes, I've slowed down and now pay attention to the little details.

What a great sport we have.

[mangonboat]

My first morning in the woods after I had spent three months sober from wheeliebow I shot a small buck that dropped in sight. While waiting, a doe came by followed closely by a mature 8 point that looked like a plow horse compared to the buck  I had shot...but my buck season was already over. I was shooting the same Bear Grizzly I had bought, new, 44 years earlier, and shooting the same Micro Flite no 8's with Zwickey heads from 44 years earlier as well.

[J.W.]

I killed a small doe the first year I hunted with a recurve. Shot her at a whopping 4 yards! Man, I love trad hunting.

[bucknut]

I started in 95 and hunted thru 96 with dismal results. I could shoot lights out but couldn't keep it together when it counted. Missed 2 bucks in one day and grabbed up the compound. I gained lots of valuable experience in this time and don't regret it.  Fast forward 17 years and piles of game killed. Took a new job with a couple trad guys and got the bug again. Practiced every night for a while and went out in the late season and killed a doe my first time out with my old Assenheimer. Dabbled a while and then went full trad again a year later with really good success.  Going to CO on a trad elk hunt this year and can't wait.

[CoachBGriff]

Here in MO I'm pretty well limited to hunting deer and turkey.

My first year I did harvest a doe with my Montana longbow.

However, since then I've had a season with no trad harvest, a season with a young deer, and another season with no trad harvest.

Part of that is because of a decline in deer numbers in the areas I hunt.  Part of that is because I've not had nearly as much time to be in the woods.

One thing is for sure though, the only archery harvests I will have from here on out, regardless of my success rates, will be trad harvests!