Tough decision: hanging up trad--for now

[Kurt Miller]

Sorry this is a little long. In December I received an older Bear Grizzly recurve from my uncle.  He wouldn't take any money for it so I thought it would be great to, against steep odds, shoot a turkey with it to at least share pictures and the excitement.  So I shot and shot and bareshafted and was actually shooting pretty good until...even though it was 50# like my Montana longbow (with which I killed my first trad deer in Nov)it felt heavier and I ended up straining something, and I fear tearing something.  I have the trad bug bad, and refused to stop despite the pain. Finally switched back to longbow which was less toublesome and actually got a shot (missed) on a bird last week.  

Now for the really tough decision.  this evening I realized I just can't hunt trad until I recover or get fixed if needed by a doc.  I can get thru the pain but my accuracy is just too inconsistent to hunt ethically for small vital bird.  

But, bowhunter at heart, I grudgingly pulled out my wheelie bow I haven't shot since last summer just to see.  Well, I can draw it keeping draw arm low and in tight then raise up to anchor.  Every shot from 5-18yds in basement was within an inch of aimpoint. And thanks to Guru's ideal for draw arm shield, I quickly rigged one of those.

So, I will probably take to field for my last few available hunt days with the wrong bow--but at least a bow.  I still don't have a bow bird and if do get one it will be a bittersweet trophy nontheless that of course I won't be able to celebrate here with my true brethren.  Maybe some of you would completely hang it up, but what would you all do??  Within the realm of trad you so often see post responses here saying "do what works for you" so hopefully most of you will find it can apply in this particular bowhunting, if not trad, bowhunting situation.  Thanks    :confused:

[coaster500]

Hunt with what you can, heal up and come back to Trad !! Just keep enjoying archery and the outdoors !!! Don't worry be happy  

[the force]

Id get me a lower poundage bow that i could handle better.

[Kurt Miller]

Assuming I do recover fully, pray i do, I do plan on a new lower poundage bow. The longbow was no problem til the recurve, but I still want a lighter bow to reduce chance of repeat.

[Bjorn]

Have a good hunt and go see a proper sports doc first.

[Hud]

Your body is telling you to something is wrong.

Stop, and have your doctor refer you to a physical therapist. If you haven't torn a rotator cuff, it will heal in  few months with therapy and strengthing exercises, been there did that.

[Whip]

I experienced the same symptoms you are talking about back in the late '80's  Hung up the recurve and went back to wheels by drawing the bow with my draw elbow tucked tight to my body just like you describe.  That worked, but it sure wasn't as much fun.  I kind of chalked it up to being caused by shooting the recurve, just figured I couldn't do that anymore.

The good news is that the shoulder eventually cleared up and I got the itch to try trad again.  I started shooting the recurve again about 9 years ago and haven't looked back since.  And the shoulder has never acted up again.

So hang in there - there certainly can be light at the end of the tunnel!  And in the meantime, enjoy the wheels.  Contrary to somewhat popular opinion they aren't inherently evil.

[KSdan]

Kurt-

For what it is worth. . .

I am not sure how you are drawing the compound, but the way it sounds, I draw my trad like that when my shoulder is bothering me.  I do it often during the deer season when I have been sitting in the cold- just to protect my shoulder.

Draw with my arm low and tight against my chest, then lift my elbow up to anchor. It works great, warms up my shoulder and protects it.  I always draw like that the first few shots most days.

Dan in KS

[Hud]

Sometimes we think. if I can just hang in there, it will get better.

Unfortunately, if it is rotator cuff impingment like what I experienced, it may result in a tear if you don't let it heal. A least, that is what my therapist said would happen and a tear means surgery in most cases. This injury is fairly common in our sport and in baseball.

In my case, when the right arm was raised to start drawing the bow, it hurt in several spots, front, top and in the deltoid muscle. Eventually, just raising the arm in a drawing motiion resulted in some level of pain.

If you stand in a doorway, with your arms hanging straight down, push against the door jam with the back of your hand and see if it hurts. Or, try raising the arm above the shoulders or head. Again, if there is pain, you should get it checked.

The good news if you catch it before it tears, you should get better with rest, therapy and exercise. The latter is necessary to strengthen the rotator cuff. My routine is exercises one day and rest the next.

In case you are not sure what the rotator cuff is, it is like a cup formed by the muscles from the chest and back at the top of the arm bone in the shoulder. It protects the arm bone from grinding in the socket.  When it becomes irritated by continually jamming into the socket, the muscle become weaker with time and the condition worsens. Hopefully all it takes is rest and rehab. Even if your problem is different than what I have described, it could still be a rotator cuff.

The therapist was a great help and it would have been better if I had gone in to get it checked sooner.

I feel lucky, mine is about 90% after 2 1/2 months of rehab. It should be ready to start practicing soon, just in time for fall hunting season. Good luck.

[TooManyHobbies]

I went 22 1/2 seasons with wheels, then 1 1/2 with recurve. I didn't think I would even look at the wheels again. Then shoulder problem, so last year used the wheels. Had surgery in Jan., and now back to the 'curve (Only one practice day with wheels).
So use the wheels while you see your Doc., heal and get the trad back out for deer season. Good luck.

[ron w]

Get yourself fixed and healed, during the time off look for a light bow to work your self back up and work on your form. Light bows are great training tools that more people should employ if they are have'n problems.

[Kurt Miller]

thanks so much for all the input and support.  I really hope I can recover completely one way or the other and get back to my trad gear.

[Smallwood]

prayers sent for healing and strength.

[Garkane]

Ron w took the words right out of my mouth!! Check with the doc on damage and condition and slowly use a light bow to build up strength and continue muscle memory.Great excuse to HUNT for a nice light bow to work with.I use a 40# Bear Alaskan to start the season and for bowfishing.

Ill pray for healing.......

Ed