My days as traditional is over.. please read

[Arkansaslongbow]

Had MAJOR operation on my stomach back in 2004 and they removed over 50% of my guts;  I was told by 3 different doctors that I would never work again but thanks to the good Lord I proved everyone wrong and have been working since 2006 at one job; NOW for the bad news, I was tuning up for a hunt and something inside of me cut loose and seen a doctor and he related to me that my pulling back a bow was very harmful to my operation; he implied if I continued to hunt with a bow that some very bad could and was going to happen;

I love this forum and traditional bow hunting but being 50 now I do not want to endanger my health as I get older(God's will)so with MUCH regret I must lay down my longbow BUT I WILL NOT QUIT HUNTING; means too much to me; my choices are a low poundage compound with high let off or a crossbow;

I am not asking for sympathy because I am not a quitter nor will I allow a "self pitty party" I will hunt, I will kill deer for me and family;

I feel like that now I can no longer post here because I know that this is a traditional forum but I truly enjoy all of you; so I will visit everyday as I always do and read about all the hunts but will not offend anyone by posting;

I am traditional by heart and will be until God calls me home; thanks to all for who you are and you all mean a lot to me; PLEASE don't hold a grudge towards me now because of my choices of weapon but I must hunt and hunt I will;

God bless this forum, God bless traditional and God bless ALL OF YOU;   Arkansaslongbow

[Doc Nock]

I admire your fortitude! Keep on keeping on.

Only thought for something that critical would be to go to nother town/bigger city and get a 2nd opinion.]

Excalibur Xbows have recurve limbs!    But they're no picnic to cock and load!

Stay in the game. You can always come here and be a part of us, you just will be limited to share non-traditional equipment comments or kils.

Keep the Son in your eyes as you move forward.

[BenBow]

No grudges held for sure. You are ALWAY welcome here regardless of what you shoot. Just shoot and enjoy what you are able. Praying for God's best for you and family through this.

[F Thomas]

Prayers from California!  Get a second opinion.  You might have just towrn some scar tissue loose, which can be painful.

I tore a 1x3 hole through my abdominal cavity empaling myself on the end of a mountain bike handlebars at 53.  I'm 57 now and occasionally get a sharp pain where they repaired the damage and put in polyester reinforcement (wish they had used something more trad like bamboo backing)

So, don't quit yet.  Get that second opinion and keep up the good fight!

God Bless
Fred

[stringstretcher]

Do what you feel is best for you to be able to continue doing the things you like.  That's whay we all have these things called "choices".  Prayers go out for you to be able to continue any way you can to do the things you enjoy.

[Don Stokes]

How about a low-poundage bow? If there's no minimum in Arkansas, hunting with a 25 or 30# bow is better than not hunting! Plenty of deer have been killed with low draw weight bows, and if you get a high-end recurve it can put out enough energy to be humane. I won't hesitate to do that if or when the time comes. I'll be 62 on Saturday.

I have bad legs from having polio as a child, and after breaking a leg in the mid-90's my orthopedic doctor told me I would never be able to hunt the mountains again. I sent him a picture a couple of years later proving him wrong. Your attitude can make all the difference.

[Hooked]

If you have to, find a compound you can shoot with fingers and no sights.  You would be as traditional as you could be and still enjoying bowhunting without having to worry about knocking sights out of alignment or a misfiring release.

While the policies of this site might keep you form posting pics of your kills.  Please do continue posting etc!  I don't believe anyone on here wouldn't do the same thing if it came down to being able to bowhunt or not!

[BanjoOZ]

I am a Bowhunter...
I am a Target Archer...

It is only ever the Archer that hits the target...

If you love huntng; it matters not what bow you choose...
Any bow is better than none.
You can be a Compounder with a Traditionalist attitude.

Just  my thoughts on the subject.

God speed in your quest.

[magnus]

Please keep posting. Your advice and wisdom is greatly appreciated and WILL be missed if you don't share. What's more traditional than trad gear? Spears and atlatle's (spelling) came first. Both are affective and challenging. Just a thought. Prayers from us for your health and to find a way to do what you love!

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

[kill shot]

Barry, don't know you. We have never met. If I ever do meet you, I hope it's in the great outdoors. If I see you with your weapon of choice, I'll respect that. I hunt with a gun during the firearms season. It don't make a person less of a sportsman. In fact I know gun hunters who have more character than some bowhunters. It's the spirit of the hunt that counts. It's the person sitting around the camp that has that certain glow. You know who they are.

[Stone Knife]

One Trad always Trad, no reason to leave us you can still shoot a light weight longbow at a target and hunt by other methods. I'm sending a prayer for you.

[Doug Campbell]

Prayers from MT and I'll add this...

Back in 05/06 I had what sounds like a similiar situation. I just tell my buddies I'm already half field dressed in case they ever have to pack me outa the mountains    I'm 51 now and it was a long ol road but I eventually worked back to a fairly normal life again.

I know after what you've been thru there have been many Dr's involved but like most others here I'd certainly look for a second or third oppinion. Each situation and each of us are different but I figured out you can learn to live with practically anything when you have to. In my case and I'm sure yours as well it beats the eventual alternative...

Take care my friend and good luck with however you end up having to follow your hunting passion.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Good Luck and for the record you dont have to talk about what you shoot to enjoy this site. Also since you have experience you can share and teach as much as you want.

Take doug's advice to heart.

[cacciatore]

Good luck for a full recovery.Human body has some incredible healing capacities,if you love traditional archery you can always stay with us and maybe collect some old bows and share anyway your experiences.

[bucksdown]

barry i pray you seek what GOD would have for you. i've hunted with just about every weapon, and loved each time out, not thinking about what someone else thought. it's nice that you valued our opinions, but we will not judge you by the weapon you shoot. there are many of people out here that simply can't shoot what they want. there are some trad members that may not agree with me, possibly the ones that started this forum, but we understand why you've been forced to change. i except that, and would consider it and honor for you to continue to be one of our huntung buddies. for me our personal relationship as a brother in christ is what's important, not a man made site. some may chastise you, but what would they do? i already know some will jump on me with both feet, but that's ok. as for a crossbow, i had an excaliber i traded a matthews switchback for, something my children could hunt with. there are different companies that have crossbows with cocking devices that attach to the stock and it's only a matter of turning a crank. good luck, don't give up because of what someone might think or say. GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE!

[F Thomas]

Prayers for you to make the right decision and !that God will guide you and give you strength.

Don't quit and never give up

[ber643]

It's different for all people but i have had my guts half removed twice (second time was because i build up excessive scar tissue - and had to be "re-plumbed" again.) Some folks know this about me, some don't. I am split from breast plate to groin (twice on the same scar - goes right around my belly button -    :eek:      :D   ) I talked to more than one Dr., then , both times, I waited a few months and then started back at 20# pulls/draw weight or less. I actually switched to trad (from compound) after my first operation and gave up guns after the second - just my choice. I still shoot and hunt (carefully and not as often, especially in succession - I do shoot aprox ten or twelve arrows every day I possibly can - to keep in tone). I only use 40# to (easy draw)50# bows and never draw much beyond 25-26" I've taken 3 Deer with my trad bows (don't see as many as i'd like to - LOL). I never give in to the urge to "pull" other folks heavier bows, "... just to try it out," you know.

That doesn't mean it would be right for you but wanted to give you another side of the coin. FWIW. Good, and safe, times to you in any case.

(Oh, I still have to have my esophagus stretched every so often, because of the excessive scar tissue build up causing choking problems - but it beats the alternative       .)

[kennyb]

Barry-Godspeed to you and I'm sure things will work out for you. Sometimes we don't understand the things that happen to us, but the good Lord has some kind of plan for you! Keep positive!
Kenny