Most of the time, all of us have some kind of trouble, something that bothers us. Sometimes it trouble that is seen and sometimes it's not. Sometimes, it takes a long time for us to realize what are real troubles are. I know that I am a person that is all or nothing. That's my personality. I'm the type of person that could do traditional archery for living, if I just find the right niche with it. But the trouble is once something enters into my life that I'm doing it just to make money and exist, it's over.
I flat out don't like it anymore. I have only one more day to hunt for my deer. We haven't had but 1 in. of snow ever since winter began, and that's embarrassing when you are from Minnesota. Even up North they're having to snowmobile on the lakes because they snow has melted away.
I have had coyotes enter into an area where I've been hunting (500 acres), its public land so there's about eight other hunters that do archery there, I'm the only traditional bow hunter. In this public land they is no rifles allowed, they can hunt small game with a (fine shot) only. So I've gotten on personal basis with all the stupid hunting dogs that have walked across my blind, there is one dog that has a bell on it, his name is Mike,
I dislike that dog, but that dog knows no better than what his master tells him.
We haven't seen deer in that 500 acres for 6 weeks now, we just saw five does Friday 12/29, they were coming across the pasture, and the lead doe stopped, and looked intently across the field, and turned back. There was only two of us hunting the 500 acres that day, we had a little rain, and it weeds out some of the other hunters. No other vehicles just mine and another fellows. We stayed in our stands until it was totally dark. We walked out together, when we were about halfway out we heard the coyote call. It's upsetting, but not enough to quit traditional.
That 500 acres has been like a huge open space that God has given me, I see His handiwork, and all the things He has created. So for me, traditional bow hunting, has been a peaceful thing. I sat in my blind waiting for deer to appear, putting it on the right trails, and doing all the right things. And a day has gone by, that I haven't seen flock of geese fly overhead, the Cardinal land 3 ft. from me, but nuthatcher that would almost take food out of your hand. The details in the feathers, the timing that they come around you could almost set your watch by. And did I mention the sunsets, that sometimes look like stained-glass windows, because of all the color that the ice crystals change the light of the sun into.
Traditional bow hunting is more of an inward thing, than anything to do with the outward. Yes we can dress up like the old people that used to hunt by bow only one time. But when you put that nock to the string, and you draw the string back, and you release it, it tells more about the inside than it does the outside. The confidence, the understanding, the commitment, the dedication that you have to making everything work right for that one shot, tells more about you than anything else, that anyone else can see. Does it make a difference rather that bow is traditional or a compound. Really I don't think so, we are such a image minded society, that we are designated by what we have in front of us more so than what we've got within us, that it is disappointing.
I appreciate each and everyone of you on these threads, some of you are encourage others, some of you just set by and listen to others, some of your are problem solvers, some of you show your love and concern for others outwardly, by your dedication to your craft. I even seen some of you offer your own bow to someone that's lost there's so they could use it for the rest of the season. So I don't think this site is about traditional or a compound. I may not have a deer in the freezer that year, but I have much more than that, because of all of the openness, caring concern, that I see on this site.
Oh I did mentioned their some of you that are hardheaded ! "I wouldn't go back to compound if that's the last thing I had to do" but did you notice those that mentioned it that way, never, never, said that anyone was any less if they shot with a compound.
So enjoy your last day, as a legal hunter. And then comes set around a campfire that this site has created, and I'm sure there is more than just the trouble of compound or traditional, missing are hitting, they'll be someone here and they will share your troubles, they will also become a part of your grief or should I say lost of confidence in yourself. There surely someone here that will raise your spirits so that you can enjoy your craft again. I have had many years without deer, but I do have to say this is been my saddest year, because I'm not yet named among those that shot it with a stick, the string, and arrow. Although I did 30 years ago, and this is my first year of`traditional since then, it's been my best year by far,
Because of all of you
Thank you
Carl
Topic: Any of you consider quitting trad?? Tough year. . (Read 11907 times)
