Are you connected????????????

[whitebuffalo]

I'm curious to see how ya'll feel about your equipment. If you make a kill with it "ie,, BOW, ARROW, CALL, ETC."  do you keep it for the rest of your life or are you more into moving on because after all its just an extension,,IMOP,,

I have personally sold some bows that I had killed with, don't keep arrows unless they will kill again, I have always beleived that with alot of luck I have been able to get close enough to take game that the good Lord provided for me. So I hold nothing in the equipment. Its only an extension of me at that moment of truth. Don't get me wrong, I love what I carry to the feild every season and trust that it will get the job done effectively. But when it comes time to move on to something new I do without hesitation,,If something has been passed onto me it will never leave,, But only be passed on

[T Folts]

Jason,
I guess I feel the same, I built my longbow, made my first trad kill with it and then upgraded to faster fiberglass bow..
I still have it and will pass it on to my kids or grandkids someday..

Terry

[indianalongbowshooter]

To me they are just a tool, dont get real sentimental, like trying new ones. In the last 4 years Ive bought/traded and sold at least 175 bows, have 13 recurves now/1 longbow and getting ready to sell another one...found out I can kill a deer with any of them so why not try different ones.JMHO......

[varmint]

It depends on what piece of equipment it is I guess.Arrows.......killers are a keepsake,others just tools.Bows.........just depends on how well it fits me.Calls...........I think I have a 100 at least,they're ALL keepers,except the ones I make for other folks.

[lucznik]

It's all just a collection of tools.  You won't take them with you - but the memories are forever.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I just can't afford to be changing equipment all the time. I use what I have because it works. I do plan on buying a nicer bow this year, but will probably stick with it for years to come.

[bowdude]

Good description of the feelings.  I would have to say my actions are to move on.  My son called in an elk for me when he was 12 that I killed with a bow I made myself.  Both call and bow are gone.  The pics will last a while and the memories a lifetime.  

  But I have to say the romantic side of me is still looking for that perfect bow that I would hunt with the rest of my life.  Will probably end up having to make it as purchased ones don't seem to have soul, (not that any do, you know what I mean right ?)    

[DeerSpotter]

I get very particular about what I use as far as equipment.  I find calls that work, and stay with them.  I have had a number of traditional bows, and they all shot fine.  But I still am looking for that perfect bow, like someone said; " they will hunt with it forever"

I stepped out this year and purchased a " Whip " I'm looking forward to getting that, I'm hoping that it is the " perfect bow ".  It is the first bow, that will be matched up to my style of shooting, my grip, and my draw length.

I also think I'm going elk hunting this year, so you have a tendency to focus more clearly on your equipment.  Because when you boil it all down, it comes out to skills, and equipment.

Pastor Carl

[White Oak]

Good post. I guess I'm the odd guy out here. I become very "connected" with my gear.Not so much in a lucky arrow but when it comes to bows, quivers, knives and such they stay with me. Definately the items that have been past on to me.My stuff aint old it's just well broke in. I could most likely tell you exactly where the "memory marks" came from.
My connection may not always be best but it sure is cheaper.

                  Take care,
                            Ed  

[Jon Stewart]

I bought a Shakespeare Wonderbow for $.25 (quarter) at a yard sale, made a string and shot a fox with it.  It needs to be refinished and with the help of Bowdoc when I get home this winter I am going to fix it up and give it to one of the grandkids. I guess I have a connection to the bow.  I was real cheap, didn't have wheels and it shot great. Its a great shooter and should last one of the kids a long time.

Good post Jason.  Makes one think a little bit.

Jon
Semper Fi

[whitebuffalo]

Thanks fellas,, I've been thinkin about it lately,, I have been evaluating myself alot. Going to be baptised this spring and self evaluation is a must,, and my bowhunter self can't leave his thoughts alone eather,,LOL..

White oak "ED"
Buddy I'm sure your not the odd man out. I thinks its awsome that your connected to equipment,, I'm with ya on the lucky arrow thing.. I used to have a lucky coat,,killed alot of bucks in it. I was devistated when the wife sold it in a garage sale,       ,WOW!!! I need to find a garage sale like that,,J

[BowHuntingFool]

I'm not one to sell any of my hunting gear. I keep all my bows and guns, pass them down to the Boy! I don't think I have ever sold ANY of my hunting gear! I just can't bring my self to do it....  

[Dave Worden]

My stuff stays with me as long as it works.  Guess I'm just too cheap to "upgrade".

[Bjorn]

My first ACS is now a real cornerstone for me; don't want to hunt with anything else........except my 50# ACS back up bow.
I feel a special bond; if I spot the animal and stalk up close with the wind just right-I can trust that bow no questions asked.
I used to love getting and shooting new bows.........now I just want to work on getting animals walking in front of my bow.
I'm starting to feel the same about the knives that Jeremy made for me.......the arrows and broadheads are more disposable. Except the shaft material-heavy cedar is special too.

[Steelhead]

I definatly would have liked to keep a bow or 2 I had when I was a wee bit youger.Had one that i probably shot 500,000 arrows through.I was at one with that bow in every way.It performed well in 3-D and made  alot of meat.I was close to the bowyer too and really respected his bows and the art he put into them.The bond with that bow was more than skin deep.I did get older and eventually the bow outgrew me.So I had to sell it to fiance another.If I was richer it would be on the wall till my dying day.

Still like and admire all the bows I get but nonthing is gonna pull the hearstrings like that original longbow that I cut me teeth on.I actually miss it and all the joy it brought me.

[Drew]

JB, follow what your head and heart say..I never thought you'd get rid of the Lil river but that was just my thinking.

As long as you don't regret your decision, in the years ahead you'll be fine.  

Some people are happy with the memories they have of stuff and others like to have something to hold on to for memories!

As for your "luck" I don't buy that, you put your heart, skill and immerse yourself in everything you do...so in my opinion it's not luck. God showed you the path, you chose to follow it..and how determined you are to follow.

I like to hold on to some stuff, the green fiberglass (Wonder bow I think) I killed my first deer with will not leave my hands unless I pass it on to my son, or his son or daughter to hunt with. I hope one day when I'm gone they could pick it up and say "Remember that look in dad's eyes and how many times we heard that story" or "I remember dad teaching me to shoot this bow"

[jacobsladder]

I like to stick with the bow i feel most confident with.... of course that may change when i shoot your mojo stik..lol.... It is the more sentimental items that get passed down and held on to(like drew said).....

I hate to see you get rid of the little river...cause its a sweet bow and for some reason when i think of us hunting the little river is typically tagging along... but i suppose i could get used to a mojo stik too!! I just dont want to see you posting on the bows i wish i would of never got rid of thread!!!!  

[John Scifres]

The bow or gun is just a tool.  The deer is just a pile of meat.  I'd just as soon pound one with a shotgun slug as an arrow.  I'm happiest when I pull a piece of it from the freezer for supper for my kids.  I don't get overly sentimental about stuff.

[camocowboy]

A few years ago I realized it was getting harder every year to get up a tree. I recognized my mortality and that I only had a given number of hunting seasons left. I placed an order for  a black widow takedown recurve that day. I thought it would be the bow I hunted with the rest of my life. Then by chance I traded for a shrew and fell in love with the longbow. For our anniversary [I can't even spell it let a lone remember it!] my wife bought me a bw pl2. I shoot it better than any bow I ever held in my hand. It sports a couple of unlucky rattlers that really make it look sharp. As of now I intend for that to be my "friend to the end". I shoot it every day and it helps the problems of this world just fade away. Who could ask for a better friend?

[52 bow]

I take atleast 2 animals with each new bow and then replace it- my trouble is I usually replace it with more than two bows.Keep old bows for 2-3 years and let them go so someone is enjoying them- hate to see them laying around not being used for what they were built for.Only bow I wish still had is a Bear wood riser t/d 66# signed by Fred Bear and cut past center!!