new old guy

[smokin joe]

I have been visiting the Tradgang site from time to time and decided to join. I have been away from archery for too long. For many years I lived in a very big city while I was building my career. A few years ago I left the big-city rat race and moved to environs that are a little more human in scale. It took me longer than I thought it would to slow down and get used to being in a new environment. About six months ago I finally unpacked my old Bear take downs and my old Grizzly and started shooting from time to time. I rediscovered something I had missed for many years. Everyone on this site knows that there is something magic about standing in a spot with nothing but a stick and a string and hitting something way over there. And doing it with no machinery, no release, no sights, nothing but the instincts we have as predatory human beings. It is something special and wonderful.

Age and arthritis have taken their toll and the 60 pound take down limbs will have to go, but the 50 pound ones (A-mag with #2 limbs, and a B-wood with 50 pound #1 limbs) and Old Griz at 47 pounds are just fine. I have made up some POC arrows and tuned up the bows and I am rediscovering the fun of shooting again.

No hunting for me just yet, but my shooting is improving at a rate that may have me back in the deer woods next fall. I have been away from it for far too long, but I need to work out the kinks and knock off the rust. Respect for the prey demands that.

There is a wealth of great information on this site and the generosity with which the members here share their knowledge and experience and good will is remarkable.

Bit by bit I will get back. I hope I get to meet some of you along the way.
Joe

[kennym]

Howdy Joe!  

[vermonster13]

   

[bloodyarrow]

 welcome  

[Gatekeeper]

Welcome to the site Joe.

[Wednesday Caste]

Only wished you would have found your way back to the stick and string sooner.  You did and that's all that counts.

   Welcome to the camp (a returning newbie myself.)
Quinn

[scriv]

Welcome to the fire brother.  

[Woodduck]

Well, somebody had to live in the big city.
Glad it was you  and not me.

Welcome to TradGang... fellow Tarheel, I see.

Let me know if you're coming thru Halifax Co. We might shoot a bale. Let you see if you like a low 40# bow.
I have never shot much over 45. My first longbow when I came back to trad. was 54# and I ended up trading it; after an injury. I don't really need a heavy bow for deer. When I shot compound, 47# was all I ever pulled.

Have fun!  

[Apex Predator]

Welcome back to the "spirit of the wild".  We missed you, but now your home.

[Tom-Wisconsin]

Welcome to the Trad Gang. I am a new old guy also. I am going practice with an old bow. Indian Archery recurve at 45 lbs. with my draw length. Maybe I will be ready for deer hunting season also.

[sticshooter]

Welcome<><  

[Hot Hap]

Hi there. Hap

[portugeejn]

Welcome!  It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to loose sight of what is really important.  Glad you found your way back to what you enjoy.

Ron

[SlowBowinMO]

Welcome!  

[Dick in Seattle]

I "came back" three years ago, at 67.    I'll be 70 tomorrow and I'm having a ball

[smokin joe]

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. I spent a little time shooting after work tonight. When my concentration is right the arrow goes exactly where I am looking, and I am starting to get that sixth sense of when things are "on" and the feel of a good shot.

I knew that many of you out there would understand the nature of getting"back" to traditional archery. Some went with wheels for a while, and some like me put the bow down for one reason or another. I don't regret my time in the big city -- I got to test myself in many ways there, and I made a living too. But, all in all, it is good to be back where nature is a short drive away, rather than a day's drive away.

I'll be on the site most days to read what all of you have to say, and from time to time I'll chime in with a thought or two.

Thanks again for being a true brotherhood and welcoming me back.
Joe

[sendero25]

I'm new also Joe, welcome my brother
John

[Gray Wolf]

Welcome Smokin Joe
I'm still in the big city but still fling a few arrows every day.  

[DeerSpotter]

Joe,

Welcome back, I did the same thing back in June, we moved out of the large city, OK almost out, well we moved 20 mi. north of it.  I think the ages slowly creeping up on us though.  But I am really use to the slower pace of life, I for one did not understand some of the ideas, of totally giving up one bow for another, I sold my wheels, only to pick up on a good deal when another set wheels for months later, I use them about six or seven times, other than that, they set the closet.  I sold that set wheels after not using it for about four months, two weeks ago.  I also seem to have a more focused attitude.  I took the money and replaced the wheels with a  
Bob Lee "Hunter", and three weeks before that a purchase a "Whip" both of them are 43# for some reason I find partiality to the " Hunter "

Not to say that there's anything wrong with "Whip" but I just seen to handle and be more comfortable with the recurve, traditional archery just has a more peaceful atmosphere about it, so enjoy your moments with your stick, string, and arrows.

Pastor Carl

[bowhunterfrompast]

Welcome Joe to the    I also am on the return trip to bowhunting.