On a different planet

[KentuckyWolf]

A small rant

Just got the “archery” catalog from Cabelas/Bass Pro. It contains zero traditional archery equipment. No longbows or recurves, no gloves or tabs, and not even feathers to fletch with. Not one single page. Not one single item. There was not even a single article of wool....not even wool socks. There was however, 10 pages of compounds and 10 pages of crossbows.

‘Worlds foremost outfitters”....what a joke.

I know Cabelas/Bass Pro is not a go to source for traditional equipment for many but what the heck. I can remember in the 80s and 90s...multiple pages of traditional archery equipment....drooling over Bear, Martin, and other Recurves....while planning on how to save up for one.

Is traditional archery so small as to not warrant inclusion.....or are we that far out from mainstream.

Oh ....and Bear now makes crossbows? Don’t think Papa Bear would have liked that.

[Dave Lay]

I got the same archery catalog today, went straight to the trash
     

[KentuckyWolf]

Wife burnt it in the fire pit. Trash for sure, but at least it started a fire.

Also.....with all the pre set up combo packages...ready to shoot/kill. I am was surprised they even bothered to include targets in the thing.

[GCook]

Actually single string archery is a small percentage.  Single string hunters even less.  Lots of Olympic style, field archery and non hunting type of archers anymore.
Most pro shops have a token or minimal offering of single string equipment and accessories.
That instant success, minimal work and effort to be accurate enough to hunt and minimal time needed to practice drives the compound industry.  Many guys I know hardly shoot their compounds outside of hunting season yet they fill tags.  Folks with three and four kids at different activities each evening, working 60 to 70 hours a week and no easy place to get to for practice aren't going to do it the hard way. 
Look at the average age of the members here.  I promise it isn't in the early 30s.
I went to Canada for bear with three friends who hunted with their compounds.  Out back of camp practice quickly was a revelation for them and myself.  I shot as tight and tighter groups at 20 yards as they did.  I even almost Robin hooded an arrow blowing out the nock and splitting the rear of the arrow with my Primaltech longbow.  One of the group who had given me grief about not carrying my compound quit that talk after that first shooting session.
Btw he shot his bear with the guide's rifle.

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[KentuckyWolf]

No Olympic or field archery was in there.

Traditional market has to be as large or larger than it was in the nineties. Might be more fragmented... more competition.


Won’t get stated on the instant reward/gratification.....lowest common denominator...make it easy crowd.

[frassettor]

I personally don’t feel the need to get upset if a major sporting goods store doesn’t stock or sell any traditional equipment. There are a lot of sponsors right here on Tradgang that has everything I may ever need...

[GCook]

I personally don’t feel the need to get upset if a major sporting goods store doesn’t stock or sell any traditional equipment. There are a lot of sponsors right here on Tradgang that has everything I may ever need...

I agree but it would be nice to be able to go to BP or another shop and test ride a bow before buying.  I've bought several modern bows over the years and can tell you it's nice to go to the pro shop, shoot five or six bows of different brands and models then walk away with one you feel good shooting.  Not as easy with a traditional set up.
I've bought, sold and traded a few trad bows on the internet and it's kind of a crap shoot.  Love the looks of the bow, the bowyer is well respected and some love that model, but it just didn't shoot for me or have that feel.  If I'm not gonna hunt it it goes on the trade block. It can be a frustrating process.
However the compound market is driven by a limited number of brands.  Yes there are a few mass production bows like Bear and now that the Chinese market is in it that opportunity is expanding as well but when 95% or better of the customers going into a store are looking for  modern style equipment it's hard for a store to invest too much money for inventory and space for the 5% or less of the market.
It's just a business fact.

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[GCook]

I used to hit my local pro shop on a regular basis just to peruse the latest in accessories and scope out the latest and greatest bows. (Of course I used to shoot pigs like they were going out of style and had to buy broadheads and arrows frequently as well.)  Now I seldom go there.  Sometimes when I do it is a nostalgic drop by and I realize there's little there for me any more. 
I still can shoot my "other" bow.  But it no longer holds my interest, drives my desire to shoot or fills me with satisfaction for that one perfect arrow or a really tight group.  The satisfaction of knowing I built my own deadly arrows and can tune my own set up without a special bow press and a micrometer feeds me in a way that makes the extra effort worth it.
And honestly as a compound shooter I never had to ask for help or advice on a forum.  I never really socialized much with shooters other than my hunting friends.  The last four years have been a journey not only into traditional equipment but seeing a whole other community out here and enjoying most of the folks I've met through it. 
Heck I see a bunch of folks buying their groceries online so they don't have to go to the store.
The world is changing rapidly.

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[nineworlds9]

The problem is Bass Pro etc would first have to market to human beings.  They aren't.  They are marketing to consumers. 

[Sam McMichael]

Our segment of the population is so small, it's just not profitable for most of these large companies to carry our kind of gear. I order from our sponsors or other hobbyists for what I need. I get good stuff and better customer service without the frustration. About the only thing I buy from the large companies is footwear, but as soon as Theresa Asbell figures out how to make waterproof wool boots, I'll go that route.

[Roy from Pa]

X's 2 Sam.

Trad Gang sponsors are all I need.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Yep it's a different planet alright I was bored last night watch a hunting show one that watched before a this was the third time I seen them make a bad shot on a hog and turned to the camera and say it's alright I am feeding other critter  .

[Skwerl58]

I was in Texas in June and went to the Dallas Cabela's. I am new to Trad hunting and went to the archery section and was surprized at the limited stuff on hand. They had some Bear recurves and a few takedown bows in their racks. Also had a few arrows. The gentleman that was over the area told me that they have been receiving more requests for the Traditional equipment and expected that they may receive more equipment in the future. I asked him about some Zwickey broadheads and he said that was the first time he had heard that brand requested in years. I told him I would keep checking on-line to see what they have available.

[McDave]

It is what it is.  Can't blame a business for selling what makes the most money for them. IBM practically invented the personal computer, but now they don't even sell them.  When I started serious outdoor activities 50 years ago, North Face was the epitome of serious outdoor apparel, tents, and sleeping bags, even for Everest expeditions.  Now they seem mainly interested in making things that look good in a ski lodge.  But they're still around after 50 years, and so is IBM, while many other companies that weren’t willing to change with the times aren't .

[dragonheart]

The problem is Bass Pro etc would first have to market to human beings.  They aren't.  They are marketing to consumers.

This is spot on.  Archery and bowhunting is at a pivotal point in history.  Just like the 1970's when the mechanical release aid and compound hit the scene.  The crossbow is here and is influencing the future of our sport.  Not a good thing...         

[Eric Krewson]

The more self sufficient we are with our archery needs the less retailers moving away from trad will bother you. I only buy string material and points and nocks, I make everything else. I don't get excited looking through any of the big traditional suppliers catalogs anymore like I once did, I don't need any of their stuff.

[Kevin Dill]

Well this is just me...

Personally I view Bass Pro, Cabela's Field & Stream, Dick's....the same way I do Walmart or Meijer. Large. Highly impersonal. Investor focused. Market share. It pains me nothing that they appeal to the masses and carry little or nothing of what I want in archery/bowhunting gear. I much prefer dealing with small to intermediate vendors and feeling like I'm supporting those with their roots in the sport I love.

[dragonheart]

Well this is just me...

Personally I view Bass Pro, Cabela's Field & Stream, Dick's....the same way I do Walmart or Meijer. Large. Highly impersonal. Investor focused. Market share. It pains me nothing that they appeal to the masses and carry little or nothing of what I want in archery/bowhunting gear. I much prefer dealing with small to intermediate vendors and feeling like I'm supporting those with their roots in the sport I love.

SPOT ON SIR!!! 

[KentuckyWolf]

Granted I haven’t bought much from either in years....except the occasional pair of boots, fly line or tippet. I get all my traditional archery gear from traditional archery vendors/suppliers (all of whom are also sponsors here).

However, I ordered my first trad bows from cabelas....all the local archery shops were in the possess of dying...the few recurves on hand were half delaminated or looked like they were used for boat anchors before being traded/pawned.

Just a sad state of affairs. I mean their catalogs reach more hands than 3Rivers, Kustim King, etc combined.

[stagetek]

Kevin X2 !