Len Cardinale-Butts and Bows

[Bowguy67]

That thread bout the stemmler (another place) got me thinking bout some great days. Lenny’s shop was the first true pro shop I was ever in. Sure there were other shops sold bows but not like his. I remember taking my bowhunter ed there. I liked it so much I took it 3 times. 2/3 time w my ex wife, was my gf back than and my little brother. Believe this or not, my first hunter Ed guy wore pink shorts. Never forget that as it was so uncommon. He prob called it salmon or something but even that was a unusual those days.
I can still actually smell the stale cardboard and cigar smell when you walked in. I mentioned that to Lenny when I last saw him. Can feel the floor under my feet move some. Remember how dark the entry area was especially on bright days. But what a great shop. 13 miles I think from NYC and he’d check deer on the sidewalk, and there were always deer to check it seemed.  One of my first archery deer was tanned across the street.  Archery was really archery. Even the compound guys shot fingers. Maybe a stick on bear rest and silencers. Simpler, uncluttered times.
I’d find any reason to take the drive down there. Wish there was still a shop like his around. Full of honest to goodness bowhunters, living the life. Maybe not the best as far as marketing was concerned but it wasn’t about that. It was about the bows, arrows, deer and the brotherhood. To some of us it still is.
Who else can share stories bout the place?

[Terry Green]

I can, met him once pre Tradgang with Andy Prisco.

Great shooting coach for sure, took what I could and left what didn't fit my hunting style on the table. He was BIG on bale work.... most probably don't even know what that means today.

Just once but great memory.

[Terry Green]

Btw, the number of people that post that knew who he was will tell the tale of the total lack of Trad history with today's 'bowhunter'.

Sorry, just speaking it.

[Bowguy67]

I’m sorry Terry, I think I’m losing something in your writing. Forgive me. I’m not sure what you’re getting at?

[Wudstix]

Read his published articles and parts in books, but never met the man.
 

[Farmingdales Finest]

Len is pure class!

30 years ago I was a new young broke archery rep with two kids under 3.  He saw my ten year old Golden Eagle bow and said he can't have a rep he liked not having the latest bow it would hurt me with some dealers.

He reached up on his rack and gave me a new Continental Archery Tundra compound and said when I can afford it pay him.  I was shocked at the generosity and literally nearly cried because at the time a new bow was no where in the conversation of buying with our money.

[Dan bree]

I shot in Lenny shop in the 60s and 70s still remember uncle Smokey and Lenny‘s mother may . We went on hunting trips in a buss to Wawayanda State Park. When I shot my first buck on a Saturday I didn’t find it till Sunday morning and gave Lenny a call at his house he came out in his pajamas and we went to the shop to take pictures and weigh the buck . Always remember the sign when you walked in through these halls pass the worlds greatest archers. And the game dinners he had I Wone the squirrel contest one year with two squirrels I still have the trophy I guess who handed me the trophy that was sitting behind me Howard Hill. 1971 I believe. Great memories

[Bowguy67]

I remember that as well. Great memories

[ALDO]

Took my bowhunter test there as well with Smokey.  Years later Lenny measured my bear skull for P&Y.  Also met up with him in IL, deer hunting.  Great guy, great shop as well.   Many memories. 
ALDO

[Gun]

There's plenty of "local legends" all across the country no one has heard about. I grew up in Wisconsin. My mentor in my early years bowhunting told me that his Dad was Fred Bear's hunting buddy when he came to Wisconsin to hunt. Never saw a word written about him.
For the record I've heard and read some of Len's stuff. But I'm an old fart.

[Farmingdales Finest]

Len is more than a local legend.

He was a writer for over twenty years for Bowhunter Magazine, 10 years for Bowhunting World and several years for Outdoor Life. Is in the Bowhunting Hall of Fame, the Archery Hall of Fame and coached Olympic archers. He was probably the first offering video coaching in the world.  I just looked up his profile and he is a level 5 coach. I wasn't aware there was a level 5 instructor since I heard Tom Clum say on a podcast that he is a level 4 instructor and there were only like 4 or 5 in the country.

[Ken Taylor]

I live quite a ways from where Len had his shop, but I did make it down there in the early nineties.

During those years Len would get a group together and come up to hunt at my bear camp.

I still have the recurve he brought up for me, which was the same model as the one he used to hunt with at the time.

At this very moment I'm looking at a picture of Len and I with a good sized bear he killed with that recurve... great memories.

[Bowwild]

Here's another example of an innocent thread that gets negative water tossed on it by someone who preaches against such.

No need to even refer to "most probably don't know", etc. Just a swipe at at people without some age on them.

I find these days I come to TG to read the last not so subtle jab at bystanders. Sort of like a train wreck.

Yep, after all these years, this is the first off the rails post by yours truly, but the crap keep coming from the same vine swinger.

[Terry Green]

Here's another example of an innocent thread that gets negative water tossed on it by someone who preaches against such.

No need to even refer to "most probably don't know", etc. Just a swipe at at people without some age on them.

I find these days I come to TG to read the last not so subtle jab at bystanders. Sort of like a train wreck.

Yep, after all these years, this is the first off the rails post by yours truly, but the crap keep coming from the same vine swinger.

I have found out this is directed at me. Feel free to call me... 706-264-0723.

In NO WAY did I propose such a thought.  What I basically said was that's most younger bowhunters have no clue of who came before us AND THEY DON'T CARE.... I was paying homage to Len.  If you don't like that I can't help  you.

Hope you continue to enjoy the site... everyone has my number now.... if you are so concerned about the future of trad bowhunting ... Call. 

[Bowguy67]

Terry if I could reading it I myself was unsure what you were saying and I wondering if you were upset or something. Your explanation clears it all up and makes sense. Your post now makes sense too and I totally agree w you. I know you don’t need me to say so but that may be what happened to Bowwild as well. Just a thought and I hope it was ok I mentioned this. In life we’ve all had written words taken not the way we meant. Imo this is what happened. We’re all brothers

[Russell Southerland]

There's plenty of "local legends" all across the country no one has heard of.

Len was an Olympic coach and not "just a local". He was in the well known circle nationally.

[Terry Green]

No worries Bowguy, I'm  just not going 'the way of the world'..  I  am going to speak my mind and my convictions... the 'fem feelings movement' be damned. 

[Terry Green]

There's plenty of "local legends" all across the country no one has heard of.

Len was an Olympic coach and not "just a local". He was in the well known circle nationally.

Exactly!!!!!!!  GA is NOT local to Jersey.

[Terry Green]

Btw, I got an email about my post claiming that I was chiding folks that 'didn't have any age on them'.... I met Len when I didn't have any 'age' on me but i knew who the Wensels were, Howard Hill, Glen St Charles etc when I was 'ageless'.....

 Too many are offended and comment at people they have no clue about. 

[Bowwild]

Folks.

I called Terry and he and I had a friendly, frank conversation. We talked about the purposes of the Gang and how the world seems to be going mad all around us.  I explained, like some folks I choose to insulate myself from some of the craziness by avoiding popular digital communication platforms.  Sure, I keep up with the news, but that's about it.

We agreed that a great direction for TradGang is to continue to be a positive, helpful, and entertaining force in the world of traditional archery.

I want to provide one example of a tone issue Terry and I talked about.  Rather than suggest that most people don't know this or that, take a moment or two to explain this or that without reference to another's supposed lack of knowledge.  For example, shooting a blank bale is meant to help one focus on the process rather than "score" and is helpful for the beginner and the advanced archer from time to time.

To the few folks who sent me PMs. I thank you and I will continue to support the TradGang, not that someone as inconsequential as myself is much help.

I hope I haven't irritated anyone more than I have my wife today.
Roy