Old Duffers were young once.

[todd smith]

Great pictures, memories, and thinking of days gone by... Thanks guys for posting all the pics. It's one of the best things about TradGang, these pictures will always be here for everyone to enjoy...  

[Charlie Lamb]

I think you are right Ron! All the hunting has me all worn out. Think I'll go hunting and relax a little.
   

[Charlie Lamb]

Here's a couple more from the last few years.
Got out west this past spring to chase ground squirrels, rockchucks and prairie dogs. The chucks gave me the slip.
     

Found a spot with good numbers of prairie dogs. They are always challenging.
       
     

Took a couple of young bowhunters out for frogs in July. I didn't shoot any, but the boys tore them up.
     

Attended the Tradional Society World's in Mississippi and got to spend 3 days with John Schulz. What a great guy. Listened to more Howard Hill stories than you can imagine. Even took personal instruction from John in the "Hill Style".
     
       

I still don't have the skill of Ron LaClair. Though I did manage a third place in the Howard Hill division of the competition.

[Charlie Lamb]

Back in late winter I got down to Texas to chase hogs. Had 4 nice boars and a little fella come in the first night and I thought it wouldn't hurt to take a poke at the sandwich porker.

The arrow was true and I never heard so much noise come from such a small animal. It totally freaked out the boars and they never came back for the rest of the trip. Best laid plans and all that.
   

[Straitshot]

Took awhile but I finally found a few old photos. These were about 35 years ago.

   

   

     

Some years later while on my first Elk hunt in Colorado.

   

[Charlie Lamb]

Louis... love the hammock shot. Back in the day when I would spend all day in a tree I had a couple of set ups in multiple trunk trees.
I'd string up the hammock and belt myself in (strapped to the tree for safety). That made it easy to sit all day... it was just hard to stay awake all day. LOL

These days I'm way too heavy for that rig.

Love the other pics as well. Those old Big Horns were hard to beat.

[Ron LaClair]

Charlie, I gotta hand it to you, you're a huntin machine.        Now that I'm pushing 80 winters I find myself slowin down a might. My bow weight has dropped significantly and I don't shoot every day like I use to, but I still like to watch those arrows fly.      

I'll be leaving for hunting camp soon (Shrew Haven), my little piece of Heaven on earth.  My oldest Grandson is going to be coming up this year for the first time and I'm really looking forward to that.

   

This is my grandson when he visited last July. He's an attorney in Chicago but he loves to hunt. I think he's got the makins to carry on the tradition at Shrew Haven.    

   

[Straitshot]

Charlie, I worked hard cutting a lot of wood in those hammocks during the middle of the day.     That Bighorn was my first ever custom bow, 65#@28". Everything before that were Bear, D Howatt, Grove, Wing, etc. I have dropped significantly in weight and don't shoot anything over 50# any more. Like Ron I still love to watch the arrow arch down range and though it isn't as easy as it once was I will continue to shoot and hunt as long as the good Lord will allow.

Ron, If the good Lord permits me to make it 80 years down the trail I hope He will bless me with the zeal and passion you still have. Hope you have a memorable and rewarding time at hunting camp with your grandson.

[RAGHORN 3]

Ron- You have lived the life that I have long wished I could have lived since I was a little kid. I was born 1970, and ever since I could remember I told my parents I was born 50-100 years too late! When I started shooting "trad" 2 years ago, along with learning how to shoot, I wanted to learn about the history of the "trad" lifestyle, of all the books, magazines and videos I have taken in, this thread will forever stay with me as piece of the history, and a reminder of how I want to live the rest of my life!

How many times over the years have we heard or read of someone passing, and thought man I wish I would have met him, or had a chance to tell them thank you for all that you have done, or just a simple good bye? Well "Old duffers" I am not going to squander this opportunity!

Ron/Charlie and all the rest of you "Old duffers" please know, and feel proud that you have touched many hearts and souls in a positive way. May the rest of your days be filled with the excitement and uncertainty as all your past endeavors were combined. Whether it's today or many moons from now, but when your golden trumpet is blown, and it is time for you guys to be with our maker, please go, knowing that you are loved and will be always remembered for who you were and what you did for us all!

Kevin Morace

[Sam McMichael]

I have really been enjoying this thread. I have only one photo that would fit in with it, but we recently moved. Now I can't find squat.

[Ron LaClair]

Thank you very much Kevin.

I'm sure all of us "old duffers" had people that we looked up to when we started our archery careers, I know I did. Fred Bear and Howard Hill were the men that I admired. I regret that I never met Howard but being from Michigan I had the opportunity many times to talk to Fred and I treasure the memories of those times.

[Bill Turner]

Well said "Raghorn3". Not much I can add to that.  

[Tony Sanders]

Very well put Raghorn3, my sentiments exactly. To Ron LaClair and Charlie Lamb,as far as I am concerned you two guys are legends in our time. I really envy and admire the life and impact  you fellows have had on Traditional Bowhunting, and you are still going strong in your advanced ages. You both deserve a double tip of the ole camo hat. Thanks for sharing the history and pics of your adventures in the great outdoors. While I have had the pleasure and joy to meet Ron LaClair, I have not yet met Charlie lamb. Charlie I sure hope I get the same pleasure to meet you some day in the not too distant future. I bid you both God speed in your latter years as you continually to contribute to us with your expertise and knowledge in Traditional Bowhunting. Shoot Straight and Good Hunting.

  Tony


 

[Charlie Lamb]

Tony... it's hard tellin when or if our paths will cross. We can just cross our fingers and see what happens. I look forward to it.

Kevin I'm very touched by your words. We all have a legacy to pass on. It was passed to me and guys like Ron and myself pass it on for the next generation and so on.

[Ron LaClair]

Hey Tony, just thought I'd let you know I had to get a haircut and buy a new suit when I went to my grandson's wedding a month ago. It felt strange gettin all duded up but folks said it made me look younger so maybe I'll keep the look.      

   

[Straitshot]

Sometime back in the 80's I use to go to a broadhead shoot in Timberon, NM. It was a two day shoot but I can't remember how many targets per day. On the second day we would only have half a target left to shoot at some of the smaller targets and you would really have to watch for pass throughs. We had to shoot heads up with compound shooters but it was always great fun. I remember one year I ended up in a shoot off with one of the compound shooters and with a little luck ended up beating him. These photos are us practicing. The fella to my left is a young Mike Hays. He is current owner and maker of Black Canyon Bows.

     

     

[Straitshot]

The gentleman to my right is my archery mentor and friend Terry Edwards. When this photo was taken Terry had retired from the Boy Scouts of America. He had worked many years out of the El Paso District and lived in Las Cruses, NM. He was most influential in reigniting my childhood interest in archery after I got out of the service in 1968. Terry has gone on now but I hope to see him again on the new earth the Bible speaks about, and who knows just maybe per chance, together loose and arrow at a distant target again.

   

[Car54]

Sure glad someone kicked this thread back up.
Love these older pics!! 'Course I'm not young myself.LOL Just young at stick bowing.

[Straitshot]

One year my son-in-law and I were hunting Elk in Colorado. We were walking down a trail looking for Elk sign when we heard something coming up the trail just ahead of us. In just a few moments a couple of guys leading mules came into view and as they approached we greeted one another. We stopped to talk to them a bit and as we talked one of them noticed I was hunting with a Black Widow recurve. He asked me if I liked my bow and of course I responded that I most certainly did and that it was presently my go to hunting bow. He smiled and told me he was Roger Fulton one of the new owners of Black Widow Bows. They told us they had seen no Elk sign and were headed out to go to another spot. We decided to walk with them back and talked as we went. When we got back to the trail head I couldn’t miss the opportunity to get my photo with them, Roger to my right and Toby to my left. Just goes to show you, no telling who you might meet on a well traveled trail.        

   

[Sean B]

Wow, I just caught up in this thread.  This Is awesome!! These pics remind me of when I first fell love with the bow and arrahs in the 70s reading old issues of Bowhunter and Bow and Arrow magazine. Keep it coming!!!