a strange ? for all tradgang hunters

[Hatrick]

I used to love making wooden arrows and still do from time to time. The satisfaction came more from the fact that I made the wooden arrow rather than the material itself. I put a lot of time into selecting, straightening, crowning, cresting, and fletching the arrows. Killed a lot of critters with wood, aluminum, and carbon. I haven't hunted woodies for about 5 years now. I made a great shot on a nice buck this year with a carbon. That was a lot of satisfaction regardless of the shaft I used.

I really get more enjoyment out of shooting deer with bows I've built. I always have to have some equipment with me that I made.

Putting more of myself into the hunt brings the satisfaction. For the life of me I don't see how some of these folks enjoy a hunt where everyone else does the work and all they do is pull the trigger.

[Don Stokes]

When I make my wood arrows, I feel like they're all mine. When I shot aluminum, I felt like I was shooting someone else's arrows. Purely personal. I get much more satisfaction from hitting the target with "my" arrows, whether it's foam or meat. More of a sense of personal accomplishment.

[Bjorn]

I only shoot wood arrows; and could care less what material someone else uses. No, doesn't diminish that person's accomplishment at all.
How would I feel killing an animal with a synthetic arrow? No idea.

[Cherokee Scout]

No.

[vtmtnman]

Folks get wrapped up in the whole "this is trad" and "That ain't trad" thing.

I couldn't care less what other folks use.I shoot wood carbon and aluminum,but this year I'm heading towards wood because I want to.I've killed deer with carbon and aluminums,but never wood.Next season I plan to use wood.

[Mudd]

I get great satisfaction out of shooting any arrow I didn't have to make. Have I ever mentioned "I Hate" building arrows. Way back when, I tried ti and it's just not for me. I hated shooting the ones I did make, either I could see where they weren't as good as they should have been or I hated the thought that on any particular shot I could ruin or loose something that put a lot of blood, sweat, and anguish into making. It didn't matter whether they were the woodies or the XX75's

I have found that even though I have some of all the different kinds of arrows sitting in the arrow buckets in my shop. I haven't been drawn to grabbing anything to shoot that isn't wood.
Is one more traditional than another? I doubt it Do we prefer one over another? Almost always. All any of this simply means is..... shoot what you like. Have fun, be safe!
God bless,Mudd

[Gray Buffalo]

Carbon was wood at one thime. If you make your own shafts thats one thing but if you go to the archery store and buy them there is no diffrence. carbon wood and aluminum are the same

[David Mitchell]

It's a very subjective thing, but I PREFER to shoot something with wood but honestly when I get really serious about my hunting I like my aluminum---and even carbons.

[Barney]

I've kilt critters with wood, aluminum and carbon. Trust me, the dead ones are all dead. As long as you take the time to make sure your arrow flies good and is placed properly......I don't think it matters what you use.

[30coupe]

First of all, I don't shoot a longbow because someone else thinks I should. I do it because it is the most efficient weapon I have found for hunting whitetails. Whitetails are my favorite quarry. I have shot three different compound bows and couldn't hit a bull in the butt with them. Others shoot tiny groups with them. I don't care. I kill stuff with my longbow. I've used wood, aluminum and carbon arrows. I like the carbons. They shoot well, are tough as nails, and are easy to front load. Woodies shoot well, but take a lot of work to make, are easier to break, and are hard to front load. Aluminums are easy to make and tune, but are nearly as fragile as wood (they bend) and make more noise.

Is one more trad than another? I don't care. I do this for my enjoyment, not that of others.

[SteveB]

Does it make the deer taste different?

[indianalongbowshooter]

NO!!!!!!!

[Covey]

I'm perfectly content shooting my recurve with my aluminum arrows! a selfbow would be a different story! Jason

[acadian archer]

not at all!1 it's the choice of weapon and the ethical shotmaking that makes it an accomplishment.

I shoot aluminium and occassionally wood, haven't gotten around to trying carbon.

[hunterace]

Originally posted by SteveB:
Does it make the deer taste different?

 not sure yet, haven't killed anything with wood yet  

and i'm not looking to get permission or actually take advice, i'll do whatever i can afford and feel like doing    . i was just more curious on others thoughts and opinions because i find it interesting, thanks to everyone for all their opinions/ beliefs and comments, i love this stuff  

[Curveman]

I do think it is a little "cooler" to take an animal with equipment entirely made yourself but not really less of an accomplishment. Unless your homemade stuff shoots poorly; then I'd say it's something more of an accomplishment!      I haven't made any of my own stuff though and don't care a whit. Maybe I will someday.

[Fletcher]

That I hunt and shoot with wood arrows means something to me.  I may wonder about what others do, but I'm not gonna worry about it.

With any accomplishment, the more of yourself you put into it, the more satisfaction you will feel from it.  I do alot of things myself, but I still have more to learn and add.

[Boone the Hunter]

i can shoot a wood arrow just as good as a carbon or aluminum, and wood is definitely more classic, but for me wood is more high maintenance and i'm hard on things so carbons are a good choice. If you are shooting instinctive with a stikbow that's all its about.

[americanhunter7]

1. I think that any animal you harvest with a traditional bow, be it a bunny,squirrel,deer, elk, bear...whatever is an accomplishment in and of itself.
2. No one, (at least IMHO), in here is gonna criticize a fella for using Carbon, or Aluminum over wood.
Good luck in your hunting and enjoy the Tradition of Traditional Archery.

[far rider]

Ah! who cares as long as your having fun and getting outdoors. Too few of us to be that picky.