How's Your Switch from Compounds to Traditional Going?

[Bowwild]

Guys, I've been in archery since the mid-60's. I switched to compounds in 1975 and and 5 months into a committed transition back to recurves. I have always felt that after God and family, bowhunting has been the most important thing in my life. I had no idea, as much as I have loved archery with my compounds, what a tremendous positive and exciting journey the past 5 months have been. I can't remember being more excited about archery than I am these days! My 31-year old son, who as always been a compound shooter, is making the move with me. If you have made this switch or are making it, how is it going?

[Bowwild]

I meant to write "...in 1975 and AM 5 months into a committed transition..."

How come it is so much easier to see the typo after you've passed up the opportunity to preview to post...sheesh!!?

[1kwikstik]

I switched back in '85 haven't missed it at all.

[Pete McMiller]

Bowwild,

That's pretty much my story too.  Started with a recurve in the early 60's and then went to compounds in about 1975.  Just switched back to a longbow (my first) in December.  It's been tough to get my form down but every day I can see improvement.  I shoot as much as I can now that it's nice outside, probably 40-70 arrows a day.  Any day I miss shooting I feel lost.  I think at my age (almost 61) I need to shoot just about every day to keep my muscles tuned.

All in all, I'm having a blast.  Archery hasn't been this much fun and challenging in a long, long time.

[3Feathers]

I switched 3yrs ago should have done it 30 yrs ago.Simple is always better,To much of this to much of that ,all boils down to money period. Look at the compound world ,speed,bigracks, gagets of all kinds got to have this got to have that,but with a simple arrow and string you can do all that........

[Eugene Slagle]

I started out with a Bear Grizzly in 79' & switched to compounds in 86' & now I've permenently switched back to Traditional Recurve & Longbow just last year & once I relearned my form & what I had forgotten those many years I'm having the best time in my life.

[Hill Hunter]

I am a year into my 2nd time coming from compounds, first time I shot 4 years trad and about 5 years primitive and some how slipped back into compound shooting, I sold all of my wheels and have a few recurves a couple of long bows and have rediscovered my love of archery, its good to be back.

[jimmerc]

This is my 11th year of trad only, I waisted too many years with training wheels! I feel not so far removed from my hunting now, all simplisty and love every minute of it!!

[Slomo]

Started with trad in the sixties up to about 75 went to wheels for a few years and back to trad. Back to wheels when my daughters sports put a premium on my practice time. Back to trad and here to stay. There is nothing like it.

[SS Snuffer]

I switched back to recurve 2yrs. ago. My oldest son and best huntin partner (compound shooter) seen me shootin one day and said "Let me try that stick Dad". He just bought his 4th recurve last week. I shot a Kanati longbow last year and took a nice little buck with it. I'll shoot trad. untill my shoulders give out and then do what ever I have to to keep deer hunting.

[Mudd]

I would give you a report but its so hard to remember back that far..lol
God bless,Mudd

[barredfeather]

Don't know........been almost 50 years.....did'nt have to switch.....never tried the compound device (Jay Massey phrase).

Jerry

[Friend]

Your story and mine are very similar. I shot recurves in the late sixties thru ~1975 , then switched to compounds. My exclusive qaurry is the magnifent turkey. After harvesting 31 birds with wheelies and seeing two of my partners pursuee them with traditonal equipment over several years, I decided to switch. My compound was immediately sold two years ago. My mind was made up even though I had not tried to shot a tradional bow in over 30 years and I have never...never...looked back. The only regret is that I hadn't switched back earlier. Maybe my skill level would be much higher. The pleasure of 3 1/2" groups at 20 yards vastly exceeds my wheelie days of 10 X's in a row. Traditional archery has brought much joy to my life.

[Red Beastmaster]

I started with a compound in '85 and switched in '87. I never considered going back.

[Earthdog]

Went into a local shop about 6 months ago an the owner handed me a brand new thing he said was the smoothest drawing compound ever made.
Dang thing almost put my shoulder out.
I started shooting before compounds came along,,held out long after most others had flipped,but when I did go the compound way I was never that happy or very good with them.
I changed back to hunting with a recurve in 84,but still shot compound at a club level until about 95 when gave them up for good.
Today one of my favourite back yard games is shooting tennis balls hanging on a string at 10-20 yards with a longbow,,,it keeps me amused for hours.

[10point]

my story is also similar,,, 61 years old. Shot a recurve up until the early 70s. About 6 years ago I returned to archery with a compound and learned to shoot that fairly well. Never stopped thinking about the recurve and bought one last fall. Started the learning process in January and thanks to this site, have made steady progress. I still have a way to go before I feel comfortable hunting with it but I am enjoying trad archery more than ever. wish I would have done this years ago.

[ScottV_7]

Finally sold my coumpound after getting into trad 2 years ago.  My only "regret" would be getting $300 for a $1000 set-up.  Trad has really put the fun back into archery for me.  There was a boring regularity shooting my compound.  I may miss the accuracy at longer ranges but getting closer is what this is all about.

[Bowwild]

ScottV
I haven't completely given up my compound. Giving up the extra range (which, ironically I almost never need in the bowhunting field anyway)is tough for me.  I will hunt with a recurve at home this year for sure. I'm not sure what I'll do for an upcoming elk hunt out west though. I don't expect to be 95% confident at more than 25 yards with my recurve and will be seeking the under 20-yard shot. I'd hate to let an elk walk at 30 when I practice with my compound from 40-60 yards and know I can hit a baseball 95% of the time at those ranges. However, I'm an extremly conservative shot on game. I am bouyed though with the progress I've made since December with my recurve. At first I was in no danger of hurting my arrows by shooting at the same spot at 7 yards. Now I have to pick different spots at 15 yards or damage my arrows. I've found I can hit fletch-sized gaps between arrows now to avoid damaging nocks.  On a recent 3-D (40 targets) I surprised myself by killing the majority of the targets and most were 20-30 yards!  If I make this much progress between now and August....??  I do look forward to my first traditional kill since 1974 though!  I'm happy with my compound kills -- 20-30 yards is still close and a bow-killed deer is exciting. However, I expect to be really boogered up when I relive a 35-year memory!

[frassettor]

This will be my 4th year of Trad only and ooooohhhh what a journey. Never regreted it!

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Just recently made the switch, and really glad i did. Never had this much fun letting an arrow loose.