New guy here

[JustinNC]

New guy here. With the help of my brother n law/member here, Jonathan Creason, I am wanting to get into traditional archery.

Right now I shoot a wheel bow and probably will through this season just to be able to hunt archery season this year ethically. Hopefully next year I will be able to carry a stick and string in the woods.

Messing around over at his house kind of brought the fun back to archery. Makes me actually want to go outside to shoot.

As it stands right now, I have access to an older Bear Grizzly, 50lbs. Hoping to find something a little lighter to start out with to get my form right. After learning all I could about shooting a compound, going to have to dumb myself back down and be humble again, and start over from scratch with an open mind. Looking forward to learning, just hoping I don't go head over heals right off the bat! Can't afford that!

[Shifting Shadow]

Justin, welcome to Trad Gang! It is quite an adventure. I know I'm hooked for a lifetime.

[Toklat1]

Welcome to the gang  

[scbowhnter]

Glad to have you on board. The folks on this site have certainly taught me a whole lot about trad shooting.

[JamesV]

When I put my compound down I never looked back. But I must say I shot traditional before there were compounds so it was like comming home. ................James

[Bill Turner]

Welcome Justin. Traditional Archery is a great ride. You get out of it what you put into it. Same with TradGang. Great people on this site who will help you in any way they can. Just ask. You'll be surprized.  

[seabass]

welcome justin.glad to here you are doing it ethicaly.i waited until i was confidant with my black widow before i took a shot at anything that was alive.3d shoots helped me alot.best wishes,steve

[wv lungbuster]

[jonathan creason]

Good to see you got signed up.  There's a ton on info on here, just not enough time to read it all.  

Next time you're over I'll give you those books and some DVD's that'll help.  We'll get a board bow knocked out in the next couple of weeks for you to practice with.

Oh yeah, check out  www.thecta.org

They're not far from your parents and they put on a shoot every month.

[mrpenguin]

Welcome Justin!

You will find that unlike compound shooting, trad shooting is all about just shooting.  Trad bowhunters tend to care less about what bow you shoot or how fast it goes, and rather, what happened in the woods... most of us view a successful hunt just observing nature and seeing animals.  This year I took the plunge and sold my Elite compound.  It became just too easy to shoot.  I could go outside my house and hit my target every time, so I know where you are coming from with the switch.  You will love the first time you hunt with a stickbow... its a very organic experience.  Lastly, on the poundage... stick with it.  50 is a good weight.  You need to just develop some muscle, which will come with practice.  I built up my bow weight to 55# by doing holds.  10-12 per day outside of shooting.  Just draw the bow to anchor, come past anchor about an inch, hold for 10 seconds and let down nice a slow.  You have plenty of time to build strength and practice with that grizzly... and taking a Bear into the woods is something we ALL can tip our hat to!

Best of luck and enjoy the ride!

[JustinNC]

Thanks Jonathan.

Penguin, Jonathan kind of put it into perspective for me while I was at his house Sunday. I couldn't put into perspective about why it was more fun, but he said it like you did, something to the effect of tired of trying to keep the latest and greatest, just go out there, shoot and have fun. He's right about that.

[BRITTMAN]

Hi Justin and welcome  

[Ssamac]

Welcome aboard, Jonathan. Sold my PSE Compound a few years ago, bought a used recurve and never looked back. Many bows later I have an idea of the best weight and the kinds of bows I favor as well as a collection of bows to go along with that. They are all fun.

50# is a moderate weight, pretty average. But if you feel you can't draw smooth or hold steady, you would be best to drop down some  pounds to get your form. As Mr Penguin says, you can practive building strenght with the 50# bow in the meantime so that at some point you will move up. Actually, you will feel the lighter bow get too light and need some more ##s to get the right form. It comes in time

Best of luck
Sam

[liv'nonaprayer]

Welcome Justin!I'm fairly new to traditional shooting as well,actually,I think my years of compound shooting helped me with form and the disciplines of the bow.I sold my compound and am not looking back,archery is fun again!(I just shot my first two inch group @ 20 yards,WOO-WHOO!)

[Red Tailed Hawk]

welcome  

[ckanous]

Welcome Justin! I think your starting out right by not trying to hunt with the stick yet. Enjoy it first and learn how to use it not just shoot it. You can have so much fun practicing in hunting situations, maybe hit some 3D's before they end for the year and be ready for next year. Where are you at in NC, maybe we can hook up and sling a few.

[JustinNC]

It's 45lbs. I was misinformed before I picked it up. Drawing and holding doesn't seem to be a problem right now. However, the draw length seems short and that is aggravating. Going to have to replace a couple arrows too. lol.

ckanous, Im just down the road from you (if your info is right) I am in Mooresville.

[recurvecody]

welcome brother!

[J. Cook]

Good to have you, I'm just down the road from you a bit!  Shoot me a pm sometime and we'll get together and shoot a bit!

Jonathan Cook

[JustinNC]

Sounds good J. Cook. Some of you guys may already have met my brother n law, Jonathan Creason. Would be fun to meet up with you guys sometime.