What Year did You start shooting/hunting Traditional gear ?

[Mr.Chuck]

I started in 1957 with a shrub bush bow and milk weed arrows with a nail in the end for forward weight!  Those were the days!

[Dick Langer]

First bow hunt 1966 for a 3 day week end in Vermont by myself, first deer harvest 1967 also VT.

[trapperzeke]

2005

[Bill Carlsen]

I was 8 years old (my birthday, even) when my dad and I went to Coney Island Boardwalk. He knew I loved archery and there was a archery booth there run by Bruno Bows.  Dad bought me  20# lemonwood longbow and i have not been without a bow in my hand since. That was in 1951.

[D.H. Todd]

I started about '64, but got right into it in 66IIRC, after I watched my hero shoot his Admiralty Island bear and his elephant on the same showing of American Sportsman!  
I simply HAD to have a good bow then, and my father allowed me to trade my Iver Johnson SXS for full gear with a father of a friend down the street. Fletching burner, the works.
  Still have the Fred Bear back quiver, but the bow is long broken - kid brother left it strung behind the furnace one week end while I was away fishing!
  Shot for more than a few years without a knock point, and other stuff like that until I got some decent books - pretty much self taught , I am!    
D.H.

[imhntn]

First shot traditional in '82 and got a deer the first year.  Got my 2nd trad deer last year.  Hoping for an elk next week.

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

Lets keep them comming ..Its cool to see so many

[adamgti]

last summer, I think this fall is my fall to connect. I have a few great hunts set up!

ps I'm a convert from the louden boomer

[doubleo]

I started bow hunting in the late 70's with a Browning Safari 2 . It took me about 10 years to shot my first deer. I think it was in 89 with a Hoyt Hunt master TD.

[TBinMN]

1970.   I bought a Bear Grizzly - still have it and its' in great shape. It is still my go to bow for bowfishing.
The guy who first interested me in archery ran neighborhood archery shop out of his garage. His father was a writer for the Minneapolis newspaper and was  a friend of Fred Bear!

[16 gauge]

1961. My Dad took me to the local Archery Shop, the owner, Frank Eicholtz, showed the basics. Dad bought me a little 35# recurve, 1/2 doz. arras, tab and armguard away we went. I've been fling'en em ever since, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.   "Thanks Dad."
  TradArchery, You catch it on your fingers and it crawls right up your sleeves!!!

[Jim's Mom]

My dad started me in 1956 when I was 8 years old. 2 years later I got my first real bow. It was 25#. Used it for about 2 years and the handle cracked. Then my parents gave a solid fiber glass Ben Person, 35#. I still have it. I used it until I was 15 and dad and mom gave me a Ben Person laminated recurve, 45# for Christmas. I sold it about 5 or 6 years later. In 1970 I bought a Kodiak Magnum, 55# @ 28". I still have the Kodiak Mag.
From 1976 to 1988 or 1989 I was out of Archery. At that time I started again and have shot a lot since then. Jim

[Friends call me Pac]

I started July 2008 with to heavy spined arrows, PSE Impala and no clue.  The next month I discovered TG and what a help it was.  Got 2 does that October and nothing last year.  Hoping this year will be better.

[shbne]

1971 - hypnotized by dads Bear Recurve. I couldn't pull it all the way back, but I took out in the yard and shot it everytime he was gone.

Just seeing the arrow fly was magical to me.

The party came to an end when I stuck a Bear Razor Head in my leg.  Still got the scar.

[Don Stokes]

Made and bought bows and arrows in the '50's as a kid, started bowhunting deer in 1963, I think. Tried compounds for a few years in the late '70's and early 80's, but went back to longbow and recurve in '88. Haven't strayed since.

[WRV]

Started shooting my dad's K-Mag in 1980. Was still on the wheel at that time but sold the compound the next year and bought a used Hoyt recurve and have shot nothing but trad since.....Randy

[Eric Krewson]

Started around 1956, just kids bows until I got out of the Army. In the early 70s I bought a Bear Kodiak Hunter shot it until wheels came out.

Hated wheels and all the attachments but shot them until 89 then ditched them for good.

[reddogge]

Shooting 1955, hunting 1967.  But before 1955 we made bows out of saplings and arrows out of dowels.

Shooting, around 1949. Hunting, 1979. Boy, am I old!

[M. J. Brundage]

1968.   I was 8 years old, using an old yard sale recurve given to me by my Dad.  Been shooting recurves ever since.