No Trad bows at local B&M...bummer

[Gtownviking]

Was really excited to take my son around to the local archery stores (B&M = brick and mortar)
But not one had any traditional bows in them.  The closest I got t0 a traditional was stopping into a chain sports store (Academy) and seeing the youth models that are the pre-packaged $30 jobbers.

Seriously, not one of the "Archery" stores here in Austin area had a traditional bow....not a longbow nor a recurve.  Every one of the bows hanging on the walls were compound.

We were so disappointed.   :confused:  

Is this the norm?  Do you have a B&M that carries traditional?

I guess I am relegated to buying a bow over the web...which I hate cause I want to shoot it first.

[shaanar]

Great post.  I travel all over the country for work and am always looking for B&M archery shops with any trad gear.  If anybody knows of any please give them a shout out.  (If it is allowed on this forum)  I am in Little Falls, MN right now.  When I am home in STL I go to Town Hall Archery and they have some trad bows on the wall and a BUNCH of really nice trad shooters that hang out and shoot there.  They have helped me a lot as I learn the sport.

[Bowmania]

Their called compound stores, not archery stores.

Bowmania

[nutmeg]

I was shocked when I went into Gander Mountain in Corsicana, Tx and they have Hatfields, Howatt Hunters and several log bows. I didn't expect to see anything but hi-tech. arrow launching devices.(nut)

[David Mitchell]

Not one recurve or longbow in our local Gander Mountain store.

[swampdrummer]

The bass pro in Fort myers Fl has 4, yes FOUR trad bows behind the counter in the archery department. I think its the same 4 bows that were hanging there the first time I went there about 5 years ago. There is 4 ROWS of compounds. They all look identical to me????

The folks there seem to know that theres a market for trad stuff but I get the feeling that corporate doesn't feel the same way.

[Raging Water]

Gt Viking,

Yeah, I live in Round Rock and you are right, no trad in GTown or Austin (Central).

However, KC Outdoors does have Trad.

KC Outdoors
21221  Highway  71  West
Spicewood,  Texas  78669


 http://www.kcsoutdoors.com/

[shbne]

which trad bows should they stock?

[Bjorn]

Unless you live near 3Rivers or Raptor Archery you are wasting your time going to local shops.

[Caddo]

Best thing to do is go to some of the bigger Trad shoots that have the Vendors there. I haven't met one yet that won't let you shoot their bows. Not sure how many are left yet, this year. Check out the Traditioal Bowhunters of Texas website. They should have a calender.

LD

[Caddo]

Next best thing is to check out the local Bowyers in the area. You've got one of the best close by, Bob Sarrels at Sarrels Archery. He's a Trad Gang sponsor.

LD

[seabass]

yesterday i stopped in at gander mountain in huber hieghts ohio.they had one bear grizzly and one martin dream catcher.they also had six poc shafts that someone ordered and did not pick up.i bought the shafts and some glue on field points.i was lucky they had that.i don't have a trad store nowhere near me that i know of.easier to order off the guys on tradgang.at least you know your money will go to good people.good luck this season,steve

[Tyler2045]

In little rock Ar Archer's Advantage has trad, a whole wall of it probably 200 or 300 hundred bows. they also have wood shafts and glue on points. Great Shop Ty

[Ed Q]

The Bass Pro in Grapevine, TX has some traditional longbows and recurves.  It's where I got my Bear Montana longbow.  They also have an aisle with a few traditional accessories, like bow sock, leather quiver, and things of that nature.  However, be wary of asking the techs to set up your trad bow there.  Before I bought it, I asked to have it strung so I could at least draw it first and get a feel for it.  A young guy behind the counter proceeded to begin stringing it using the step-through method, instead of using a bow-stringer, at which point I asked him to stop and do it properly with a bowstringer.

The Cabela's north of Ft. Worth also had a few trad bows on display, but not much of a selection worthy of mention.

A local bow shop called the Outdoor Pro Shop in Garland, TX sometimes has some traditional bows, more so than the Cabela's in Ft. Worth, and has a few trad accessories, but not much compared to the selection at 3Rivers and other online stores.  Sadly, I don't remember seeing any trad bows or trad accessories at another local bow shop in Lewisville, TX.  I also don't remember seeing any trad bows or accessories at any of the Dallas area Dick's Sporting Goods or at the Gander Mountain north of Dallas the few times I've been.

[Mike Vines]

Bass Pro Shops up here in Michigan is pathetic when it comes to traditional gear.  If you are looking for a crossbow, then this is your store.  I have found that the best place to find wha you want is to go to a traditional shoot.  The guys there actually made the bows themselves, and are not mass produced.  You get a custom made bow for the same price, if not a little bit more, but to me it's worth it.  You get what you want, and don't have to settle for something less.

[Killdeer]

A trad shoot is the only shopping mall I go to without having to be prodded. As the season is winding down, were I a traveler, I would be looking to see which sponsors here would have a shop that I could visit. The chain stores will only depress you.

Killdeer

[Night Wing]

Unfortunately, in the present day of bowhunting, when it comes archery stores, compounds rule.

[caleb7mm]

when I lived in FL there was a gander mt that was finally getting some trad bows in as I was moving. I did buy a 50# montana there. the bass pro in orlando had 10-12 trad bows in stock at all times.....the same 10-12 everytime I went in (minus the 55# martin I bought there once)

[LBR]

Unless you live near 3Rivers or Raptor Archery you are wasting your time going to local shops.

There's quite a few more than that, although they might not be as easy to find.  The big chains usually carry very few if any, but lots of us little guys have a small shop with bows on hand.  My shop is a metal building though--not brick and mortal.

The big chain stores don't carry them for simple reasons.  One, the money isn't there, at least not in anywhere near the volume it is with the "other" bows.  You don't need $1,000 worth of bow acessories with trad bows (where the shops make their real money).  It's hard to find a teen-ager who will stand behind a counter all day for minimum wage that knows diddley-squat about trad bows.  Short version, it just doesn't make good business sense.

You'll have to do some research, but you might be surprised to find you have a shop or three in driving distance with bows on the wall.  Probably not in the quantity you'll find at Kustom King or 3 Rivers, but some is better than none.

I've had my shop for several years now, and before that worked out of the basement, and I still have local guys coming around saying "Man, I wish I'd known you were here X-years ago!".  I just say "I was.....".

[bsimm78]

Cabela's in Ft. Worth is, by far, the better of the two (cabelas and bps) to go to for traditional gear and archery in general.  The techs there are knowledgable, helpful and friendly.