Advantages of the trad bow and some deep afterthoughts

[Altiman94]

Here in Iowa they say it's rut.  I haven't seen much activity besides watching a small 6 pt chase two does this morning from my ground blind.  While watching the deer, I started to think.

Since I started shooting the trad bow full time, I found myself carrying the bow with an arrow on the rest to and from the stand.  I never did that before.  Instead, I find myself looking for opportunities at small game and perhaps I'll sneak up on a deer.  

I find the trad bow quicker on target, quieter, lighter. I love watching the arrow fly. There are a few disadvantages, but these can easily be turned into strengths.

What else do you all find appealing about the trad bow?

[Stumpkiller]

Lighter to carry, beautiful to look at, launches relatively cheap arrows I can fashion myself, quiet and deadly.  What's not to like?

I had no success with a compound and blew several situations where a traditional bow would have done well.  I don't move with a nocked arrow for safety's sake, but keep one ready in a single-arrow bow quiver and several more in a side quiver (relatively fast to access with an opening along the side).  I get in when it's dark and leave when it's dark, but during the day anytime I'm moving I'm hunting.

Be warned, though.  I popped a bunny in a brush-lot beside the house and when I stooped to fish him out from under a thorn bush a deer bolted from a few yards away!  D'oh!

[lpcjon2]

quote from altiman94:
(What else do you all find appealing about the trad bow?)

I just look so dam sexy with my longbow it drives the wife wild I tell ya!!!

  Everything you stated and to me it's just a great challenge.It gives everything from the set-up to the harvest meaning for me.Keep the spirit alive!!!

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

I like the fact that I can make every piece of equipment that I use.  I make my own bows, harvest wood for arrows, feathers for fletching.  I have even hunted with home made steel trade points or knapped flint. I do use manufactured broadheads when hunting most of the time. I made my own hunting knife and even make my own tree stands.  My entire trad "kit" is hand made by me or people who are considered friends.  When I kill something I share the experience and everybody involved shares in the success.  I have built bows for many and each hunt that they make I get to share in a special way.  One of my greatest days of hunting was this past spring when my brother got his first trad kill.  It was with a bow that I had made for him. The thing that was really neat is that I killed a nice pig that same afternoon.

Every time I look at the pictures it brings back a flood of memory.

I guess I have to say that it is the fact that I make my stuff that makes it so special to me.  it is more personal I guess.

pete

[Winterhawk1960]

Traditional bows have a soul.......they are beautiful to look at, feel so good in your hand and if you miss......it isn't anyone's fault but your own.

There is just something in a traditional bow that speaks to you.......if you listen.

Winterhawk1960

[kennym]

A longbow is just made to point at tracks and rubs and deerpoop and stuff!  

[highpoint forge]

Most wheeliebow hunters I know aren't very in touch with the spirit of archery, the land, or the animals. The ones I know love to kill, period. They scoff at my Black Widow collection and my 25 yds or less rule. The ones I know can't believe what I spent on my favorite PLX and that I have only taken one animal, and before, no animals. Longbows and trad archery are the culmination of 34 years of hunting with guns. I guess I'm finally worthy of the stick and the string.

[Altiman94]

One thing I forgot to mention that I enjoy:  is the look on the face of compounder(s) at the range when they see I can actually hit the deer target in the vitals from 20-25 yards without any sights.  I'm guessing that if you took the sights off their bows (i was the same way when i shot compound) that they could not hit the broadside of the barn, let alone their target.

It's not really archery any longer when you are shooting a rig like that.  It's more lining up a peep with a pin with the target.  As long as your pin is sighted in, you won't miss.  It takes a lot of skill out that is needed with the trad bow.

The trad bow also forces me to slow down and take in more of my surroundings.  I have to conceal myself better for closer shots, but that gives me more of a rush being within 15 yards of game.  

I always hunt the late muzzleloader season here.  So, I like my bow hunting season to be a challenge.

[matt g meyers]

That is spot on Josh,
So many of the wheelie men will say "you could've had that bull/buck if you just had a compound"

True, and I could have for sure taken the '08 bull if I only had my 30-06, and the '07 bull would be mine if i had a 50. cal.
Point is guns and bows are bigger faster and stronger than ever before.

The big ticket is that I have made this choice to use this weapon here and now and I'm happy with it,and they may never get why...

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I like the fact that it has so many disadvantages, but is still beautiful, fun and deadly; it is also humbling.

[bad arrow]

The advantage is that it performs well without complication. It cannot become obsolete. Phil

[AdamH]

ALL OF THE ABOVE ..........I couldn't have said it any better ...

[Bill Carlsen]

I agree with the Wensels...trad bows are much more efficient hunting tools than compounds. Started with recurves, then compounds then back to recurves. Compounds are just too high maintenance and not as quick to shoot when you need to. Lots of deer I have killed probably would not have been shot with a compound due to the circumstances I was in when the shot presented itself. I never uses a peep, sight or release and just can't fathom having to deal with all of that "stuff" when my attention should be on the shot and what else is going on around me.

[centaur]

They are beautiful. I doubt my wife would ever say "Your bows look great and ad to the beauty of our house" about a compound device. They are light to carry all day in the woods, and they blend into the woods. They are quiet and deadly efficient when I do my part. What's not to like about them??

[LongStick64]

For me it's all about the challenge. It's archery in the purist form available today. Besides that simpler is better in any complicated situation. Hunting is not easy, so the less I need to worry about the better.

[joe ashton]

trad bows have 'life'.  they are quiet.  This  year I shoot a buck standing next to another deer the dead deer jumped and ran 20 yards and dropped.  the other one just watched.  quiet. light. you need no allen wrenches. lively, and they are deadly.

[Canadabowyer]

I used to kill a lot of game with a rifle, but I had never "hunted" till I picked up my longbow.  Bob

[highpoint forge]

Well said, Bob.

[straitera]

Longbows & recurves swim against the current.

[joe skipp]

It's our link to the past......