Campfire philosopher

[O2]

I felt all alone for a long time until I read the campfire philosopher in the new Traditional Bowhunter mag. I apologize in advance for my rambling but I have had enough and cant take it any more. Hunting for me is a way out no phone no tv no radio no naging wife oh wait that is the ex. Anyway our sport has become killing the biggest at any cost That last coment was not ment for this site but for hunting in general. As I look through a Cabals catalog I wonder how we harvest any thing without all of the widgits and gidgits.Not on the trad end but a example of things is that a fine gun should have good wood in it. Synthetic stocks are the norm now becouse some writer got a free one and you cant give free stuff a bad revew cause you will not get anymore free stuff if you give it a bad revew.Hunting shows are a other thing the end of them are like the end of a Nascar race ( The go getum mean muther buck gitter did A great job for us today)Enough rambling becouse i dont like to type. Its just nice to see someone else sees the world as I do.

[slivrslingr]

Couldn't agree with you more.  OK, rant on.  Most the hunting equipment sold today is less about helping you fill your tag than vacuuming the money out of your pocket.  Hunting seems to have become more of a competition, win at all costs activity rather than learning about nature and spending time with loved ones away from the hustle and bustle of our modern lives.  I think my head is going to explode the next time I see a photo of a small buck or bull and the person who killed it refers to it as a "dink" or "not a trophy/booner/book" animal.  Rant off.

[bad arrow]

O2, I think your preaching to the choir here at TG. I too get kinda bummed at these so called hunting shows, it reinforces that stereotypical mentality people have of hunters.  Amen! I say to the people who started TradGang, Traditional Bowhunter Magazine and all who vend and espouse the traditional way....Phil

[straitera]

Well said I think? Selling stuff steals the fun. Long as folks support it, it'll continue especially the kill at any cost hunt shows.

[huntsfairchase]

Can't blame those who sell the stuff. They're just taking advantage of a gullible crowd. I've got plenty of friends who can't wait for the next "latest and greatest". I appreciate their excitement nonetheless. I figure at least they're getting out there. I think, as mentioned already, you are preaching to the choir here my friend. Just don't forget, any hunting is better than no hunting. Though some of us may not actually consider some of what goes on "hunting". What they do may not be my cup of tea, but it is for others...

[Rooselk]

I would love to see a hunting program that showed some real world bowhunting. Personally, I'd love to see the host of the show take an occasional doe or go on a rabbit hunt. But I won't hold my breath waiting. Does and bunnies simply don't sell the products that the manufacturers are trying to shove down our throats.

[ti-guy]

Offer and demand,easier,faster,time saver,fame,instant superstar etc. It's sad but the list is endless... Viva trad bowhunting and all the trad stuffs related to it.

[wollelybugger]

Mathews have a $2000 dollar bow coming out this year and they are already ordering it. The funny thing is when I go to shoot at the local archery shop the archers show a lot of respect for my self bow and old Bows. They just can't break free from all the hype and have to shoot a trophy buck. The younger generation has been brain drained.

[Hit-or-Miss]

Most of us feel the same way about what hunting has become...sad.

I try to live in my own little pre-1968 ("arrow launching device") world and when it gets bad, and I can't get out in the woods with my recurve, I throw in one of my Fred bear DVD's or read a back issue of TBM. It helps.

[Roy Steele]

I've hunted for 42 years 21 with a selfbow.I now where your coming from. But people hunt for different reasons. And no matter fere your coming from the end result is you killing what your after. If not get a camra.

[Terry Lightle]

A lot of us agree,that is why we hunt with the equipment we do.

[Bud B.]

Funny how timely this thread is for me.

I got a gift card this Christmas for Gander Mtn. We have one close by. I don't really like GM for various reasons. I spent well over an hour in there trying to find anything worth getting. The advertisement hype is just that - Hype. No two blade broadheads to be found. Nothing trad except a few three finger gloves that were camo hype. I left with four plastic arrow cases, an archery tackle box geared towards the compounders and an Arkansas stone for broadheads. I just wanted to get rid of the card by the time I left. Even one of the employees I spoke to said he used to order more trad stuff until his manager stopped him. What a shame.

I came straight home and got a Tradgang fix to get me settled.

[Karebru]

A newbie's view...
 What draws me to traditional archery is that there isn’t much room for what I call “The Macho Factor.” Scuba diving offers a good example of the macho factor. It isn’t as bad as it used to be, but there’s still the chest-pounder who’s first question is, “How deep do YOU go?“  Personally, I like a shallow reef with loads of colorful fish and less need for cumbersome equipment.
Speaking of water sports... My wife has a nickname for the guys who drive the big, loud, go-fast boats… Something to do with certain… “inadequacies”?
I guess I’ve always had some interest in archery, but I never picked up a compound bow. I’ve always been turned off by the tough-guy, yahoo  persona that seems to come through in the adds… “You can be Top Dog and kill the biggest deer if you buy our biggest, baddest, futuristic new bow with all the bells and whistles” Maybe I’m not being fair, but…
Then I discovered traditional archery.
I like the attitude in the advice I hear or read from traditional archers. The ones I’ve met are good and humble people. From what I understand, it doesn’t come easy to anyone. Everyone has to work at it. There is no equipment that will make up for the lack of skills that can only be developed by practice. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of room  for worrying about what "stuff" the next guy has.
In fact, my understanding is that the ultimate is to be able to put meat on the table by spending a quiet day in the woods with a stick and string that you made in your garage!
How cool is that?  

[GRINCH]

It's like watching a guy shoot an elk from 300 yards whats the point,it's not about the killing it's about the prep.scouting,finding where the animals are and geting close.I don't watch hunting tv,just to many fakes in my opinion.

[adeeden]

Freinds don't let freinds shoot ugly bows, composite stocks or watch TV glam hunting!

Hunting is a way apart from the rest of the world for me. It's my me time, time to be completely alone, in a place removed from all noises of the modern world. Thats probably why most of my hunts are solo and way back in there. I love to share a camp with freinds and hunting buddies but when it's time to hunt i want to be alone. The famous quote "when your 2o feet up in a tree stand, your 20 feet closer to god" comes to mind at the moment.

The cabelos catalog, it's hard to even find anything related to archery period in it anymore. All I see is X bows and junk in it with the exception that they do carry some good quality clothing but then again my local salvation army has a pretty goood selection to!

I gave up on the hunting shows a long time ago, I can honestly say I have not seen one (the TV type) in over 5 years!

And the campfire philosopher is always the first article I read when the TBM gets here!

[hova]

i  am with you on all the sentiments above.

however , i do own an old wheelie bow that my old man gave me when his shoulders and back got too screwed up to pull it back. now he shoots a compound. i talk to a lot of people with my job , and all the hunters seem to be ablwe to pick up on my hunting hobby and most of them either shoot compounds , boomsticks , or get this...

guy i talk to the other dday while im looking at his honda , tells me he got the new horton crossbow. i  just nod and say thats cool. i have no  clue what hes talking about. he proceeds to tell me its a 340fps monster that cannot be used without a mechanical winch to cock it. i asked him "what if you miss" ...he said "then i pull out my 357 and shoot the deer"  :|

i would gun hunt if i ever get the chance to get out during hte season , and next year i hope to pick up a cheap muzzleloader for that season here.

but my passion is making shavings in the garage , whipping up a string and some homemade arra's , and goin stumpin in the yard or bunny chasin with some guys from the forum.


wise man once said "fishing lures dont catch fish , they catch fishermen" , and thats how i feel about the mainstream hunting. but some people like all that  , and to each his own...


-hov

[straitera]

Damn Karebru if you don't get it perfect! Well on you trad folks & bow brothers! Lead by example.

[steadman]

I hesitate to respond to threads like these in that sometimes words get taken out of context. Hova said it best in his last line above. I hear all the time that hunting trophy animals only for material gain leads to a very slippery slope, and couldn't agree more. (although  that is far from a problem for me:) ) But I think that being a purist can do the same. Doing such alienates yourself the same way hunting for money does. Many folks are like myself, we hunt because it is who we are, and if a 200 in buck walks by, it's getting an arrow (or shot at   ) But if I have an opportunity at a doe and can shoot it, I will. I enjoy my glass longbows, but one day want to shoot a self bow. But I hunt and enjoy camps with folks shooting wheel bows. And they are great people.
What I am getting at, is this life we all live and breathe is a very personal thing, and only you know when too far is too far. People are what makes the hunter, not the equipment.
It looks like cabin fever is starting early this year  

[bigbadjon]

Guys I have'nt got the new issue in the mail yet and I am not quite sure what it says, but I want want to comment on the gadget hating. I think it is the duty of the hunter to decide what is a gimmick and what is not. I don't think its fair to criticize other hunters for their tackle when 90%+ of us are shooting fiberglass/carbon bows and synthetic arrows. Also saying that composite stocks and knife handles are not superior in everyway except nostalgia is self delusional. Nylon tent, sythetic fill sleeping bags, thermacells, etc have made the outdoors better for lots of people and just because your grandpa did'nt use them doesn't mean they don't have their place. We might not like the hunting personalities but to the average joe they are charimatic easy to like, the same cannot be said of an elitist. Sorry for my rant.

[John3]

There are more people that think like you do than you would ever know.. I too canceled ALL of my outdoor "killin" channels from my DTV.. The horn porn became too much to stomach...

Do it right with ethics and values. Bowhunting is all about the challenge. Not how many gadgets you can buy to shorten the learning curve..!