Trad ruined it for me.

[fireball31]

Well, traditional hunting has officially ruined it for me.  I made the trek to cedar point this week and on the way home I talked my wife into a foray into cabelas in Dundee, MI. I spent about an hour in there looking at mounts and then we left. I found more interesting things to buy the last time we went to goodwill.  I guess now that I don't use all the crazy gadgets out there I'm not gonna make the trip anymore.

[ermont]

I go to Washington DC every couple of months. I don't even bother to go to Bass Pro in Baltimore or down in Richmond anymore. I don't buy anything. Glad to know it is not just me.

[Roadkill]

I have Cabelas and Scheels in addition to sportsman warehouse. I bought a shirt last time in Cabelas. This sport isvwaaaaybsimple.  No gadgets except for the ones we use in making arrows.  Guess we trad shooters are the cause ofvthe economic downturn

[snakebit40]

I noticed the same thing the last time I was in Cabela's. I guess that's why I left with only fishing and camping things. The last time I went to a Bass Pro and ask for a #70 recurve they looked at me funny.

[sweeney3]

Yeah same here.  I don't use the big retailers much anymore.  A very little bit of fishing stuff (although, using mostly glass and cane rods, there isn't much there that I need/want), and maybe some boots occassionally.  That's about it.

[Looper]

I know what you mean.  The last time I was in Bass Pro, I asked to look at a couple of different recurves and longbows they had on the rack behind the counter.  The kid I asked said: "Oh, those are antiques, we just have them up there for show."  I said, "I guess that means you don't have any cedar shafts, then, huh?" He says, "I don't know of that brand." Nice.

[snakebit40]

Originally posted by looper:
I know what you mean.  The last time I was in Bass Pro, I asked to look at a couple of different recurves and longbows they had on the rack behind the counter.  The kid I asked said: "Oh, those are antiques, we just have them up there for show."  I said, "I guess that means you don't have any cedar shafts, then, huh?" He says, "I don't know of that brand." Nice.

           

[mookie]

Don't look for much in the way of hunting in Cabela's anymore but they have fine fly rods.

[Archie]

Funny!  I'm the same way!  I still try to make a fuss to my wife about how we need to make the hour-drive to Cabelas every few months... but it's really just to protect my "territory".  We go there... but I just don't buy any hunting stuff there anymore.  My wife does find nice skirts, though.

[bluej]

I went to gander mountain and saw a bear montanna, sitting on the floor. I asked how much they wanted for it and they said I can make you a good deal on this. I saved a lot of money on the bow. I told the salesman, this bow may not mean much to some but it means the world to me, no need to go back nothing but compounds.

[Flingblade]

When I need to buy archery equipment I shop online or by phone at 3rivers or one of the trad shops but I don't have anything against Cabelas because of that.  I like to visit the store in Dundee.  I will be going there next weekend to look at the new Leverage ladder stand.  I have always liked their clothing better than anywhere else.  IMO we need large companies like them that support hunting; there are enough out there that don't.  Case in point; Staples provides wifi and you can access the internet on their display computers but if you try to access a hunting or gun site it is blocked.  PC stinks!  These days trad hunting is a specialized endeavor and I like it that way.  Those who shoot for gold in the Olympics don't buy their equipment at Cabelas either.  Doesn't make Cabelas bad.

[Night Wing]

I'm a little lucky because there are two Gander Mountain stores near me and both have a "trad" man that works there. Both men have "gray hair" so they're very familiar with recurves and longbows.

I checked out their 20 yard indoor shooting range in both stores and there are quite a few ILF target shooters who shoot at both stores.

[SheltonCreeker]

I don't have a Cabelas or a Gander Mtn very close. With in two hours drive. So I never went to the stores much anyways before trad. I have noticed there are alot more 3rivers boxes from the mailman than cabelas these days. Nothing against them they just dont have what I need. I'm sure I will still buy somethings from them. But it won't be for archery.

[fireball31]

Not saying cabela's is bad. Just not a whole lot there that interests me now that I've gone back to basics. The mounts in Dundee are awesome.

[Hoyt]

I had a local Bass Pro store when I lived in Orlando, but it didn't take me long to shop them out far as hunting needs go. They seem to stock the basics and not many specialty items.

I had to find 99% of the things I wanted online. Now everything I get for hunting is online.

[Eugene Slagle]

I go into the Gander Mountain here in fredericksburg once a month due to club business & down to the Bass Pro in Richmond maybe 3 times a year as an instructor & each time since I've returned to Trad I don't even look in their archery sections or clothing sections. they do have some decent fishing & camping supplies.

[T Lail]

welcome home brother.......

[Night Wing]

The only time I use the Gander Mountain store is for the 5" right wing Gateway parabolic white colored feathers they carry when I need a few feathers in a hurry.

[hardwaymike]

Kinda funny how it works out huh? By this I mean, to get into one of the oldest methods of hunting you almost have to do your shopping on the bestest most fastest internet equipped whizbang out there! JMHO. Mike

[LimBender]

I hear you.  I have a BP about 5 minutes from my work, but hardly go anymore.

As a favor to a friend who is just getting into hunting (not trad yet), I'm going to a big "hunting expo" today.  Used to get excited about those, but now I just want to go to one of these dang trad shows, which all happen to be at least 600+ miles from my house!  I will look at stands and taxidermy I suppose.