A challenge to us traditional guys

[Boone the Hunter]

I hope nobody takes this the wrong way because my point is not to stir up anything but there's an observation I've made that I think needs to be addressed. I was talking to a friend of mine that shoots a compound about archery and hunting. I asked him if he would ever take up shooting traditional archery and he said he has always thought about making the switch but has been put off by several different trad guys over the years that look down on him or treat him like a lesser person because of the fact that he shoots a compound. He said its bad enough that it put a bad taste in his mouth for traditional archery all together. I must ad as a former compound guy and from observance that in some cases he has a point. I have run into on many occasions trad guys that talk about compound guys like they are losers, bad or not real hunters and just somehow almost like an enemy of sorts.
           So that being said, my friend is a great guy that has on many different hunts packed into the mountains, stalked and shot elk, deer, bears from very close and is an incredible hunter that doesn't deserve to be put down by trad guys for shooting a compound. My main point for writing this is I think we in the traditional archery world need to reach out to compound and gun hunters, be friendly and there friend to develop in them the desire to take up the traditional way of hunting instead of driving a wedge inbetween us. And in writing this I know there are many bad eggs in every group, sometimes that makes it hard to not despise the compound guys but we also have to remember there are some trad guys that are less than appealing as well.
     Also at the end of the day we are all outdoorsmen that love to hunt (again not counting the bad eggs) and we are on the same team so to speak. If it wasn't for all the people that hunt in some fashion, the trad world might lose some of our freedoms to people much worse such as the anti-hunter tree hugger types.  
     In conclusion I would like to say some of the best people I know that do treat everyone kindly are trad guy's, many of whom are on this site. I am not trying to slam our group as much as I'm trying to hold us to a higher standard. So to all a challenge to reach out, be kind, make friends with, listen too, and leave a positive influence on every compound guy you meet. I we go about things this way I think we'll have more and more people to share our love of traditional archery with.

[BOWMARKS]

     

[Benha]

I have voiced the same sentiments before and was condemned for being a "big tenter." All the while we complain about lack of hunter recruitment, loss of land to hunt on while a lot of us could see our biggest enemy if we would wipe the fog off our shaving mirror in the morning.

[GRINCH]

       

[Medley]

I agree with the above, but.......

It goes both ways. I get looked down upon if I take my bow into a wheelie bow shop to tune arrows or something.

Tell your buddy it is just like driving. We are all In cars, and use the same roads. Some people drive ignorantly, some dont.

Whether sticks or compounds, there are good people in each tribe, as well as some not so good.

I think everybody worries about everybody else way too much, in all areas of life.

[riverrat 2]

Boone,how right you are. It goes both ways unfortunately. In a perfect world,we would all
see past our differences,find common ground,and
realize what we have IN COMMON. We all need to
understand how right you are on our COMMON enemy,
THE ANTI-HUNTER.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

How else am I supposed to be better than everyone else if I'm not really   :confused:  

I try my hardest not to be Snooty.

[McDave]

Yes, we all need to show respect for the other side(s).

Lately, in our club, one of the top compound shooters (let's call him George) came to one of my trad shooting buddies with a request.  One of the other compound shooters in our club (let's call him Fred) shot Bowhunter Freestyle Limited (no mechanical releases), and usually won his category.  George thought the reason Fred was always winning was because there weren't many people who shot in Fred's category, and not because he was such a good shot.  George was tired of Fred winning his category so easily.  He thought he was a much better shot than Fred, and that it was about time Fred recognized that.

So George asked my friend if he had a tab he could borrow, and my friend loaned him a tab. As the weeks went by, we wondered how George was doing with the tab, but we didn't notice him around the club, so evidently he was practicing when he could be there by himself and not be bothered by anyone else.

After some weeks, George gave my friend back the tab, and said it really wasn't his thing.  What he meant was, I think, that it was much harder shooting with a tab than he thought it would be, and it wasn't going to be any pushover to beat ol' Fred.

I think it's nice when things like this happen, because it gives people more appreciation of what goes on on the other side of the fence.  Like everything else, I'm sure we'll go on feeling superior to the compounders, and they'll go on feeling superior to us, but if we act in a friendly manner towards each other and make a joke about it, we will all be better off.

[Winterhawk1960]

Boone the Hunter,

Very....Very well said. We are all in the same boat, we just row with different "paddles". The people that are out to stop the killing of animals care NOT what weapon we pursue them with. We have much more in common than we have differences.

Amen........brother.......Amen

Winterhawk1960

[Kapellmeister]

I may tease my compound-bow-shooting-buddy a little about him using "training wheels" and such... but the way I look at it is, I loved to hunt with a cf gun and a compound bow but I really, really, really love hunting so much more with a flintlock and longbow.  That's the way I think we should come across.

Even with the fun teasing, I'm always telling my friend how much he'd love hunting with trad gear.  (He's a much better hunter than me anyhow.)  Actually, he does enjoy shooting my Hill bow and I think I'll have him hooked soon!    

[PaddyMac]

By and large I think generalists in any hobby/sport feel defensive around the specialists, and the specialists do take pride in holding what they see as higher standards than the generalists. You see that in duck hunting, model train collecting, golf, tennis, beer making, barbecuing, etc. I try to keep in mind that any time I talk about trad archery with a modern archer, I need to be careful.

Just last night a modern bowhunter asked me if I thought it was time to start shooting for the Sept. 1 opener. I said, "Yeah, definitely, but I shoot every day of the year." And I should have added that "I have to, or I wouldn't be able to hit the broad side of a barn at 15 yards." Anyway, he thought I was being snooty when I wasn't.

I think that happens a lot.

What I DO try to do is not wince or wretch or otherwise connip visibly when they tell me about taking an 80 yard shot, hit or miss. I just let it go.

[bayoulongbowman]

not even going to....no way!!!!!!!!!!! going here....          :rolleyes:    

[Lee Viv]

I agree with what you originally posted.  I can't tell you how many times I have been at a traditional event, and heard people putting down compound shooters, easier, training wheels, we all know the sayings.  The problem is, those very same people go out on the practice range or the 3D course and can't hit a target cosistently at 15 yards or less.  On the course, they are merely content with "foam is good".  I belong to an archery club that is mostly compound shooters, and these guys are there just about every night practicing.  They shoot indoors, field shoots, 3D shoots...they practice quite a lot.
they are dedicated to getting better, no matter what the equipment.  If some of our fellow traditional shooters would spend more time practicing to improve and less time condemning compound shooters, there might not be that stigma.

It goes both ways...it's all archery and bowhunting to me....


Lee

[Guru]

Boone, There's always a few "bad apples" in any group.....I know as a whole, your friends experience is the exception.

That said, I've seen that attitude myself right here on TG(not too often though).  

Some have been veterans that have been trad for a long time and think they have somehow become "elitist".

 But most of the time when I see it, its from a guy that switches over to trad and a couple months later is taking about others like they aren't as good as him because he shoots trad...rediculous instant elitist!

Some of the best hunters I know don't shoot trad and we hunt side by side....

[JamesKerr]

Amen.

[GO Rogers]

"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing". Proverbs 12:18          

[Joe J]

One of my best friends and I shared our first bow killed deer together back in '07. It was his first year hunting with a bow and my I don't know 10th. His choice a brand new Bear compound with expandable heads on carbon shafts. Mine the same dang recurve I've had since I was 13 shooting full length alumniums with hand me down broadheads from my dad. Same hugs same Hi-fives were shared with each deer. Heck I tracked his and him mine. I shot his a few times I'll admit that. I pinned soda bottles at 30yds, he wouldn't even draw mine. Point here is none. Heck we are all on the same team. I'll admit I'll count mil dots on a scope with the best. I can squeeze a release, my choice your choice no, but we are no better then the other guy. The question I always ask guys who think they are better then their fellow hunter 'cause they shoot traditional equipment is this, "have you ever been in the military or a sports team." Come on guys we all know that ones job is no important then the other as long as we aim for the common goal. Take a kid hunting (with whatever meens brings them joy) take a kid fishing, grab the youngins and just walk around outside. Our sport (cause yeah it really is) our free time our lifestyle is always in jepordy. Support each other (yeah even if they choose a crossbow..which by the way any of you ever opened the original archers digest?) Don't doubt the fact that I'll give jabs to the wheelies when its all in fun, but keep them on your side cause divided we fall.

[snag]

Some folks look down on others because they do things differently. Happens in among the compounders, among the traditionalists, everywhere. Shouldn't stop anyone from pursuing something. I guess it does. But it shouldn't. I didn't know anyone but compound and rifle hunters when I picked up a recurve and started shooting it. Even went into the local archery shop full of compounders. Had some rude remarks thrown my way from time to time. It just slid off my back like water. I think today we all can get a little thin skinned and let things bug us too much. Sorry your friend had a bad experience. But man up. Go for it guy. Jump in the water's fine. No reason to let what someone else says effect your actions, dreams, etc. I can remember when you could joke around with folks. Boy, anymore you got to be so careful of stepping on toes. Have we as people gotten more touchy about what is said? Do we put too much weight in it and expect others to be more careful of opposing opinions? Or are we just becoming more rude and abrasive in our talk and don't show compassion and concern for others in our words?  I think it's a little of all of the above.

[Mudd]

If you are a legal hunter with a code of ethics then you are my bother/sister!

I don't care of you're hunting frogs with a slingshot or hunting big game with a big bore rifle.

Nuff said....

God bless,Mudd

[COLongbow]

Excellent post. We're all just people after all.