Recently on a trip through mid-Michigan I had the opportunity to stop at an archery store that was in the area.
I was eager to visit the store as I was needing some supplies. As I entered I was greeted by a man that was behind the counter who was tending to some customers that were going to see his “live deer” exhibit.
I said hello and looked over the store, noticing that there was an indoor range and that there were a couple of recurves hanging on the wall.
I approached the counter and asked the man if he had any traditional equipment, he asked “Like recurves and stuff?” I told him that I was looking for some heavier 2 blade broad heads for my longbow and he said to me, “Oh, you’re one of those guys”, then proceeded to tell me about the archery group that he was in, and that he could bust a 10 ring at 60 yards consistently. He continued to compare me with Olympic archers saying that they had 3 foot stabilizers on their bows to make them more accurate, seemingly intent on starting an argument with me on traditional vs. compound equipment.
Maybe age is creeping in on me, but I was happy to inform him that I had my day with compounds, and that I wasn’t interested in busting lifesavers at 60 yards anymore. I told him that I was happy going “Backwards” , and that I enjoyed taking a dozen cedar shafts from beginning, to completed hunting arrows, or the carbons that I now use that are perfectly tuned for my longbow (Thanks for the help Charlie). He looked at me like I had 2 heads and couldn’t understand why I chose traditional over compounds.
I looked over the store for a few more moments, then thanked him as I left, content in the knowledge that I am one of “Those guys”