The love of traditionanal archery

[Ron LaClair]

 .What is it that draws you down this wonderful traditional path?  

"The Love Of Archery"  by Ron LaClair

What is there about this simple thing that captivates us so

It's only a simple stick and string, it's only a simple bow


Is it the feel of the bow in your hand when you draw it to your face

using your strength to bend the limbs, sending the arrow on it's race


Is it the sight of the feathered shaft as it flys straight to it's mark

or is it the soft low hum of the bow that is music to your heart


Is it the sight of a white tail buck as seen over top of the shaft

Is it the thrill as you kneel by him and know he is your's at last.


Is it the Archers of long ago that speak to you still today

Is it the feelings that fill your heart when you hear what they have to say


It's all of this and even more, it's clear for all to see

It's the love we have for archery... the way it was meant to be.

[Ron LaClair]

The essence of archery by Ron LaClair

The stick and string will always be
the essence of true archery
a simple bow of wood or glass
with classic lines as in the past

arrows fletched with turkey wings
give voice to shafts and make them sing
There's something about the arrows arch
as it leaves the bow to find it's mark

it stirs the soul like nothing might
when eye and hand guide arrows flight
It's path is beauty to the eye
the thrill will linger til the next will fly

Who knows what stirs our passion so
this love to shoot a simple bow
we only know it's deep within
our very being, untill life will end.

[Ron LaClair]

The Legacy ...by Ron LaClair

In days of old when Knights were slain                
with iron tipped arrows through mail of chain      
And Indians,.. on horseback who,...                                
shot buffalo, through and through.                            

The bow and arrow of days gone by                        
lives still today through you and I,                                            
For every time we take a breath..  
for every heart beat in our chest..                                

For every time we loose the string                                                          
to send the feathered shaft to wing..                            
We keep the spirit of the bow..                                      
alive...so all today will know..
                               
THIS is the kind of archery
passed down to us through history,
and It's up to us, you and I,
to keep this Legacy alive,

So teach a child to shoot a bow,
then watch the joy within him grow,
and someday when he is a man..
he'll surely pass it on again.

We share our love for archery
by passing on this Legacy
So even after we are gone....
the feathered shaft will sing it's song.

[Ron LaClair]

Maybe...just maybe we used the bow in another time and place...     ....   :D  

   

"Dreams from another life"  by Ron LaClair

I dream of days so long ago

when a mans companion was his bow

Then men and bow would act as one

sending clouds of arrows that blocked the sun


The iron tipped shafts piercing mail of chain

making horses scream from the arrows pain

The heavy points of the clothyard shaft

spilled rivers of blood in the wheatfields chaff


Gallant French Knights to war  would go

seeking glory in battle with their foe

Expecting a fight that was toe to toe

they were killed from afar by the mighty Longbow


These dreams are clear as they can be

5000 archers including me

stood side by side with deadly retort

that day at the battle of Agincourt

 

[Marc B.]

Great Stuff Ron!

[nineworlds9]

simplicity- minimum equipment, beautiful wood/ natural materials, lightweight of the bow vs. heavy wheelies (4 pounds is heavy vs a trad bow!), premium on skill- true archery vs. point and click, honoring one's ancestors and their way of hunting

[moleman]

Ron, you have once again proven that talent of the folks on this site knows no boundaries.
   

[NO SIGHTS]

got bored center punching asprin pills at stupid distances with the wheels.

So I needed a challenge and now I've got one.

A light,simple,beautiful,effective stick is just magical.

And hope i don't get burned for this one but:
A beautiful wood bow, well, gives me wood  
:

[wisconsinteacher]

Peep sights.  I hate them.  I shot a compound for years and everytime I would draw back on a deer the stupid thing was never right.  I also got bored shooting out to 60 yards.  The last deer with a compound were shot under 17 yards.  From there, I put it away and just finished my first year 100% trad.  I shot at 2 deer and both are now in the freezer.  I enjoy shooting.  I also love seeing others look at me like I am crazy when I tell them I shoot a recurve with no sights.

[Sirius Black]

I've thought about going back to my compound more times than I can count, but I'm still here. I still have both bows, but I really enjoy the trad bow more.

[Swinestalker]

Archery is just part of who I am and has been since childhood. The compound world holds little temptation for me as it is largely about the latest whizz bang gadget to help replace the need for skill. Nothing wrong with that, however, there are some drawn to the path of most resistance by the knolledge that success achieved by woodsmanship and skill is far sweeter than success achieved by reliance on technology. We all love the beautiful bows and custom gear, but in the end, skill and success with traditional gear all comes down to the indian.