Trad only 365?

[Mercerkystick]

How many of us only shoot trad archery? I just started shooting trad oct last year. Though I had considered it in the past. I was never exposed to it I guess you could say. Sept of last year I was formally introduced by a new coworker now considered a great friend! By oct  he put a beautifully made Osage g.n. fireball in my hands! I decided I wanted to shoot carbon shafts and this fellow being a woody guy directed me to big Jim's for advice. Waiting for my supplies to arrive I continued to hunt with my wheels, but it seemed my heart had  already made the switch due to the poc shafts I had been shooting daily that he sent with my bow! My wheel bow had already begun to feel like a machine to me an just didn't feel the same. I longed to take game with my stick! Receiving my supplies an daily practice sessions later in the later part of nov my fist success came in the form of a fall hen  at about 13 yards from a homemade blind!!! I must admit that this bird came after a miss on a buck where I failed to pick a spot at the moment of truth and saw my feather shaft brush the bottom of his chest just behind the shoulder. At any rate I was hooked and sold my wheels to fund a thunder child spec bow as I  had been drooling over this and the baffalo model daily!! I received my thunder child in dec and put about 300 arrows threw her in 3 days. She was shooting my gt's great and we had already started a partnership so I decided to take her too the thicket. First time out we made meat together!!! A healthy doe at 15 steps! I know I was meat for this style of hunting and will continue till a can no longer!! The switch was not a hard decision for me at all! I know this way is the way meant for me! Was the switch hard for any of you? Do the wheels feel wrong to you guys an gals on this site?!  How many at this fire cringe at the thought of a wheel bow in their hand as I do now?               Mercer ky stick

[Arkansas Osage]

Compound bows are cheating. If your gonna use 20th century technology with moving parts that do the work for you, sights, a trigger and (cringe) maybe even a scope... you might as well be shooting a gun.

[bearsfeet]

Trad only for me. I enjoy it most so that's why I do it.
I'm with the above comment about compounds. They need to make some restrictions on those things!

[nineworlds9]

My wheelie had been collecting dust for a while and I just traded it away for another trad bow to add to the collection.  I'm now 100% trad forever.  If I use anything else it will be a rifle.  I'm still laughing a bit, the fact that I traded my wheelie for a trad bow, a Bob Lee no less (which I just resold cause I have too many good bows as it is.)  I feel I got the better end of that deal, but the other guy prolly thinks he did too.  Hahaha.

[arsurveyor]

I wouldn't go as far as calling it cheating, just not near as fun.  No more cheating then our other modern day advances.....auto feeders, game cameras, etc.

[Shawn Rackley]

I am 32 and been shooting trad for over 10 years. Actually only shot a compound bow about six times in my entire life. Lol never had the draw a trad bow has. Also shot alot of selfbows and fiber glass bows as a kid but never count that cause i was to busy lookin for arrows to be shooting my bows.

[m midd]

Trad for 7 years. Shot a compound for 8-9 years. Nothing wrong with wheel bows and not everyone is cut out to shoot traditional..

[will_hunt]

I have totally rehab'd a rotator cuff impingement over about three years in order to continue shooting my sticks. I would not bow hunt if I could not shoot bows that some fantastic bowyer made just for me. At 56 years, I have not shot a compound in more years than I can remember--I once owned a Bear Alaskan in 1978. Killed a doe with it. I would have absolutely no idea where to even begin with a tech bow.  HOWEVER, I would not look down on a chap for shooting one. BUT, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF TRAD ONLY SEASONS WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

[D.Ellis]

Whatever floats a fellas boat in my opinion. As long as you hunt ethically and show respect for the quarry you are OK in my book. Kind of silly to see a fella holding a trad bow made with glass and carbon and a string made of who knows what wonder material, looking down at a guy with wheels on his bow, or a rifle in his hands.   :D  
Traditional is a lot more fun though    
Darcy

[MikeEvans]

I made the switch a couple of years ago myself after several years with the wheels, will not go back as long as physically able to pull enough weight to get a clean harvest.

[Stumpkiller]

Nope.  Sometimes I shoot flintlock rifle or fowlers.

But, as far as archery, traditional only since 1982 after a few years of foolishness with metal risers, cams, cables and arrows.  Never since or again.

[VictoryHunter]

I agree with D.Ellis. As long as game is taken ethically then it doesn't matter, we are all hunters. I do however think that in using trad gear it requires one to become a better hunter and forces you to use your instincts. I like getting close.

All trad for me! If it walks, swims, or flies, I will hunt it with my trad bow (as long as it is legal too)!

I too, am not judgemental, and don't really care what weapon the next guy chooses. Trad is a personal choice for me.

Bisch

[Converml]

Trad only.  Raised on fiberglass stick bows and some I made myself as a kid and shot my first doe in 1981 with dads bear Kodak.  A couple years later he bought an old Darton I think it was but we didn't know how to use the sights so its still out in the shed where it belongs as far as I am concerned. Went back to the Kodiak till I bought my Mohawks then my hill.
 I don't mind people using what they want my son and other hunting buddy use training wheels. I'm just waiting patiently (and teasing) for them to learn how to ride.  I just enjoy the experience , challenge and developed skills needed of trad      

[Thumper Dunker]

Never had a wheel bow but have a couple of varmit rifles shot guns when I Realy need to get the job done. If something puts a projectile down range I like it. But trad to me is like yoga to others.

[30coupe]

I've never used a compound. I've shot a couple and it just did not appeal to me at all. So I stuck with trad gear. I started with it 50+ years ago and still love it.

On the other hand, if compounds are your thing or if you are a switch hitter like Fred Eichler, I have no problem with that either. I certainly don't think we need any more regulations. We need to stick together as hunters or we will lose to the anti-hunter crowd.

This place is for those of us who enjoy traditional bow hunting. That makes us special but not superior. As long as hunting is done legally and ethically, the choice of weapon matters not. Let's not turn compounds into assault bows!

[legends1]

Your Title sounds like it should be a Title of a Trad magazine.

[Mercerkystick]

I do agree and understand that trad bowhunting is not for everyone. I personally hunted wheels for 7 seasons before getting to try trad archery or pick a tradbowhunter's brain so to speak. I don't rifle hunt but see where they are a valuable tool to some folks as far as filling the freezer. Not trying to offend anyone, just wondering how many of us here have made a real decision or if there are a lot of gangers who put the stick down an hunt compound when season comes.

[Roy from Pa]

I only shoot trad, but have no hard feelings towards any other hunters or what weapons they choose. I used to hunt with guns, a flintlock, and a compound. I feel that the biggest mistake trad guys make is thinking they are better than all other hunters. I guess it comes with old age:)

[Bruinbow]

All I shoot is Trad , done so even before it was Trad .