Introduction from California

[garythenuke]

Hello Trad Gang,
  I'm Gary from Kaliforniastan.  

I'm 45 and wanting to get back into traditional archery.  Up until about 15 years ago I was REALLY into it...  I subscribed to Traditional Bowhunting and Primitive Archer.  I was an associate member of the PBS for about 5 years and a member of my local bow club in Northern California.  We had an amazing outdoor long course.  I spent most days off there and countless hours shooting and walking.

My first trad bow as an adult was a 70# Martin Howatt takedown recurve that I still have.  I also have a 50# Bear Kodiak Magnum recurve and a Darton Ranger recurve.  My pride and joy is a 70# Shadow Longbow Eclipse in Hickory, Bamboo, and Osage.

My two "big" bows are "too big" for me now.   At one time I could shoot them "all day" and in fact did many field courses with both of them.  The upside is my 18 year old son is already stronger now that I ever way so he will be putting them to good use...

Now, though, as I am wanting to get back into the sport I am looking for a new bow.  I'll do as much research and reading as I can on this forum.  I plan to hunt so I'll likely settle on somewhere around #52-#58.

  What a great place this is.  I wish I had this sort of information and community available 25 years ago when I first started poking around with it all.

Thanks in advance for all the patient answers to my questions..  

[macbow]

Welcome back.

[chall]

Welcome from SoCal

[Wannabe1]

Welcome from your northern neighbor!  

[blakeschack5466]

welcome from redding.

[garythenuke]

Wow!!  What an awesome response.  Thanks everyone for the welcomes.  In looking at the banners above I am reminded of a time when I drooled over a La Clair
takedown longbow called the shrew.  I even traded some phone conversations with Ron.  At least I think it was Ron...  Anyway, back to reading...  

[Son of Texas]

Welcome from Texas!!!

[pdk25]

Welcome Gary.  When I saw your user ID, I had to check your profile out.  I see that you are a power plant operator.  Did you go the traditional route in education or did you start in the Navy?  I am also 45 years old and was a Reactor Operator in the Navy myself.

[garythenuke]

Hi PDK,  No I'm not Navy.  Though the vast majority of guys I work with are out of the nuclear Navy.

Were you on a sub or a target?      

[garythenuke]

Oh yeah, I took the handle "nuke" for some of my internet handles to agitate some of the more arrogant co-workers of mine...  It's petty, but what the heck huh???

[Bjorn]

Welcome aboard!  

[Old Chief]

Welcome from central California.

[T-Bowhunter]

Welcome from Florida!

[RainyDayBows]

Welcome neighbor  I'm about 3 hrs. from Paso Robles.

[pdk25]

Like the handle. I was on fast attack subs out of Point Loma.  594 class primarily. Lots of good folks and info here

[Sam McMichael]

Welcome. You will like Trad Gang.

[Pointer]

Welcome Gary

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Welcome from NY.  Pull up a log and sit a spell      

[garythenuke]

Again, Thank you fellas for the greetings.  I've been reading lots of threads.  I need to dig out my jo-jans and Bitz jigs and see if I still know how to use them..  I'm gonna need some overtime here before long...

[petalumapete]

Hey Gary,
Welcome from Petaluma. I get down to your neck of the woods from time to time my daughter is going to school down there at Cal Poly.
If ya want to have a good time and meet a few hundred kindrid spirits there is a two day shoot comming up at the end of Sept. up here. The info is on line I believe on the Traditional Archers of California web site.