I just say compounds don't work for me. While my personal feeling is shooting a compound or crossbow (about the same thing) is not truly archery, I don't want to discourage a bowhunter. If I just tell them why I like shooting traditional, rather than demeaning their bows, some will try trad. If they do, they are hooked.
We have an archery shop in Mason City (10 miles from Manly). I have had him order a few trad things for me, but he mostly caters to the compound shooters. When he found out I was shooting a longbow his comment was, I can't hit anything with them. That's why I shoot a compound. I told him it does take more practice, but that I enjoy the practice too. I also told him he had the perfect place to practice (he has a 20 yard, indoor range in the shop).
Not long ago I was talking to a friend who frequently shoots in the indoor range. He said the shop owner is now shooting a recurve! Cool!
The guys who maintain that we should shoot compounds because they are more accurate remind me of a story:
A guy woke up one morning at a great hunting lodge. He went out hunting pheasants that morning and soon had his limit. The next day was the same, even though he wondered at a couple shots. He thought he was behind the bird, but still it fell in a shower of feathers. The next day, he purposely shot three feet behind the first bird. Again, it fell to the ground stone dead. The next bird rose in a perfect going away shot. He pointed his shotgun straight up and fired...the bird dropped at the shot! That evening at the lodge, he told this tale to the owner. The owner responded, "Don't you know, son, you have passed on? You were killed in an auto accident last week." The man said, "But if this is Heaven, it's no fun. When you never miss there is no excitement in the hunt!" The owner shook his head and asked, "Who said you were in Heaven?"
Topic: The questions I get asked by most compound shooters... (Read 1400 times)
