I have to admit, I am the wheel toe-ter, I am a pro staffer at Gander Mit. When I tell guys that I shoot traditional equipment, they just say really ! And I tell them that I hunting with a double bull (T-5) but I also track game when I hunt. What made me change was the heaviness of my equipment (wheels). Two years ago I purchased a Hoyt Powertec. I spent in the neighborhood of $1000, $500 on the bow and $500 on the best sites and Arrow rest and silencers and all that other stuff. That was in the spring two years ago. It wasn't more than four months after that I took it out hunting and found out how heavy it was. Opening day I used it, that was the last time I picked it up for that year.
I purchased a longbow, from someone on this site it cost me $150, I had it for three weeks, it's just like someone said when you learn to ride a bicycle you don't forget, you see I started out at 10 years old with a longbow in YMCA Day Camp, that just a big word for babysitter, but it was fun, that's how I learned to shoot the longbow. When I was 24 years old, I shot my first deer with a longbow, it was a borrowed bow, and borrowed arrows. I wish I would a purchased that one from the fellow that borrowed to me, And then I made a mistake When I get older I picked up PSE, shot it for about 10 or 15 years, five months after I purchased my new Hoyt in 2005, I put it down after that week of opening deer season, and hunted the rest of the year with a longbow, I didn't have the Viper longbow for more than one month that's the one I purchased off a here, and then I saw another bow on here for sale, it was a John Donald custom five layer bamboo with Tiger wood grip longbow 48# @ 28" I purchased it. I still have my wheels, but now I'm anticipating selling, I don't think I will get anywhere near what it is worth, but the one thing that I tell over and over again, is the story of my longbow last year.
I was determined to learned, and have the confidence, and the ability, and most of all, the discipline to shoot my longbow. The story I tell is one that I never would have had the opportunity if I had my wheels with me at that time. If I had the wheels, I would've shot, and it would be over. But I had a traditional longbow and the discipline it takes.
I was coming out of my hunting stand, I track in about 2 mi. to the back of the property, I heard some coyotes, and I decide to go home, I came along some Pine tree that were about 50 yd. long, and three quarters down that Pine tree roll, was an opening diagonally cut, I stepped into it with my longbow, and as soon as I did, I said to myself "I should've done that" I turn my head slowly, and there he was looking at me, eight point buck and a 180 lb. doe, they couldn't quite make me out, because it was just at the end of shooting time. About 20 minutes after sunset, my limitation was 15 or maybe 20 yd., both the buck and the doe stood at about 30 to 35 yd., I had to have the discipline, I did not shoot and take the chance of wounded a good animal, and every time I tell that story those same goosebumps arrive on the back of my neck and on my arms, as I see in my mind, that eight point buck, and the matriarch doe, walking off slowly, and I could not shoot, because the one thing that traditional archery has taught me, you must have the discipline, and count on the ability you have, and not the wheels.
I may not be the best shot with a longbow, but one day I will have "one" best shot that will count, and be remembered for the rest of my life.
BrokenArrow
Now, I am fighting the urges to purchase a black widow ! Are there any support groups out there !
Topic: The questions I get asked by most compound shooters... (Read 1396 times)
