Hi guys,
I've been lurking this forum on & off since 2009 when I was given a recurve. I was a new hunter and never got proficient to the point that I felt confident about shooting a deer. I switched to a compound for many years and worked on learning to become a better hunter and get closer to deer. I've killed 7 now with the compound and have the confidence to switch back to Trad.
I'm shooting quite well out to 20yds and am really enjoying the simplicity and feeling of sitting with my basic gear.
Wish me luck as I try to keep it together and harvest my 1st trad deer this year!
For those who care, I'm using a Ben Pearson Javelina in #50.
Best of luck, hope you do well..
Good luck
I hunted many years with wheels before I switched to 100% trad. Now with two seasons under my belt, there is no way I would switch back. The simplicity is addictive!!!
Good luck out there!!
The extraordinary experience awaits you.
Answer the bekonong call and may you enjoy a splendid harvest.
Good Luck!....aim low
It is an amazing accomplishment to kill a deer with a stickbow. Once you experience success, things will never be the same again with wheels. Happy hunting!
Good luck bud! don't get discouraged if you have a failure, every person on here has had their share just keep on trucking and you'll get it. There's no words for the feeling after you get your first deer with trad gear, all of that hard work, thousands of arrows flung and countless hours spent shooting all pay off in a big way.
Good luck!
Bisch
Good luck this season. Post some pictures of your success.
Good luck!
Stay calm and hunt sharp.
Good luck! I'm right there with you. I've hunted for a compound for years. I got rid of it and am hunting with my longbow this year.
Best of luck. Just pick a spot "LOW" and you will connect.
Yep - pick a spot; good hunting.
Many thanks everyone - I'm headed out again this week and hopeful for some opportunities to let one fly. I'm enjoying every second of it so far. The gratification of being accurate with these primitive bows is for sure addictive!
Best of luck to you all as well!
Best of luck!FOCUS and pick a spot!!
UPDATE:
(https://imgur.com/a/Q2J3B)
Had a chance to hunt a buddies piece of property with no pressure and good deer #'s. We had 3 sits over 2 days.
The first evening I hung my stand about 75 yds from a popple stand known to be a bedding sanctuary. Had 5 deer come through my area, but all outside or on the edge of my comfortable range. Exciting night, but not productive for me.
Next AM I had a small 8pt come right under me but was jumpy - I think I bumped him when I came in. He spotted a small hand movement and blew/bolted away.
The ruckus brought a curious small doe in and she gave me a quartering away at 16 yds. I thought I found a good anchor and picked a spot, but my shot was way off. I hit her high in the back leg and the arrow hung in her - fletching out one side, broadhead out the other. I could tell she was hit hard, and was praying I'd cut enough veins & arteries to kill her.
She was wobbly at 80 yds where she bedded down and I was pretty sure she was already dying, but sat for an 1.5 to keep the woods quiet for my buddies and give her time to expire.
The shot ended up exiting low, right in front of her offside rear leg and she bled hard - I could see the horror scene from my stand once the light came up. Of course the arrow got into her guts a little, so I had to carefully clean her.
Super excited, proud and honored to have taken my first trad deer! It was a long time coming, but I am hooked hard and going to get back out there and try to fill my buck tag now.
Thanks for the support and info, gentlemen and ladies. Wishing you all calm deer and straight shots! I'll try to figure out how to upload a photo or two.
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I'm happy for you. I hit the first one I killed with recurve almost exactly the same way.
Good luck, you are in for a treat!
I will never forget my first deer with a bow. Congratulations.
Attaboy!!
Nice job!
Tim B
Thanks everyone!
Big Congrats on your first, my it be the first of many :thumbsup:
Looking forward to your buck story
:campfire: :coffee:
Congrats on a great deer!
Just remember a couple things.
That bow you are carrying is a deadly weapon, have confidence it and your arrow will more then do what you ask of it.
There is no lack or sublevel things about that bow. It shoots and hits right where you aim just the same as a sighted wheel bow does. You shoot right and exercise good form it will hit the mark. If you dont shoot form, just like any other weapon, you will miss. That's not the bows fault.
Part of the confidence you need, is to realize you are not lame or hindered in any way just because you pick up a trad bow. Practice for form and shot, and it's just as deadly. You will quickly see you do not need fast wheels or gadgets to be perfectly effective. Shake off that "this is not normal hunting" mind screw that plagues new people and causes them to cash it in when 1 thing happens to go wrong. To many, trad bows are all that's ever existed and have always been deadly. Let that sink in a bit. Good luck and hang tight.
Thanks for the support, everyone. Much appreciated! I'm glad to have finally joined your ranks and proven that I can do it.
Thanks Shadowhntr too for the straight talk. I def have some lingering confidence issues that I need to get over. Knocking one down helped, but I know I am still tentative about using this bow. I've put a TON of time in and shoot really well. If my mind can catch up with my hands I'll be deadly!
Thanks for the pep-talk ;)
Life as you knew it is over.
Be patient, let the deer get close, aim small and don't forget to breath.
Congratulations!
And kudos for getting a nice 'ol Ben Pearson Javelina back into action. :clapper:
Congrats on your first. One you will always remember!
Congrats, picking a spot is one of the hardest things to do in the excitement of the moment. It gets easier though.
Don't let a lack of confidence get to you. The only handicap a stick bow has is on the distance you are comfortable shooting. For me that is 20 yards. For any shot under that distance I would choose a stickbow every time.