The passing of Ron LaClair has prompted me to pass along a bit of advice, not to just the younger folks, but to anyone just beginning in traditional archery.
First of all, this site has members with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and they are more than willing to share it. Take the time to read the posts thoroughly. If there is something that you don't understand, ask them. If you aren't comfortable posting, use the private messaging feature. Folks on here are good about replying. Just this week I had a tuning issue and reached out to McDave for some help. He responded right away and was very helpful. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I've been at this stuff since I was 30 and I'll be 67 my next birthday, and I am still learning.
Secondly, use the forums here to learn about OUR past. New trad archers today have the advantage of having a wealth of information on bows, arrows, tuning, hunting advice...you name it and it's out there. BUT some of the stuff out there on the net isn't necessarily true. One of the great things about this site is the members. You have members on here that have travelled the world with a stick and string, members from other countries, old timers that have been dropped in Alaska and taken Bull Moose with a homemade selfbow. A quick hit of the Search button and you can find anything you want and some stuff you didn't know that you wanted to know about!
Thirdly, don't spend all of you time reading on the internet. Read a book. There are some accomplished authors out there, many of them visit here on Trad Gang. Some of the books are how to, some are folks sharing their adventures and experiences. Every August, I read books by Roger Rothaar, Barry Wensel, Gene Wensel. The chapters of those books (and many others) fire me up for the upcoming deer season. When I was younger and hunted out west, I'd read Don Thomas' books to fire myself up for the mountains. Names like Pearson, Hill, Bear and Shafer aren't just the names of people that made bows.
And lastly, if any of the names mentioned in the paragraph above aren't familiar to you, you are missing a lot. These guys have killed more mature game than most of us have ever seen. There are others on here, Mike Yancey and Walt Francis come to mind, that have knowledge and experiences that we can only dream about.
The traditional archery community just lost a giant with the passing of Ron LaClair. Ron made contributions to the resurgence of traditional archery that changed the way people view traditional equipment. There is probably someone in your area that has a lot to share too. Locally we had a fellow named Ed Pitchkites who was instrumental in opening Indiana's first archery deer season. Ed is gone now, and I wish I'd spent more time with him. I know I've left out some of the names of members that deserve mention, but I too am getting a little older. Please take the time to read and learn about the folks that paved the way for what we enjoy today. A big thanks to Terry for this site and a bigger thank you to all that contribute on Trad Gang!
Sound advice, indeed!!!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Well said, Brother!!
You mention Ed Pitchkites....
Years ago, a bunch of us TradGangers all sent Ed Birthday cards for I believe, his 80th Birthday.
Ed got a big kick out of it, and sent everyone Thank You letters and gifts. I still have mine!!
He sent a nice letter, 2 cassette tapes that he made, and a plexiglass Dream Catcher with a woodchuck etched into it!
It hangs on the wall of my "trophy room" to this day. (and always will)
It is true. I am 65 and have been shooting a trad bow since 89. I don't know a lot. I learn all the time. Good advice.
I've been shooting & hunting longbows since 1980 when a young fellow (Ron LaClair) sold me my first longbow! I'm now 76and my hunting is now pretty much limited to hogs as my bow weight has dropped so much...tippit
One of the best posts I've read here or any forum for that matter.
Thank you Mike for posting it. :campfire:
I have learn so much from reading Ron's post and a host of others post's on Trad Gang as well and Ron left us one last lesson do what you love till the end. That one will always stay with me.
Excellent post sir! I've been at this since the early 70's and am still learning. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Well said Mike. We are about the same age and have had our share of medical issues, our ride here may not be as long as we would wish. Ron's passing also got me to thinking about how even the most bullet proof of us eventually move on. Ron has left a heck of a legacy that I hope more people will become aware of.
Like you, I have a bookshelf loaded with books by the Wensel's, Roger Rothaar, Jay Massey, Mike Mitten, Monte Browning among others. As much as I value these books I make it a point to loan them out locally to anyone I think will appreciate the spirit and knowledge these people have. There's alot to learn from these men.
If you have a dream hunt or a bow you want to build , do it. Find a way and make it happen now before we can't any longer
As my signature block says, Momento Mori. Leave all the memories you can!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
Very well said Mike! You mentioned Ed, he was a very neat man and did a lot for bow hunting. I loved visiting with him at Cloverdale back in the day, one day I received a package in the mail from him, it was one of his dream catchers that he made. That dream catcher hangs in my shop above my work bench and looks over me as I make bows to this day. His book is one that everyone should read as well to see where we came from up to today.
Ron was a dandy! A real Mountain Man and a true lover of traditional archery and especially primitive archery and a love for flintlock rifles that he and I both shared.
Everyone should do all they can to learn from these old timers that we have left because they are going fast. If a guy was to read Mike Mittens and Glenn St Charles books and then doesn't want to go on an adventure bowhunt then your in the wrong game!
(https://i.imgur.com/cBnzkF8.jpg)
Here is the dream catcher that Ed Pitchkites made and gave to me hanging by a picture of my good friend the late Ed Scott when he and I were on a hunt in Texas.
Well said. 👍👍
Mike Bolin, those of yours are real words of wisdom. It's almost 40 years that I bow hunt and living oversea most of my knowledge came from book,magazines and this site.
:clapper:
Well stated sir.
Sage advice! Thanks for the good advice and reminder!
Mike
That's one of the best posts I think I've ever seen on here. I'm 66 now and have been shooting since I was 5. I had a compound for 3 years from 1977-1980 when I was young and impressionable. Sold it in 1980 and have been shooting a longbow ever since. I was always an avid reader and I have almost all the bowhunting books out there. A book is so much nicer than a tablet or computer. I too get them out to read on occasion.
True, also read my signature, it says it all, remain the student !!
Mike, you have stated the obvious. When I created "The Tradition Lives On" signature bow and the book to go with it, I knew we would soon be losing these treasured torch bearers in traditional archery.
There have now three of these 21 gentlemen that signed this bow who have passed, Dick Mauch, Bob Lee and now, Ron LaClair.
The youth needs to try and learn from those torch bearers before it's too late. None of us are getting any younger.
Terry Harris
I love the first Masters of the Barebow with Ron and several other legends in it . It's definitely one of the best archery videos I've ever seen and highly recommend it to new archers .
Many thanks Mike, that's is much appreciate and great compliments all around.
Nicely phrased Mike. As one who has benefitted greatly from Mike's(and others in the Grumpy Old Archers group) generous attitude toward sharing archery knowledge, I can assure you all Mike lives out what he has written here.