When the trad bug bites

[tradslinger]

A guy that I had known for years bowhunted all of the time. But his bow was always the most expensive compound that he could get. I would always tell him that he needed to get a tradbow and I showed him my bows several times. One day at the fitness gym, three of us were talking about longbows and why we loved them so much. Joe listened as we talked and then the deer stories etc were told. A week later, Joe told me that he had picked up a cheap recurve at a yard sale and needed help in making sure that it was set up right. Joe practiced hard with it but still hunted with the compound. After he had shot two does at 5 to 10 yards, he decided to give the recurve a try. Talk about an excited guy, he had taken a small doe but it was like a Boone and Crockett to him. I didn't see Joe for a year or longer but when I did, he was hard core trad with a much better bow. Turns out he had sold all of his compound stuff and was now talking about a longbow as well. That was fifteen years ago and Joe still loves his trad hunting. 

[Captain*Kirk]

It happens more often than you would think.

[Terry Green]

Great story, thanks for sharing. 

[RIVERWOLF]

Yep, Great story !

I hate to admit it , but I'm one of those that  were shooting before the wheels came around . I also shot wheels for a couple years...Tried to anyways ;^))). Truth is a LOT , if not most Newer traditionalist will have carried another weapon before journeying to traitional bowhunting/archery.

Its a beautiful thing to see New young and old take to the path !  Thank you for your part in planting the seed & sharing this story

[M60gunner]

I try and welcome those folks that come over to the trad life. I also started BC (before compounds) spend a few years shooting one. Then one day it broke and I picked up my Super Kodiak and never looked back.

[Pine]

 

[Sam McMichael]

I used to shoot 3D at a couple of clubs that were all compound shooters. I was the only trad guy there. After a while, several of them took an interest in my equipment. Soon, they would mob me when I arrived and would shoot my bow for as long as I would let them. Eventually a couple of them bought trad bows. They shot 3D with them, but I don't know if they ever bowhunted with them. At least I planted a seed.

[Wudstix]

Started attending a group hunt at Granger WMA, TX about 24 years ago.  I was the only current stick bow shooter.  Almost all shoots at hogs are on running critters and trad bows shine.  We call it "wing shooting for pigs".  Slowly a couple guys switched from wheels.  Now, if we get 30-40 guys at the Granger Ranger Xtreme Hunt, about half are shooting recurve or longbow.  One year I doubled within an hour (Avatar) and that really sparked things.  I am now the old man.

[tradslinger]

yeah, the moving targets get a lot of them. The wheel shooters tend to stare at you when you make those shots. But those other shots where you are able to really cant the bow and even lie down blows them away.

[Wudstix]

Definitely, a more versatile weapon.