how long have you been on bowsite?
General Topic
Contributors to this thread:
alot of the old timers know who you are, but how long have you been on bowsite? the names/handles of many are easily recognized by many of us, but how many of us have been here since the early days? when did this site start anyways? 1996? 1999? alot of folks have been around for many years, alot of new names now as well, and many have disappeared. i've been on and off for a bit lately, my wife is dealing with cancer and i've had to prioritize, but i think i've been around since about 1998, and i have always kept the same handle!! honest truth!! remember the days when people would use multiple handles, and post under different names.......... who has been around the longest, and who would you vote as most popular, most respected, and best contributor? not me, that's for sure!! haha
It would be neat for Pat to post up the compiled data on us all now wouldn't it lol.
On the other hand our post counts may be depressing...
I wish I could remember my early handle as I'm pretty sure I found the Bowsite back in 95/96 when I lived in MA. It is really fuzzy as the www was in its infancy back then and I had just graduated from Bulletin Board dial ups and scored my new 14,400 modem which was a sweet upgrade from my Dad's smokin 2400 baud technology, 4 MB of ram if I recall was AWESOME! lol
C'mon Pat help us out! We've been here from begining.
Bill in MI
I've been screwing around on here all day. Shhhhhh....don't tell my boss. :)
Since the very beginning. Seems like yesterday.
Geez...98, maybe? I was an old hand when I went through a divorce, and that was 7 years ago.
8/27/99
i guess i have an anniversary of significance coming up next week
I just joined. I've read you guys for a bit but just joined up.
I'm guessing 96. I remember trading posts with Tennbow as Tiger won the 97 Masters, and I'd been here a while at that time.
I've been coming since the early days.
Fall of 2004.Was lured over to read a thread about a lost and found deer in my home county.I have never left since then.It has been nasty at times and almost quit a few weeks back(WI forums has a bully or two!sad)but I decided to stay with this site.Unfortunately many guys have left bowsite because of one of the bullies.
Bou, that's a great date! :-)
I believe it was 97/98, somewhere in there...Have met a lot of great people on here.
Started this year. I have looked for years, never been much of a forum guy. However i really enjoy looking and reading what fellow hunters have to say. I started because of a Mt Goat hunt i have this year and it was a way to learn about my area. the people who i have talked with through this site have been great.
Since 1994 and I think it was here before that. Old timers will remember Rupe for sure. There was another great soul that has since passed but for the life of me I can't remember his handle. He hosted an annual wild hog hunt for a few years in Tenn I believe. Those were the days.
Rchery - Jeff "Tennbow" Coggins
Several years, but only joined this past winter.
Be a year for me in october
As long as I've been bowhunting - almost exactly one year. Quality information and quality people make this the only hunting site I frequent.
Since 1998. I'm on my third handle. I thought Pat said once or twice the site has been up since '96 or '97.
Since 96 or 97 but I went back to look up how long I'd been posting the fartherest back I could find was 99. I was here well before the registration and I came home from work one day and registered. I was in the early 100's.
Rupe is a good friend and he's the one who told me about the Bowsite as soon as he joined, whenever that was.
Miss a lot of the 'OLD' folks that used to post. As well as Jeff, anyone remember 'Spiderman' and Dewayne Stormrider?
Kathi
It started in 96. I heard Pat talk about it at the PBS convention that March. There were several of us on a Prodigy Archery BBS at the time that left and came here. I don't recall them all but Rupe, Dave McCracken, LockPro, Jerry Ray...... are a few.
After my post I quickly remembered Tennbow, God rest his soul. I remember the handles you mentioned Kathi, and they provided some good entertainment. Still some mystery around some of those stories. Anyway, loads of fun. I was never much of a poster and never will be but sure enjoy all the info and stories I get here.
About one year and loving it.
Ok Phil, I see how it is...just totally ignore me. lol
Bogey...I'll have to check out the Va. threads. Would like to say hi to him again. Thanks
Kathi
1996 using Prodigy to log on. It took a while for things to load up on that old 286 computer.
Since about 1999 if I remember correctly.
I've been a bowsiter since 96 or 97.
I've always used the same handle.
Been hanging around here since January 1997. Only know that because I bought my first Mathews bow that month...and it was the pro shop owner that suggested this website.
Always had the same handle, but had to re-register a few times over the years.
The guys I remember most from the "early days" went by the handles "Tennbow" and "Travis". We lost Jeff way too young. Haven't bumped into Travis here in quite some time. Believe he is from Kansas?
One word for you guys: "Stormrider"
Don't remember exactly but it was in the the late 90's that I found the Bowsite by accident. Been visiting daily since. I also have had the same handle from the beginning, BC
Jeez, I'm not sure how long I've been coming here. I want to say since 01-02. I used to post a lot and spend all day on the site. Now I come by and mostly just read the posts.
Be well all, Jay
I've enjoyed the entertainment and education on the Bowsite for a long time. I have had several names through the years that others have claimed for themselves. They can't take my initials.
I am curious about official website start date.
I signed on when I was 55 (ahunter55) & will be 68 this Nov. Guess I started about the time the site was created. It was also my 1st computer & I can't work it much better yet...
I stared out as RickP around 1997.
I may be one of the problem children Pat talked about as I was banned several times but keep comming back. What ever happened to Brain, Pat?
"I really miss the days of the WhiteRaven." Wow that brought back some memories. I had some good battles with HER. Yes she was a she Woody!
99 Doing research for a bou hunt with LUO.Cant seem to stop coming back.
'97. Started out as "Carpboy"(college nickname) and then just became "Don." for a lot of years, then went with my Alaska handle "Hollywood" after everyone lost their log-ins.
Boy! ...there were some nuts in the early days. Glad some of us are still around.
winter of 96 and 97. Me and the Asian Prince signed up together put sadly I have not heard from him in a while.
It had to be in '98 as it was this first year I killed my buck. Kenny
I've been here since sometime in '97 or '98 ... I think ... but who's counting? ;0)
It's hard for me to remember what I did yesterday sometimes. It's been awhile on here and I hope it will be awhile longer.
Feels like forever but really only since 06 makes me feel like the baby of the family :)
i didn't have a single gray hair when i first got on bowsite. i've got 2 now, geesh, it has been a long time. do the searches go all the way back to the very beginning? the pic i posted at the top was with george chase back in 1999. he posted/updated everyone with spring bear hunts back then, so i know i was posting a few years before that. george had a couple gray hairs back then too.
I first registered in the late 90s. '99 sounds about right. My senior year in high school. I started as weekendwarrior, then changed names a time or two. Lurked a lot through the early 2000s, and had some hiatus's because of college and law school, but now am on here quite a bit since my life has settled down into a predictable pattern
Bake
Been Oakie on here since I believe late 1997.
Since 1998. (I've had three different handles )
Late '97 is when I stumbled upon this great forum. I check it out at least once per day when I'm near a computer. Great place.
I believe in 2003. That was the year the US had put a ban on importing any meat or horns from Canada and of course I had my first Canadian hunt booked with JHA that year. The receptionist at JHA told me about this site, and that all you Bou hunters were keeping tabs on the ban. I came over here and got hooked. Oh and I also learned the ban was lifted about 3 days before Bou season started.
Speaking of which, there should be some early season guys up in Quebec as we speak I believe. Hope they are having good hunts!
1997 for me. Man it was whacky back then. Everybody a bill mcneal. you could post under any handle you wanted.
I think around 98 sometime. I mostly just read and post here and there. Is stormrider that crazy indian guy from Arizona who had that great post about elk wrestling? I think his name was Darren? The guy was full of beans but his stuff made for an interesting read. Parachuting in to hunt elk etc....he cracked me up.
95-96'ish. Remember Tennbow back then. Rarily post anymore, but love to read everything.
I think I found the Bowsite sometime around 97 while looking for the Pope & Young website. The first time I remember posting was while preparing for a bowhunt in Jan 98 in Alabama. I think the first person to respond was REGO, Jeff Coggins(Tennbow) alter ego. Or we think that's what he called himself after a good dose of liquid courage :). Jeff would post as REGO and just blast the heck out of folks.
Anyhow, anyone who came along would just fall in love with the place. You could set at your computer late at night and just have a really great time yacking about just about anything hunting related (and some not. Lifetime friendships were formed back in those days and we started having gatherings. The first that I know of was at Baltimore Bowmen in MD in 98. Several of us just formed this rag tag commitee and decided to have a gathering called the JAM BOW REE. We didn't want to use the Bowsite's name for obvious reasons and it was a Big hit. While meeting on site to plan it (and of course running thru the 3D course) I was bitten by a spider and had a severe allergic reaction. 20 days on steroids and a black bruise the size of a dinner plate on my abdomen and I've been called spiderman every since. Jeff and Troy Green showed up all the way from Tennessee in Jeff's camper called Deer force One and we set around the campfire drinking beer most of the night. I can't remember all the committee members, but some of those invloved were LEX, His daughter, myself, BOWDAD(no longer with us) MDJoe (who got a new nickname at the Magnificent Hawg Hunt II. He's now called HawgHickie. And some others. LMNOPJerry and his son sean were there, and a bunch of others. Rupe was one and I can't remember who else.
Also in 98 Jeff hosted the first MHH at Caryonah in Tennessee with a few folks from the Bowsite. Word got out and the following year we had the MHHII. 26 people showed up. Hudson Mike Haskal from Hawai, Some folks from North and South Dakota, Texas,California, and all over the south and the northeast.
Here's a link for those who are interested. http://www.sticknstring.com/livehunts.htm
We also did some summer hunts in VA and posted up live hunts of the action getting our cue from Pat's live hunts. Most of the stuff we posted was more on the humorous side since the whole gang was basically nuts.
Some of us old timers miss the old Bowsite. Pat really let us get away with a lot back in those days. Some of the funniest stuff I've ever read on line was here. But as a place like this begins to grow and attract more and more folks, things have to become a tad more mellow and less offensive and we understand that.
Still we all thank Pat for introducing us to the many friends and good times this site has brought our way.
BTW, if you go to the first showing of the Bowsite's page on an old archives site, the first thing you see is Roger's AD :)
Wow.
You guys sure are old....
I'm a pup here. I think I joined and started posting in 2004? Not sure. Had to join to post.
I was a stalker, er, lurking for many years before that. Never posted anything on any site in my life until I posted here. That was a mistake. Now I HAVE to keep posting, at least until I need to shave my palms or go blind.
I was here in late 96, first as JDS (KY) and then as my real name. I first started logging in on a non-graphics browser at the University of Louisville. The Bowsite and Stickbow have played a big role in my life. Not in the sad, pathetic, weird sort of way you might think :) But in that 2 of my dearest friends were found as a result and most of my greatest hunting and archery memories came from the bowsite in some way. Thanks Pat!
I’ve always had this same handle, but also lurked a year or so before registering sometime around 1999 or 2000. I believe it was shortly after stickbow.com was launched.
What happened to Rupe, thought I seen a recent post of his over on the community forum.
Also – I get my daily news from the community forum, much more than from TV, radio, or any other web site. Heck, I knew Michael Jackson was dead here before I even heard on TV or radio.
I believe that I joined the summer of 96 and I’ve had the same handle the whole time! Scotty is short for “The Lucky Scotsman” which was my fathers CB handle for all the years that he drove truck, I sure do miss him. Does anybody remember chatting about hunting Spamalope??
2 years and really enjoy the site.
I think its been 13 years for me, so 1996 or so and my handle has never changed but I used to always add a shoot straight to every post.
Shoot Straight XMan
Thanks for the great site Pat. Many of us can remember fondly the threads on the Deerhunter video game. That's going back some. Boy, some people were into that, or at least talking and pulling jokes about it.
There have been many decisions made after "consulting" the wisdom of the bowsite posters, from where to go, when to go, how to go, and with what to go with.
I am on here daily. I may not post most days (rarely post), but enjoy daily since the site's infant days.
TJS
2002 or so, I think. Met some terrific people here. Got the opportunity to hunt elk, bear, and hogs thanks to the kindness/information/support of the hunters here.
This is a site I constantly try to convince people to check out. I know a couple of my buddies are lurkers on the site (watching, but not interacting). I think they're missing out. Plus, they've got contributions that they can make that I know others would enjoy reading.
It's always a treat to see what's new here. I'm glad I found bowsite.
iowaPete
Bowsiters, WOW!!! I am in a jealous awe of your longevity on this site. Honestly. I have been on his site only for a couple of years and have been very new to bowhunting. I am sorry for the year I passed up hunting to pursue too many years in college and professional school but hope to catch up. thank you to all that have contributed much knowledge to the art of bowhunting for us newbies to capitalize upon. I would love to hear Pat's complete history someday.
'97 or '98 for me; different names.
99 or maybe 2000 as Hoytman1, then after I started my own archery shop and got a different computer,(and sold my Hoyts) I changed my handle to x-man.
I almost never venture away from the equipment forum. Especially this time of year when the shop is so busy.
I guess in a sick sort of way, I miss the childish rants of woodsman, rabbit, and a few others. And the resident Einstien, AKA quail.
97 , quit for a bit and came back , It was either this site or another that counted posts., I think it was bowsite. I had about 4000 post. also rated as spikes fork horns lol ect. that all is gone.
Hay Pat how long have I been Here?? Pat C.
Just serched for my first post it was Nov. 2 1998. I know I was here just reading other guys post for a short while before that. I was first on here as just junior then realized there was more than just one. I then changed to mdjunior.
Right after PBS in March of 1996 when Pat told us about the site. Met some quality people and life-long friends on here and some real trash too.
Sometimes when folks change there handles to obscure names it is years later before I realize who they actually are!
About two weeks, this place is full of good info !
2003 for Bowsite and Stickbow.
Late 2001 or early 02, I think.
Listened in three years before I joined in on the fun about a year ago, never a dull moment... even during the off season, the characters on the site keep it interesting, sounds corny but feels like family.
A LONG time ... Not sure exactly when I joined up, I have a lot of fun here.
96,I rarely post anymore.Stormriders style of writing I'll always remember!
Scentman, It is family
Kathi
I've been on the Bowsite longer than any other site I visit. I came here from Prodigy after talking to Phil about it sometime in mid to late 96.
Bowsite has been very very good to me.
It's like a family here.
I've made so many friends and had so much fun.
Thanks Pat for the Bowsite!
Rupe
I date back to somewere between 2000/2001. Been on here pretty much daily ever since. Always had the same handle.
I thought it was 95 but must have been 96. I didn't have a home computer for several years but I fugured out how to use 'trial internet programs' at work. Had a 9.3 modem and a lot of patience( during my breaks of course).
Thanks to those who helped this neophyte over the years.
Used my softball team roster name and have stuck with it.
Greg
I think its been about 4 years for me....I miss some people on this site that I talked to a lot only last year...it seems a lot of people have come and gone....I love this site, I wish it was my idea cuz it really helps the sport...you ever need a Mi rep Pat? let me know...
I've been lurking around here since '97. Didn't post much early on. Always been Stumpkiller.
2001...spent alot of time on Bowsite and Stickbow...4finger
I think it was in 98'. Quite the soap opera at times, but overall a fun site. Thanks Pat.
long enough to get kicked off for a few months! lol
I've been here on and off since around 98 and found it in 97 looking for info for an alaskan moose hunt I was going on.
About 2 more days on the community forum and I am afraid an exile is likely...
michael
Been quite a while for me can't remember for sure. But used to get in the chat room with a bunch of great guys... Yote, Bearman, Muskrat, JD a bunch of others and even Pat sometimes.
Mark
going on 6 hours????
LOL
michael
I started checking this site in 1999 when I was in college...so I guess about 10 yrs (holy crap)
I remember needing to use my roommates computer because I didnt have one.
At least since 1999, maybe 1998
About 3 or 4 yrs. not sure. But not long enough.
Late '98 early '99. Don't post quite as much as I used too. Hogan (Kofi is a great man) ain't around to get me all riled up.
96. Pat had a Special feature on Ultralite hunting that caught my eye. Spent the early years on the leatherwall. My how time flies.
Gotta be 98'or 99' for me. MO
Just a young pup. Only since Oct of '08
I found this site back in the 1996 or so as a stickbow site. I'm using a compound now. My computer crashed, I lost my bookmark and didn't return to the site until a few years ago. I had to reregister. I recently recieved an email from bowsite and got back to viewing the forum. I realy like this site. It has much more to offer than the early years with videos, regional forums etc. I love it. I've only been using it the past two weeks and I have made many helpful friends already.
WOW...Read about it in a bowhunting mag back in '96.
Lurked for a bit...then logged on...been here ever since!
Wife says I'm addicted....I tell her there's ALOT of good information here. Much better than her Facebook nonsense.......
Love the fact that Nva & GJ can be cyber screaming at each other one minute then recommending beers to each other the next! Family Indeed!
I joined in 1998. I had to get 'online' for a class I was going to take, so I went to the Gateway Computer store, bought a computer and took it home. I think the very first search I ever did online was "traditional bow." This site popped up and I have been here ever since, though I lurk more than I post. It's always been a lot of fun and lots of good people on here!
Kurt
This week is my one year mark.
'02 or '03, Maybe? I have no memory for such and I had a different handle predating "Owl." At this point, the only thing that matters is I missed out on some legendary fellowship in the early days (i.e. knowing Jeff Coggins).
Found the site soon after I first got internet access, which was January 1999. I was not very computer skilled back then and constantly messed up my registration. Got that ironed out and have been "SlowBowInMO" since 2001.
2005! Seems like yesterday!
Somewhere around 10 years give or take a year.
1996... Followed some fellows over from huntinfo and never looked back...
Lurking since 2005ish. Registered about a year ago.
I can search myself back to '00, but none of the community forum shows up on the search. It was at least two years before that.
"Since 1994. I got all of you beat! "
Naw, I was here the day after Al Gore invented the internet. ;)
Remember went huntinfo was relevant beyond the current outtfiter report database?
Bill in MI
I remember seeing an ad in Bowhunter magazine in the late nineties about a website called The Bowsite. I took a class to learn how to use a computer in 1998. They let us surf the web sometimes and I remember going to The Bowsite. I took a part time job so I could buy a computer. I got my computer on Dec 31, 1998 and set it up the next day so I've been here since Jan 1 1999. I check out a few other archery websites but The Bowsite is by far the best and the only one that I check out everyday.
Fall, 1998, long enough to remember the "vote to remove this submission" Man if we still had that feature, the chaos that would ensue.......
I think it has been since around 2001 or 2002 and only changed my handle once because my computer crashed or something like that.
This site has made me a better hunter and has help me find some of the best outfitters around.
Sometime in the 90's. I took my handle from my second bow, the Martin Cheetah.
97 or 98, I think. Same handle the entire time.
Sometime in the mid 1998 with different handle.
Since the beginning.
My favorite story is when i had been communicating with a Bowsiter for several months when the internet came to my work and one day I went over to talk to someone on my floor in NEW YORK CITY (12+million people).
I walked into his office and he had the Bowsite up and I said, "You are not one of those cruel hunters are you???" He gave me a concerned look...then I said Angelo I am Sage Buffalo from the Bowsite.
What are the odds of THAT!!!!
About from the beginning. Maybe 1997 or so? I remember posting about having my bow stuck ina proshop on opening day, and using a borrowed bow where the string loop broke and I punched myself in the face--"Opening Day from HELL" had about 200 hits as I recall. ; )
Rupe, Gene Jockey, Les in Israel, GerryR, TennBow, BearMan, yada yada yada.
I remember talking to guys and girls here through 2 (!) layoffs, and a divorce.
1997, do not post much but spend a lot of time reading. Some great people and information!
Lurked for 5 years, and posted for the last 3 or 4.
It's more interesting to talk to people then just read.
When I searched, my earliest post was 3/2000. I was "lurking" for a while before that.....so probably since 1999 sometime. Same handle since the beginning.
Only about 2 months so far, but Im on here usually a few times a day. Got on here and jumped right into the mix!
Awesome sight! Sure beats all the other archery sights Ive ever looked at!
1997 or 98, I have a hard enough time remembering last week....
I was here in 2000 I know, possibly '99. Posted as "Bownut" for the first few years. Strayed for a while and came back with a new handle.