How many hunt with trad gear
Contributors to this thread:Wisconsin
From: Pasquinell
16-Apr-18
Wondering how many on this site hunt with either a self bow, recurve or longbow solely. Not interested in arrow types, point , stone heads etc.
Just interested in who hunts with just what would be considered Trad or primitive bows.
It's sounds as though there might be a few of us here.
From: Pete-pec
16-Apr-18
I'm joining you soon. First deer was trad. I'm sure my last will be as well.
From: Inmyelement
16-Apr-18
Last 2 years I've been making the switch and hunting with both my compound and recurve. With my recurve I only hunt from the ground as I don't have a good set up to practice shooting from an elevated position. My woods are pretty thick with a lot of rolling hills and ridges which really limit how much I can see from the ground. From my treestands I see much more wildlife in general which passes the time better. Come the rut I have an area that has to be hunted but I can't find a good spot for a ground blind. This tree is set up for a 25 yard shot, which is out of my recurve range. This year I shot the biggest buck of my life at 5 yards. Really wish I had my recurve that day. One of the things on my spring list is to come up with an elevated platform so I can hang up the compound for good this year.
From: buckmaster69
16-Apr-18
Practiced little with my warrior recurve... don't know if I should trust cedar arrows.
From: Pasquinell
16-Apr-18
Okay very few of us! HA!
From: longbowbud
16-Apr-18
me
From: Tweed
16-Apr-18
Me
From: Reggiezpop
16-Apr-18
guilty
From: rallison
16-Apr-18
Guilty...I'm 65 and have been stricly sticks for over 30 years. My fav now is a WhippenStickRD longbow...sweet! My son, now 30, followed me 3 years ago and has the takedown RD longbow...he's also taken 3 deer and is hooked.
From: Reggiezpop
16-Apr-18
Hopefully run into everyone at Ojibwa in a few weeks
From: retro
16-Apr-18
Yup
From: Stycks
16-Apr-18
Yes sir.
From: Pasquinell
16-Apr-18
Ojibwa puts on a great shoot!
From: Tomas
17-Apr-18
Since 2004
From: rallison
17-Apr-18
X2 on the Ojibwa shoot.
From: GVS
17-Apr-18
Went back to stick bows 25 years ago and have not even once pulled back a compound for over 20. The last time I did I shot a nice 8 pt at 7 yds and that convinced me that I did not need it anymore.
From: Live2hunt
17-Apr-18
Yep, I do. Best switch I've ever made.
From: JF
17-Apr-18
Yup.
Same here Live2hunt.
Joe
From: South Farm
17-Apr-18
I primarily hunt with a recurve, although I have taken a compound on a couple elk hunts in the past due to the open habitat and shot distances required.
From: Missouribreaks
17-Apr-18
For bowhunting season I use a selfbow.
From: Two Feathers
17-Apr-18
Another stickbow hunter here.
From: CraigL
17-Apr-18
Since 1995
From: LTL JimBow
17-Apr-18
I’m In , All In So far I have owned 5 different pick-ups a Chevy , 2 Fords , and 2 Dodge . They all eventually rusted away . This is a good time to shoot bows . Many options in both the traditional and compound . More than ever before . Once on a 5 day deer hunt ( the last week of the WI bow season ) I packed a longbow , a recurve , a ,compound , a 308 savage , 3 dozen wood arrows , a dozen carbon arrows , a tree stand , a ground blind , a decoy , my stalking boots . It was blast , every day I was doing something different , all fun . I only do this for fun . Is there an award for hunting one way or for being brand loyal ? Who heads to lake with one pole and one lure ? In your closet you have one color shirt , one color pants , seems a little dry to me . For the record my favorite is my long bow . Its nice and light and I can see the arrows as they fly nice and slow . If I was really hungry I would use my 308 .
From: SteveD
17-Apr-18
I do.
From: bfisherman11
17-Apr-18
Yep, I do
From: WI Canner
17-Apr-18
Longbows and Recurves - the guns get very little use
From: Franklin
17-Apr-18
Starting to dabble myself....didn`t realize how complicated it is...lol
From: Duke
17-Apr-18
I dabble... Shoot a Big River bow (hybrid) that is made locally by John McDonald. I use my compound 95% of the time hunting and probably shoot (practice) 50/50 between the two. I enjoy the trad shooting much more just because of the simplicity.
From: RD in WI
17-Apr-18
I switch off between a mass-produced recurve, a custom longbow, and my compound bow. There is no rhyme or reason as to which one I grab - just whatever I want on that particular hunt.
From: Fivers
17-Apr-18
Fully since 2011, when a limb cracked on my compound the fall of 2010, I was able to buy a new longbow and go all in. It is hard to make the switch with a perfectly good compound sitting in the house, I tried to make the switch a few years prior and went back....until it broke.
From: sharpspur@home
18-Apr-18
64" Stalker Stickbow Wolverine FXT Recurve
From: CBergeman
19-Apr-18
Yes, I do as well. A fellow longbow shooter....
From: casekiska
19-Apr-18
I own shoot ready (and collectable) longbows, recurves, and compounds. All are set up and ready to go. Which I use is dependent on my shoulder health on any given day, and my mood; have killed deer with all three types of bows. Am a member of the WBH and the WTA, urge all to support both organizations.
From: rallison
19-Apr-18
I'm a longbow fan...but shoot recurves also.
From: ground hunter
19-Apr-18
I will be selling my last recurve, ILF style with a beautiful original Galaxy riser at Ojibwa this weekend,,,, this is not the cheap riser that Lancaster sells, It is a 100 percent, just about new,,,,,,,,, 41lbs a 28, for 275.00 you will not find a better deal,,,,,,,, shooting long bows now, and doubt I will ever go back to a recurve.........................custom string with silencers,,,,,, it is dead quiet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
From: Wink
19-Apr-18
I've been a traditional bow-hunter since 1997. I currently shoot a 60lb Palmer Classic recurve. I plan on ordering a 50 #ish Black Widow later this spring as my retirement gift to myself. Seems like the limbs on my Palmer have gotten stiffer and harder to draw back over the last 20 years.
From: Pasquinell
19-Apr-18
My buddy shoots a LB very well and may have to try. It's super quiet too. Howard Hill looks appealing as does Great Northern.
From: DoorKnob
19-Apr-18
Not anymore. Mine developed a twist and I decided to not buy another. Besides I am harvest oriented.
From: Jake
19-Apr-18
Did not realize the number of Stick and recurve shooter on here. Cool!
From: Live2hunt
19-Apr-18
"Besides I am harvest oriented." I went full bore Trad the past 2 seasons. I've shot 4 times and have 2 bucks and a doe with it. One complete miss (branches and flinching off from a lighted nock). I believe that is Harvest Oriented!!
From: rallison
19-Apr-18
"I am harvest oriented". Yeah, me too. It's the archer that does the killing.
From: rallison
19-Apr-18
Some of us geezers are from an age before "traditional archery". It was just archery. It DOES take discipline, patience, and time to become proficient and deadly with stick & string, but there's nothing magical about it...it's simply a tool. But...it's also a LOT of fun! My son grew up with compounds (nothing wrong with that!), and is a fine hunter. But about 3 years ago, he became intrigued watching the old man shoot, and decided to give it a go. He's now got 2 bucks and a doe under his belt, and is hooked. I love having a shooting partner again, and after 1 year with my old Black Widow MAII recurve, he got his own custom takedown longbow. Sweeet shooter!
From: DoorKnob
19-Apr-18
I pretty much take 2 mature bucks each year and toss in the occasional old grey mare every other year to top up the freezer. 2017 was exactly that sort of year. Gun tag filled with bow during the muzzleloader season. THAT is harvest oriented, yes?
From: Pasquinell
19-Apr-18
Yes, there is something different about it. Looking forward to heading to Ojibwa shoot if possible. Have a concrete bid to do... extra money or fun, extra money or fun? I hoping fun wins out.
From: ground hunter
19-Apr-18
Pasq I will be there on Saturday,,, till the end of the day,,,,, I will show you that Black Hunter,,,, I will be selling at the pavilion, look me up,,,,,,
From: RJN
19-Apr-18
Pasq- I have 20 yrs in the concrete business. I was just recently hired as a agent and training to be a land specialist. There is nothing fun about concrete, trust me.
From: Pasquinell
19-Apr-18
RJN it is a side job for me. I work full time for a Pharma company and have been doing the crete for a little extra cash mostly on weekends for about 10 years. Young mans job for sure. All small jobs patios, driveways etc. I hope to get to the shoot though.
From: Inmyelement
20-Apr-18
First time shooting the recurve since early Nov. Took a while to get this group, but I'll take it for the first session of the year.
From: Jake
20-Apr-18
I have a custom made recurve bow made by a local boywer. It is left hand so any lefties out there interested in one. I can not shoot it anymore.
From: rallison
20-Apr-18
For you getting into sticks for either the first time, or returning..."shooting the line" is a good way to iron out release and/or "aiming" left/right problems. This is my back yard target at 20 yards. I also like walk back, walk ups from 10 to 40 yards. Shooting longer distances will help identify technique flaws, and help to correct them. Plus, it's just fun!
From: Live2hunt
20-Apr-18
Rallison, that is a beautiful bow, What is that?
From: rallison
20-Apr-18
Live2hunt...it's a WhippenStick Phoenix takedown recurve, made by a great guy and very innovative bowyer here in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, he got burned out and shut down. He's happy now, so good for him, but bad for us. I've also got his one piece RD longbow (my fav!), and my wife and son each have his Marauder takedown RD longbow...THAT is an incredible bow! If he ever gets back in, I'm giving him a call. Some of his bows crop up for sale here and there...if you like trad, and one becomes available in your draw weight, grab it! You won't regret it!
From: Live2hunt
20-Apr-18
Oh for #$*@ sakes, I knew that. He needs to build bows again. That Phoenix is an awesome looking bow. I just bought a Wes Wallace Partner I'm trying to get used to.
From: ground hunter
20-Apr-18
Jake what are you selling?
From: rallison
20-Apr-18
By the way...the woods in the Phoenix are bacote and cocobolo.
From: Jake
20-Apr-18
Ground Hunter; I am pretty sure this is not the place to sell this but anyway I sent you a message about it.
From: Jake
20-Apr-18
Ground Hunter; I am pretty sure this is not the place to sell this but anyway I sent you a message about it.
From: Crusader dad
21-Apr-18
I will be using an authentic home made Japanese yumi longbow this year. I knew I wanted to go trad and the reason I chose this type of bow was because a customer of mine gave me an old one as a tip for a job well done. My customers brother started a Boy Scout troop during the occupation in Japan. General MacArthur's son was part of that troop. A genuine samurai had gifted the bow to MacArthur who gifted it to my customers brother. It sat as a decoration at my customers house until he gifted it to me.
The warrior history, unique design and the reality that I could make one myself is what made me choose to go this route. The learning curve for shooting it is steep to say the least and I will definitely need to practice a lot in order to gain confidence and become deadly. Right now I'd be more likely to miss completely than actually kill a deer. Thankfully I have all summer to get better.
From: dpms
21-Apr-18
I have a Allegheny Mountain longbow that goes with me on some hunts. I don't hunt with it as much as I should, though. This was donated to me by a fine member of Pa's Bowsite state forum.
From: Tweed
21-Apr-18
Hey Crusader come out to New Berlin this weekend to the trade shoot. You'll be a pro in no time.
From: Crusader dad
21-Apr-18
Thanks for the invite Casey but my son turned 18 a couple days ago and his girlfriend is throwing a huge surprise party for him at my house this evening. Tonight will be busy and tomorrow will be cleanup.
From: Tweed
21-Apr-18
Great! I'll be by tonight!
From: casekiska
22-Apr-18
Hello Shane - haven't seen much of you on here for a while. How's it feel to be posing again?
About that Yumi bow you have....imo, if it is tied to MacArthur from WWII and the provenance is verified, it is far too historically valuable to be taken into the WI woods as a deer hunting bow. Did you ever get it to the Milwaukee museum to find out what they had to say about it?
From: ground hunter
22-Apr-18
Hey Crusader,,,,, Buckskin bowman in Cedarburg, is going to have there first trad shoot ever this year on June 3rd,,,, I know a lot of guys that plan on going there,,, to make it a good one for them,,,, maybe you can make that shoot, I would love to see that bow
From: Tweed
22-Apr-18
I saw the flyer for them yesterday. Closest event for me yet. Right down the road. I'll for sure be there.
From: Jake
22-Apr-18
Ground Hunter, it was great talking to you and wish you the best for the up coming season. Jake
From: Pasquinell
22-Apr-18
Sorry I missed Ojibwa shoot. But funny thing did happen while sealing the deal on concrete bid. While looking at the sidewalk/ patio area I asked if he had deer walking thru his back yard cause it was woodsy looking. The guy said no just coyotes but I shoot as many as I can with my....... crossbow.....
Note to self.... the conversation continue about the pending job. As we shook hands and finished up I asked, " so you mentioned crossbow earlier". "How long have you been shooting it?" He said "about a year or so". I asked "did you bow hunt before buying it?" He said yep. I then asked the dreaded question.... "why did you switch to crossbow?"
Are you ready....he said "cause it's easier and my shoulder was getting sore..." Yep... sure it is!!!
From: Jake
22-Apr-18
Pasquinell I agee that your hunting with the purest of bows. I will add that the answer would have been the same for a compound shooter. I will always be in awe of a stick shooter. The time and the restrictions by using a stick can not be beat. Just think of had good Indians were with them that they could sustain the tribe with them.
From: Firsty
22-Apr-18
Jake I sent you a pm
From: smokey
22-Apr-18
I have had many recurves over the years but have not hunted with them in the last few years. I have a Dale Dye (not a takedown) and a Black Widow. I like them both but need to go to a lighter draw weight. I would also like to get a longbow. Sort of short on funds though, camera gears seems to get what little I can scrounge up.
From: Crusader dad
22-Apr-18
Casekiska, it took some time, a lot of phone calls, a little $ and plenty of patience but provenance has been verified. I wouldn't dare try and put a string on it and take it hunting. It would most likely break if I tried to string it and almost definitely break if I tried to draw it back.
I made a replica for myself to hunt with. I did cheat and order my arrows from the internet.
From: Crusader dad
22-Apr-18
Ground Hunter, I am 95% sure I won't be able to make the shoot. I am willing to get my working bow to Tweed if he'd like to bring it with him and you guys can pass it around and take some shots if you'd like. It's a whole lot different than what you're used to. I'm also working on a full historical write up of the original. I can try to have it done to send with along with some pictures if you're interested.
From: Crusader dad
22-Apr-18
This is a picture of the original bow.
From: ground hunter
22-Apr-18
What is really cool, is you can watch a Samurai Bow, in the movie , Last Samurai with Tom Cruise, they use it quite a bit, if you have not watched that movie, you should,,, its also based off of a true story, and they had Japanese tech advisers on the movie,,,, I have a copy, up north and info on the movie,,,,,
From: casekiska
22-Apr-18
CD - Cool info on the Yumi bow. Suggest saving the provenance documentation with the bow. A custom made "shadow-box" type display case would do the bow justice. If people are allowed to handle it, they will eventually degrade and harm it, even unintentionally. Sometime look at the way the bows and historically valuable tackle at the WI Bowhunting Museum is displayed. The most valuable items are "under glass" and not able to be touched by visitors, but readily visible to all. Glad to hear the history has been documented & provenance established. I'll bet in all of WI, outside of museums, there aren't more than a dozen (if that) of these bows. Very rare. Great item.
