Archery Influencers - anyone?
Equipment
I've been reading that topic on Dudley switching to Hoyt and my first reaction was, who cares? But as I thought more about it, I will say there have been a tiny group of people who actually do influence my buying decisions around gear, tactics, etc. Nothing against Dudley, never met him and only seen him speak at PY but his opinion does not matter to me at all.
On the gear and shooting side, I will admit that Levi Morgan has influenced a couple of things for me. I tried out his grip and settled on a modified version of it. I also liked his ideas on 4-fletch and settled on that. For deer hunting, virtually anything the Wensels say I take to the bank. On food plots (and trophy buck hunting), the first person I listen to is Don Higgins.
So yes, some guys do influence me. But I am also painfully aware that anyone who is sponsored may have a conflict. I am sponsored, full disclosure, so I know how the game is played. It's pretty easy to spot authenticity. There are guys that may be the best at what they do but I will never listen to anything they say because they are nothing more than paid shills for the highest bidder. We all know who they are, they don't even try to hide it.
And don't get me started on social media influencers. The single biggest group of bottom feeders in our industry. My 2c.
So who influences you?
I look to a lot of different people as influences. On gear, Aron Snyder is one I always look towards (especially for the non pack related gear, as he's obviously tied to Kifaru so I know I'm going to get a biased view on that). Kota-man used to post a lot of gear reviews that have influenced my choices as well. Remi Warren is someone that I see getting it done and I think he has shared a lot of great info on hunting strategies and, in particular for a bowhunter who does a lot of spot and stalk hunting, techniques to cut the distance. A lot of other bowsiters have influenced me regarding hunts to take, gear to use, strategies to implement, etc.
I should have clarified. I agree, tons of guys on this site influence me. Mostly due to their unbiased opinions and no sponsorship arrangements. My OP was more about the media guys who do this stuff for a living.
Brian Barney has my utmost respect and I will soak up whatever he has to say since he is a true, public land, 100% bowhunter. Don't care about the company products he is sponsored by.
I appreciate and listen to anything Dudley has to say regarding archery instruction. Don't care about the company products he is sponsored by.
When it comes to hunting gear, Bowsiters are who I come to first.
I listen to Tiffany. She kills big bucks
If I have an archery question, whether equipment or hunt related, I ask Treeman first. He either knows or has someone who knows :) There's a couple other Bowsiters I know I can ask if I have questions too.
Honestly I've been out of the game a while. I can hardly stand any hunting videos, whether they're on youtube or wherever. And they're too long. My attention span is SHORT. I wouldn't recognize Dudley or Morgan if they were standing next to me.
I like Don Higgins. But don't really follow him anymore.
I follow a bunch of Africa guys on Instagram. They pretty heavily influence me, but I know a few guys there now, so I'd be on WhatsApp with those guys if I had any questions.
Agree on Brian Barney. He and Dan Pickar are wolves. Those guys get it done. I feel the same way on products. I am much more swayed by what I read on Bowsite for products than anything I see in video. One thing to keep in mind....we are all old. We are set in our ways. Most of us got all of out information from print magazines back in the day. We seem to all have a pretty good idea of what smells like crap and what really is and influencers aren't really going to have any influence on us. That being said.....Hushin has 429,000 subscribers on Youtube. Chris Bee had 336,000. Cameron Hanes has 491,000 subscribers. That translates into a bunch of people following what they say.
*Edit: I have no idea how many Instagram followers they have but I assume their reach is even larger there.
Also, I think the Hush guys are basically novice bowhunters. However, they are experts at social media. That is why they carry a sponsorship with Hoyt.
Pat, you nailed it...every one of these guys has an angle....so I either look past the products they are pushing for good info or look for guys like Jake Kaminsky that are more geared to archery form. I do think Dudley has done more good for archery with his shooting, tuning and setup tips. I get that these guys have to make a living...but
It's not the bow....it's the Indian- right?
The last positive influence died with turkeybowmaster.
If I listened to any of these guys I’d probably have a Mathews but I don’t so that answers that question. I’d rather listen to someone on this site that is not paid to advertise.
I'm not very tied into hunting "influencer" land. I've found various things over the years have helped me grow or decide on new gear...
Most of that is folks that, as best I know, are not "paid" to review/describe experiences with things. Real life friends who are into hunting, their experiences are helpful to me - much more than "influencer" folks, when it comes to gear.
"The last positive influence died with turkeybowmaster." Bowsite death or actual death?
Usually some random unknown guy on Youtube. I love learning new stuff. Equipment wise for bowhunting I haven't changed much in decades.
For other things like fixing stuff, flyfishing, rod building, and a million other things, I'm a novice.
My "influencer" started as a small child watching Fred Bear short films on Saturday mornings...
Met Glenn St. Charles and Jay Massey at different bowshoots years ago and they were both influencers on my bowhunting and actually life in general...
I remember setting around the campfire meeting when Glenn St. Charles spoke and paraphrasing: "Bowhunters don't need camo"...8^))) I about spit my drink with all those venders there trying to sell their camo wears...8^)
People who influence me now:
Ranch Fairy Dan Staton - elkshape Dudley to an extent Aaron Snyder
I agree with Brian Barney or Remi Warren being on the list.
Here is a photo I took at that campfire meeting... Recognize anybody?
I quit the hunting channels about 8 years ago. Don’t like the BS on the internet. Just go hunt, win some, lose some. I usually think that influencers are so full of BS for the money I don’t pay any attention to them. My old Switchback XT kills as much as my newer bow does. Just go hunt.
Rick Barbee, Frank Perry, Jim Fetrow and Jimmy Blackmon come to mind… Tony Camera, too, though he’s more Olympic style.
Aron Snyder, Dan Staton, Levi Morgan, Tim Gillingham, Chris Bee, Joel Turner.
No offense Blood but I had no idea that anyone that has actually killed anything with a bow was influenced by Ranch Fairy.
I would say Bowsite or AT have influenced me the most.
After being here for the past 13 years I can say I haven’t had to ask many questions here but if you click on enough threads that peak your interest you will learn something.
Bowfreak, I’m influenced by Ranch Faiiry because his theory of heavier stiff arrows and sharp COC broadheads work to go all the way through game. And I shoot a heavier arrow fast….. so I like his ideas and apply them. And they work.
Light arrows with sharp broadheads go all the way through game too and very few people would disagree with shooting as much poundage as you safely can but Ranch Fairy's original stance was heavy, heavy, heavy and speed doesn't matter. Because the amount of weight someone can pull is independent of arrow weight. If a person is capable of shooting 60 lbs, they are unable to shoot 80 to compensate for a heavier arrow. For shooting 15 yards at hogs under a feeder it makes a ton of sense, but his schtick is terrible advice for almost any other type of bowhunting.
I take to the bank anything GF yourself/Corax latrine had to say or Miss Dana. Both experts on pretty much any topic.
I won't use a specific product( bow, broadhead, pack, etc ) just because XYZ does.... To me that is just silly and not intelligent. I will research after I see "trusted" and experienced people using and then make my own decision and I agree that quite a few on here fit that trusted and experienced criteria. As far as someone I follow on podcasts, I still like to listen to Cam Hanes. I listen to him because I like his story and his "drive" but I won't shoot a Hoyt just because he does, etc.
I have guys like Levi Morgan that I certainly pay attention to as far as his ability to shoot a bow and the angles he takes in tuning , hinge execution so on, as for hunting it’s hard to not get caught up, I think of Nate Simmons as being the ultimate backcountry hunter and certainly pay attention to things like what’s screwed on the end of his arrow so forth cuz he’s a proven killer…
I watch a ton of bowhunting on Youtube and do it mostly just for entertainment (same reason I come here). Can't say any of them really influence me when buying something though.
Growing up it was Fred Bear, Dwight Schuh & Judd Cooney. Shooting tech was Randy Ulmer, Terry Ragsdale, and these days (compound) Levi Morgan, (traditional gear) Fred Eichler, Tom Clum Sr.
When I started archery/bowunting in 1956 it was an adult in our club that I joined. I lived in Illinois then & Noel Feather was like me, an original member of the local club. I've tuned his tackle many a time in my shop back then & we competed against each other many times. When Compounds became the craze & PSE was in Illinois I competed against the Ragsdales & Pete himself (some of the best in the USA). Hell, I competed against Pete when he shot a recurve (I think Dickie Roberts) . Many other great archers/bowhunters too. Once an adult & shop/lanes owner I was the one locals + came to. I developed my own ways & can't remember asking any "famous, so to speak" a how to question. Was never a TV hunting program watcher even when Noel became well know for his videos, not that either. I had been around him all my archery life-he was just a archer/bowhunter like me. I did have lots of respect for many Bowhunters due to the fact they were so successful in bowhunting. Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Ben Pearson, Jim Daugherty & several other older from the 60s 70s. I'm not impressed with many of todays hunting celebrities'. I still build my own arrows &tune my own tackle along with 8 family members in some form of archery/bowhunting. Yes, I'm sure someone out there has a tip or tips that could help even an old archer like me but I'm not looking. Enjoy the journey fellas and gals, it passes quickly.
I've been watching Jake Kaminski's youtube videos lately. Good stuff.
My family started bowhunting prior to World War 2. I was taught to track deer, still hunt, ground blind hunt, and later tree stand hunt. It was all fun, and generally productive. I still hunt with stick bows but no current influencers. Lots of good hunters out there, and as was previously stated, life is short so enjoy it now.
Wild Bot is my hero. I've gone out and bought a game cart, ground bind, buddy heater, stadium blanket, blind chair for sleeping. Now I'm looking for the unpressured public land within 2 miles of the road that I can get to by dawn before other hunters arrive.
^^^^ Now that’s funny right there!
Some of the hunting shows early on were awesome, Bill Jordan, Jackie Bushman, Nugent. I even liked Mike Waddel, he is still kind of entertaining but gave up watching them years ago. When they went to 9 minutes of hunting and 21 minutes of commercials it was terrible. The face paint wearing Kiss generation with the catch phrases and lack of respect for the game they pursue and the "smoked 'em" mentality really cemented it. If I had one person I looked up to it would be my uncle, who taught me respect and reverence for the game we chase and to make better decisions in life.
Slockmaster.
I’d like to kill a nice WT with a spear.
Shane
I can’t say “celebrity” has ever influenced me to buy a thing. I know they are getting paid for what they say and endorse.
I have been influenced by input, suggestions and referrals that folks on Bowsite have provided.
I forgot to mention Lou/Jaq, but I have hit him up for advice plenty often.
I don't pay much attention any more but the one guy who always struck me as the real deal was Dwight Schuh. He was always honest and genuine, a real gentleman too. Bowhunting lost a good man when he died.
decades ago, i met and spoke 2-3 times with mike lapinski, dwight schuh, and larry d. jones. needless to say, great guys. mike was very gracious with his time, and he gave me some tips. i have killed elk because of mike lapinski and larry d. jones.
as for archery hunting, those guys were my influencers.
I would say I am not particularly influenced by pro staff. I am familiar with many of the names, but most don’t mean a lot to me. My hero’s aren’t on YouTube pushing broadheads and tree stands. I previously shot Hoyt, currently shoot Bowtech. I can’t name a single Bowtech staff shooter, but can name at least 3-4 Hoyt guys who I at least in general like, but apparently not enough to buy their bows. Like someone previously said, I’m kinda old and set in my ways/preferences. I also feel I’ve done and seen most things in the archery world, and am experienced /knowledgeable enough to know what I want. I don’t need The Dud or Tiffany to tell me what I need.
But I’m also not naive enought to believe that ALOT of people out there aren’t influenced by these people. I guess that is kinda obvious, or they wouldn’t have a job! It’s easy to fall into the mind trap that Bowsite is a full cross-section of the hunting world, it is not. Just because most of us who are posting on this thread are not (or claim to not be) influenced by these guys doesn’t mean that a huge portion of hunters aren’t.
—Jim
This year will be my 15/16th year bowhunting. The vast majority of the knowledge I have gained about how to hunt, how to select the proper gear, how to research and narrow down an area to hunt etc… has been gained here on the bowsite. In the early years there were several guys here who “influenced” me just by offering help and insight and posting write ups of amazing hunts. I’m definitely guilty of consuming some “media” on YouTube in the form of hunting shows, gear lists, broadhead sharpening techniques etc in the early years but have a hard time stomaching most of the “paid sponsorship” videos of the guys are putting out today. I’m guessing we’ve all had influencers on our journey in some way shape or form. Some grew up with them in the home, some had to search them out by reading magazines, buying dvd’s or in today’s day and age tapping on the search function on the Google Machine. Different strokes…
I have been on a prostaff for many years so get the business side of things and sponsor churn. Not very influenced by anyone on buying specific gear. I like watching diff shows for the stories and entertainment
I have learned a lot from the epic outdoors crew specifically on out west hunting and strategy Some of their gear reviews/ checklist influenced me on what to buy on my sheep hunt
Influence, inspire. Pretty much the same thing by definition.
Early on, Will Primos, Dan Fitzgerald, Bob Folkrod, all the guys from Hunter Specialties definitely inspired the drive to hunt and definitely influenced some decisions to purchase products.
Starting out, for me, it was a learn as you go process. These guys, I would say did both.
As time passed, and the industry became saturated with more and more products and “ influencers” it became boring and redundant.
The Bowsite community and forums certainly have influenced myself and most likely a lot of other Bowhunters. As a matter of fact, some still do.
I probably would have never went on that first big game hunt without be influenced by being here.
I will say, with amount of “ influencers” out there now, products are saturated with opinions also. Whether or not it justifies the purchase of the product, they are promoting, its up to the viewer, but it sure helps on making a rational decision.
Dr.Dre....id guess he'd qualify as an archery influencer. I read....and it could be a misprint...Dr Dre is going to try to qualify for the 2028 Olympic archery team... He thinks Olympics archers shoot at a distance of 77 feet... I guess someone needs to explain to him that the Olympic distance is 77 yards...not 77 feet
One thing I would never purposely do is buy a piece of equipment that has anything other than the manufacturers brand on it. No Nock On, Keep Hammering, Bone Collector, etc. Not only because I think it's silly but because of the relentless sh!t I would have to eat from the squad I hang out with.
Randoms on Bowsite maybe, but otherwise I would say nobody. I don't even know most of the names being thrown around on this thread. More often than not, the more someone talks, the less I believe.
i honestly cant think of any.
Bill Winke is the only one I tend to listen to with any regularity. Seems like a down to earth guy who just loves to bowhunt deer and work on habitat projects.
Yo Dre creep to the target like a phantom.
Never liked the term “influencers” and never got caught up in “celebrities.”
The only people that usually influence me are close friends or family members with much experience who I respect and admire. I am fortunate to have some friends who have a LOT of experience in bowhunting.
Danny Moore got me and my brother into elk hunting and was the real deal plus a great buddy.Dwight Schuh was also the real McCoy.The Wensels I pay attention to and Bobby Worthington has some interesting thoughts.There are several on Bowsite that have a lot of experience and are willing to share their thoughts Paul and Lou come to mind.That’s my two cents.Lewis
I take what I need form many celeb's, mostly on bow builds, nice little tips and tricks, especially from dudley. I like watching broadhead reviews as well
Well Pat You! I bought the Greenscape no till because you told me to :) I now after messing up 3 plantings i actually figured out how to adjust it correctly and might like it
Learning primarily has come through guys on this site since 2008. Also, Swede’s book on bow hunting elk was a game changer, coupled with Cory Jacobson’s stuff.
Everything else has just been entertainment.
I might make a fortune selling Lee and Tiffany posters to the Bowsiters. Hmm
Man, Gary, hard to believe out of the 5 guys in the middle of your picture…Monty, Ron, Glenn, Marv, and G Fred, only 2 are still with us…
Compton, I assume?
R
Hi Ryan... Yeah, Compton's 2005 I think, if I remember right... Lemme look it up...
Allowing one’s self to be influenced by influencers is silly. These hunting shows are all one big commercial.
There’s only one reason Lee shoots a Rage.
Re-reading this post I think the word 'influencers' just means people who influence you to buy a certain product. I can't think of anyone who is going to convince me that Realtree camo is better than Mossy Oak, or that Bear bows are better than Black Widow. That stuff might work on novices, but people who have been buying equipment etc. for decades have their own criteria for purchases. I'm more interested in what these people have to say about tuning, shooting, hunt strategies, etc.
I'd like to believe that as we mature, we are less influenced by 'infomercials'.
Yeah Ryan, June 2005, Compton's was in Michigan that year...
Was looking at that photo again and I think that is Gene sitting over there too...
I had the great pleasure of sitting and chatting with Glenn for a few minutes while he signed my copy of "Bows On The Little Delta"...
BTW, did you see your Oskar is now a grandpa?...8^) For those who don't know what I'm speaking of, one of Ryan's dogs is Elsa's sire...
I like to learn from anyone that has anything to share with me, which is a lot of knowledgeable people. The reality is though, you have to access their knowledge, which is where the "Influencers" come in. I do like to learn from the likes of the Wensels, Don Higgins, and Bill Winke because they are people that have put out content/product that I like to learn from. Pat, you as well have put out a lot of content on this site that I have learned from.
Bring in Canada likely insulates me a little from product or branding some of these people also sell. I do want to look up books from Bobby Worthington as well. I listen to Don Higgins' podcast so that is the only reason I know about him. Am very thankful for many people I can talk to older and wiser than myself for many situations in my life.
I've had people on this site help me quite a bit. But I won't name names, as I would feel bad if I turned them into the "local help authority." lol Very grateful for many relationships I in my life. Then there's the ultimate influencer from a couple thousand years ago named Jesus who still affects me daily!
I like watching podcasts with Troy Pottinger I think he is the real deal no guides and big mountain areas.
Definitely the Wensels, but more recently Billy Molls, and I’ve never seen him with a bow in his hands.
Chuck Adams, and I would say Inspired rather than Influenced. Dwight Schuh and Larry D. Jones as well. Grew up in the southwest part of BC and would regularly see all three at Sportsman’s Shows in the Seattle area. Yes, I’m older:)
I like watching podcasts with Troy Pottinger I think he is the real deal no guides and big mountain areas.
Chuck Adams and the Wensels probably influenced me the most early in my bowhunting life. After bowhunting for over 40 years I would hope that on the land that I hunt that I could hold my own against any of the celebs. I still can learn from them as they from me I hope. I would like the situation where I could hunt with them where neither of us were familiar with the area. We would be swapping ideas on how to go at it. But as far as bow techniques and form I stand to learn a lot a lot of guys
There’s only been two for me. Both of the Wensels and Roger Rothhaar. I think I’ve read everything they’ve written several times over and continue to do so. Bow hunting needs more ppl with their integrity. As opposed to some of the so called influencers of today.
Dang Sam, hadn't seen Barry with a hat like that before, always his curled short brim cap... That is a cool looking hat, I like it...8^)
Barry Wensel, fashion guru "a la mode"...8^) See, I was just influenced...8^)
Randy Ulmer, Dwight Schuh, Mike Lapinski and Chuck Adams were the guys who influenced me early on. I do watch a little archery (mostly tuning) YouTube now and then but not much and haven’t watched a hunting show in a long time.
Influencers are people who get you to buy a product or products they use and/or promote. Most of them have a high number of followers on social media.
I think many of the people on here listed are maybe great hunters and not influencers.
Lots of these influencers do it to increase their celebrity or try to cash in.
The most egregious are guys like the Ranch Fairy- which by now most folks have seen through that schtick.
Some really good guys out there though giving away quality advice.
Who hasn't learned a tip or two from Randy Ulmer...... or Levi...or Dudley...or Jake Kaminsky?
75 posts and no mention of Bowmar?! He’s my biggest influence for sure……
On what to completely avoid purchasing. You can throw the Busbice family and Muley Freak into that category as well. Losers.
I’m lucky enough to live about a mile from my good friend Frank Ciletti (His handle is Nemophilist over on the Leatherwall). He’s the best shot I’ve ever seen with a traditional bow and has killed a pile of animals in the 50+ year he’s hunted with them.
Not only is he a great shot and accomplished hunter, he’s an all around great person and I’m proud to call him my friend and mentor. He’s been very generous to me and I give him a lot of credit for the successes I’ve had hunting and improving my shooting.
True friends are hard to come by.
All that’s well and good about these hunters that are great hunters…..but how many of them have made you purchase a specific piece of equipment because they are successful…..or you think you’ll be more successful by using it?
That’s what an influencer does. IE - somebody is using X product and you think if you buy it, you’ll be better with it.
Some influencer bravo sierra showed up on my feed...Hunters Advantage I think...supposedly experienced bowhunters insisting that "The Void" is not a myth but reality. That there is empty space above the lungs and below the spine. No amount of evidence or info would change their minds or their fanboys. Story after story of "I shot one, missed the lungs and below the spine...killed 'em two weeks later in rifle."
Being that stupid or willfully ignorant in this digital age is beyond comprehension.
Larry D. Jones. I have followed him for years from call maker, recurve bow hunter, film maker, writer. He is still getting the job done. My best, Paul
I agree Paul…Larry D is top notch, all the guys that have written in the mags for 30/40 years have a gift with the written word and bowhunting knowledge/experiences. Dudley has an extremely great, down to earth way of communicating with archers and helping. I spent a day at the Utah TAC spotting for him on the 110 yd Sasquatch target. He’d help with the shot, walk up with the group, pull arrows and take a group photo. 100 times in 6 hours….That effort is not common behavior with your general influencers.
Books have inspired/influenced me more than "celebrity" or pro staffer. I WANT to live those adventures, from whitetail to puma with a spear. As far as gear goes, there are plenty of mentors who have helped answer my questions. My biggest was when I switched from compound (Matthews, Black Max & MQ1) to traditional (Wes Wallace, Mentor)
I may get ideas from guys who do, or don't know their stuff but I make my own decision after more research. I don't do anything just because Levi, Lee and Tiff, Chuck, Randy, Spook, Rowdy Dowdy, or whoever does it or uses it. I have been lead astray from all the hype on here before, but sometimes you got to buy to try.
Chuck Adams for stalking strategies
Dr Ed Ashby for understanding arrow penetration
Easton Archery for demonstrating in slow motion how carbon vs aluminum recover from oscillation for better penetration
Bowsites' great Bill Allard known as BB for shot placement and much more
Pat Lefemine for creating Bowstie an iconic source for bowhunting information
"Definitely Bigeasygator he doesn't kill much"
At least that part is fact.
Ha how dare you all not mention Mr Paul@thefort able to run marathons, in his 80’s climbing mountains alone dropping elk and packing them out, traveling cross country shooting turkeys, recurve or compound don’t matter which one he can use it, diy deer hunts using decoys, training a dog to retrieve geese he calls in and shoots. Yup you guys are idolizing the wrong “hunter”.
Larry D Jones and Dwight Schuh will always be high on my list of content I enjoy. Nate Simmons is a great hunter that puts out some amazing videos as well. Western Hunter makes some of the only videos I can stand to watch. Always enjoyed having BigDan around on bowsite. Definitely one of the good ones.
Bou’bound had some influence on a mountain lion hunt to Alberta that I decided on not choosing
Jim Dougherty. He owned a bow shop in Tulsa. My brother and I were in his shop all the time. We hung on to every word he said. I also thought a lot of the Wensel brothers. I meet Dudley years ago when he was a Matthews rep. I didn't care for him then.
From the past, for me it's was: Noel Feather, Dan Fitzgerald, and the Wensels. When I got out of the army in 1985 I just couldn't believe there were guys making hunting videos for us to watch on TV. Above all those, Fred Bear was a strong influence on me. I still have some old Archery World magazines with article he wrote in the 1970s.
Currently, I am really into habitat improvement and I follow Jeff Sturgis, Bill Winke and Dr. Grant Woods on YouTube mainly. I really enjoy a lot of what they have to share and have learned a ton from them. I do enjoy Lee and Tiffany and the Drury's as well, believe it or not. I DVR their shows on TV, skip some shows that don't appeal to me and fast forward though parts of others. There are some good message on both of those shows such as, make your land as good as you can, the harder you work the more you get out etc.
As far as an organization, Quality Deer Management Association had a huge impact on me. I really got into them in 2014 and ended up working for them from 2015 - 2020. The book Quality Whitetails that I read in 2014 was a game changer for me. BC
I've met and been around several. Earl Hoyt, Ann Hoyt, Chuck Adams, Dan Quillian, and others.
Carcus influences me, ha!
IMHO an influencer is an influencer is an influencer. None influence me.
Chuck Adams,Randy Ulmer and just a few of the old school real killers are the ones I respect.I’ve been bow hunting over 40 years,I didn’t say good all of it.It took me a while to really understand what and how to outsmart a mature whitetail.Tricks for beating their nose is the most important but most don’t even try,relying on crap in a bottle.Wind wind wind ,you can’t beat that big wet nose.Tony
I'm really struggling with this. All that comes to mind is Carmen Electra
Over the past year or so, youtube vids from Podium Archer, Elk Hntr, Chris Bee, etc have really been informative on testing/set up new bows, arrows, releases, sights, gear etc. They do extensive work on their bows--you can really learn a lot there. Sure, they have their brands but they also advocate on buying from your local archery shop, etc. I appreciate that. Scott
I've enjoyed reading many of these responses. They bring me back to my start in bowhunting 37 years ago. There are a lot of names of the prolific authors, Adams, Schuh, Wensel's, and dozens more. I read Bill Winke's name, and I am glad I got to make a few videos for Midwest Whitetail. For many years Bowhunter Magazine was my favorite reading material. Then I found a love for longbows and recurves so Traditional Bowhunter was my guide. G. Fred Asbell's "Instincive Shooting" volume 2 and "Become the Arrow," by Ferguson still hold places of honor on the book shelf. These books sit beside Dean Torges masterpiece, "Hunting the Osage Bow."
I was fortunate for in the first two decades of archery hunting I had a well rounded, diverse group of people who often held different opinions. Their reasoning helped me make informed decisions.
I was also fortunate to learn from several bad decisions. I bought a bow from a catalogue. Never again will I buy a bow before I shoot it! I bought some cheap trad traditional bows when I should have bought one with a higher quality. the list goes on.
My rule today is to listen to the well informed. Test it. Then make a decision. Maybe they are on YouTube. Maybe they're still writing for print. Maybe they run a website. But I listen, discern, then choose wisely.
I bought my last bow almost 10 years ago. I've taken 36 animals with it. It was a good choice. As my life is changing again. Maybe I'll take out my favorite recurve. Or better yet, a friend gave me a stave of osage orange. Perhaps it's time to read once more Torges inspiring tutorial, and work with file and rasp. Mike
Yeah, "Instinctive Shooting" was a powerful influence to me also. But I can't say it helped my shooting progress. I give far more credit to Anthony Camera's book "Shooting the Stickbow".
Alan Altizer influenced me Watched his videos over and over
MR James, Dwight Schuh, Gene and Barry Wensel, and Don Thomas
The guys from Bowhunter (MR James, Dwight, Larry, Curt) always had/have great info. Randy Ulmer, Chuck Adams, and the Wensels earned my respect early on. Do I buy stuff just because they use it...No. But their opinions are worth looking at.
I completely agree with No Mercy. Those guys are a wealth of knowledge and have earned respect.
