I second what ricky racer said.. anyone who is getting their feet wet within traditional archery needs to make a trip to the CTB Rendezvous. The people make the event. The board members emphasize servant leadership, getting the kids involved, and making sure everyone feels welcome.
While the actual venue is not quite as breathtaking as the Eastern Traditional Archery Rendezvous in the PA wilds, camping with a few thousand of your best friends along the banks of the St. Joseph's River is pretty dang awesome. Over 50 vendors make the shoot, there are great speakers each evening and during daytime seminars as well. If you are not familiar with the likes of Barry Wensel (a whitetail hunter like none you've ever seen before), Mike Mitten, Monty Browning (the best storyteller you will ever listen to - and a legendary hunter whose accomplishments and travels as a working class man rival anything folks like Jim Shockey could do with a rifle). There is a blanket trade, and excellent raffle and auction opportunities.
Each year, Compton does a Dream Raffle - where they bring together a huge package of gear. Book of 6 tickets was $25 for a chance at winning a whitetail package, which included: a five-day Pike Co. Illinois whitetail hunt hosted by one of our board members with plenty of prime habitat, a custom Black Widow bow built to winner's specs, a Kifaru Eastern Ruck pack, $500 Amazon gift card, Lone Wolf treestand, Compton logo engraved Selway bow quiver, half a dozen Bone broadheads, Rhino Products strung bow case, a dozen custom built Wudaraz (wood arrows) by Chad Graham, and a CTB logo armguard. Something like $3,000+ worth in prizes. Lucky gentleman from Wisconsin was the winner this year. Can't wait to see what next year's package will be.
Auction stuff all went directly back into the youth program, and a custom built Bear Kodiak recurve was auctioned off for $1,600, and all of the board members and others pooled that money together to present our late VP, Dave Hewitt's son with this one of a kind Bear as well as a Selway replica of the old Bear spring arm quivers. Events like this renew faith in humanity.
This year was the 20th anniversary, there was live music, the yearly Friday evening free spaghetti dinner (served to the guests by the board members themselves), kids prizes and shoot, ladies skillet toss competition, aerial target shooting, and hours of gleaning traditional archery and bowhunting knowledge from men and women who have lived and breathed it their whole lives.
We had visitors from the UK, Alaska, Oregon, Canada, Vermont, Montana, Idaho, and virtually every other state in the midwest and many in the east/southeast.
Matt and Tim of The Push were at our biannual Big Game Classic in Pittsburgh in 2018. They have podcasted with Monty Browning and Barry Wensel, which are definitely good listens. They are doing some good things as far as getting more folks involved to take the plunge. Just as guys like Aron Snyder are doing as well. Everyone is willing to help no matter where you look. The traditional community is second to none.
