New to Traditional & Enjoying it.

[Arkie]

Didn’t realize until recently that their was a Trad section on S/H.

I’ve hunted with a compound since I was a kid, and since I was probably 14 haven’t picked up a rifle to go deer hunting because I enjoyed the challenge of bow hunting so much.

A couple weeks ago I decided I was going to get into Traditional Archery so I went and bought a cheap recurve to learn with before I jumped in head first. I got a 40# Greatree Raven, which I believe is a PSE Night Hawk.

After some discussions on arrow spine(since it’s quite a bit different than with a compound) over on A/T I bought a dozen Black Eagle Vintage arrows (600 spine, 30”). They came in on Thursday and I’ve been shooting 100 or so each evening(15 yards). I did bareshaft tune them, but not to “perfection” as my form isn’t good enough to get there. They flew straight with 200 grains up front so that’s what I’ve stuck with for practice.

I’m pretty much hooked. Trad podcasts on my way to/from work, Tom Clum, Clay Hayes, Tex Grebner, and Push Archery YouTube videos any time I can sit down long enough to watch. (Podcast/YouTube recommendations appreciated) Taking it all in at this point.

Here’s what my 15 yard groups are looking like (when I take it slow and focus on form..). Nothing outstanding, but it sure is a lot of fun and a nice change from the compound.

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[Allegheny Tom]

Didn’t realize until recently that their was a Trad section on S/H.

I’ve hunted with a compound since I was a kid, and since I was probably 14 haven’t picked up a rifle to go deer hunting because I enjoyed the challenge of bow hunting so much.

A couple weeks ago I decided I was going to get into Traditional Archery so I went and bought a cheap recurve to learn with before I jumped in head first. I got a 40# Greatree Raven, which I believe is a PSE Night Hawk.

After some discussions on arrow spine(since it’s quite a bit different than with a compound) over on A/T I bought a dozen Black Eagle Vintage arrows (600 spine, 30”). They came in on Thursday and I’ve been shooting 100 or so each evening(15 yards). I did bareshaft tune them, but not to “perfection” as my form isn’t good enough to get there. They flew straight with 200 grains up front so that’s what I’ve stuck with for practice.

I’m pretty much hooked. Trad podcasts on my way to/from work, Tom Clum, Clay Hayes, Tex Grebner, and Push Archery YouTube videos any time I can sit down long enough to watch. (Podcast/YouTube recommendations appreciated) Taking it all in at this point.

Here’s what my 15 yard groups are looking like (when I take it slow and focus on form..). Nothing outstanding, but it sure is a lot of fun and a nice change from the compound.

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Nothing at all wrong with that group.

 

[Scott F]

Wait a minute - is that a stab on the front of your riser? Do you have limbsavers on your limbs? The trad police may come and tell you that you have too modern of a bow! <please note the sarcasm>

There is nothing wrong with that bow, nothing wrong with your groups either.

I recommend you consider a second nock point on your string however. Lots of information on how to tie them on.
Also, if you are not (yet) shooting 3 under, you owe it to yourself to start now. It makes a big difference (for me) to shoot without sights if I shoot 3 under, or even 2 under as it dramatically reduces your gaps at hunting ranges. YMMV

 

[GCTerpfan]

Wait a minute - is that a stab on the front of your riser? Do you have limbsavers on your limbs? The trad police may come and tell you that you have too modern of a bow! <please note the sarcasm>

There is nothing wrong with that bow, nothing wrong with your groups either.

I recommend you consider a second nock point on your string however. Lots of information on how to tie them on.
Also, if you are not (yet) shooting 3 under, you owe it to yourself to start now. It makes a big difference (for me) to shoot without sights if I shoot 3 under, or even 2 under as it dramatically reduces your gaps at hunting ranges. YMMV

Haha, I didn't even notice the stabilizer.

I second the shooting three under. I shot split finger my entire life and even though I would occasionally try three under I would quickly abandon it when my first couple arrows didn't go where they were supposed to. Last year I switched to three under and stuck with it, in a couple of days my groups improved dramatically. I won't be going back to split finger.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Haha, I didn't even notice the stabilizer.

Should we take away his "trad card"?
Just kidding. It warms my heart to see guys "reverting" to real archery.

 

[Scott F]

Should we take away his "trad card"?
Just kidding. It warms my heart to see guys "reverting" to real archery.

Agreed. I have flip flopped from a single string bow to a compound a number of times in my life, but I keep coming back to the sheer enjoyment of shooting any of my recurves or longbows. It is easy to practice for the upcoming season - when practice is so much fun!
Right now I honestly feel that shooting a deer is almost secondary for me. I wrote 'almost' because I was once very concerned about the number of deer I shot with a bow, I thought that I had to shoot more to be more of a hunter - boy was I wrong. In fact I think I realized this long ago but still resisted. I owned three different compounds and sold each one within 2 weeks of the first deer I shot with them! It was fun to shoot the deer but it wasn't exhilarating as it is when I shoot one with a single string bow. It is almost indescribable to explain how rewarding it is for me.

I do have a pro series PSE that I bought when I lived in Virginia prior to retiring from the Corps because I would never forgive myself for passing on a shot at some of the monsters that live on Quantico if they were slightly out of my stickbow range. For what it is worth, I have shot some game with that PSE bow and still have it - it gets expensive buying new bows after a very short while.

There is a pretty steep learning curve to shooting one well, but when you start making progress it is easier to work harder to achieve even greater accuracy. Most folks don't realize how accurately a GOOD archer can shoot a bow with a single string. Look up some videos of Dewayne Martin to see what could be possible; there are plenty of other examples of GREAT shots.
I am going to try my dadgum best to only hunt with a recurve this season (until I get to break out my Henry .44 carbine, but that is a different type of fun).

 

[Arkie]

Yea, yea, it’s a stabilizer I dug out of one of my gear boxes. And yes, those are limbsavers and string silencers. It was a tad noisy when I first got it lol. Amazingly quiet now, even compared to the 2021 compound I have.

I am shooting three under. Watched “The Push” film and just started out with three under as they showed. I tried a few shots split finger, but it just felt weird.

I will be adding another nock point. I bought a new string that should be in any time. The stock one didn’t seem very high quality so I just went ahead and ordered a new one to start.

It’s a lot of fun. Although I have the limb savers and stabilizer...... I like the simplicity of it and just watching the arrow flight.


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[HuumanCreed]

I'm in the same boat. Been really enjoying the simplicity of it so far. It really remove a lot of the details and steps that I have to focus on before shooting in regards to the bow, I can focus on myself because I know its not the bow. On a compound, there were always bunch of background 'worse case' scenarios that run in my head; my release aid, drop away rest, sights, peep holes, etc. Did I bump anything while hiking, what happen if I drop my release, arrow not clearing properly, then if my arrow not exactly center, should I adjust the sight or rest?

On the other hand, I just found a 52 years old Bearcat Bow a few days ago. First time I ever held a Bear bow, I just felt all the stress and anxiety washed away. That thing is barely a pound and it still pull #40 after all these years. Dont have to worry about anything except shooting it. It actually made me appreciate my compound more too. Like there is something to appreciate and admire about the simple things and the advancement of technology. That there is room and place for everything.

 

[TreeCreep]

OP that is a solid group , I’m not consistent once I move past 10 yards and considering moving to 3 under as I like the sight picture/ arrow being closer to my eye once I move back. ( 2 months in and not trying to change too much at a time)
I really appreciate less moving parts - compared to compounds and in season upkeep.
That tape tip is slick.
Im hooked as I can practice everyday compared to my guns / “high powered bows” that sit too many days of the year!
Now I can make the argument of low cost of ownership / per shot...ha

 

[Scott F]

...they start to multiply quickly, be warned

 

[Arkie]

Took the recurve out to the Nature Center at lunch yesterday. Had a blast shooting the 3D course. Went through all the ones that were 10-25 yards. Called it good by shooting a big boar target at 40 yards at the end. I can’t say I hit him one the first shot (may have landed 3 feet short...), but knew my trajectory after the first and put it right behind the shoulder on the second.


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[JSEXTON23]

This is awesome. I decided at the beginning of the pandemic when the supply chains started to get affected, that I wanted to be less reliant on archery shops for things I needed. I had a press and could do most work, but I desired simple and economical alternatives. I no longer need to spend $80-140 on cables and strings, no more yolk tuning, no mechanical rest, etc.

I sold all my gear and committed to shooting a longbow. Like some above, I went back and forth for years and always made an excuse that if I just hunted with my compound I’d be a more successful hunter.

Not anymore. Last season I was not only more successful with my longbow, I was happy. I felt satisfied. I make all my own strings and strings for a friend. That $80-140 will buy me enough string material to last a decade.

Now your next task is to introduce a friend to the way of a stick and string. They might not switch over but they might just very well find something that really enjoy too.

 

[Arkie]

This is awesome. I decided at the beginning of the pandemic when the supply chains started to get affected, that I wanted to be less reliant on archery shops for things I needed. I had a press and could do most work, but I desired simple and economical alternatives. I no longer need to spend $80-140 on cables and strings, no more yolk tuning, no mechanical rest, etc.

I sold all my gear and committed to shooting a longbow. Like some above, I went back and forth for years and always made an excuse that if I just hunted with my compound I’d be a more successful hunter.

Not anymore. Last season I was not only more successful with my longbow, I was happy. I felt satisfied. I make all my own strings and strings for a friend. That $80-140 will buy me enough string material to last a decade.

Now your next task is to introduce a friend to the way of a stick and string. They might not switch over but they might just very well find something that really enjoy too.

I may have already checked that one haha.
I took a guy from work with me; he’s a compound shooter. I let him shoot some with my recurve, and he thought it was awesome.

I have been tinkering with my bow some. Learned how to serve the string and tie nock points. Nothing major, but cool to know/do.


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[Heydeerman]

Becoming self reliant is an awesome feeling. Learning how to make your own arrows and strings and for some your own bows puts it all on you. The guy who introduced me to trad archery says you should cut your teeth on wood arrows. It’s been years since I made a wood arrow but there really is something special about making and shooting wood arrows you made. I have one of my first ( ash from Silent Pond) and gave the rest to a good friend who killed his first deer with one. I made them over 20 years ago and they are still flying.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Becoming self reliant is an awesome feeling. Learning how to make your own arrows and strings and for some your own bows puts it all on you. The guy who introduced me to trad archery says you should cut your teeth on wood arrows. It’s been years since I made a wood arrow but there really is something special about making and shooting wood arrows you made. I have one of my first ( ash from Silent Pond) and gave the rest to a good friend who killed his first deer with one. I made them over 20 years ago and they are still flying.

I still have fantasies about making sinew self bows (or even a horn belly bow), and napping my own heads on hand harvested arrow woods. Now that would be being self reliant! But shooting my modern recurve seems to be all the challenge I can handle. I have shot a few arrows from self bows over the years...it was usually a humbling experience. LOL.

 

[Heydeerman]

I still have fantasies about making sinew self bows (or even a horn belly bow), and napping my own heads on hand harvested arrow woods. Now that would be being self reliant! But shooting my modern recurve seems to be all the challenge I can handle. I have shot a few arrows from self bows over the years...it was usually a humbling experience. LOL.

True dat! I have a BBO bow made by Jamie Miller who is a protege of Dean Torges. I also have a river cane arrow made by Mickey Lotz with a napped head. He gave me the arrow as a gift many moons ago but I took it out with the BBO bow one season. Never got a shot. I did kill a squirrel with the BBO and a carbon arrow. BLASPHEMY!

 

[Allegheny Tom]

True dat! I have a BBO bow made by Jamie Miller who is a protege of Dean Torges. I also have a river cane arrow made by Mickey Lotz with a napped head. He gave me the arrow as a gift many moons ago but I took it out with the BBO bow one season. Never got a shot. I did kill a squirrel with the BBO and a carbon arrow. BLASPHEMY!

Sounds like some very cool stuff you have there.
Have you ever messed around with atlatls? I read some articles about guys hunting pigs with them. Intriguing.

 

[BTaylor]

True dat! I have a BBO bow made by Jamie Miller who is a protege of Dean Torges. I also have a river cane arrow made by Mickey Lotz with a napped head. He gave me the arrow as a gift many moons ago but I took it out with the BBO bow one season. Never got a shot. I did kill a squirrel with the BBO and a carbon arrow. BLASPHEMY!

If Feret gave you an arrow, that was a quiver full by his standards, lol.

 

[Scott F]

If Feret gave you an arrow, that was a quiver full by his standards, lol.

Hahaha - that is so true.
I loved reading his stories, some of him heading into the woods with a hickory selfbow, his floppy single arrow quiver, and his one turkey fletched rivercane arrow. If I remember right, his broadhead was WAY more modern that the rest of his gear because he made it from an old spoon.

I wish I knew of him back when I lived in Cincinnati and attended UC. I would have tried to shoot with him at least once.

 

[Maverick1]

Didn’t realize until recently that their was a Trad section on S/H.

I’ve hunted with a compound since I was a kid, and since I was probably 14 haven’t picked up a rifle to go deer hunting because I enjoyed the challenge of bow hunting so much.

A couple weeks ago I decided I was going to get into Traditional Archery so I went and bought a cheap recurve to learn with before I jumped in head first. I got a 40# Greatree Raven, which I believe is a PSE Night Hawk.

After some discussions on arrow spine(since it’s quite a bit different than with a compound) over on A/T I bought a dozen Black Eagle Vintage arrows (600 spine, 30”). They came in on Thursday and I’ve been shooting 100 or so each evening(15 yards). I did bareshaft tune them, but not to “perfection” as my form isn’t good enough to get there. They flew straight with 200 grains up front so that’s what I’ve stuck with for practice.

I’m pretty much hooked. Trad podcasts on my way to/from work, Tom Clum, Clay Hayes, Tex Grebner, and Push Archery YouTube videos any time I can sit down long enough to watch. (Podcast/YouTube recommendations appreciated) Taking it all in at this point.

Here’s what my 15 yard groups are looking like (when I take it slow and focus on form..). Nothing outstanding, but it sure is a lot of fun and a nice change from the compound.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice! Enjoy the journey!