I don't have a cool story about someone that got me into traditional archery. I have always loved to bowhunt, and started with a compound. I used it for many years taking just a few deer with it in about 5 years. I had always been inspired by the way the old timers had to do things and the simplistic approach of traditional archery. I was unsure if I would like it, so I did some research and decided to make a board bow. It was cheap, something to pass my time while deer season was out, and would get me into traditional archery. My first attempt was a failure with the limb cracking during the tiller process. As stubborn and hard headed as I am (thanks Grandpa), I couldn't let that stop me and made another. It wasn't anything special and was only 37# @ 28". I shot that thing everyday for hours until I could hit a coke bottle at 10yds and took it small game hunting. Between shooting at the target and taking a squirrel, I knew I would like traditional archery and started looking for a real bow. After a year of no luck finding something that spoke to me, I started another deer season with my compound, but shot my board bow daily. There was an archery shop that I had found just outside the city I had just moved to, and on the wall sat a recurve. I wasn't too familiar with all the different bows, but this one was short and the look was intoxicating. I immediately asked if it was for sale because it looked like it was just hanging for display. The shop owner told me that it was not for sale and that he had bought that bow when he was younger. Discouraged, I left for home and thought about that unknown recurve that I had seen and I wanted it. A few weeks later I returned to the archery shop to get some things for the upcoming deer season that was fast approaching. I had been talking to the owner while I was there again and mentioned the recurve on the wall. He had remembered me from the last time I was there and wanted to buy it. He started telling me stories about past hunts with it and what the bow was. He then looked at me with this strange look and said, "If you're serious about it and going to hunt with it, I'll sell it to you under one condition. If you kill a deer with it you have to come tell me the story and share some pictures with me." I happily agreed and pulled out some money for the man. That moment I was the new owner of an older (shop owner forgot what year bow it was) Bear Kodiak Magnum 52# @ 28". After fooling around with different arrows and setups I finally had it shooting good about a month into season. After using both compound and recurve that season, I finally sealed the deal on a 5.5yo nanny doe at 8yds with the recurve. I made sure to ride to the archery shop and share the story with the man that sold me the bow and shared some pictures and some fine venison as gratitude. I continued to used both the compound and recurve throughout many deer seasons, but this summer I completely hung the compound up for good. I've already had some great memories made this deer season, and I have yet to take a deer. Something about the look and feel of the wood riser in your hand that truly speaks to the soul. Good luck to everyone out there this season!