How many trad guys are on here?

[Matt O]

I've always bowhunted with a compound, but hoping to hunt with a recurve this fall. Currently practicing and feel pretty good inside 20 yards, but need to to get lot more hours in and arrows down range before I officially make the switch.

Would definitely be interested in meeting other trad archers/hunters in the Knoxville area.

 

[Iglow]

Robertson Stykbow Fatal Styk, Bodnik Quick Stick. I have a bunch of others too, but these two see the most hunting time.

Mostly, I prefer my selfbows that I make, but I just haven't been as motivated to use them in the last few years.

I'm thinking of making a bow off the instructions by Saxton Pope in his book about bowhunting. I'll use cedar backed by bamboo or hickory I guess if I can get started.

 

[Lost Lake]

I'm thinking of making a bow off the instructions by Saxton Pope in his book about bowhunting. I'll use cedar backed by bamboo or hickory I guess if I can get started.

Be very careful with cedar. It's a very brash and brittle wood when dry. While it'll make the fastest wooden bow you've ever seen, it'll also come apart equally as fast.

If you choose to use it, be sure to use a very thin backing. A thick backing will move the neutral layer very close to the belly, and it'll fail quickly under compression.

I'd try a thin hickory backing, or a thin layer of sinew.

For a first bow, it'd be hard to beat a good old hickory stave.

 

[Specializedjon]

I like 'em. Gets me back to my roots when I'm feeling nostalgic. Started on recurves/longbows in my younger years and saw the birth of compounds within my lifetime (age 69). I've gone full circle - traditional/compound/traditional. They weren't really called traditional way back then, it was just a bow, which everyone had (probably 80% were Bears, and the other 20% the rest ... Browning, Shakespheare, Wing, Pearson, etc. The Allen was the first compound and it was a clunky ugly thing. But when Bear and Jennings got on board building them, the popularity exploded about the time I was in the Army. The Bear Alaskan was their first compound and it sold like hot cakes. I killed a lot of small game with my recurve as a young man but didn't kill my first deer until the 80's when I bought a Bear Brown Bear compound, which had a wood riser and only 35% let off, but I thought it was a laser beam, LOL. I'm glad to see the renewed interest in "traditional gear" but it sure takes a lot of dedication to stay proficient enough to hunt with one. If you can't put the time in for that, I'd rather see you grab a compound and give both the deer and yourself a mental break from failure.

Who's that young fella in the picture?

 

[eddie c]

I do. My current bow us my osage selfbow I made. 55@28. I have 2 sets of arrows, one set wood, other is carbon. I do have a longbow. I'm not very successful but I enjoy it more than the compound. So far a buck, a doe, grouse, armadillo and Rio turkey. Lost my deer pictures. Oh yeah, lost the bear and pigs. Have shot a couple of rabbits

 

[J.A.F.O.]

Definitely a struggle but will hopefully be ready by this fall and try to take my first with this longbow. 66" 40#…thx Terry!!!

 

[Iglow]

I'm getting it through the grapevine that Howard Hill Archery is moving from Hamilton Mt to Franklin Tn!!! Seems Craig Elkin is retiring and has sold the business to a guy there!

 

[Iglow]

Made a call and got confirmation on the move. Guy is training with Craig Elkin now at Hamilton Mt and expects to start taking orders in 3 months at new shop at Franklin!