I was watching the outdoor channel today, hoping to catch a Barta re-run or something before I went to work and saw an add for a new site called “Bow Blitz”. Supposed to be everything about archery but of course we were left out of the commercial mix again. Thank God for Tradbow! As I clicked around on the site, I couldn’t help but to notice how commercialized it all was with adds everywhere.
I’m fully aware of the statistics, such as only 25% of hunters also bow hunt and out of those only 5% use traditional gear but I get frustrated sometimes after coming in from yet another practice session outside and turning on the tv only to find someone trying to get me to buy another faster bow with faster wheels on it. We are unquestionably the most dedicated bow hunters in the world, practicing every day and driven by our own sense of what is the right way to hunt and yet we are the most ignored. Does not make sense.
I was rewarded with watching tv today when I saw a guy in a compound bow competition ‘drama’ miss a 3d deer shot at 20 yards. This after completing what looked to be an impressive shot at 100 yards with the same bow. I doubt there is anyone on this site who could not have closed the deal on that “challenge”.
I suppose we will never get our recognition and support until our industry becomes the huge money maker that the compound bow industry is which we can assume will be never. Yet, we live the purest form of archery on a daily basis. Perhaps they think we would not be interested in a show that may or may not close with yet another kill shot on a buck from some guy whispering in a tree. What they don’t understand is that we know this sport better than they (the entertainment industry) do and we would not be surprised at all to watch a thirty minute show that ended without a kill. Nor would this take away from our appreciation of the show itself or the sport. They underestimate our dedication and goals.
At any rate, thank you all here at Trad Bow for being the only port in the commercial storm, where a poor country boy with a re-curve can flee to in order to converse with like minded people.