I would keep it or loan it to a good friend. You never know when you might need it do to an injury of some type.

Good luck with the trad gear.

Sell it. I gave my compound bow up some 35 yrs ago. Bought one 4 yrs ago after having surgery, had to hunt. Well I was so use to the trad bow weight. I couldn’t carry the new compound bow to long, it felt awkward in my hands. I gave it to my son and bought a lower # recurve. I’m not knocking the compound, just didn’t work out for me this time around. I’m 65 now so I’m shooting a 45# bow now. Way better than when I started at 65#.Good hunting.

It’s personal. Once I commit, I rarely ever look back. Been that way with the trad thing and I have no regrets. But then, I’m not much of a “must have success” guy anymore, but OK with that. Not that you can’t with trad gear, it’s just another level of commitment.

1winters and troutbum1

Welcome aboard:D

1winters I suspect your wife’s apprehension is that she feels that once you sell the machine you will want to buy another work of art8)

troutbum you would be one of the younger visitors here:D Just received my new elk heart from Gregg Coffey 46# at my draw of 27″.

Paleo makes a great comment: I spent about 5 hours out there today and saw nothing–well to shoot at–but I saw the fall woods and it doesn’t get any better then that.

Look forward to your continued conversations.

Semper Fi

Mike

Hey Mike can we take a peek at that bow ?

1winters, How well do you like venison?? I was in the same boat as you and sold my compound a few years ago to go “totally trad” and I am yet to harvest a whitetail with trad gear. Last season, I passed on 5 different shot opportunities that I would have been 100% confident to take with a wheel bow but they exceeded my personal limitations with trad gear. Before you commit to selling your compound, make sure you are willing to accept the limitations that come with being “totally trad”. Hope this helps.:)

Sell it! you’ll get venison with your trad gear! average shot on whitetail with any archery gear is 15-20 yards. You can do it! How many 30-50 yards shots at deer did you ever make with the device?

lwinters6969 wrote: ….Is this a wise decision ❓

“Wise?” Yes, it’s extremely wise, insofar as my ability to almost touch bottom in the shallow end of the “wisdom pool” can advise you. But you are asking this question on a trad forum, so I’m guessing you’re getting the answer you truly want to hear…

I don’t think you’ll regret it mate. Congratulations on making the switch 😉

If you don’t sell it, when you struggle with shooting (EVERYONE has their moments), you’re going to have a difficult time resisting going back. When I switched, now a number of years ago, I got rid of my compound, and was happy I did. Burn that bridge! 😉

Well, I know how you feel. I’ve been shooting trad for about 4-5 years now (I’ve only killed 2 with my recurve) and have kept my Mathews close by. Usually hunted bow season w/ the recurve and gun season w/ my compound. But from the start I fell in love big time w/ traditional. So much I cant even explain, which I’ve tried to my buddies who thought I had lost it and most still do. As crazy as it sounds its almost spiritual to me. Anyway, even shooting the compound at all wasn’t even fun anymore and in the last few years I didn’t even want to shoot it at all and it got where I didn’t. So at the end of summer this year, despite a few reservations, I sold compound and all the accessories. Not once have I regretted it. I love how simple I feel in the woods now and the hunt seems so much more enjoyable kill or not. Now usually I would have killed by now but that’s ok too. My senses have changed I suppose because I enjoy the hunt as much as the kill now. So, if your passion is as much as mine was/is, then you won’t regret going trad only. Good luck.

Sell it and you can buy another beautiful longbow!

Cameron wrote: Sell it and you can buy another beautiful longbow!

I Second That!

Looks like you’re getting all the pats on the back you need here. I don’t think you’ll regret your decision to sell. If you feel you struggle a little bit to get the same kind of accuracy, you’ll just have to shoot a little more. What could be wrong with that? Have fun. dwc

You can’t be a bowhunter if you’re relying on a rifle and you can’t be a traditional bowhunter if you’re relying on a compound. Donate it to as raffle item at your bow club’s or state organization’s next banquet and don’t look back. You’ll never regret it. Don

I would love to say I was a true bowhunter according to Don’s definition, but I just can’t rely on venison in the freezer without it. I scout hard, all summer. Prepare ground blinds and treestand locations. Play the wind. But even in my most densely populated town zones I only get pictures on the game cams every three or four days on the most heavily used trails. No agriculture and 90+% forested land allows deer to move where they want and bed anywhere they are. I look forward to going back to the expanded zone where I am allowed more than the state wide 1 deer limit by any method if and when I fill my rifle tag. When I am carrying a bow I am 100% traditional (except for the carbon arrows, can’t give those up either). I would trade or sell the compounds and enjoy the trad journey.

Here’s a paradoxical philosophy (hey, I’m a Homo sapiens – I’m entitled by birthright …)

Like the guy just to the east of me, I hunt in some pretty thick woods here in NH. Seeing deer on the all-too rare occasions is a kick; shooting a deer is pretty darn tough with a bow in these circumstances.

So I hunt with traditional tackle for three months of the year and three weeks in the middle with a rifle. I’ve even been known to carry a weatherproof shotgun during truly nasty sweather, just to avoid the rifle maintenance when I’m don’t have time for it.

When I carry the bow, I’m a bowhunter. That’s my frame of mind. I’m fortunate to be able to shoot a variety of hunting situations behind my house virtually daily, and I have thousands of acres within ten minutes for stumping. So I don’t feel like carrying a rifle for three weeks (if it takes that long) gets much in the way of “getting my mind right” for bowhunting.

However, if I were a sort-of-former compound shooter struggling slightly with doubts of whether to commit fully to stick and string, I’d sell the wheels. I would want to have my mind in the trad game when presented with an animal. The shooting that goes on between our ears is crucial to success, and doubts about our abilities are inimical to success.

lwinters6969 wrote: I have been shooting Traditional Archery for 2yrs now. … I have made a decision to sell my compound bow and go TOTALLY TRADITIONAL. My wife is a little apprehensive since i have never harvested a animal with my traditional equipment. If i don’t sell my compound equipment it will always be my crutch. Is this a wise decision ❓

I wouldn’t get too worked up over definitions of what a hunter should or should not be. Hunting is natural, so let nature take its course. After you have hunted for a few years with your recurve, you may find that you have no inclination to use the compound anymore.

I’ve personally converted some 10 or more wheeled archers into the magic of tradition.

Not all successful, it’s up to you to make it happen.

lwinters,

I know a number of people who hunt with a compound and have hit deer and elk in the scapula without penetrating far enough to even get one lung. The equipment choice is less critical if the projectile does not hit the animal in the right spot.

I’ve been hunting traditional style for 7 years. I’ve killed a couple animals, missed a few, and injured a couple. Its a long journey, and I’m still currently learning how to do it.

Don’t let this stop you from continuing on the traditional path. Better luck next time.

preston