The Line In The Sand: Traditional Equipment

[Patrick]

#7090

Where do YOU draw the line when it comes to considering equipment “traditional”? Are only wood arrows traditional? Are machined aluminum or carbon risered bows not traditional, or might you only consider a self-bow traditional? What about broadheads, tabs, fingers, etc, etc?

Personally, I’ve only been shooting what I would consider “traditional” for a couple years, therefore it would be pretentious of me to define it. I’m mostly interested in what those who have been shooting traditional for years have to say.

I don’t shoot a longbow because it is labeled “traditional”. I shoot it because of its simplicity. I shoot carbon arrows for the same reason. Frankly, I couldn’t afford to shoot wood arrows. I would have broke every one of my arrows ten times over if I were shooting wood.

(And yep, this question was prompted by your reply regarding wood arrows Don 😀 )

[kingwouldbe]

#58120

Patrick, “traditional” is in the eye of the traditionalist.

One man might go back 20 years, another 50 years and yet another might go way back to just wood and stone.

Don’t let someone else tell you what you must shoot.

I have never tried wood and stone, I probably will at some time, just for the fun of it, but I don’t think I would shoot that tackle on a regular basses.

You might be talking about modern Traditional tackle, and that is what I shoot on a regular basses.

I shoot in the traditional stile with modern equipment ( laminated longbow with carbon arrows and steal broadheads )

I draw the line at WHEELS, CAMS, & RELEASES anything under that line is shooting in the Traditional stile to me.

Just my 2 cents my friend

[William Warren]

#58128

Unless we can use original equipment we are bound to use bows that are either replicas or original creations using more modern materials (mostly adhesives and string materials and in some cases laminate material). There are alot of materials and accessories that could be considered non-traditional. I personally like my bows to be mostly wood and fiberglass lams are OK. I prefer wood arrows but I use plastic nocks and glue my fletching on with modern glue. To me this is Traditional versus other shaft material. I also use aluminum XX75 shafting but have yet to embrace the carbon shafting. I have quivers that I made from leather and I have quivers that attach to my bows for hunting. To some the plastic quivers may not seem traditional but they were available when I was growing up so I think they are OK.
I think this will be a tough thread because each has his/her own experience which is influenced by mentors, parents, and the times we have lived in. It is that diverse spread of knowlwdge that bonds us and makes us strong. Your Tradition is yours but you can share it. I can’t condemn someone for using an aluminum riser as long as there are no wheels attached!
Duncan

[Patrick]

#58151

Kingwouldbe wrote: Patrick, “traditional” is in the eye of the traditionalist.

One man might go back 20 years, another 50 years and yet another might go way back to just wood and stone.

Don’t let someone else tell you what you must shoot.

I’m not asking to help me define it. It’s just pure curiousity and conversation. Nothing more to it than that. 😉

Oh, and that is a SWEET photo!

[Hiram]

#58166

I stop just before I pick it up and realize the compound is really not a Bow. Then I pick up my one string.:D

[Jason Wesbrock]

#58177

The problem with trying to define traditional archery is that most, if not all, accepted parameters have no historical foundation. If we simply decide on “pre-compound” than just about everything else is on the table, sans wheels and letoff. The fact of the matter is that synthetic arrows (particularly aluminum), elevated rests, stabilizers, sights, and mechanical releases all predate fiberglass-laminated limbs.

Personally, how someone else chooses to define my equipment is of no consequence to me. I choose how I hunt and with what I hunt because it gives me tremendous enjoyment, not because someone else feels it fits into some arbitrary category.

[Patrick]

#58195

snuffornot wrote: I think this will be a tough thread because each has his/her own experience which is influenced by mentors, parents, and the times we have lived in. It is that diverse spread of knowlwdge that bonds us and makes us strong. Your Tradition is yours but you can share it. I can’t condemn someone for using an aluminum riser as long as there are no wheels attached!
Duncan

NOT TRUE! it’s very, very easy! The question is simply where YOU draw the line. No strings attached, no disclaimers, that’s it, nothing more. Not where you think it SHOULD be, or what you think should be imposed on others.

[Hiram]

#58250

I’m not against compounds for hunting use. They are here and implemented widely. I think perimeters should be set now that limit the amount of let-off etc. that is allowed in the PY books. The Manus will drive the Compound into a machine that will far exceed what the initial compound designs were. They will make them in competition with each other till it becomes a 50 yd. plus game in Bowhunting. Heck it already is!I hate it when the High tech compound shooters cal it the “stick and string”. Should be, Machine casting an arrow! Commercialized get the “Fastest shooting Bow” and other sayings that tease the competition to catch them etc.

[Lousyhunter]

#58335

When I felt the weight of the first recurve I got, that’s what defined “traditional” for me. It was so light compared to the compound I was using, and it had no attachments! For me, “going traditional” meant simplifying my equipment & methods to help me get a better hunting experience by allowing me to really notice what was going on around me instead of fiddling with some gadget. I became so “anti-gadget” that it took 6 years before I finally put a quiver back on my bow!

[Bloodless]

#58421

Traditional to me is “doing more with less.” That is, more effort and skill and devotion from me, and less dependancy on anything bought. So there are degrees of traditional. But as others have said, there is a “bottom line” when it comes to tecnology. If it ain’t a “stick and string,” it ain’t traditional in mhy books. And my bhooks is what I hunt by. bb

[rayborbon]

#58480

Some thoughts on where I draw the line regarding how I define traditional
———————————–

No cams, no releases, no mechanical broadheads.

The bow should have some wood in the working part of the limbs and a majority of the handle.

Carbon and aluminum arrows are fine. However I view wood shafted arrows as more traditional.

Points, broadheads – A stone point is more pure. I have never used one because I feel more confident with steel.

Overall if someone walks out to the forest and chops down some trees, crafts a self bow, is able to use wooden arrows to harvest an animal that is close enough to what I consider the core traditional bowhunter.

[William Warren]

#58635

I see no need to draw a line. I named my preferences but I won’t fault another for his choice of equipment. I’m trying not to be a Traditional snob Okay?

[Hiram]

#58673

Hey Snuffer, whats the Bow in your pic?

[rayborbon]

#58682

I would not fault anyone for using a compound bow. I shoot guns and still continue to harvest game with rifle.

However I would look at someone funny if they shot a critter with a wheel bow and wanted to say it takes the same level of skill and attention as using stick and string. It is different. When you have 70% let off 300 FPS and sights like a gun with bows that can shoot very accurate for first day users at 40 yards plus you have to accept that there is a difference. That’s not snobbish. That’s a fact.

[Hiram]

#58785

Hey Ray great looking family and pray Blessings for health and well being to them. Yeah its just a quirk of mine to hear them say that. I am like you on this but the TV shows with the guys toteing compounds and the commercialization of things takes away from the premise of things. Seems like they strive for Easy rather than fullfilment and gratitude. All the pressure to kill a Deer on the shows and get footage that is impressive has caused a Drain on the Sacred aspect of the Hunt. Its not the gun, its the shooter! I have been trying to tell people who favor more gun control the same thing. I think this is an example of similar injustice on a small scale comparison.

[Holten101]

#58800

Any setup that dont involve a trigger/release, cams and sights feels traditional to me.

This is highly subjectiv since my mind wanna put anything made of carbon, glassfiber, plastic, 2 component glue, kevlar and dacron in the same catagory.

However…shooting carbon arrow from my “modern” recurve gives me that “traditional” feel, so ill go with the above mentioned “definition”:-)

But, I enjoy shooting with my compound once in a while, hell, I love shooting with anything from a slingshot to a modern centerfire with glass! And I wish, really wish, that “traditionalists” and “modernists” (for lack of a better word) would stop bashing each other and start finding common ground….we do, after all, have so much in common.

well….enough “lets all hold hands” from me;-)

Cheers

[Patrick]

#58985

snuffornot wrote: I’m trying not to be a Traditional snob Okay?

Sorry if I came across as brash. I didn’t mean to. Just my lack of skill conveying my thoughts via writing shining through. I’m positive noone would think that of you. I certainly wouldn’t. Well, unless you said “I use xyz, and those who do not are lesser beings than I.”

I’ve never heard anyone call a compound a “stick and string”, and I worked at an archery/gun shop for 9 years. That is pretty ridiculous…and funny.

[William Warren]

#59073

Hiram wrote: Hey Snuffer, whats the Bow in your pic?

Hiram,
It is a hickory self bow. I lightly burned that pattern with a propane torch (maybe not a traditional method:D)and stained it with walnut hulls. It is about 68# at 28″ which pushes the limits of my ability.
Duncan

PS: I posted a better pic on the bowyer forum

[William Warren]

#59233

Patrick wrote: [quote=snuffornot] I’m trying not to be a Traditional snob Okay?

Patrick wrote: Sorry if I came across as brash. I didn’t mean to. Just my lack of skill conveying my thoughts via writing shining through.

Patrick
No offense taken! That is the downside of electronic media, can’t read the other persons expression to get the full meaning. And I admit I missed the question and went on a ramble. 😀

[Hiram]

#59552

I like it Snuff! (The Bow) also a good pic! I dip stuff, and never want to quit.:)LOL!

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