The problem with traditional archery in a hunting sense is that while there are a small percentage of ace trad shots, most are barely functional in the back yard under the best conditions and definitely don’t suddenly shoot better just because game is in front of them, usually the opposite. Even the best shots make some pretty bad shots far more often than is realized. I hunt in the west on foot, mostly in August and September above 6000 feet and without fail shooting is not nearly as easy here as it is at the range at sea level. Factor in the physical and mental fatigue that gets progressively worse as the hunt goes on from relatively poor sleeping conditions and late to bed early to rise scenarios and long miles in steep conditions and things are far more difficult than we always think they will be. If I were exclusively hunting with a recurve it would be a royal struggle to be confident in my ability to hit the spot at even extremely short distances. I choose to pick the time and place to take the recurve out where I know I can be relaxed enough to pull off a clean kill which is a tiny percentage of the hunting I do. I like shooting a recurve as much as anyone but I am realistic that shooting an elk in the shoulder is something I never want to experience. I have seen enough guys wound them due to buck fever and they will lead you on a ten mile trailing job if you don’t get both lungs!
joeprec
I agree that the top 5% find a way to get it done. The other 95% adopt the same mantra and then proceed to wound the crap out of the animals! That said, shooting proficiency has never been higher both compound and traditional but unfortunately most aren’t good enough!
Only speaking for myself, I abandoned archery in the early 2000s because I was never satisfied my accuracy was sufficient. My primary goal was hunting and archery was just a way to get more days in the field. Being in Texas, with ample seasons, days in the season turned out to be far less a limiting factor than time off work.
Returning to archery now after a 20 year hiatus, my primary goal is be able to shooting accurately, consistently. If, and only if, I judge I can reliably hit my target will I consider hunting with a recurve or any bow. I won't put myself in a situation where I might be tempted to hazard shots with a small likelihood of success. Maybe that means I never go hunting with a bow. So be it, I have flintlocks to challenge myself with and centerfire rifles to put food in the freezer.
Returning to archery now after a 20 year hiatus, my primary goal is be able to shooting accurately, consistently. If, and only if, I judge I can reliably hit my target will I consider hunting with a recurve or any bow. I won't put myself in a situation where I might be tempted to hazard shots with a small likelihood of success. Maybe that means I never go hunting with a bow. So be it, I have flintlocks to challenge myself with and centerfire rifles to put food in the freezer.
I disagree. if you shoot nothing but trad bows and understand the importance of correct arrow spine, you can be extremely confident. I think it's underestimated on the importance of taking the time cut by cut on an arrow to tune to a specific lb and bh. Once you've achieved an arrow that wants to fly straight from your bow, it's easy to feel confident behind the string.
Well, I'm proud of you. A man's got to know his limitations. (Circa Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force) And obviously, you understand you are not in that elite category. So I applaud you for making the responsible decision. (Spoken with a lot of smart-ass 😁).
You're not wholly wrong. But, you aren't completely right either.
People wound and lose animals every year with rifles, compounds, crossbows and traditional bows.
Is the percentage higher with traditional bows? I have no doubt it is. That said, the number of traditional bowhunters is much lower than compound bowhunters so the numbers for them is much higher even though it's lower per capita.
If you want to improve your ability to hunt successfully with your traditional bow I'd suggest some quality 3D shoots. I know most states have shoots for traditional archers and the in the woods scenarios will help you. As a guy who crossed over from compound to stick bows I can relate.
Maybe I'm in the 5%. Maybe not. But although I will admit my wound/loss percentage is higher than it was with a compound, most have been non lethal hits from a deer ducking the arrow, backstrapped, and they are around later all healed up.
Still very disheartening though.
Woodsmanship skills are important as well. Knowing how and where to set up. Adjustment of stands to trails, water sources, etc. Being able to track wounded/hit game is critical.
It is a decision each has to make for themselves however in a small way our performance sheds either a good or bad light on the community.
My PH in Africa is sold on traditional bowhunters. He finds us better prepared, more committed and willing to pass questionable shots and enjoy the experience just being there and getting stick bow close. He was impressed that Texans were so comfortable shooting out of blinds, or hides as they call them, because we do that here at home. Went five for five the last trip and 2 for 3 the first trip. Impala are very fast and prone to jump the shot. I backstrapped one.
Yet I seem to do well out of trees, tripods, etc over ditch crossings, field edges and funnels so . . .
A friend guides on a ranch and will tell you the compound hunters wound and lose game regularly and that's hunting close up, over feed.
What I've seen, in decades of hunting on archery only places, including an expensive trophy deer lease, is that most compound bowhunters pick up their bow a week before season, hit the target at 20 yards a half dozen times, and call it good to hunt. The guys on that place wounded and lost more deer than I did. And it was a 9 to 1 ratio of compound to stick bow hunters. Most of the quality traditional bowhunters I know shoot their bows year round and often, multiple times per week. That said, I've known slob hunters of both/all disciplines and weapons.
Believe me, if I wasn't confident in my shot, I would not keep traveling across the world to shoot animals on expensive trips, that you pay for when you draw blood by the way, recovered or not, and walk into the bush everyday carrying a longbow.
So if your intent is to be better, get to work and find someone to help you be better. But if you are honestly a good bowhunter with a compound, the transition should not be too difficult. Unless you just don't have the ability or time and discipline to get and stay good.
Then making the decision to hunt within your limits is the respectable and responsible thing to do.
Because we all reflect and represent the whole.
You're not wholly wrong. But, you aren't completely right either.
People wound and lose animals every year with rifles, compounds, crossbows and traditional bows.
Is the percentage higher with traditional bows? I have no doubt it is. That said, the number of traditional bowhunters is much lower than compound bowhunters so the numbers for them is much higher even though it's lower per capita.
If you want to improve your ability to hunt successfully with your traditional bow I'd suggest some quality 3D shoots. I know most states have shoots for traditional archers and the in the woods scenarios will help you. As a guy who crossed over from compound to stick bows I can relate.
Maybe I'm in the 5%. Maybe not. But although I will admit my wound/loss percentage is higher than it was with a compound, most have been non lethal hits from a deer ducking the arrow, backstrapped, and they are around later all healed up.
Still very disheartening though.
Woodsmanship skills are important as well. Knowing how and where to set up. Adjustment of stands to trails, water sources, etc. Being able to track wounded/hit game is critical.
It is a decision each has to make for themselves however in a small way our performance sheds either a good or bad light on the community.
My PH in Africa is sold on traditional bowhunters. He finds us better prepared, more committed and willing to pass questionable shots and enjoy the experience just being there and getting stick bow close. He was impressed that Texans were so comfortable shooting out of blinds, or hides as they call them, because we do that here at home. Went five for five the last trip and 2 for 3 the first trip. Impala are very fast and prone to jump the shot. I backstrapped one.
Yet I seem to do well out of trees, tripods, etc over ditch crossings, field edges and funnels so . . .
A friend guides on a ranch and will tell you the compound hunters wound and lose game regularly and that's hunting close up, over feed.
What I've seen, in decades of hunting on archery only places, including an expensive trophy deer lease, is that most compound bowhunters pick up their bow a week before season, hit the target at 20 yards a half dozen times, and call it good to hunt. The guys on that place wounded and lost more deer than I did. And it was a 9 to 1 ratio of compound to stick bow hunters. Most of the quality traditional bowhunters I know shoot their bows year round and often, multiple times per week. That said, I've known slob hunters of both/all disciplines and weapons.
Believe me, if I wasn't confident in my shot, I would not keep traveling across the world to shoot animals on expensive trips, that you pay for when you draw blood by the way, recovered or not, and walk into the bush everyday carrying a longbow.
So if your intent is to be better, get to work and find someone to help you be better. But if you are honestly a good bowhunter with a compound, the transition should not be too difficult. Unless you just don't have the ability or time and discipline to get and stay good.
Then making the decision to hunt within your limits is the respectable and responsible thing to do.
Because we all reflect and represent the whole.
I'm not sure what you want here. Venting? I am glad you are honest with yourself. It sounds like your friends or whoever it is need to be honest with themselves, too. If I ever got to the point I am wounding animals consistently I wouldn't use a stick bow. I would hope everyone would do the same. There would be no joy or accomplishment in that. fyi, I do still use a compound from time to time because I still enjoy shooting it, but I rarely hunt with one anymore.
I don't know, but I do think that most hunter factor their proficiency with a traditionnal bow when they plan to hunt with it. If not for ethic reasons (which I believe most hunter have), by pure practical reasons. Who want to waste an opportunity to make a shot? Even if you do not care if you wound an animal or not, hitting your mark, not missing and risking the animal to flee, and making the kill as efficiently as possible in order to retrieve your prey with the less effort possible is always a thing. Hence, most traditionnal bow hunter are confident and realist about their skill, or any other weapons.
Sure, there is some people out there that are hunting without a decent proficiency, but only 5% of them do so? I don't believe this.
Also, I believe it is more a attitude problem than a tool problem. A person that will hunt with a traditionnal bow without the require proficiency will do it with any weapon he use.
Sure, there is some people out there that are hunting without a decent proficiency, but only 5% of them do so? I don't believe this.
Also, I believe it is more a attitude problem than a tool problem. A person that will hunt with a traditionnal bow without the require proficiency will do it with any weapon he use.
A person should be as proficient as possible no matter what weapon you're hunting with.
It's true that some people probably should not be hunting with traditional bows but that's mainly the ones that don't want to practice all year round.
I think a longbow or recurve is the most adaptable weapon as far as hunting situations go.
I've shot animals in the past that I simply couldn't have got the shot off using a compound.
Not knocking compounds but that's my opinion.
For thousands of years more game was taken with the simple stick n string than probably any other weapon.
It's true that some people probably should not be hunting with traditional bows but that's mainly the ones that don't want to practice all year round.
I think a longbow or recurve is the most adaptable weapon as far as hunting situations go.
I've shot animals in the past that I simply couldn't have got the shot off using a compound.
Not knocking compounds but that's my opinion.
For thousands of years more game was taken with the simple stick n string than probably any other weapon.
It all comes down to passion and practice. The evolution of the bow is how little practice is needed. My pecking order would be Longbow on the MOST end, and Crossbow on the least. We tell customers it is all about how much time you can put into the sport so that you make ethical kills and do not wound animals.
Compounds fall under riser length - the shorter means more practice. Find what makes you happy. My recurve makes me VERY happy!
Compounds fall under riser length - the shorter means more practice. Find what makes you happy. My recurve makes me VERY happy!
lol
i've hunted with a recurve exclusively for 52 yrs. i live at 7000 ft in new mexico and hunt up to 9000 ft.
more elk are wounded with the compound machine than the recurve or longbow . shooting too long .
last year september the warden had to put down a bull with 6 arrows sticking out of it guess what kind of weapon.
can't call it a bow thats for sure. every year looking for sheds i find dead elk .
if you know anything about elk hunting you should know how to keep your shots close. pretty easy.
also when i elk hunt i live with the elk take my tent and equipment and stay right with them.
sounds like you've wounded a few!
i've hunted with a recurve exclusively for 52 yrs. i live at 7000 ft in new mexico and hunt up to 9000 ft.
more elk are wounded with the compound machine than the recurve or longbow . shooting too long .
last year september the warden had to put down a bull with 6 arrows sticking out of it guess what kind of weapon.
can't call it a bow thats for sure. every year looking for sheds i find dead elk .
if you know anything about elk hunting you should know how to keep your shots close. pretty easy.
also when i elk hunt i live with the elk take my tent and equipment and stay right with them.
sounds like you've wounded a few!
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I have hunted with a compound for 40 years and have seen my fair share of wounded deer
I have only been shooting a recurve for a couple of years. I practiced for two years before I started hunting with a recurve.
The past two seasons I have hunted only with a recurve and have set two non negotiable groud rules.
Set a maximum distance that you can ethically, realistically shoot. For me it is 25 yards.
Any deer further than that gets a hard pass. If your maximum distance is 5 yards, than you need to stick to that distance.
Be ok with not getting a shot. A lot of compound hunters will force a shot when they should pass, but their ego gets in the way.
Practice. I shoot year round. I shoot my recurve more in a week than a lot of people shoot their compound in a year.
Shooting a recurve is a perishable skill. You can’t expect to pick up your recurve a week before the season and be successful. Same goes for a compound.
If you want to be successful you need to put in the work and know your limitations, the game you hunt deserves your best effort.
I have only been shooting a recurve for a couple of years. I practiced for two years before I started hunting with a recurve.
The past two seasons I have hunted only with a recurve and have set two non negotiable groud rules.
Set a maximum distance that you can ethically, realistically shoot. For me it is 25 yards.
Any deer further than that gets a hard pass. If your maximum distance is 5 yards, than you need to stick to that distance.
Be ok with not getting a shot. A lot of compound hunters will force a shot when they should pass, but their ego gets in the way.
Practice. I shoot year round. I shoot my recurve more in a week than a lot of people shoot their compound in a year.
Shooting a recurve is a perishable skill. You can’t expect to pick up your recurve a week before the season and be successful. Same goes for a compound.
If you want to be successful you need to put in the work and know your limitations, the game you hunt deserves your best effort.
No problem with your opinion here, we all have them, and I guess not many here will agree 100% with yours or mine about this elephant you brought into the room. Not sure what led to this particular rant as someone as highly proficient as you, almost no one else around you can come up to your expectations in any hunting situation, but I do find your blanket statement that 95% of archers dont even belong in their own back yards highly offensive and very much like The Evil Mrs Hilary Clinton saying all Trump supporters are deplorable. just be cool, help others when and if you can is a good strategy instead of blindly bashing the entire group of us.
I didn't pick up the stick until 2015. On my first deer lease, archery only, 2 slob trad guys ran it. They shot 5 deer each and recovered exactly one each. Yet at my archery club there was a guy with a recurve who could outshoot many compound guys. He said he had to shoot all the time to stay on point. I couldn't do that until after I retired from my job. So I stayed with the compound until then. That said, I'm decent at it. Do decent in some competitions, keep my freezer full and my wall is gaining in heads I don't have room for.
But shooting my longbow is like therapy for my soul. Not just a status symbol.
But shooting my longbow is like therapy for my soul. Not just a status symbol.
I'd say you have no proof. Most shots aren't on YouTube or X hunting show.
My buddies put em down every season.
I put em down every season.
It's a lifestyle, not a hobby. Just because you can't, doesn't mean other can't.
Your numbers are off. If you are going to take a stand on an issue, at least make it a realistic position.
Just because you feel inadequate, don't put that on everybody else. Many more of us than you know are getting it done. Most of them quietly, never posting on the interweb.
My buddies put em down every season.
I put em down every season.
It's a lifestyle, not a hobby. Just because you can't, doesn't mean other can't.
Your numbers are off. If you are going to take a stand on an issue, at least make it a realistic position.
Just because you feel inadequate, don't put that on everybody else. Many more of us than you know are getting it done. Most of them quietly, never posting on the interweb.
That type of hunting doesn’t seem like fun to me at all, that said, out west I would use a compound for sure. Hunting in Ohio with a recurve is great, but I also hunt with a compound at times, and even a crossbow, but my favorite kill is with a recurve. As far as wounding deer goes, you won’t often get permission on private lands hunting with a recurve, landowners don’t trust the equipment or the hunters that use them.
My feeling is that most people on these traditional sites take traditional hunting more seriously than others and probably pretty proficient with their gear, always trying to develop their gear and technique by asking questions and putting time in practicing. People like that aren’t taking risky shots.
I go to a 3D archery shoot almost every weekend, special traditional archery events and attend about anything else that's archery related. Being retired I get to shoot in my backyard, every day. I take it pretty serious, but have fun and enjoy it at the same time. 
Most of the traditional archers that I've met and shot with are pretty darn good shooters. 💯 Even when we challenge each other on shots on the course, they're up for it and don't crack under pressure. Quite often I see archers taking a challenge as part of the sport and make it fun....which is always a good thing.
I want to start the hunting season with my longbow, this year. Switch to my recurve after I get my first longbow kill and possibly leave my compound at home for the first time in many years.
Most of the traditional archers that I've met and shot with are pretty darn good shooters. 💯 Even when we challenge each other on shots on the course, they're up for it and don't crack under pressure.
Quite often I see archers taking a challenge as part of the sport and make it fun....which is always a good thing. I want to start the hunting season with my longbow, this year. Switch to my recurve after I get my first longbow kill and possibly leave my compound at home for the first time in many years.
It's normal for people who cannot get to have his point of view.
While their are those who have a horrendous wounding issue, many are lights out. I've had bad runs. I went from instinctive to gap because after 6 years I was faltering. I'd shoot lights out or ***. On five pigs I killed one, wounded one and missed 3. Fortunately the wounded one survived and I got him 3 weeks later but I still knew I had to find a fix. Joel Turner gave me some advice and pointers and I evolved it from there.
Personally, I have plenty of pictures of dead animals my stickbows have put down. I don't need to justify **** to him or anybody. I'm experienced enough, after decades with a compound and now stickbows, to know what is reality and what is BS.
If someone needs to find an excuse not to, they will without looking too hard.
But if they need to find a way to, they'll put in the time and effort to get it done.
While their are those who have a horrendous wounding issue, many are lights out. I've had bad runs. I went from instinctive to gap because after 6 years I was faltering. I'd shoot lights out or ***. On five pigs I killed one, wounded one and missed 3. Fortunately the wounded one survived and I got him 3 weeks later but I still knew I had to find a fix. Joel Turner gave me some advice and pointers and I evolved it from there.
Personally, I have plenty of pictures of dead animals my stickbows have put down. I don't need to justify **** to him or anybody. I'm experienced enough, after decades with a compound and now stickbows, to know what is reality and what is BS.
If someone needs to find an excuse not to, they will without looking too hard.
But if they need to find a way to, they'll put in the time and effort to get it done.
Well, not during bow season.
I loved bowhunting with a compound. It was just time to move to the next level.
This is a perishable ability. Time and break down will take this from me. But I'll still hunt. With a compound or with a rifle. Just right now, in the time left that I'm physically able, I'm going to keep putting in the effort to do it the way I enjoy.
I loved bowhunting with a compound. It was just time to move to the next level.
This is a perishable ability. Time and break down will take this from me. But I'll still hunt. With a compound or with a rifle. Just right now, in the time left that I'm physically able, I'm going to keep putting in the effort to do it the way I enjoy.
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