The Traditional Challenge! Who's In?

[red]

Traditional is much more about woods skill than arrow flinging. Knowing your effective yardage tells you just how good at being sneaky you have to be.

Exactly, Royden. BTW: I know many have more years of experience, but this is my 27th year as a hunter and my 21st as a bowhunter. I know a little about what hunting means. When I decided to take up traditional gear, I bought the last 3 years' back issues of Traditional Bowhunter, I've read them cover to cover (twice), I purchsed shooting DVD's and book by G. Fred Asbell, I've consulted with many members of Tradgang.com, and I now have a collection of traditional hunting DVD's I watch. In addtion, I personally scout and trailcam scout my hunting areas extensively. No, I don't believe in the concept of just jumping into anything. It's funny, with every activity I decide to take up, the more I prepare and practice the luckier I get.

[red]

"I think what SMJ was getting at was why worry how far you are proficient at, just hunt at whatever distance that is, even if it is only 10yds."

Hey Greg...I think because it is very unrealistic to approach a hunt with the expectation of a 10 yard shot. Not saying it won't happen, but I am not hunting Bull Elk in the rut (wish I was). I am talking about tough-as-nails boar hogs and wicked nervous whitetails. Everyone would love to have 10 yard shot chances, but the plain truth is 90% of the animals I've taken with a bow have been between 20 and 25 yards. Given that, it only seems responsible/ethical that I should be able to cleanly and hunanely take a 20 yard shot or there is no sense in taking my traditional gear to the woods. I can certainly take that shot with my compound in good faith. For me, there will never be any mention after the fact that I took my game at "X" yardage, but I'll know certainly know in my heart whether I took an ethical shot or whether I just slung an arrow hoping to get lucky.

[CopperHead]

I personally took no offense with SMJs words. He is wise and speaks the truth. And I won't lie I hunt because of the rush. Everyone here knows what I mean. After all the hunt is about how close and not how far right? The rush comes even without a shot fired.

I love to shoot the longbow its just so spiritual. Getting back to basics and away from the mechanics of the modern world. I don't question my ability to hunt as I consistently can get closer than needed. I just currently lack the confidence to hunt with traditional gear at the moment. I have no doubt I could make a lethal shot 85% of the time but that is not good enough for me. I love and respect the animals I hunt and they deserve better.

[smj]

Wow! Guys and gals, it was not my intent to get in anyones face about any of this. If I did, I am very sorry.

I said it before, I'll say it again - Traditional hunting is like any other hunting out there. I don't care what the weapon is, there is a range at which you know you can put down an animal. Even a knife, with dogs, can take a hog! Not me - but I know a southern boy who has!!! The point being, in my opinion, if you want to hunt at a distance then use a distance weapon. (I would never imply that an archer should use a gun, but if you want to shoot at a great distance then it is the logical choice. Spiker, I was not suggesting you, or anyone else, should hunt with a gun at all!!! My apologies, sir!) Traditional hunting is about hunting at close ranges. It is what sets it apart. It makes demands on you that will test the limits of your skills at getting close to game, the style of hunting you do, the methods you use. How long a shot do you take, only as long as you can make. This means that if 10 yards is the limit, then hunt at 10 yards... It may require that you find a new area to hunt, some place where you can get within 10 yards of the animal. Or it may mean that you have to try something a bit different to close the gap on the animals. This does not show, by the way, a lack of respect for the animals we hunt. Just wait, you, too, can have a doe or buck at 20 yards and have to pass on the shot. Been there, done that. But I have yet to regret having not taken a shot at an animal. I usually tip my hat and tell them "Well done!". Then go look for another chance. I remember the ones I let go more than the ones I shot.

Red - this is a wonderful challenge! Please don't withdraw it. What got to me was that everyone is concerned with distance. My point is, this is not about distance. This is about hunting, really hunting! And that, my friend, is exciting stuff! The odds of walking in to the woods and shooting something at 10 yards, or even 20 yards, are thin indeed. How do you improve the odds? You hunt! It is the battle of wits, and intelligent choices, that get the animal. Not whether or not you can hit a pie plate at 20 or 30 yards. If I have upset everyone a lot, let me know and I will retract my statements, not yours. PS - If where you hunt will not allow a closer shot than 20 to 25 yards, then I would say that you are 100% correct in waiting to hunt with traditional gear until you feel you can make that shot. That said, I would also review how you hunt, where you hunt, and see if there might be an exception some where in there. If so, I'd go hunting!

[smj]

By the way, the examples I put in about getting close to elk, I probably should not have put that in there as I doubt it came across the way I meant it to. Sorry. It was not a brag, it was not a standard to try to hold up. It was only a couple of hunting stories, much condensed, and stuck in. As for the rut going, these were not called in or decoyed. These were the result of hard work and carefully laid out plans. I put myself in the spot I needed to be in to make such things happen. Some times I get it right, other times I go home and scratch my head and try to figure out where I went wrong. Then I go give another try! Whitetail are hard. I have taken one whitetail at less than 10 yards (It was eating my blind! Almost self defense!). Yes, elk and doe mule deer seem easier to get close to.

Anyway, I should probably not have put that in there. Sorry if anyone was insulted.

[red]

Hey SMJ...no need to retract your statements. I love you like a brother and will always be grateful for the inspiration you've provided for me to attempt traditional hunting and the bow you created for me that I will always cherish. Perhaps the confusion was with the difference between practice and hunting distance. As Spiker mentioned, we practice a compound at 50 so that a 20-25 yard shot seems very reasonable and has a high probability for success. I hope I end up with a very close shot indeed, but I'd better be ready if the expected "average opportunity" not the "ideal scenario" presents itself.


Your wealth of knowledge in traditional archery is well respected and I hope I can always count on your advice and friendship. The post did catch me off guard and felt like an attack on mine/our hunting ethics...I know it was not meant that way. Best to you,

Red

[Greg Krause]

Thank you for trying to clear that up SMJ. I think everyone just got there wires crossed.

Most of my stands are set up for longer shots and steeper angles.....as in compound bow stands. I have managed to find tighter pinch points to keep shots very close. i have also found better cover that allows me to keeps stands lower for better shots. when i think those stands will be hot I use my Trad gear, if other stands look better for that day, i use my compound. It seems to be a perfect mix

I do also understand though that i am very lucky with the amount of deer and the amount of time I have to hunt.

[SPIKER]

Let's not forget about finishing shots!

It's been my experience around others who are infinitely more experienced than I, that a finishing shot is sometimes needed.

And that shot may well be past the 10 yd self imposed limit that someone may wish to..well..impose on themselves.

I would never want to see a wounded animal get away because I couldn't finish it off at say 25 yds, and know that had I been more proficient with my weapon, there would be meat on the table, and not coyote feed in the woods...

[red]

I would never want to see a wounded animal get away because I couldn't finish it off at say 25 yds, and know that had I been more proficient with my weapon, there would be meat on the table, and not coyote feed in the woods...

Good point...worse yet, I'm in an area with no coyotes. A poor shot means a slow, lingering and painful death.

[SPIKER]

Here you go Red, 10, and 15..but 20 just falls apart..maybe next week..