Well I have been debating all season on taking the trad bow out for turkeys. I even posted a few days ago that I didnt think I would. I think I was just scared to get away from my little comfort bubble of a compound. I had a great evening of shooting this evening and over the past week have shot a bunch. I am beginning to develop a lot more consistency in my shooting and form. I can tell when I am doing things wrong that I couldnt tell a month ago. I have untill May 6 to get it done but, I now pledge to turkey hunt w/ trad gear only for the remainder of the season. I shot my broadheads a lot this eveing and made sure everything was flying right. Sharpened up the Magnus' and am ready to do a little hunting. Sure I might loose that comfort of the 20-40 yrd range but you know there is more to a hunt than the kill. I reckon come May 6 we will see what I have done. Wish me luck on my first trad hunts.
Thats awesome brother, Good luck, thats the biggest step is getting enough confidence to take your recurve! You wanna talk about a rush, wait until something comes into the zone, its unbelievable! Remember to pick a spot!
I think I am just so afraid to miss that I couldnt make myself take the risk of going w/ the trad bow. But I like a challenge and I guess the only way to know if you are ready is to try it.
Yep, you just got to do it, take the bow out and hunt with it! I just told myself this is what I'm hunting with, its what I want, there's no other bow going into the woods with me! I tell ya what, you will miss so don't get bummed when you do! The way I look at it is I just got a shot off, thats a big accomplishment in it self! You gotta be prepared to miss, pass on shots, having animals just outside your comfort zone, it is what it is! I love it!
You are right there Joe. I know no I KNOW I will miss at some point or another. My effective range will be GREATLY decreased and I will probably choke at crunch time. But I promise you I will have fun doing it.
My biggest advice is don't get caught up in the hype. Don't worry about the added difficulty or getting off a shot. Because in the right situation, things can fall into place just as easy with trad bow as a super tricked out turkey gun. & if you get caught up in the hype of getting off a shot, it'll be tougher to hit your mark. This is what burned me last year. I had a bird waltz in full strut to 10-12 yds, completely oblivious to me. The OMG factor kicked in from everyone saying how hard it is to get off a shot, so when the moment of truth came I paniced an blew the easiest shot anyone could ever get at a turkey. Good luck, and remember...it ain't no big deal. Till you get one and then you whoop it up like there's no tomorrow!
Good luck Zach. I assume from the way you're talking you won't be using a blind. I was going to go out tomorrow but too many "honey-do's" to take care of.
Zach... Good for you!! The only way to do it.. is, just do it. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, enjoy and learn from the experience. You'll get it done. woodsman
My philosophy on the blind is if it a good opportunity, use it. Definately when I take my wife I use it. And if I have a gobbler roosted I will set it up before dark, but when I feel the blind would be a hinderance I am all about going at it run and gun style. I will say that I would rather have the opportunity to use it, but am willing to hunt without it.
I got to thinking about what you said Jeff, and at this point in time I do not entirely want to hunt for the "How", I still enjoy the "how many" and the "how big" of the game to a certain degree. But I do feel that I can implement the trad bow into my hunting. Be it after I have some success with the compound in the season to come. I think when that part wears off I will probably have no trouble switching to all trad.
Good luck Zach. I too had to get to that point in the road where you have to make a choice. I'm still going with the compound as well as the longbow but I will make sure the longbow gets equal time. In the past that was not the case. It was like 90% Marquis and 10% trad gear. This year its 50-50. Next year,who knows? I know I won't make another trad kill if its at home hanging in a closet.
Jeff, this year I wasnt able to tag a buck, opportunity just never showed itself. To be honest though, by the time I shot my last doe of the season(#6) I still had the rush and felt the good fuzzy feeling but at the same time I almost wanted a bit more challenge. I think that the trad bow will fill that challenge void. I might not get a shot off who know but I do know I will feel a new feeling of fulfillment when it does happen.
Ain't that the truth Nothing like your first trad kill it will be the one that will stick with you for the rest of your life. I still remember my first trad kill like it was only yesterday, instead of nearly 47 years ago.
Damn, you did go In head first!! That's pretty cool Jeff!! You nailed that one Russ. Every animal I've taken with my recurve seems damn near as special as the 1st, the feeling never goes away with me. Good luck Zach, It's been fun watching you learn and get better.
Good luck with this venture Zach. I know it is quite a commitment. Like these guys said, there is so much more to it than the kill. My most memorable hunt last fall was when I watched a 130" buck walk by at 25 yards....with my recurve in my hands. I can't make that shot comfortably...he got a free pass. If I had been toting the compound, he would be on the wall. Still, my most memorable hunt.
