guys....please do not turn this in to a Trad vs Compound match...I enjoy a good debate, but the purpose of this thread is to find out if all bowhunters respect Chuck Adams...quite frankly he is the poster boy for bowhunting right now...I mean he is the Fred Bear of this generation simply because of his achievements....but the question is do YOU think he is underrated or overrated?? why?......
Sorry Landon but I can't leave this one alone!! Wow!!! Everybody would be shooting a traditional bow If your statement had any truth to It what so ever. This one shocks me, specially coming from you. I guess everyone who shoots a traditional bow Is a Robin Hood these days (count me out).
compound or trad the guy has my respect. I would say he is the guy that represents bowhunting today...anyone not agree with that? if so why?
Not that I don't think he should be the guy that "represents bowhunting today" ...I just don't think he is. I would guess that most hunters today (especially those under 30) would pick Waddell over Adams, and it has nothing to do with ability. The younger generation has grown up watching Waddell as a killing machine, Adams doesn't get the face time on TV that he should have IMO. Just the way I see it. If I'm wrong I'm sure you all will let me know.
BBmaster you are right, Jeff, right on , he doesn't like the camera does he? I have been reading a lot on many different hunters, Chuck has the most RECORDED achievements, Schafer very may well have more that we do not of or Eichler for that matter.
Exactly. I recently listened to an interview with him where he said he has never had much interest in filming his his hunts. He doesn't want hunting to become his job like many of the tv hunters. Dragging film crews around can also be detremental to what you are trying to acomplish...especially when 95% of your hunting is spot and stalk. I think he did say that he has done some filmed hunting with Realtree but it was for whitetail from a tree stand.
Calm down Steve, Everybody doesn't shoot traditional, as they don't want to take the time to learn it, and people in general like to take the easy and fast road instead of working for something. You can take a novice and have them hitting a pie plate in 10 minutes at 20 yds with a compound. It will take several weeks for the same person to master hitting a pie plate at 20 yds with the trad. Once mastered;and let me reiterate, "once mastered", the trad guy is a way more versatile hunter and a true master of the game. Not many people choose the trad road, cause it takes dedication and practice. Remember the hot chic video of the girl that shoots a bow with her feet. She has it mastered. Byron Ferguson has it mastered. I don't see Byron as having a handicap with that long bow in his hand, and I sure don't stand a chance with my compound trying to out shoot him in accuracy, releasing an accurate arrow at a deer faster than he can, not to mention trying to hit an animal running.
Don you made some valid points but let me tell you most are not Byron Ferguson type shooters. The guy Is something, he's an awesome shot.
I am back into trad after 5 years of leaving it alone. I have Byrons book, become the arrow, and am going to work and work at it. It is addictive. You ever see that video of this dude hiding in a fence row and these deer come running through the an opening? He is patient and watches deer after deer(does in front) coming running through, and when the last deer, which is big buck, comes through, he draws and quick releases his arrow perfectly through the running buck!!! Friggen sweet.Alright, enough hijacking.
Chuck's 189 SCI record book entries (red equals DIY hunts): Species D.O.K. Location Guide/outfitter Measurer Method Score Overall/rank rank/within method Mountain Caribou 09/1995 N.W.T., Mackenzie Mts. Gerald Molnar / NWT Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 432" 51 3 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 09/2000 Montana, Rosebud Co. Doyle Shipp / Arnaud Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 431 6/8" 4 2 Alaska-Yukon Moose 09/1978 Alaska, Northway Ray McNutt Thomas J Hardesty B 430" 343 24 Reindeer (free range) 08/1997 Alaska, Kodiak Is. Thomas J Hardesty B 404 4/8" 19 1 Alaska-Yukon Moose 09/1990 N.W.T., Mackenzie Mts. Duane Nelson / NWT Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 397 4/8" 420 33 Mountain Caribou 09/1993 N.W.T., Mackenzie Mts. Duane Nelson / NWT Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 380 4/8" 119 6 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 09/2001 Montana, Rosebud Co. Doyle Shipp / Arnaud Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 375 6/8" 115 40 Alaska-Yukon Barren Ground Caribou 08/1984 Alaska, Alvetian Range P & Y B 372 4/8" 279 21 Rocky Mountain Elk (non-typical)(estate) 12/1992 Texas, Kerr Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 370 7/8" 134 16 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 09/1999 Montana, Rosebud Co. Doyle Shipp / Arnaud Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 370 7/8" 133 42 Rocky Mountain Elk (non-typical)(estate) 12/1993 Texas, Kerr Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 370" 135 17 Quebec-Labrador Caribou 09/1996 Quebec, Fort Chimo Ungava Adv. Thomas J Hardesty B 364 2/8" 122 16 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 09/1982 N.Mex., Los Alamos Ric Martin / Baca Out. P & Y B 356 1/8" 202 65 Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou 08/2000 N.W.T., Little Marten Lake Bill Tate / Adventure Northwest Thomas J Hardesty B 351" 156 18 Mountain Caribou 09/1992 N.W.T., Mackenzie Mts. Duane Nelson / NWT Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 340 6/8" 189 12 Quebec-Labrador Caribou 09/1996 Quebec, Fort Chimo Ungava Adv. Thomas J Hardesty B 337 4/8" 188 30 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 10/1994 Montana, Petroleum Co. P & Y B 337 1/8" 299 97 Alaska-Yukon Barren Ground Caribou 08/1983 Alaska, Alvetian Range P & Y B 335 5/8" 399 36 Mountain Caribou 09/1990 N.W.T., Mackenzie Mts. Duane Nelson P & Y B 330" 206 18 Quebec-Labrador Caribou 08/1989 Quebec, Lake Sammy P & Y B 325 4/8" 216 34 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 09/1998 Montana, Musselshell Co. Don Proue / Arnaud Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 324 7/8" 362 112 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 10/1995 Montana, Petroleum Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 324 5/8" 364 113 Mountain Caribou 07/1985 N.W.T., Mackenzie Mts. Duane Nelson P & Y B 319 6/8" 222 21 Quebec-Labrador Caribou 08/1989 Quebec, Fort Chimo Ungava Adv. Thomas J Hardesty B 318 6/8" 233 37 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 10/1996 Montana, Petroleum Co. Bill Harris / Fort Musselshell Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 317 4/8" 395 123 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 09/1991 New Mexico, Sandoval Co. P & Y B 316 2/8" 401 124 Quebec-Labrador Caribou 09/1999 Quebec, Fort Chimo Ungava Adv. Thomas J Hardesty B 308 7/8" 256 45 Quebec-Labrador Caribou 08/1990 Quebec, Fort Chimo Ungava Adv. Thomas J Hardesty B 307" 257 46 Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou 08/2000 N.W.T., Little Marten Lake Bill Tate / Adventure Northwest Thomas J Hardesty B 306 5/8" 259 28 Alaska-Yukon Moose 09/1993 N.W.T., Mackenzie Mts. Duane Nelson P & Y B 302 7/8" 495 44 Tule Elk 08/1990 Calif., Monterey Co. Larry Heathington P & Y B 301" 26 4 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 10/1997 Montana, Petroleum Co. Bill Harris / Fort Musselshell Out. Thomas J Hardesty B 291 3/8" 525 165 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 09/1985 Montana, Sanders Co. P & Y B 288 5/8" 540 170 Quebec-Labrador Caribou 08/1991 Quebec, Weymouth Inlet P & Y B 278 6/8" 281 57 Rocky Mountain Elk (typical) 10/1986 Montana, Sanders Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 264 6/8" 629 197 Western Can
He must have found a couple of awesome DIY hunting spot in Texas....... Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 12/1993 Texas, Kerr Co. P & Y B 150 5/8" 63 23 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 12/1992 Texas, Kerr Co. P & Y B 141 5/8" 108 43 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 12/1994 Texas, Kerr Co. P & Y B 140 2/8" 116 46 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 12/1994 Texas, Kerr Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 129 1/8" 181 65 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 12/1992 Texas, Kerr Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 125 2/8" 197 72 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 12/1993 Texas, Kerr Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 122" 204 78 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 01/1997 Texas, Dimmit Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 152 6/8" 55 19 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 01/1998 Texas, Dimmit Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 143 6/8" 98 39 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 01/1997 Texas, Dimmit Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 135 2/8" 145 51 Texas White-tailed Deer (typical) 01/1997 Texas, Dimmit Co. Thomas J Hardesty B 132 1/8" 163 55
Will that post sealed it for me! He's up there in a big way for me. He has made a major mark on the sport of bowhunting and will continue to do so until he stops. Chuck is an extremly accomplished bowhunter and most of it all by himself. That speaks volumes in my book because just about anyone with A LOT of money and time could go kill a bunch of record book animals like that with a guide. He's definatly in the top 3 for me!
I put him and all those others just one notch under my grandfather. I know, he may not have been famous, but he is a true hunter/fisherman/outdoorsman. He can and has gone anywhere and hunt anything. He is 90 years old and has taken most game in North America. He has done this without the service of guides or the goal of making some record book. His hunting and fishing trips have always been about the memories and the time spent with his sons and grandsons. What most of us have done, me included, is to put these guys and their accomplishments on a pedestal and we have lost sight of what the sport of hunting is truly about. My grandfather, Harold Myers, never once did that. He never lost sight of the importance of sharing this with others even if it meant not taking the biggest buck or catching the biggest bass. Someone said it earlier, that Chuck Adams had more opportunities that most any man has. That is a key part of his success. I am sure that if I or any of you were given the chance to hunt non stop and spend most of every year hunting we would have some spectacular hunting accomplishments as well. He is no better than many of us. Before someone bashes me for what I have said, let me say this. I would rather hunt with my grandfather or father or brothers than hunt with any "professional" hunter, Chuck Adams included. I would also rather hunt with ANY of the BH.com members for a weekend than to spend a week in the woods with those that are famous or record holders. We are true hunters because we do it for the sport and enjoyment of being in the outdoors, not because we have an article to write or a show to record.
Well let's consider one thing, How much money was spent putting Chuck Adams in a position to take most of those records? Fact is, it was a lot. He just happened to be the guy with the bow. That's it. Most of us are good shots and hold it together well "in the moment", if we had the cash or the job we could be famous too. Anyone with cash can take a record animal. He gets up every morning and puts on one sock at a time just like you do, he just had someone shuffling him to and fro to kill big animals, because it was entertainment and income for a magazine or production, not because he is somehow dramatically better than you or me.
I am far from a hero worshiper but Chuck is heads above the average hunter, he lives a Cody WY.and hunts some of the most rugged land out there. I have hunted elk and it is nothing compared to your average deer hunt. The man is a hunting machine that has earned the respect that those who know him give him.
Yes he does belong!!!!! We all travel to better grounds to hunt bigger bucks or what ever your after at the time and as far as someone else scouting we all use trail cams and tell me this if your nieghbor walked up to you and said I have seen a 180 inch 12pt 5 times out in my field why don't you go out and try to kill it and you do, are you going to feel any less about the kill because someone else scouted for you?? I think not and rightly so. The man is an awesome Stalker/awesome shot/awesome hunter yes he belongs.. Walt
I agree that he is a good hunter. And he deserves the respect that he gets for that. As far as calling him some idol to look up to, nope. I will stick by my earlier statements and say that he is just a man, no better than any of us. I guess I come to this conclusion because I truly feel what makes a great hunter is not a record or a trophy. Just stating my opinion, not being confrontational.
madhunter, Have you read the two books about Chuck? Super Slam and Life at Full Draw? If not, you should. It answers alot of questions and lays to rest a lot of misconceptions. I agree about the Idol thing. I don't idolize any hunter, but I also can recognize greatness.
