Rich Baker

For years I was abscessed with Killing a buck and elk every year and did so quite frequently. My weapon of choice was the compound bow. As a boy growing up in Michigan archery tackle was IMHO the only way to go. You see rifle season in Michigan is a joke , you could get up on a ridge and count 30 guys sitting all around you once it got light on public land but at the time in the early 80’s there were few bow hunters. I never had a problem killing deer with a bow year in and year out I would fill every tag. My Dad had an old vinyl album of Fred Bear and Curt Gowdy; it was an account of many of Fred’s hunts in the west. I would lay in my bed the night before Bow season and listen to it unable to sleep because of the anticipation of the following day. My dream was to some day hunt the west. With a bow and arrow much like Fred. I came from a poor family that lived in the farm country just south of Saginaw near a wildlife refuge. Everyday on the way to school I would see monster 12 point whitetail Bucks herding does in the fields on the way to the old school house, which just happened to have a gun shop directly across the road. It was a hunting community and way of life in those times.
When I turned 15 I had earned enough money to buy the fastest most expensive bow a bow hunter could buy in those days. I had the state of the art sights, rest, arrows and a release. It didn’t take long before I mastered that bow and killed scores of bucks and doe’s with it. Then one day the limbs went out on it after quiet a few years of service and it was time for a new bow. So I went out and bought the best I could get at the time a Mathews Solo cam. WOW that baby was and is a shooter. I kill darn near every thing I shot at with that bow. What an achievement in archery!! Only one cam and this baby flat out spit an arrow. So much so I only needed one pin to 30 yards. WOW
After a long run of elk after elk kills 14 straight I killed a cougar at 50 yards. The shot was tuff but my bow made it easy. That day I was sitting along a stream admiring my cat and thought to myself that this bow hunting is just getting easy. It started to loss the meaning it had for all those year prior. The next day I went to LaGrand to check in my Cat and the bio was asking about the shot so he could record the information and when I told him about the shot he asked “Do you think you could make that shot again?” I replied “Yes, no problem” And I knew deep down that I could no question.
The rest of that season was a blur; I just wasn’t into it I don’t know what happen to me after that day, something in me changed. Later on there was a thread on Ifish and sliverpicker posted a picture of himself with a blacktail buck he had taken in the snow with a recurve bow and home built wooden arrows. I thought to myself this guy is not only a bow hunter but an archer! I admired that picture for a long time; it struck a deep hidden core in my sole.
Later that next day the wife was on me about the garage “go clean those darn messes up” so I was out there cleaning and found that old vinyl record of Fred and Curt. I hooked up the record player and listened to it while I cleaned. The wheels started turning. Then like a lighting bolt it hit me, I need to go Traditional with my bow hunting!!
The next few month I asked a lot of guys about traditional Gear, Types of bows and searched the net for a recurve, I found one that was priced on the lower end that had a reputation as a smooth shooter than flat out was a work horse freezer filler! I ordered one and I had to wait 4 months for it to arrive as it was being hand crafted by a bowyer in Canada. Those were some of the longest months I have spent in a long time. I read everything I could get my hands on about shooting one of these getting ready for the day it arrived. Then one day the door bell rang and it was the UPS guy. Delivering the long awaited Holy Grail. I couldn’t stand it I opened it strung it and went out and shot it till my arm was so sore It was useless for a week.
The next few months were spent practicing with it for at least an hour a day my new buddy and I started a love affair. It was so cool to watch the arrow strike where you look and the sense of accomplishment after a well placed shot is indescribable to someone who has not put the time in with a stick and string.
Season came and I carried my stick bow to the field all season long I never had an opportunity to kill a single deer or elk with it that year but then again I would have been skunked that year even if I would have been carrying my compound. I did manage a coyote that walked down a deer trail I was sitting on in the late season but that was about it. It was a great feeling to hit and cleanly kill a coyote at 20 yards with my recurve but it wasn’t a Buck or elk but I’ll take it.
Most of my hunting buddies gave me a real hard time about the switch. You see we share our elk harvests and they felt that I would be less effective with the recurve and it would lessen the chance for them to get some meat in the freezer. I took crap all season long.
So this year rolls around and I don’t have a ton of time to shoot and my partners aren’t real sure about what there plans are so I said heck with it I’m breaking out the Mathews solo cam. It became apparent to me real fast that I had lost much of my skill with my old friend. Something just didn’t feel right groups were not that tight. I spent most of the year shooting it to get back to where I was. And felt good about my readiness come opening day.
Opening day came and I knew after a long hike into a canyon something was wrong. Nothing with the equipment mind you, but more of a state of mind. It kind of felt like you had just walked into the house and you wife who you love asks for a divorce. It was a sick kind of feeling that you just couldn’t shake.
I passed on several forky horned bucks the first four days of season. All of which If I had been using my recurve I would have shot. Why the change in heart? I don’t know but I knew from the first week of season it would most likely be my last carrying the compound.
My soul has changed! My heart still loves bow hunting! I just beat to a different drum now and it took a step back to see it. So if any of you pick up an old traditional bow be warned it may change you soul and outlook on archery and hunting as a whole

txjourneyman

Thank you for sharing your journey. That was well written and a pleasure to read. I'm going through a smilar change in this my second season of bowhunting. Mine is from gun to bow. No firearms this year I think.

statjunk

Great read. You should write a book about your adventures.

Tom

Rich Baker

I wouldn't know where to start. LOL Its been an awsome ride. so many memories and so many good friends this ride called bow hunting has brought. Right now shareing it with my Baby boy(14) is about all that matters to me anymore. This year I was with him on his first archery kill. a nice forky horned muley buck . I got tears in my eyes! I just looked up and thanked the lord for all he has blessed me with.
Now ifin I could just figure out a good way to get some rattler skins on my recurve Id be doin it with style HEHEHE LOL

BobCo19-65

I know exactly what happened, the traditional bug bit you. And it sounds like it was a bit hard. All I can say is welcome!

huntingson

Holy cow! I would say you should only shoot traditional from now on then if you feel that strongly about it. Also, don't let your wife see that statement. She would probably take it as an insult.

I think it is good that P&Y is going back and recognizing all of the trophies that were taken with traditional equipment. Anyone who deosn't agree that it is harder, hasn't tried it. As someone who has tried it, my Mathews makes it hard enough for me.

Best of luck to you in your adventures.

GMMAT

I knew from the very first day that I picked up a compound bow that I would follow a similar path to yours. I still know I will. I won't have as many bow kills under my belt.......but that's never been the goal, with me.

I'll see you "there' some day.

jeff

PA Hardwoods

I completely understand the traditional bug. It bit me hard this year too. I now find myself carrying my recurve into the woods 99% of the time. I still enjoy shooting my compound but there is just something about my recurve that I love. It is probably the same reason I shoot my flintlock muzzleloader instead of breaking down and buying a nice fancy in-line. To me it is like stepping back in time every trip into the outdoors with either my recurve or my flintlock. A sort of connection with my ancestors I guess.

BobCo19-65

Jeff, I truely believe you have a calling for it. After the season this year, why not get yourself a usedlongbow/recurve and just mess around with it?

GMMAT

Bob.....I'd love to. I've gotten permission to hunt some more land....right here at home. I won't have to go anywhere (drive)......and I've got some areas that I could at LEAST devote tohunting does, only, with the recurve.

It's a great idea.....and I'm going to give it some thought.

Jeff