Why Traditional Archery
Now is the perfect time to take up the traditional stick and string.
by Beka Garris
PHOTO: Courtesy Beka Garris
The sound of my carbon arrows hitting the hay bale target with a resounding thump echoed in the stillness of the morning. One after the other, the brightly fletched arrows neatly tucked in next to each other, creating a nearly perfect circle.
Bullseye. That “deer” didn’t stand a chance.
Yet as I stood there examining my grouping, compound bow in hand, my mind floated elsewhere. My focus was no longer captivated by shooting my bow. Instead, I felt boredom. When it came to bowhunting, I needed a new challenge.
At some point in our lives as hunters, many of us will reach a pinnacle, a point where we feel the need to make a change. For the majority, that means we change the way we hunt or the game we pursue. For the rest of us, it might mean taking a step back and looking for a slightly different bowhunting experience.
Traditional bowhunting has entered the chat.
I have been shooting and hunting with a traditional bow for nearly 10 years now but I was thinking about trying it out for almost as long before I actually did it. I have mentally chided myself many times for waiting so long. Maybe you’re looking for a way to get back to your roots, maybe you want something to challenge your shooting skills, or maybe you just want an excuse to wear more plaid shirts. Either way, if you’ve been contemplating dabbling in traditional archery and traditional bowhunting, I’m here to tell you that the time is now.
Procrastination is a slippery slope in my opinion, and continuously putting something off can lead to missing out on some amazing things.
The sooner you pick up a traditional bow and start shooting one, the sooner you will become proficient. It takes time and dedication to become accurate enough to take an animal with a traditional‑style bow—far more than it does with a compound. If you want to eventually hunt with a traditional bow, you’re going to want, at the very least, several months of quality practice under your belt.
The challenge that accompanies traditional archery is something that will keep you on your toes. No matter how skilled of an archer you may be with a compound bow, you will be surprised at the level of dedication that it takes to be consistent with a simple stick and string.
I practiced with a traditional bow for six months before I felt comfortable hunting with one, and then I hunted for another three months before finally getting a shot opportunity that I felt I could take. Waiting for hours, days, weeks on end for the perfect shot opportunity is what generally breaks people and causes them to put down the stick bow. I had many thoughts of quitting myself, but I desperately wanted to succeed. Once I did, standing in the drizzling rain looking down at my whitetail doe, the boost of confidence and the pure adrenaline rush was like no other hunt that I’d ever experienced. I felt that all the frustrations and perseverance were worth it. If you like high-stakes, high reward-hunting, try a stick bow.
No matter how skilled of an archer you may be with a compound bow, you will be surprised at the level of dedication that it takes to be consistent with a simple stick and string.
Many people pick up a traditional bow because their dad or grandpa had one lying around; they think it looks cool, and they decide to try to hunt with it for the sake of heritage. Although this might sound silly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to try a traditional bow because someone in your family once used one. Sentimental value is a great reason, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be passing on the legacy and continuing a valuable pastime that will go on for more generations. This is exactly why traditional archery is still alive today.
Many of us remember our first season of hunting. Whether as a child or an adult, the first year of experiences is like no other. Time spent in the woods holds meaning, and each hunt teaches us something new. As we get more experiences under our belt, we tend to forget to simply sit and enjoy what is happening around us in the stillness of an early morning, or the frigid beauty of a winter evening in a tree stand or the promising hours while in the brush overlooking a wallow.
Traditional bowhunting has a way of bringing back the magic of the outdoors. Whether you’re someone who is getting into bowhunting for the first time and are choosing a traditional bow, or a life‑long bowhunter, there is much to look forward to.
While the act of shooting a traditional bow can present a challenge, the equipment itself is fairly simple. You have a stick and string, a quiver of arrows and little else. Accessories include a glove or tab, and perhaps an arm guard. There is no sight, release aid, stabilizer or anything of the sort that is included to help you shoot “better.” Accuracy is something that will depend on you and your dedication to honing your skills. There is no “halfway” here; you have to be all-in to be even a decent shot with a traditional bow. When it all comes together and you fill a tag with it, the accomplishment will give you bragging rights. The stories you will get to tell as a traditional bowhunter will hold extra meaning, and you will generally surprise other hunters when you share what bow you are shooting.
You won’t need to worry about stretching your shooting range past 30 yards. Traditional bowhunting requires you to get up close and personal with the game you’re hunting. This is something that really helped sell the stick bow for me; knowing that you need to be well within 20 yards for an ethical shot will make you hyper aware of every move you make. You will pay more attention to small details and essentially work harder to be successful. Of course, there will be hunts that are “easy,” but many of them will require your utmost efforts.
Fred Bear once said, “Some say hunting with a bow is a handicap. Instead consider it an honor, because it demands your best.”
At the time he made this statement, traditional bows were just “bows” and compounds had yet to become a thing, but I still see this quote as one that pertains specifically to traditional bowhunters. It requires you to put yourself into the hunt like no other method.
Yet despite the challenge that is a large part of it, traditional archery is fun. With a traditional bow I greatly enjoy shooting at paper targets, block targets or leaves in the backyard while using field tips. Even 3D ranges are more exciting, and I find myself wanting to shoot just to shoot—not because I need to practice for hunting season.
Traditional bowhunting also opened a whole new love for small game hunting. I started squirrel hunting to practice for larger game. I figured if I could hit a squirrel, my chances of making an ethical shot on big game were pretty good. As it turns out, small game hunting and traditional bows go hand in hand, as it greatly improves your hand-eye coordination. It also helps you judge yardage more accurately, as there is rarely time to range a shot on a bushy‑tailed gray squirrel or a pheasant ready to flush in front of you. I now look forward to hunting squirrel, rabbit and pheasant every fall and have a lot of great memories from those hunts.
Traditional bowhunting has a way of bringing back the magic of the outdoors.
It feels good to defy modern technology; to ignore the temptation to buy the newest compound, the best sight, the lightest release. Going back to a way of hunting that many people have forgotten about or dubbed “too hard” is satisfying.
There are many things that you’re going to want to do in life. Some things will slip through the cracks and years later you’ll be left wishing that you had started decades ago.
So, here I am telling you again—if you’re considering picking up a traditional bow, you should start immediately. You may not know what you’re doing right away (I know I didn’t), but the internet contains a plethora of information and the traditional bowhunting community is extremely helpful.
Buying a traditional bow is a process in itself, and something that warrants a bit of research or guidance. There are many wonderful bows out there, and ultimately choosing one that is suitable for you will play a big part in whether you stick with traditional. I tend to recommend a classic such as the Bear Kodiak Recurve or an Oberon Recurve in an appropriate draw weight. If you have a traditional archery shop near you, I recommend trying out some bows in person. If you don’t, 3Rivers Archery is a good place to shop online.
Traditional archery and bowhunting isn’t for everyone, and that’s OK. However, the only way to find out whether it’s for you is to buy a bow and start shooting.
Relax and enjoy the slower pace. It’s a great place to be.
Beka Garris is a mom, wife and bowhunter residing in southern Ohio. She enjoys cooking, gardening and archery. Beka can be found on Instagram @bekagarris or facebook.com/BekaGarris.
