Sell the bow and take a break?

[Chris in TN]

I've been playing with the same recurve bow on-again/off-again for 30+ years now. One new string a few years ago and it's still shooting fine, and it isn't even a great bow by any serious standard.

Life also sorta pushed me to skip about 15 years of hunting with a compound. I think I shot 3 deer with a compound in 2003......then didn't bowhunt again until maybe 2018ish. Right now, with my kids being the ages they're at, bowhunting holds very little interest for me.

Stages of life, and all that. Set it aside until the time is right again.

 

[il_cop]

I put the bow down 3 years ago, but I kept it. Too little time for me to be a master of both my bow and my rifles. And I love rifle hunting, building rifles, load development, the weather and logistics, etc.

Shooting my bow during the summer before archery elk season became a chore too.

I may pick it up again, I like options, but it's not calling me right now in any way.

 

[Beendare]

I know a bunch of guys that sold their trad stuff then later had to buy all new stuff as they wanted to get back into it. Might be worth keeping your #1 setup.

 

[1Canvas]

I hunt with a recurve, compound, and even a crossbow at times, that keeps things from getting boring.

 

[Laramie]

I haven't bow hunted much over the last 7 years because my son has been into rifle hunting. I had so much fun with him and my niece I didn't miss it at all for the first 5 years. Now I have the itch to get back at it and the timing is perfect. My youngest is really starting to like bow hunting and he will be a senior this year so he doesn't need the help like he did when he was younger. As far as the new bow goes, do whatever but by all means take a break to focus on the kids. You won't regret spending the time with them.

 

[ESW19]

Hey man,

Your not alone, I stepped away from traditional archery about 10 years ago when I had to prioritize time with my three kids as they started getting into sports, etc.

I grew up in a traditional archery only house and it was a big part of my life. Lots of great memories hunting and attending various events.

I live in the burbs and couldn’t practice enough. And any time in the field was with the kids where firearms are more efficient.

I sold one bow that was easily replaceable and kept one that was a bit harder to acquire.

Not sure when I’ll get the bug again. Still waist deep in this phase of life.

Good luck!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Anyone taken a few years off of the stickbow?

Started about 14 years ago and have had a lot of fun. I used to love shooting in the backyard. Now it seems more of a chore. And I'm shooting my bow and wishing I was shooting the rifle.

The elk hunting in Montana has gotten pretty wild. If you're still having success I'm happy for you. But my spot is burned. Tried a few other spots and it's just a circus of people and wolves. I'd take the first two weeks off every year for a lot of years. Lately it's just been a ton of time money and effort wasted.
At the point on the FAFO scale where I don't want to drive more than two hours to find elk.

Then my kids are to the age where two of them really enjoy rifle hunting. I have 10x more fun spending a morning road hunting deer with my daughters than chasing elk or deer with the stick.

So kinda thinking about selling the bow. That way when I get the itch again I can buy a new one and have that new bow feel.

I quit my trad archery journey as well. I had some fun years with it. Shot a few small caribou and then a 55” moose on a float hunt, they was really the pinnacle of it for me. There was a little bit where I thought it would be cool to sheep hunt with my long bow but that just never happened.

I ended up shooting less and less trad bow (or any bow) because I was getting elbow pain that I just couldn’t kick, I could go shoot 20-30 arrows in my yard and my elbow would kill me for several days, it made serious preparation difficult and painful.

I first sold my green leaf black widow but kept trying with the longbow for awhile. Last summer I sold my bivouac backland longbow to another rock slider. Met up with him in Anchorage on my way through and said bye to it.