Like many others in the last few years I was drawn to the trad life by following along with Aron Snyder and The Push along with others. So, I decided to put down the compound bow and pick up the strugglestick, this is where any similarities in my trad journey stop with Aron’s. To start I am by no means an accomplished compound hunter, I was an ok shot and had harvested a whole 2 animals with the compound bow (2010 – Turkey, 2016 – Bull Elk). But the beauty of the bows and romantic connection of “going back to our roots” drew me to the traditional archery.
In 2018 I order my first bow with the goal of taking the traditional bow on the 2018 elk hunt I had planned. I decided to go with a Stalker Stickbow Apex model. I was like a kid in a candy store when talking with South about the woods, we worked together to design my original dream bow. During the agonizing 6 month wait I started reaching out to others and trying to get my feet wet in traditional archery, I couldn’t wait for the whole 6 months so I purchased a similar Stalker Bow off the used market to start the learning process.
Following along with others journey and also the lack of mentors in the nearby area I knew I needed to get help. From listening to various Podcasts, primarily “The Push” and being a fellow #snyderite I had learned about a gentleman by the name of Tom Clum. Tom seemed and does just make sense in his approach to utilizing a tried and true archery technique and applying it to the average bow hunter. I reached out and began the journey of learning how to properly shoot a traditional bow. Tom was amazing we chatted multiple times over the phone to discuss basics and worked remotely for a couple of months to establish a base of knowledge for when I was able to make a trip the Mecca of traditional archery at RMS Gear.
As a side note I cannot stress how important it is to start off on the right foot. I realize that it is not possible for everyone to make the homage to Wheatridge Colorado however I stress to everyone that you need to find a coach, or find a method of shooting. It will take years off the learning curve and help to minimize frustrations, for people like me starting later in life with limited time to practice that is very important. So, if a trip to Wheatridge is not in the cards for you, I highly recommend checking our Tom’s Solid Archery Mechanic course which is part of The PACK offered through The Push. There are also many other courses offered there that are amazing as well, I don’t personally have experience with those but do know that the guys at The Push always put together an amazing product and are there to offer help and answer any questions you may have.
After spending the weekend working with Tom I walked away much more confident in my shot, had with a list of items to work on and had new friend in a new world that I had never known before. Over the next 3 moths I worked to become as proficient as possible with the trad bow before hiking into the wilderness on my first ever trad hunt and first ever solo back pack hunt. I came out of the wilderness with a flame that was stoked yet again, not because of success on the hunt, but because of the reaffirmed love and enjoyment I have with the wilderness. I was able to get a grouse with the trad bow on this hunt, and it was the most amazing thing I tasted on the last night of the hunt after cooking it over an open fire that I built myself.
My trad life journey didn’t end here, it has continued on. I will share more lessons in coming articles but the one key take away I wanted to put out from here is:
Find yourself a coach or a mentor or someone to work through your journey with. I have found with anything it is easy to get started. However, when you get stuck and frustrated and are starting to wonder what color smoke your bow will make when you burn it, having a friend or mentor to call and talk through your issues is a god send. I have been talked back off the cliff many of times by friends I have made through the past couple of years.
Fast forward 2 years – Now it is 2020, I am still enjoying the trad life, I have not been able to close the deal on any animals with the trad bow which I have been using exclusively for all my archery hunting adventures. But I have learned so much over the past couple of years, hopefully 2021 is the season!!
I mentioned some of these places and people above here is a link to each of them if you are wanting to check them out:
The Push – Pack – https://thepusharchery.teachable.com
RMS Gear – https://rmsgear.com