Krisken, it does sound like you're a latent traditionalist. D

Deer have been killed by arrows out of simple wooden bows for at least 35,000 years. Wouldn't it would stand to reason that there have been far more deer killed by wood bows than all the compounds ever built? Used properly, they are a heck of a lot more effective than most people give them credit for.

I don't know about your original question. In a way, I think there are a lot of people using the gadgetry to make their hunting 'easier.' Manufacturers are definitely marketing the stuff to capitalize on humankind's inbred laziness, and that ticks me off. But, after using some of that stuff myself, I found that it actually put more limitations on me and caused more problems that had to be solved either by adding more gadgets or getting rid of the junk. I got rid of the junk. For instance, my 75% letoff bows, sights and mechanical releases were junked after my first time in the woods with them.

Ethics. Yep it's a can of worms. Used to be, most bowhunters accepted Pope and Young's rules of fair chase as their code of ethics and the manufacturers would not make non-compliant gear. But nowadays, those rules don't make it easy enough for a lot of people and the manufacturers found out they were missing out on easy money. So most people ignore P&Y's rules and say that as long as it's legal, then make up your own ethics. Isn't it odd though, when someone that doesn't want to be bothered with P&Y's rules screws up and shoots a monster deer, then gets all huffy when P&Y won't allow it in the book?

So, being the modern, politically correct man I am (sorry, couldn't say that and keep a straight face<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>), do what makes you happy. As long as a fellow bowhunter keeps it legal and isn't harming archery and bowhunting by doing it, that hunter is welcome at my campfire.