This is the start of my 53rd year of Bowhunting&I am nearing the 68 year old mark. I "DO" remember walking 2 or miles just to go stump shooting with my home made long bow & cedar arrowsI fletched by hand& by myself because very few people shot bows then in my area. When I found out about a local club they probably had 15 members. The club went Bowhunting small game & Biggame together & these were some of the greatest times I (as a kid) ever had.
Since then,I have made many a Bowhunting journy forBiggame that many may only dream of asI did as a kid. I had no idea Bowhunting would be such a great part of my life.I took my 1st Deer at 35 yds. & age 16 (my 2nd year of Biggame bowhunting-1958) with a home made cedar arrow tipped with a MA3 Blade, 45# recurve Eddings Cadet Bow.I shot various recurves that accounted for 38 Biggame animals being shot barebow (instictive-fingers & no sights) wild Boar, Whitetails, Black Bear,& a Goat along with many Rabbits & Squirrells.
Since then my compound (Darton since mid 70s & Rocky Mountain 3 Blade Broadheads) have traveled many places taking Elk, Black Bears, Whitetails, Mule Deer, Fallow Deer, Caribou, Wild Hogs, Sheep &Buffalo. I managed to be a pretty decent tourny shooter back in the 70s winning a few State Championships & 1 Great Lakes Sectional in my division.
I don't have the urge to go roving (stump shooting) but do enjoy the solitude& peace a Deer Stand can bring you.
My greatest things of the past are the BowhuntersI have shared a campfire with that just love the sport & don't worry about how big a rack is. Myjoy now comes from sharing this sport with one of my sons & one of my daughters& my 10 year old G-son that will be joining me on occassion.