Yeah, you've proved that![8D]

To answer your question, I'm a switch hitter. I shoot compounds and stickbows, interchangeably. I shoot, or have shot, compounds with a release and sights (pins and scopes), fingers and sights, fingers and barebow, release and barebow. I've won tournaments (field archery and 3D) in 7 different styles, once winning in all 7 styles in the same season. I was pretty proud of accomplishing that. I've shot every kind of arrow material with every kind of fletching that's been available during my lifetime (vinyl sucks!). I've been shooting since I was 3 and am now 52.

By the time you started, in 1966 if my math is correct, I was 14 and spending my summers staying on grampa's farm. Plenty of time to hunt after my chores were done, so I had already shot a pile of quail, rabbits and squirrels, more than a few skunks, possums, raccoons, a fox, several coyotes and missed at least one bobcat. There weren't many deer around where I grew up in those days, so I grew up on varmints and small game. Small game is still my favorite hunting. How many mourning dove have you busted -in flight- with an arrow? I've got 6. It's taken me nearly 20 years to get 'em, but I got 'em.

It wasn't until the early 80's that I found out there were archery clubs in the area I'd migrated to, and got into tournament shooting.

I also found out how few people there are who appreciate their local clubs enough to devote any of their time and effort to supporting them. I'm one of the few who will. So, I've served as an officer in one or another local clubs for 18 of the past 20 years. I've been tournament director for around 100 tournaments, not counting weekly fun shoots. I've also done primitive archery seminars for the local Boy Scouts and have organized special youth days at our club, where we open the gates to all kids and teach them how to shoot.

I've also been active in writing letters and e-mails and attending public input meetings to our state's game commission, trying to defend our pitiful little one-month-long bow season. It's under attack from all sides - gun hunters and big money hunting operations, as well as anti-hunters.

Now, if forced to choose only one setup to shoot to the end of my days, it'd be a recurve, aluminum arrows and feather fletching. Lightweight, maneuverable, nothing likely to break except the string (which I can change and have perfectly adjusted in less than 2 minutes, and keep hunting or shooting). So, I guess I'd have to admit to being primarily a recurve shooter.

But I do not like limiting myself to only one type of bow. My archery interests are too varied to keep them all stuffed into one box. I've been making my own selfbows ever since I was a kid. Lately, I've made my own glass laminated longbow and am looking forward to making a form for a 50's style recurve. Ever brought home game with a bow and arrows you made yourself, from scratch? It's way cool.

So, I think I've learned a thing or two over the years, myself. I pretty much know the advantages and disadvantages of vanes/feathers. The key though, is that I've learned how to choose and tweak different fletching sizes, types and styles to perform the tasks I need them to.

Overall though, for all round shooting/hunting, I think the advantages I get with feathers outweigh the disadvantages. The 'forgiveness factor' cannot be ignored, and that is especially true with high performance compounds, IMO. With most IBO 3D targets set within 50 yards and most hunting shots being 30 yards and less, vanes offer NO advantages, at all, other than being waterproof. So, I can live with having to keep plastic in my pocket and using treatments to keep my feathers dry.

You like vanes? Fine. You shoot 'em. No sweat off my brow. Can't figure out why you've got such a burr under your saddle about people shooting feathers though... You own stock in a vane manufacturer or something?

By the way, I've never worked a day in a pro shop. I've also run into dozens of goobers behind the counters in pro shops I would NEVER allow to touch my bow. Just because the guy is standing on the other side of the counter doesn't mean he knows his elbow from his you-know-what.

Hope you enjoyed reading a short synopsis of my archery career. You've seemed awful anxious to compare notes.