RE: how tradtional are you
Well, I used to shoot arrows that my grandmother whittled for me out of the kindling pile. These were shot from bows that I made with butchers twine and vine maple branches. I moved up to an old 2 piece fibreglas longbow that my Mom brought back from her first "adventure" to Hawaii in the early 50's. She also helped me develop (a vague resemblance to) form. (My Dad wasn't an archer but I learned how to paddle & read rivers from him) The fibreglas stick was replaced by a Ben Pearson ol' Hickory that a neighbour gave me. I now shoot sticks that Mr. M from across the moat makes and my kids are still shooting the old Ben and a small l'bow.
I guess "traditional" for me applies more to one generation getting the next hooked on putting arrows in the air more than anything.
RC