Professional
2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer>

I think I know what you are talking about IL. Local shop, the guy bow hunted for three years and decided one day to open a shop and go to work.He is learning on other folks bows! geesh. He was and still isan "amateur". He wonders why his cash flow suffers.

We have another Pro Shop where Ted knows his stuff! 35yrs doing it. My Ross will come from Ted.

I admire atrue Professional. But some things are better left done yourself. Conveniece for me. And it can come in handy on a hunting trip.

MDBUCKHNTR....I like that avatar.

Anyways...I want to become totally self-reliant when it comes to archery. Not only do I enjoy shooting the bow...I like the mechanics and the tuning too. I just enjoy tinkering. Eventually...I'll have my own shop in my basement someday. It'll be a long while but eventually....

Not against the local shop...just want to be able to learn and do it on my own.

Thanks MidwestJ. My avatar came from one of the many times I have gone shooting with Davepjr.

Right now I am fletching arrows for the very first time. (actually, I did one arrow yesterday as a test) I certainly don't have anything against any of my local shops but I am more or less a perfectionist when it comes to archery. It might take me 5 hours to re-fletch 7 arrows but I can guarantee you that they will come out perfect.

To me it is the doing it yourself feeling. Transmission went out in my truck, I bought two books on how to rebuild transmissions. To my surprise it really is not that hard, truck shifts fine to my relief! Anyone that can dig into a motor can do a transmission IMO. But to me it was very satisfying. I also have a short fuse when it comes to bad info or price gouging. If a shop gives me a bad answer when I feel he did not know but just wanted to help so he tried and just pulled something off the top of his head, rubs me wrong real bad. I like people alot more when they say "sorry I do not know" so usually when someone gives me bad info I never go back.

I will always give a shop a second chance.

1st time shame on you....second time it happens, shame on me.

If I am 10 miles in and my bow has something happen, I would like to be able to get back into the game instead of having a full days journey in and out just to get back to hunting.

Just ask stealthman about backcountry bow repairs......1 hour later we were back in the game......

Outside of that, it is very satisfying to do your own repairs. I started small and now can do more than any pro shop I know around here, AND I don't have to wait..

Time factor with me and I just let pro shop give me a tune up every year.
I am not mechanically inclined and I owe it to the animal to have it right and my pro shop hasnt failed me yet.

You do make a good point I need to learn loop replacement.

Hot ... that is the case with EVERYTHING in life, I've found out. From gutting my house and doing everything myself, to working on my vehicles, I have found that NOTHING is really that difficult .....that's why I am getting a fletching jig and bow press as well ......

You should have the basic equipment and know how to do all the basic stuff for when you can't get to a pro shop and it makes you knowledgable on how a modern bow works.