Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Ive got my older brother to thank. After I got my first deer with a rifle he started taking me to bow shops and looking through magazines with me. At that time I was only about 12 years old. My only options were youth bows. At the time my brother was using the Jennings buckmaster and of course I wanted the same thing..hehe. Finally i got my mom to take me on my first trip to Dave and Rexs outdoor world(bass pro shops). They set me up with a Hoyt mystic rebel. I payed only $220 bucks with it loaded. Haha...I can remember going to the hay bails every day to shoot. When season came in I got my first shot at a buck. It was 40 yards away and i nailed it in the shoulder, but i didnt have enough KE to get good penetration. The buck didnt die. Even though i didnt get the buck that was still my most exciting hunt and I did it all by myself. But unfortunatly after about a year I outgrowed the bow. It was time for another one. My brother finally managed to sell it for me and only got $60 from it. Now it was time for another bow and not a youth bow. I figured since i started with Hoyt I was gonna get another one. I narrowed my choice down to the Magnatec. I got it with the command cams and intruder limbs and like the other one i bought it loaded rest sights quiver and all. $400 this time.... I shot it a lot and I loved it. It felt so much better than the Mystic. I couldnt feel any hand shock and I started shooting great in no time. After I got the magnatec it was time for everyone else in the family to update as well. They were all using older bows and wanted something new. Well guess what they got? Mathews....My whole family is shooting Mathews. After a while i even started out growing the magnatec. My brother and uncles all having Mathews i kinda felt weird too. By this time i was almost 14. i was shooting a lot and needed yet another bow. What was next? Well again my brother helps me with my decision and i ended up with the Mathews FX. The first time I looked at it i fell in love...LOL. It was so light and everybody was telling me you cant go wrong with a Mathews. So of course i saved up $400 and got it and then ended up spending over $600 with all of the accesories. But it was unbeleavable how good i was shooting withing a week after getting the bow setup. I was older and really started concentrating on good shooting form. At this time i started shooting with an open grip, not griping the bow at all. Everybody else in the family was actually having trouble getting used to the mathews grip. My brother even took his grip off, but i was shooting great I was kicking all their butts on the 3D course, but after a while we all stopped shooting as much. I think the main reason i was shooting so good was because i felt so confident. Sometimes it amazing what a new bow will do for your shooting. Anyways....I loved the way the FX shot and I loved the light weight, but something I couldnt seem to get rid of was vibration in the grip. The magnatec didnt have this and wanted it gone, unfortunatly no matter what i put on the bow I couldnt get rid of it. After I shot it for about 2 months i noticed the cable wearing very bad. It looked like it was rubbing the inside of the limb. I sent the bow back to Mathews and they replaced the limbs. After that the bow didnt shoot the same for me. I guess i just lost confidence. After gettin back together with my family and shooting for a while on the 3d C course i got it back though. Finally I got another shot at a deer. It wasn the big buck that got away, but a good sized doe. The FX slapped the arrow through her and it kept sailing. The deer only went about 40 yards. As soon as i started shooting better than id ever shot in my life i noticed another problem. My bow felt like it was creeping at full draw. I inspected everything and i noticed idler wheel wobble, paint coming off and limb twist. Its a shame. I loved the bow and it shot great for me, but it just didnt hold up the way i hoped it would. Now you guessed it. Its time for another bow. Since i had problems with the Mathews im gonna stick with Hoyt. This week im getting all the accesorys and putting a new CyberTec on layaway at the same shop I got my first bow. This time my brother totally disagrees with me and is trying to get me to buy a Q2, but I think ive already had enough of Mathews. I still don want to get rid of the FX because I got my first bow kill with it so maybe i wont sell it and i might send it back to Mathews for the second time and get whatever is wrong fixed, but im still gettin the CyberTec. Haha...its kinda weird how all my family shoots Mathews and im the only one whos ever shot a Hoyt. Yep...this summer the war is gonna be on. Its me(hoyt) vs. the rest of the family(mathews). Hehe...bring it on.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My dad got me into gun hunting at a very early age. I started around 2nd grade by going with him bird hunting and I'd carry birds for him. I worked my way up to a youth model shotgun by 5th grade and then a rifle by 7th grade.

As for bowhunting it was my hunting partner when I lived in Wisconsin. He was both a gun and bow hunter and helped my pick out my setup, went out shooting a lot, and then we hit the woods running. Shot my first deer on his stand on his Uncles property.

Lefty Llewellyn

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

when I was maybe 5 or 6 I got this little red recurve made from fiberglass. that started the whole thing off. after that my uncle john used to shoot a bow a lot so he also had a big part. mainly though it was just me, I always liked shooting my bow more than just about anyhing.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My dad did in an indirect way. I heard stories about my dad from everyone. They would tell me that I am lucky to have such a great archer as a dad. They told me about him shooting an arrow at 50 yards, hitting bullseye, then splitting that arrow with another one, and splitting THAT arrow with yet another one. I don't know how credible that is because he doesn't shoot bows anymore. I decided that I was going to show my dad up, so I asked him for his bow, which he gave to me, and I practiced. I havnt split any arrows yet, but I am trying. I guess his records aren't bad. In 29 years of hunting, he has taken something like 27 or 28 bucks. About half with bow, half with gun. Thats amazing to me. I am trying to fill his shoes though. 6 bucks in 6 years of hunting, I just don't know how long that strech will last. In case you can't tell, I always try to one up my dad hahaha, most of the time it doesn't work though.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
P.S. Only Chuck Adams can sit at home and see deer so get into the woods. =;^)

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My dad had me hunting, my uncle got us into archery. Cant thank either of them enuf! I think my wife would like to shoot both of them though <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>!!

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I just tried it on my own, and fell head over heels! I wish i hadn't
waited so long though.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Someone I met at work. I started a new job a few years ago, and after a few weeks I discovered one of my co workers was an avid hunter and into archery. We started talking and I mentioned something about getting a bow. I knew nothing about them but thought it would be an intresting challenge. He asked what kind I thought of getting, and I said I had now idea. Walmart had this kids bow for like 80 bucks and I thought it would be fun to play with. He choked for a minute and then begged me not to buy a bow from walmart. He said it would most likely not fit me, and would be a cheap piece of crap. I would lose interest fast and not stick with it. He said to go to a proshop and look at a bunch of bows to find one I liked. So I went to a gandermoutain and looked at bows one weekend. Much more expensive than I thought. I shot a Hoyt that was completely set up for like $219, and I thought that was expensive, LOL! I had no idea how to hold or shoot a bow and bounced the arrow off the side wall at the range when I shot it. I did hit the target after it bounced of the wall though. I thought man, I am not going to pay that kind of money for something I can't get within 5 feet of the target with.

I went back to work and told my coworker about the experience and he laughed and said at least I hit the target. He asked if I used a release or fingers and how I held the string to my face. I told him I used my fingers and I did not touch the string to my face because I was afraid it would rip my lips off or something. Plus I found out the bow was about 4 inches to long for my draw. Then I asked him what a release was. He said that is why I didn't come close to the target, I was holding the bow wrong and the guy should have told me that before I shot it. Then he said a release was something you hooked to the string with a trigger that released it. I thought wow, a trigger for a bow! I getting one if I get a bow.

I started reading about bows in magizines and visiting proshops to see how they worked and what was available. I walked into a bait shop one day that carries Dartons and prolines and started talking with the guy. He measured me for draw length, and showed me some releases and how they worked. I asked him what the cheapest bow he had in stock was and he laughed. He said he had a few bows that were around the 200 dollar range, but didn't think I should get any of them. I told him about my experience at gander moutain and said I didn't want to spend alot of money on something I did not know if I would enjoy or be good at. He said not to worry because if I bought a bow from him he would teach me how to shoot it. He said if you can't hit a 4 inch circle by the end of the day I will give you your money back. He said the cheaper bows he had were for kids and didn't have a lot of energy, plus they weren't made to last as long as the adult bows. I told him that was ok I did not have any intention of hunting with it, I just wanted a toy. He said if you buy a bow, you will hunt with it, especially if your friends do.

I looked at a darton yukon and really liked it, it was $350 bare. Way more than I wanted to spend, But I had him order it any way. I went back to work and told the guy I work with what I had done and he said he had a Darton also and thought I made a good choice. He said his was about 10 years old and still worked great. It took 3 weeks for my bow to come in and be set up. In that time my coworker and I talked alot about archery and hunting and became friends. Then they called to let me know my bow was ready and to come on Sunday morning to see what I thought. The total price with rest, sights, release, and arrows was $550 dollars. I had done some checking in those three weeks and found that was not a bad price for the newer single cam bows. I had now idea what the CPS cam was or what it did though. When I got there the old man gave me my release and a slingshot with a string on it and let me practice that way for a while to get used to while he helped some customers. Then we went out back to play with my new toy. The first two shots were not exactly were I aimed but not 5 feet off like before. He made some minor adjustments to the sight and corrected my form a little bit and the 3rd shot was dead on where I aimed at 10 yards or so. I was impressed and happy. We moved back to 20 yards and I practiced some more, then we set my other pins for 30 and 40 yards.

That little old man set my bow up perfect and spent the better part of a Sunday teaching me how to shoot and make small adjustments to my bow to fine tune it. Buy the end of the day I could not only hit a 4 inch circle at 20 yards, but I could do it at 40 the majority of the time. My friend was right, had I went to walmart and bought a cheap bow, I would have lost intrest in a while and put it away. But I think for the quality of bow I got and the service that came with it $500 dollars was a steal. I bet in the whole time I have owned my bow, going on 2 years, I have not missed more than a couple weeks of shooting. I pretty much shoot every day, sometimes all day long. I am absolutely addicted to it. When I was not shooting I was reading about archery and bow hunting so I could learn more about my new toy. After the first six months, my new friend said I had learned more than he had in 10 years. I was starting to ask questions he didn't have answers for. So he introduced me to friend of his that was a bow mechanic and an engineer at the factory we worked at. After a year of working side by side we became quite good friends and he offered to teach me how to bow hunt if I was interested. I said sure, I'll give it a try. I spent the summer learning about deer and shot placement and set my bow up to hunt with. My first time out on opening day I shot a seven point at 18 yards away. Now I am hooked, I guess that old man was right after all.

So I would like to thank my new best friend Paul Rittersbach, and the owner of Pine grove bait and tackle, whose name is also Paul. Thanks to them I have found a hobby I love and met many new people that share my passion like the guys on this board and others.

That's How it all started, sorry it was sooo long.

Paul Mohr

Edited by - biteme/paul mohr on 01/20/2002 18:49:46

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My Dad started me hunting, but I got myself into bowhunting. My best freinds father realy showed me how to hunt, and what I had to do to be succseful. Now I am hooked for life!

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My step son got me started. Now I'am hooked. I don't even enjot gun hunting deer anymore.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I started and continue to hunt and learn mostly myself. A couple freinds bow hunt but we have completely different schedules. I also bought a Hoyt Mystic Rebel off a friend of mine that I hunted with the first 2 years. Since coming to this board and learning how the new bows compare to the older models I bought a Hoyt MT Sport this year. I would like to give myself credit for learning how to hunt, but a great deal of my knowledge has come from you guys on this board. Thanks guys and keep pouring out your know-how.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Back in 1956 my dad had me meet him at a shop
he was at all the time,it was called San Francisco Archery and after shooting at the
indoor range bought my gear and have been
shooting ever since.THe changes have been
awesome but love the new gear, and still am
hooked as deep as ever!!

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I always played in the woods, but hunting seemed to be what everyone else did. when I would go I didnt know the first thing of how to. like most guys I was aquainted with I just hit the woods every season, made plenty of noise, arose before brunch, and by sundown wondered how it was that no animal ever graced me with its prsence. I gave up several years ago, with the exception of an occasional hike on a weekend day,with my rifle slung on my shoulder. And then last year I became semi-retired. I didnt hunt much still, as I still didnt know how. but I found this site and after reading lots of posts of hunts and plans of hunts, scouting how to's and every thing else that comes up on these boards, well, I'm still not much of a hunter but I was so taken by the bowhunting forum that I went out and bought a bow, learned to shoot it, practiced, and then practiced some more, and I shot in all the 3D shoots at the local range. I went and tested for proficeincy, and am now certified to hunt. now all I need is a hunting season and you guys to keep me learning what it is going to take be successful in the hunt. Oh and to answer the questoin, this forum. thanks. lamar.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I got a wing recurve 25# in 1969 and have been hooked since.Its been a great adventure.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

To tell you the truth, I got myself shooting when I was 12. I cut grass for a long time to save up for my first Bear compound. I read every single bowhunting magazine I could, and taught myself good form, and practiced the mental game. To this day, I still LOVE to read bowhunting magazines. I have never had anyone to shoot with. I kind of like it in a way, because I can focus on my practice a lot better, but there are times when it would be nice to shoot with someone.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

wow, there's some long storie's on this subject. i'll keep mine short. a co worker got me started back in 1986. i bought a pse pulsar express for about $100 and 3 arrows,field points,broadheads, and 2 bails of hay. i practiced everyday for a month until deer season started. i killed a 5 point buck my 1st season and was hooked for life. i also gun hunt, but only take wall hangers with it.

Edited by - beretta390 on 01/20/2002 21:58:54

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I loved hunting and thought I'd give bowhunting try. I've never shot a bow or really even seen anyone shoot one, but spend $250 on a bow and a few supplies, and have been hooked ever since. Bowhunting deer is my favorite. I also now have some buddies who picked up on the sport and my brother did also.
Visit My Hunting Page

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My dad got me into hunting but never took up bow hunting.So I started myself mostly to give me another reason to be out hunting.I learned the hard way making mistakes without someone to guide me.I read Mag.Videos etc.and shot in archery leagues.I asked people Questions on bow hunting and improved from there.I still love to gun hunt but wouldn't trade bow hunting for the world.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Thanks, to my Dad mostly, although when I was about 8 years old and in the states camping well my dad was building someone a Yaht, My bro and I made little bows out of fiberglass tentpoles bungy cord, the left over poles we made arrows with. I shot it for the whole summer.
So thanks Dad and Mike.
Good shooting.
Dylan

>>>>--------o-->

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I was taught by a former Kenosha Wisconsin City Champion - My Dad.
He held the title when he was only 11 years old.
Alot had happened since then, but I will never forget shooting with him in our backyard. We would put playing cards up at 30ft, grab our sightless recurves, and pick out individual spots on a card (like &quot;the diamond in the top-right corner&quot;) and see who could get closer.
Somewhere in my teens I began to be able to out-shoot him regularly. What a feeling that was. It was like the first time you checkmate the person who taght you chess.

The best archery advice I ever got from him was: &quot;If you don't practice with small targets, you will never be able to hit them.&quot;

Keep 'em all in the Bull.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

It's something I always wanted to do as a kid, but never did. I got my first bow from a friend (at the age of 29). It was an old BEAR bow. It had no sights, but I loved shooting it (even though draw length was way too short). I shot it all summer long and became pretty consistant with it. At first, I was happy just to hit the taget--by the end of the summer, I was able to hit the bullseye (or pretty close) at 20 yards. The following summer, my father-in-law gave me his old Hoyt bow. It has a sight, and shoots a whole lot faster than the old BEAR did. I would guess this bow shoots approx. 200fps.(there is no cam on this bow either) I've been using the Hoyt for 2 yrs now. Still far behind todays modern bows, but I love to shoot with it, and still do to this day, although I don't think this bow fits me properly either. This is the first year I went hunting, and fell in love with that too. I have not harvested any deer yet, but I did get a chance to see many in the woods. That was my goal for this year. The season is not over until the end of Jan. and I'm still plugging away. I am saving now for a new bow that I hope to get sometime in Jul. or Aug.. I just recently joined an archery club and am looking forward to shooting all summer long. I am reading every article about archery that I can get my hands on. I hope to one day be able to build my own bow and arrows. I don't think I've ever taken a hobby as serious as I am taking this one! Have fun shootin everybody.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My dad was never into the hunting scene. But I have my wonderful boyfriend of almost 2 years to thank. He really got me into it and I was unable to complete the hunters education course due to a car problem but I can't wait to go this year. So thanks to him.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Well my dad has never been here for me and well...i really dont care. I dont know him and dont want to. I have my grandpa to thank for a lot. He was there when i killed my first deer, first rabbit, first squirrell...well you get the point, LOL. I can never thank him enough and my whole family as far as that goes.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

These stories are great. Keep em coming<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My decision to bowhunt (my first season will be 2002) was based on family concerns. I am a grouse hunter @ heart. W/ dwindling numbers & two young boys it seemed a good choice. To see good numbers of birds we've had to hunt Wisconson. That takes me away from helping @ home w/ my older son who has cerebral palsy. There are plenty of deer in the woods behind my house so I can walk out the back door & hunt. I won't need to be gone over night. At least that's the plan. My 5 yr old already has a bow I got for him & is having a ball flinging arrows out back. He's too small to shoot a shotgun so the bow is something we can enjoy together. Again I can do this @ home. I'm really enjoying the bow shooting and it's quiet. So the neighbors don't even know what I'm up to. LOL. I really enjoy this forum & look forward to shooting 3D this summer & meeting other bowhunters. The people I've met @ the shop where I bought my bow are very friendly and helpful, as are the people here. Have fun everyone!!

Phil.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I was raised by my grandparents, pap took me hunting with him since I was old enough to walk. He taught me about gun hunting, but as far as bowhunting goes, I read a book about Fred Bear when I was 13. I got a bow the day after I finished reading it. Pap would take me to camp, and let me go out back while he sat in the back yard. He would laugh at me for thinking I could kill a deer with a bow. He only got to laugh for one year. I shot my first buck with a bow when I was 14. That was 27 years ago, and I could`nt imagine a life without bowhunting.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Dear ol Dad. Took me into the outdoors from the time I could walk around. I started bow hunting 2 years in to my hunting career.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Me.

The Tazman

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I've told you who got me into archery (my Dad), but forgot to mention my best friend Steve. He's my wife's best friend's husband. The girls were maids-of-honor at each others weddings this last May. You got all that?

Anyway, when Steve and I met I had been shooting for 20 years but never hunted with a bow. He had been into archery for only 6 years and had been hunting with his bow for 5.

We hit it off right away, because the main reason I never got into it, was that I didn't know anyone else who did it. I didn't know where to go or what the regulations were. I had only heard how much power Game Wardens have and what they can do if they find you doing something wrong.

I guess that was a little silly, but I wasn't willing to take the chance and find out the hard way. Now that I've been hunting for 2 years, my wife can't get me out of the woods. My friend Steve has a job with a lot more flexible hours than mine, so he gets out there a lot more than I do. But, about half the time I go we hunt the morning together, grab lunch around 11:00, and end the day with some scouting for future setups.

I want to teach my kids to shoot a bow and to hunt, but I guess I would need to have kids first. I think my wife would like that too. It would get me AND the kids out of her hair.

Keep 'em all in the Bull.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My Dad bought a sporting goods store thst sold archery equipment that we knew very little about, so I bought a bow & joined the local club, to learn how to shoot & about archery, which was about 25 years ago.
My Dad had taught me about hunting & I tagged along with him as long as I could remember & he also trapped which I got involved in. When I was 15 I had my own trapline & just kept enjoying the outdoors ever since.

I have to thank my Dad for teaching me at an early age & teaching me the ethics of being a good hunter.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I also started bow hunting on my own back in the days of the recurve. I did this because in my state gun season for deer was only 1 week and bow season was 3 1/2 months long. Now gun season is 2 weeks and bow season is 4 1/2 months.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My dad is responsible for getting me started.
He wasn't the greatest hunter but he took me whenever he could. Grandad also took me out a bit. I had to learn most of what I know about bowhunting myself though as Dad gave it up after just a few years back in the early 70's. I will never be able to thank them enough for getting me started though!

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Our neighbor made custom long bows and I started shooting with his kids .

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My Dad.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Myself,back in the 60's,after watching Fred Bear on the American Sportsman.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

My best friend's brother, Thanks Gary

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

Hunting was a way of life growing up with ten kids in Alaska and my Mom Stayed home. So all of our meat was from the ocean, rivers and woods. Just grew up doing it. Archery is a new thing due to the Old Guy AK Nimrod and another friend.

RE: Who got you into bowhunting and shooting?
 

I got myself involved in it and fell in love with it from the first time I drew my bow back.

Wait, wait, ready PLUG EM!!!!!