Bowhunting Equipment

Frank Addington Jr. - Bowhunting eMagazine: Bow & Arrow Razzle Dazzle


An elitist attitude about being a "traditionalist" doesnothing but drive people away from the sport. Ask Mom her preferenceof equipment and style of shooting and I know what she'd say. Does it really matter?by Frank Addington Jr.It'snot about what type of bow you use but what you do FOR the sport of archerythat counts. Don't divide --- multiply!GoTo Frank Addington's List Of ColumnsARCHERY:United We StandThere's room for everyone!I have been on the archery show circuit now for 18 years and do mostof my exhibitions with traditional equipment. Equipment junkies thatfeel the same way do likewise. Facts are facts.Why preach that a recurve or longbow or even a solocam bow without sightsis the only way to shoot? Getting people INTO the sport---not drivingthem away.It will have taken a few years to get the Governor shooting that wellinstinctively with traditional equipment. Having bows andarrows in schools and getting kids a lifetime sport is a great way to promotearchery to a new generation. He has the Guinness Record to prove it.Yet I've seen him bowhunt with all types of bows. He preaches(literally) a message of unity.Why we let a handful of misguided folks lead the sport for a while isbeyond me. He was in a treestand, wearing camo, holding a bow andthe ads ran on local West Virginia TV stations. He was smart enough to knowa good thing when he saw it. Her game rarely travels15 yards after her shot. Hewas in office and took up the sport of archery. However, Bill preferstraditional equipment and shoots a recurve or longbow. However, I am smart enough toknow this isn't the only way to shoot a bow. I bowhunt instinctivelywith a solo cam bow. I have shot a bow and arrow33 years this year and have always shot instinctively although I switchfrom compound to recurve to longbow and back. I know for a fact that a fewmonths after getting his bow the Governor was in a treestand in Decemberin 18 degree weather bowhunting. I know Papa Bear will have loved to witnessthe kid's first arrows and their smiles.Instead of wasting time and energy in a negative way we should all striveto spend our time helping the sport grow. I'd like someone to dare say she isn'ta real bowhunter.They'd be wrong and her trophy room attests to her skills. If he gets a chance at a deer under30 yards he is ready. If we all worry more about promotingthe sport and less about what type of equipment others use, the sport willcontinue to grow and expand.It's not about what you use but what you do FOR the sport of archerythat counts. In my shows I explain that when you shootinstinctively you must be ready to pass up game that a good sight shootercan easily bag. Instead why not preach a message of"try archery"? Isn't that our goal?In my Instinctive Archery Exhibitions I always stress the pros and consof instinctive shooting. It is a year roundfamily sport and one that can be enjoyed by young and old alike, rich andpoor. My father set himup with a Mathews bow and within one hour he was shooting bullseyes at20 yards.He fell in love with the sport and returned two weeks later to filma bowhunting Public Service Announcement on wearing a safety belt whilebowhunting. Neither is preaching that the latest compound with all thegadgets is the only way to go. Neither side is right.There is no set way to enjoy our sport. Often times I switchin one stage show!In 2004 I have been speaking on stage about uniting the sport of archeryand have had the message be very well received in various shows acrossthe country. On stage I use a MathewsHeritage Longbow and Mathews SKY recurve. Period.My mother has harvested 15 bear and various other game with herbow. Popand I are both very proud of her.Our sport is the greatest sport in the world. Several of her bear have been huge bruins andthey expire after less than 20 yards. She was in the sport when recurves were the only thing we hadand now she shoots a modern solo cam bow. Sheloves her Mathews Ultra II and carbon arrows tipped with Muzzy broadheads.That is her personal choice. Stacy Groscup also uses all types of bows in his performances.I've seen Stacy shoot a compound, recurve and other style bows in one show.He also speaks of uniting the sport. That is exciting to see these kids shootingtheir first arrows. That my friends isthe key--to shoot the method and the equipment that lets you hit what youshoot at. That is the great thing---there is room forus all!My friend Bill Weisner at Renegade Archery owns a compound company.He makes the new Ted Nugent "Nuge" bow. The advances in technology andmaterials have improved all types of bows and arrowsThe National Archery In Schools program is another very exciting movementthat is getting lots of publicity for good reason. The sport offers a variety of methods and a huge assortmentof equipment. The wounding rateswill sky rocket, people will loose interest and our sport will fadeaway. This means that at 45# she is able to dothe job on big game. Today's arrows are the same way---we have choices fromaluminum to carbon to cedar. Today's sport of archery offers something for everyone.There are great compound and solocam bows, recurves, and longbows onthe market. Volunteer to teach archeryat a 4-H Camp or Scout camp, donate money to the Archery In Schools program,or introduce a friend to archery. We must be united if we are to survive and grow.Fred Bear was a fan of traditional archery but knew that the "boom"in archery in the late seventies had as much to do with the compound asthe "Two Season Hunter" campaign he ran. Welcome to what Howard Hill called, "The King ofSports".This is a sport where you can have a great traditional shooter likeStacy Groscup, a loud and proud bowhunter like Ted Nugent, and an OlympicArcher all in one sport. When I bowhunt I use aMathews Conquest III. With his schedule he willnot have the time to become efficient. Yet in hisseminar, Choosing the right bow for you, he makes it clear that it is allpersonal preference.A few years ago I invited West Virginia Governor Bob Wise to try archeryfor the first time. You'll never hear himsay instinctively is the only way and he's the best shot with a bow that'sever drawn a string.