One of the things I love about traditional archery is an archer can choose to do things for reasons other than maximum efficiency. We're already shooting a stick, so there's nothing to prevent us from making decisions based off of our notions about tradition, and heritage... or in some cases to remember somebody.
As most of you know, one of our own, Randy Madden, suffered a big loss a few weeks ago. I became aware of Kristie's battle with cancer over a year ago, through a fundraiser put on by Michael Arnette of Tall Tines bows. He wanted to raise some money to support Kristie, and in the process I wound up winning a Stickflinger longbow. The bow came in this spring, and I have been getting to know it. It took some doing, as I'm not a longbow guy, but I got it shooting straight in time to go to the Bob Lee memorial shoot, and I started to get along pretty well with it. It's an unassuming combination, actionwood and grey glass, but it's a shooter.
Now what does this have to do with "honor"? Well I was working on broadhead tuning the bow when I got the news that Kristie passed, and something went "click" in my brain. I'm a one bow guy, usually, and you'd be hard pressed to tear my Widow out of my hands, especially when it's a high pressure shot... but I decided right then and there, that this season needs to be different. I busted out the spray paint, and turned that gray glass into hunting camo, and you can consider this post as me making it official. As a "recurve" guy, a "one bow" shooter, and a mediocre bow hunter, I'm making this longbow my main squeeze this season, and it's the first one up until it draws blood, or the season's over. I'm making a non hunting, hunting decision.
Traditional archery is about more than bullseyes and trophy bucks, if we let it be. And I'm going to embrace the less tangible, nearly indescribable awesomeness that comes with the simple stick and string. Probably won't be wearing plaid, and I still will use a tree stand, but this season, I'm going to lean into the memories and stories that make hunting more than just freezer filling. I'm going to hunt with a bow that's special due to circumstance, and I'm going to remember friends and stories every time I see that bow.
So there you have it. Will my actions make a whit of difference in this world full of joys and pains? Nope. Will it cost me on a tough shot sometime in November? Maybe. Will it help me remember more frequently that a friend is hurting? You're darn right it will. I never got the chance to meet her, but this season's going to be in honor of Kristie Madden.
As most of you know, one of our own, Randy Madden, suffered a big loss a few weeks ago. I became aware of Kristie's battle with cancer over a year ago, through a fundraiser put on by Michael Arnette of Tall Tines bows. He wanted to raise some money to support Kristie, and in the process I wound up winning a Stickflinger longbow. The bow came in this spring, and I have been getting to know it. It took some doing, as I'm not a longbow guy, but I got it shooting straight in time to go to the Bob Lee memorial shoot, and I started to get along pretty well with it. It's an unassuming combination, actionwood and grey glass, but it's a shooter.
Now what does this have to do with "honor"? Well I was working on broadhead tuning the bow when I got the news that Kristie passed, and something went "click" in my brain. I'm a one bow guy, usually, and you'd be hard pressed to tear my Widow out of my hands, especially when it's a high pressure shot... but I decided right then and there, that this season needs to be different. I busted out the spray paint, and turned that gray glass into hunting camo, and you can consider this post as me making it official. As a "recurve" guy, a "one bow" shooter, and a mediocre bow hunter, I'm making this longbow my main squeeze this season, and it's the first one up until it draws blood, or the season's over. I'm making a non hunting, hunting decision.
Traditional archery is about more than bullseyes and trophy bucks, if we let it be. And I'm going to embrace the less tangible, nearly indescribable awesomeness that comes with the simple stick and string. Probably won't be wearing plaid, and I still will use a tree stand, but this season, I'm going to lean into the memories and stories that make hunting more than just freezer filling. I'm going to hunt with a bow that's special due to circumstance, and I'm going to remember friends and stories every time I see that bow.
So there you have it. Will my actions make a whit of difference in this world full of joys and pains? Nope. Will it cost me on a tough shot sometime in November? Maybe. Will it help me remember more frequently that a friend is hurting? You're darn right it will. I never got the chance to meet her, but this season's going to be in honor of Kristie Madden.
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