Just watched my Matthews compound ride off with its new owner. I'm committed to only using my Treadway now.

It was a little hard to watch my Mathews go a few years back but I don't regret making the switch.

Good deal man! You will never miss it. I began shooting a stickbow in the late 90s. I wish now that I'd started way sooner.

Wow I'm in the same boat just sold my Mathews helium a week ago. The strad thing is getting popular!!

Never shot a Matthews or any other modern compound, last time I competed or hunted with one was 1980 or 81. I actually still have a couple in the basement from that era...finger shooting bows. Anyway, good luck to you. Mike's bows are beautiful weapons and will serve you well.

Never owned one...never "needed" one.

And I bet you'll never miss it. There's just something about shooting and hunting with these simple bows that's so much more satisfying. At least it is for me. Welcome, my friend.

I dabbled with a compound for a few years after a good 18 or so years of recurve only. Traded it off on a nice longbow and have never missed it. Doubt that you will, either.

Good choice, Treadway's are nice bows. Never owned a compound either, I shot a friend's enough times to know I didn't want one.

Feel the stress leave. I harvested my best Buck the very same year I did the same. ENJOY!

I doubt you will miss it. I got rid of mine and never looked back.

Way to go my friend

Congratulations ! No turning back now , LOL

Never have shot a compound but I did draw one a couple of times just to see what it felt like. Strange feeling indeed.

I kept my old compound and a buddy converted the riser into an ILF bow. Looks sharp as hell and shoots great.

I like that RC

Thanks, I do too. Except the darn picture is upside down:)

Well you made the move to sell at the right time, before your compound was too "old" (like a year or so after you bought it).

When I went back to shooting a recurve I kept my compounds and when I realized that I hadn't even thought about them, no less shot them, for a decade I literally couldn't even give them away.

Compounds are only a slightly less bad investment than a car. That's NOT the case with stickbows. You pay more a stickbow you find at an estate sale that's DECADES old than you would have paid for it new.

I got no animosity towards compound shooters. They are still hand-drawn, held at full draw bow, unlike a crossgun. I don't have anything against a crossgun except they should be allowed in bow seasons, they should be used in general firearms seasons. I shot/hunted with a compound for many years and like many others, about 10 years ago the "romance" of a wheel bow dwindled and I lost interest with all the tinkering, etc. The simplicity of traditional equipment was a huge draw and I've been shooting a recurve ever since. Some guys still wanna make "traditional equipment" complicated and that's fine, but not me. The simplicity of it is easy, and simple. No rest to knock off center, no sight pins to knock loose, no cams to get out of timing, etc. Now its tune the right arrow, set a nock point and go shoot! I would still consider a finger shooting compound and shoot it barebow if I ever get to the point I cant shoot my recurves anymore due to an injury, etc. But from what I gather, new finger-shooting friendly compound bows are all but a thing of the past.

Compounds have a slightly longer life cycle than a computer. The very next model makes the last one almost obsolete!

Laserman, I think it's great that you made the decision to go to the Treadway. It's a lot of fun getting ready for the hunting season by shooting almost every day in August and September. At least for me.

I still own the Hoyt compound I bought in 2000. It's not worth anything now, but back then it kept me hunting during archery season when I couln't hold draw with a recurve. I see no reason to bash compounds. It's a personal choice, nothing more or less.

I started shooting trad and for three or four years was off and on between wheels and a stick. I still have my compound but have not shot it once I went trade only that was 13 or more years ago been long enough to forget how long. I still have my compound because it does not eat much and would not be worth much so I will just keep it. I hunted elk 8 years in a row passed up shots on really nice bulls because of my weapon of choice and missed 3 with my stick. I never wished I had my wheelbow but this year was hunting on a lease and had the biggest buck of my life standing broadside 45yrds in front of me could not get him closer so watched him go away. This buck was a over two hundred pound monster 9 point. I did not wish I had my compound but a deer like this could make me think about it but for some reason elk did not. I have shot two elk with muzzle loader one a nice 5x7 but I never shot a deer like that one that may be why. I do not plan on shooting or using a compound but one never knows what will happen in life I would use one again before giving up archery hunting. Widow

I started b/4 compounds (bought my 1st real bow in 1956) 20 years of tournaments & bowhunting then to compound when they took over in the mid 70s. I was a shop/lanes owner then & could not give a recurve away. 2014, rekindled my interest in Traditional & now shooting a 50# Longbow. Love both compound & Longbow. I split the time with both & enjoy both. Being retired, I have time for both...

After a crappy couple of trad years I got a compoundagain since I had first made the switch, and killed a few again with the compound. Then realized there was not reward (in my mind anyhow) to kill one with a compound. So I sold the 2nd compound and now after the season I had this past (a buck and two doe with a longbow) ill never pick up a comoound again!!!! Hope you stick to it cuz in the long run all it did was cost me money switching back just go back to trad again!

I must be the odd duck that always swims against the current.

I never made the total switch to compounds. I got pretty lucky hunting with stickbows and gained confidence by the time compounds were really taking over, so when I did finally buy a compound in the 80's it seemed kind of odd almost foreign, I shot well in the yard but hunting was a different matter, and I had some bad experiences that left me lacking confidence hunting with one. I did kill a few deer with it, but eventually sold it and continued to hunt with stickbows.

Recently though I broke down and bought a really good compound, and once again it felt foreign and I struggled a bit with it, Still have yet to really hunt with it. But I'm getting more used to it and the thing is woefully accurate.

I'm never hanging up my recurves or longbows, but I am curios why owning and shooting both is so taboo for so many of you?

I also started B4 compounds. Made the switch then switched back. I haven't picked up my tricked out compounds in a couple of years. I have dropped down in bow weight and doubt I could even break one over any more. I need to do something with them.>>>----> Ken

After hunting always with the recurve/longbow I picked up a compound last yr. just do to the physical decline and it is still in the case and haven't been hunted with, but it is there when the day comes, sure will not resort to a x-bow. Over the years I heard others stated they no longer hunting with the compound until they miss the big buck and it was back to the compound, like the saying "what is in your closet."

I like and hunt with both, prefer recurve but still do both and have for a long time..no different then center fire and muzzleloader of which I prefer muzzleloader.

For me it's not taboo, and I never intended to not shoot one again, and is why I didn't sell my compounds in the first place. It's just that after I started shooting a stickbow again I never had any desire or interest in shooting a compound. I did pick my hunting compound up a time or two and shot a few arrows and then put it away. That was about 10 years ago or more. I simply have no interest in it. Compounds are a great tool and many people enjoy shooting them. I used to but I just don't anymore. It's just me.

I have no plans of getting rid of my ol mathews switchback been through to much together,but enjoy my Widows also.Sometimes when I fill like I'm getting in a rut I will take the compound out and stretch her legs for a day or two.To each his own but I wouldnt hold it against anyone whichever way they feel about it...

Woods Walker...I know what your saying. After all the discussion on leatherwall about instinctive, gap shooting, compounds, what we like and don't like, I got both out. Shot the compound about 6 or so shots 25 yds and 35 yds.

Then shot my recurve, ended up shooting that at various ranges of 15-30 yds for around 45 min. Not much chance of retiring it anytime soon.

my Mathews is at the local shop on consignment, can't wait for it to go. I'm keeping my Diamond though.

Sell your "compound"? Yeah, sure. Sell your Mathews???? NEVER

I sold my compound also...around 1980. I do like my sticks, but I'm NOT getting into a compound bash fest.

Shoot what you like...I'll do the same.

This is my weapon I have none other and I am committed to kill with it. Keep telling yourself then follow through on what you tell yourself.

Sold my Matthews and all the other gadget bows I had years ago, and never looked back. Never a second of regret. It's Black Widow forever for me !!!! Shawn......I am happy to give up more "deer killin" for the total trad experience.That's where so many go astray...If you think it is all about the "killin" you have lost your way. It's not what you get, it's what you get it with. If I can't get him with a stick & string, He lives !!! Period! Congratulations Sid for raising the bar.Stay the course !!!

I hunted with a compound for years but they're useless to me now. If I can't kill my prey with a homemade selfbow, it doesn't deserve to die by my hand, and any other way is selling myself short.

For me a successful hunt is about competency and full accountability in many arenas coming together at a single time and place. Those things are simply impossible to attain if I buy and hunt with a store bought bow... and especially an accessorized compound.

I got talked into a compound by a archery shop salesman when I was starting out. There was only one archery shop within a 2 hour drive and they didn't have any recurves. Well I bought the piece of $&@# and shot it for about a month it was not a high in bow to begin with and every week something was coming loose or needing an adjustment and every time I took it back to the "archery expert" he'd have some new gotta have piece of equipment to sell. After about 2 months of this I junked the compound and ordered a Bear Grizzly from a mail order company. Went back to the same archery shop to get some arrows for the Grizzly and the salesman said "have you ever seen a fat Indian? U can't kill anything with that" I laughed and told him it was obvious by his fat belly he was not an Indian and left. The next October I killed a 8 point and went back to give a picture to the fat pilgrim at the archery shop but it had closed down. I'm glad to say my consince is clear and I never hunted with or killed anything with one of those contraptions. That's my giving up the compound story The End

Gave mine away about 6 or 7 years ago. SO glad I did.

Nothing wrong with using a stickbow if that is your only interest. I'd be curious to know how many of you sold your guns as well? no big deal either way.

For myself I enjoy variation. True there are a lot of times that I simply want to use my recurve or longbow even during firearm season (legal in PA) I don't hunt with a stickbow because it gives me some sense of elitism, I hunt with one because I enjoy the simplicity, lightness in the hand, the fact that I can build my own, and frankly its just always been effective for me.

But I get satisfaction and enjoyment from all kinds of different pursuits and I don't lump them into one category. A bow to me is a longbow or recurve, a compound is a compound, a crossbow a crossbow, a flintlock rifle a flintlock rifle, and a 338 lapua or a 300 mag a effective long range weapon. I also enjoy fly fishing for trout...enjoy bass fishing in my boat.

believe it or not you CAN enjoy all the above and be effective and proficient at each. Glad I have that choice, life for "me" would be woefully boring without it. Your experience might differ.

Still have all my guns because I hunt with them too, as well as defend myself and family.

No, Shawn. You are the joke.

You are judging everyone compared to you, as if you are special. Many folks hunt for different reasons. Not all feel the need to kill every deer they see.

Sold mine about two years after they came out with the single cam technology, only got two seasons out of it! All was well with it until a Deacon in my Church gave me an old Browning recurve. Once I began shooting it there was no turning back. I’m a full blown Trad addict now and have no desire for even one Cam on my bows! And I gotta lotta stickbows now.

I hunt to have the choice whether to kill or not, and believe it or not I feel most at peace in the woods. I pulled my beagle off a hare two days ago after watching it go by me twice. I did the same with a cat treed in a bull pine. I had a great time, the hounds had a great time, and the animals chased lived to run another day. At 71, I don't need to kill in order to enjoy hunting. Unbelieveable isn't it?

I wasn't trying to start a compound bashing thread. I sold mine so I could use the money to buy more arrows ect. I knew I wouldn't commit to traditional style of shooting with a tack driver sitting in a case in my garage. I have had more fun shooting at squirrels in my yard with my longbow than I ever did with my compound. I could also hit every squirrel within 40 with it if I wanted to so it was no challenge. I also have a crossbow hanging in the garage. Bought it for my son when they legalized it in TN. It hangs in garage because it is just as accurate as the Matthews and also boring after stacking arrow after arrow against each other when shooting

Nope, I believe it and I understand it:)

Shawn there's truth to what you said there are a lot of bowhunter wannabes that rarely kill anything. When I say bowhunter I mean longbow/recurve if you use a compound your a compound bowhunter there is a difference. I haven't hunted with a rifle since I started bowhunting. I know a lot of people that hunt with both rifle and bow there deer hunters that bowhunt sometimes a bowhunter is a bowhunter all the time. I know that upsets some people but it is a fact. The compound issue is not that bowhunters are using compounds when they don't kill with there bows. Its compound hunters that occasionally pose as bowhunters. Maybe eventually they will let go of the training wheels maybe not but if you can't kill a deer with a longbow/recurve it's not because of the bow it's your lack of dedication to practice and learning to get close to the game. I shot 3 deer this year and passed on several. No shot was over 10 yards now tell me you need a 1000.00 compound or crossbow to kill a deer at 10 yards. It's lack of hunting abilities not the deficiencies of the bow your using.

Yup Shawn, what LB1975 said...

Got to agree with Shawn on this one, I like to hunt but my reason for hunting is to kill the animal I'm hunting.. being in the woods and enjoying everything else is just a bonus, if you hunt strictly for the experience(watching birds/critters,grass blowing etc.) then you should get the same feeling using a camera.. while I don't feel the need to kill every animal I see my purpose is to kill something when I go.. If you go just to say your trad but don't have to or want to kill anything I don't know what to tell you, your not hunting but just being a spectator holding a bow. I've never harvested a animal either but I've killed a bunch of them, I hate when people say harvest you harvest fruits/vegetables not animals.

That's a tad arrogant to pontificate to others how they should hunt don't ya think? That's YOUR M.O. and that's great. You like it that way and you have the freedom to make that choice. Now don't you think you just might extend the same courtesy to others?

Or is this another MY way or the WRONG way deal?

I have been saying for a long time now that the old school conservationist is dying out. The Entitlement generation, Gen x, and Millenial Gen kids look at hunting as an ESPN Game. There is nothing we can do about it. Killing an animal is taking a life, not scoring points on a video game. I hope one day Shawn and indiana longbow and similar peeps find their way. Learn what a conservationist used to be. And i am an energenic in shape 52 year old telling you this ; who listens to xm radio Octane channel. You be thankful when you kill and respect it. You just took a life. Take what you need and leave the rest. You are not going to eat 5 deer. You are caught up in that TV Espn game. You kill a doe with a little 40 lb yearling and each day you go back, theres that little ine still hoping its mother comes back. Im sure you will keel over of starvation if you do not rack em up huh . So many today do not belong in the woods.

I was really disappointed to wake up just now 12:42 am here in the deep south and read the latter posts here. I never expected to see posts such as Shawn's on the Leatherwall. Pat can ban me if he wants, but i've just about had it with these greedy no conservation kids. And i am a go go 52 year old that listens to some hard rock music at times, but i grew up in the early 80's and was taught to respect game and take in All wildiife experiences. This thread turned pathetic.

And to top it all off, i still hunt with Each weapon mentioned. BUT i was taught conservation. The whole experience. That otter fishing in the creek. Thats cool. Shawn & indiana bow dude would freak if they saw what i let pass.

I hunt with recurve and compound. 3D, strictly trad using recurve or longbow. I also like shooting with my compound buddies with my compound. Heck, I even hunt with 30-30, Muzzleloader, and shotgun. I also enjoy busting clays (skeet). Been doing this for a couple of months now and it's really fun when you smoke um! It's all in fun for me.

One things for sure, Trad runs in my veins. That's why I enjoy the LEATHERWALL so much.

Good post, EF Hutton.

Yup, very good post EF.

I don't know EF if your getting on Shawns case because he said he killed 5 deer and the kill is important to him, and then you say you hunt with all the weapons mentioned that's crossbow,compound,and rifle. If your a conservationist and the hunt not the kill is so important why you packing a crossbow or compound ? Seems a little hipicritcal to me. I've proabably seen you at Tensas that you always mention packing a compound lol. You can always tell the part timers they have that sad ashamed look when I run into them in the woods and they see my longbow and there toting a 15 pound crossbow. Anyway gotta go I have to log into the Back Country Hunters an Anglers forum and tell them about how I sometimes ride a 4 wheeler to get 100 yards from the truck, and bash anyone that doesn't fish with dry flies and a bamboo rod ,confessions really do make you feel better lol.

Here you go RC.

Just because you are incapable of understanding what hunting is, doesn't make a good reason to criticize others who know what they want from it. To say, "you may as well just be using a camera" is both ignorant and disingenuous. A person carries the bow and arrows, and broadheads, and chooses whether he wants to kill or not. It's not an ego thing, or an I have to kill thing. And I don't give a crap of what you think. I take my hunting equipment with me in case I want to kill game, no big egos or look at me about it.

Another thing, if you don't harvest your animals, your not a hunter. You are a wasteful turd who kills and doesn't harvest. Those terms are not meant to be the same, and the term harvest has been used for over a hundred years to signify game taken by the hunter and used. You can kill anything, but if you don't harvest it you should likely be carrying just a camera because you are not much of a hunter at all.

LOL George but it needs to go clockwise another 90 degrees:)

Ahhhh. I thought it looked good. ))

It's fine.

Laserman, thats a purdy bow. I'm of the opinion that you cant get good with a trad bow until you get rid of the compound. I didn't sell mine, just packed it away for good. I get it out about every decade or so and look at it for old times sake.

I let this guy walk under my Deer stand with my Longbow, does that make me a conservationist? I shoveled 4" of snow from a huge area around my bird feeders today for the critters & birds, does that make me a conservationist? I've shot 38 biggame animals with a recurve & well over 100 with a Compound & pretty picky now (I no longer shoot Does or small bucks except with A CAMERA). Is that bragging or a conservationist? Do I love bowhunting? Of course. Why do I bowhunt & let an animal pass that I have fooled on his home turf? I guess I have evolved to the hunter that can be selective & leave those critters for the younger, newer hunter. Now, that being said, I have set those limits on only TWO animals. Whitetail because I have been blessed with a wide variety of Bucks, head gear wise & many antlerless over my 60+ years bowhunting (I started in 1956)& Antelope. I took 1 Doe & personally have no desire to take another due mostly from how hard they have been hit with harsh winters the past few years. Now, any other biggame female might get an arrow shot their way.. We ALL have our reasons "for the hunt" & the weapon of choice. I have never been a biggame gun hunter, NEVER BUT, I was on a Water Buffalo Bowhunt for 4 days in 100+ degree weather. After several failed ambushes, 3 charges from a huge Bull my rifle toting backup guide offered me the use of his rifle. I wanted a Cow, for the meat & in my last hour, last ambush,last day, watching a group of 1 Bull, 2 calf's & 5 Cows walk the opposite edge of a lake 200+ yards away I said, how's that scope work? 1 shot, 225 yds & a scoped brow got my one & only ever Rifle kill. I will never hunt Buffalo again but the meat was great. Enjoy "why" you hunt & the weapon you choose, we have nothing to prove to others, it's our chice..

George I have an old Martin Compound hanging in my garage. Got it in 1990. Model was Pantara with a machine riser. That riser looks identical to mine. Although I think they used it on a few different models.

That's my old compound and it is a Martin Pantera, bought in 1993.

What all has to be done to allow the limbs to work? ILF I presume?

Yes, but it was tricky because the limb pockets were not centered inline with each other.

I was lucky and found another leatherwaller who was gracious enough to sell me his 2011 black swamp. I sold my compound so I would not be tempted to get it out if I missed with my lb. 10 years ago I missed a 12 pt with my recurve, came home and got the compound out. Maybe if I was stronger I wouldn't be tempted to get it out but selling it freed me of the temptation. I also got $300 for a 10 year old bow so can't complain about that. I'm just sorry this thread turned into a who's right who's wrong thread.

"One does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted...If one were to present the sportsman with the death of the animal as a gift he would refuse it. What he is after is having to win it, to conquer the surly brute through his own effort and skill with all the extras that this carries with it: the immersion in the countryside, the healthfulness of the exercise, the distraction from his job."

Jose Ortega y Gasset, Meditations on Hunting

Spanish philosopher & politician (1883 - 1955)

George its no more ignorant then saying just what you just said,I agree you can make the choice to kill or not but if your taking a bow to the woods to just say your hunting but then say you never kill or take a shot at the deer then you are not hunting your observing which can just as easily be done with a camera.. Why not just sit in the woods w/o bow and say your hunting same difference correct? I think people should hunt however they want as long as its legal..

Because it's not your decision to make, nor is it you job to decide who is a hunter and who is not; fact is, it's none or your, or my business. A bow is a tool that can be used for many things from a hiking stick to a stump arrow propeller. Why is it so difficult for you to accept people can hunt without killing...those two things are not mutually exclusive.

The decision to take an animal can come in an instant, whether that is what you went out for or not. With a bow in your hand you can make that decision and do something about it. If you don't it certainly doesn't make you less a hunter than the guys who go just to kill. I've been a hunter since the mid 50's and don't give a damn now if I kill something or not. But I dang sure want to have my bow with me for stumping, or even protection if need be.

exactly your stumping but your not hunting..why is it so difficult for you to accept my opinion of what hunting actually is,I don't care if you use your bows for tomatoe stakes or air plane propellors that's totally up to you,but if you go in the woods with zero intentions of killing the animal your looking for then you are not hunting your bird watching or just observing nature..if you go with the intention of killing a animal but decide not to then that's hunting, does that make my point any clearer. I'm done commenting on the subject because it is all a matter of each of our opinions whether anyone else likes that opinion or not.

If you have a bow with you then its up to YOU as a hunter to kill or not If your there with a camera and you deside to kill then your really a hunter cause youd have to sneak up close enough to beat it to death with your camera

Grow up ladys,,,,,ill hunt,walk,talk,fart or whatever,call it whatever i want and or get the job done with the tool of my choice,,,,,thank the good Lord we as Americans have these wonderful choices!

Is it safe to come out now? You guys are worse than old ladies at bingo...

I'm with ya George. I hunt the same way.

Me too.

Laserman, I am sorry your thread turned into some guys spewing idiocy.

There are some really good guys here who use a variety of weapons and there are some who are trad only hunters.

THANKFULLY, you don't have to be trad only to be on this site.

Suit yourself and enjoy the challenge of you new commitment.

Just ignore the B.S. that sometimes permeates this place.

I agree with ya, Bobby. But that's how the leatherbrawl works. And it is sad. Trad is special to me and many others who visit this site. Hopefully, someday as some of these guys get older, wiser, and more trad involved, maturity will sink in.

"Just watched my Matthews compound ride off with its new owner."

Watch out! Next thing you'll be selling your Camaro!

Still the only place to get the best advice on arrow construction, arrow woods, quivers, clothing, and the list goes on. I have bowhunted for over 50 years and learned about Douglas fir shafts from this site last year. Shot my deer with Surewood shaft. Twocdays ago I read a thread on Tru-oil for arrow shafts. I use that on my flinters and never gave it a thought for arrow shafts. A lot of brains to pick here. Deer season ended, winter is here, things will calm down once turkey season hits.

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