I'm still here

Welcome to TAS. As was mentioned, the participation rate declined significantly after the modernization of the site. While the new site is technically more modern and efficient, we lost 5 years of great hunting stories, equipment tips, bow reviews, and Traditional Archery Society history when the switch happened. It was very disappointing to me personally. I spent my first 30 years in traditional archery shooting and hunting with a 70# Don Adams English Longbow and wood arrows tipped with Howard Hill broadheads. Will admit I am still a bit "old school". Only started shooting them newfangled bows with fiberglass limbs and carbon arrows about 5 years ago. Still prefer selfbows made from Yew or Osage with wood arrows and shoot them in the 3D "competitions", but will admit I shoot better with the others so I take them hunting now. Have learned pretty much everything I now know about traditional gear from guys on this site over the past 5-6 years. Got to meet many of them at the TAS Regional 3D shoots (you should come to the NJ shoot) and World 3D shoot (IN). Also got to spend time with TAS members on several of the annual TAS hunts that we were doing [OK (hogs), TX 1 (hogs), ME 1&2 (bear), WV (deer), TX 2 (deer), UT 1&2 (elk), TX 3 (exotics)] until last year. Bought, sold, borrowed, and loaned more bows that I can remember from guys on this site without incident. Can't say the same thing for any of the other online archery classifieds, especially the FB versions. Still list any bows I have for sale on this site first and then Darren posts them over on the TAS FB page.

Again, welcome, and hope you find this site as comfortable as a seat around the fire at a late November deer camp. Whatever type of traditional archery you favor, there is a place for you. As you can probably tell already from the comments, we do have folks in TAS that span much of the full the spectrum of what fits under the umbrella of "traditional archery". I generall find that to be a good thing as I get exposed to gear, shooting styles, and hunting methods that I might not otherwise discover on my own.

Bob

Doylestown, PA

Web 'traditional' has been around a long time (started around 95' that I noticed, LeatherWall was the earliest 'big' site) but despite all the pink hat trad type hype since then I've yet to find a truly traditional web-based mindset for old-style hunting style old school archery pointed (not aimed) at challenge not money. It's pretty much all competitive target shooting now, or some baby borne from that. This site is a facsimile of old school (with flaws) but the search for low-tech true traditional continues. Facebook is about about as far away from that as it gets, but that's really what most folks want these days. Thus the relative crickets on sites like this one. That, plus the overcomplicated process for attending and using them.

No, James, not everybody is on Facebook. I have no interest in it. I would like to see more activity on this site, particularly hunting adventures. I enjoy the write ups about new equipment also, even though I will never buy these item, but they keep the wish list well stocked My problem with contributions is that I just don't have that many interesting stories to tell.

I agree with westrayer about all the political stuff. I am as politically vocal as anybody else but not in the archery realm, unless the discussion deals with wildlife and hunting lands legislation and management.

I think everyone is on Facebook nowadays. I know I just recently opened a Facebook account and I am amazed at what I was missing out on. A bunch of sites about traditional archery.

It is true,not near as busy as some other sights.But what it lacks in quantity,it more then makes up in quality! Also there is none of the petty bickering and politics,that is common on some other trad archery sights.

I am not one for Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Too much BS. Especially all of the political stuff.

I find some businesses only operate on Facebook and if that is their desire, good for them, but I am not interested.

I am reasonably tech skilled, but I pick and choose.

Bill,

Glad to see you here! Like Ira (Ugly Coyote SoCal) said above, a lot of folks seemed to have dropped off after Darren Nunez [Tradlongbow (Fl)] spent a great deal of time and (likely) expense revamping the site to modernize it. The site is much better, but the learning curve associated with change is disagreeable to some. Before revamping the site, quite a few of the younger folks has already latched onto the Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram feeds, I think. That said, this site is full of a wealth of information and knowledge from the guys who walk the walk. It may have a smaller group of participants, but a better brain trust, from my observations.

Don't give up on the site due to low participation right now. Many of the folks here wear several hats, from full-time jobs to organizing and participating in shooting events. Hunters are scouting right now. This is typically the "low participation" season, lol.

Hang in there with us, buddy!

Rick

Welcome aboard!

This has been discussed before. To get you up to speed, I'll give you the rundown. The original site was shut down because it was no longer relevant to modern technology. In other words, it was outdated.

When Darren spent a lot of time and effort and finally had the new site up and running, it was apparent a lot of members had switched to Facebook and Twitter accounts. Those are still preferred by many members.

Old fogies like me prefer the old fashioned website, like this one. Therefore, I will continue to contribute, from time to time, to this forum until that is no longer an option, if it comes to that.