Greetings from Georgia,
I have been an archer since I was a small child. My first bow was a Bear recurve that was given to me by my uncle and was well worn then. I began shooting hay bales with any arrows I could find including the 4-H type arrows as well as a bunch of aluminums I begged, borrowed and found. As I grew into a teenager I hung up the recurve and began shooting a Bear Whitetail compound and aluminums only. I have taken 5 deer with that setup. I then hung it up and went back to a recurve but still chose the aluminum shafts. I then took 5 deer using that combination. I have since matured more and now have gone back to the very basics of hunting with a stick and string. I now only use good wood arrows built by a good friend who takes pride in producing world class arrows. I like the feel of shooting wood arrows. They are quiet and yet while not as consistant as modern carbon or aluminum offerings, are more satisfying to me to shoot. I have far more practice arrows than hunting arrows and the practice ones are not fancy at all. Plain shaft, but are still identical to the ones matched for hunting. I have come to like the straight fletching with 5" right wing feathers. I do not have a designated cock vane so care must be taked to knock them correctly. My hunting arrows are a fine piece of art. I am aware that every arrow taken afield should be considered disposable but I also feel that when I am persuing game the game deserves all the respect possible. Therefore I save my finest arrows for hunting. Beautiful cresting, pristine fletching and ONLY the razor sharpest of broadheads go hunting with me. I use the Howard Hill broadheads but have recently been eyeing the Magnus line as well. My broadheads are hand honed on an extre fine Arkansas stone until they are shaving sharp, then put into the custom back quiver so that nothing touches the edge until it is released at game.
I have matured as an archer, and hunter. I also have the utmost respect for the game I persue therefore, I have chosen to use the most basic and primitive of archery equipment including good wood arrows. No rest or sights needed. No overdraw, cams, cables or limbsavers need apply. When I step into the woods, I feel a connection with nature and feel a personal satisfaction that can not be duplicated with modern equipment. Good Luck and God Bless.
Dave
