Pennsylvania Game News - July 2009 - 51

takedown built for him by a local Pennsylvania bow-maker and he bought another, already built, from the same craftsman. The second has lesser poundage, more for target and pleasure shooting, while the other has a heavier draw weight and is his primary hunting bow. The two cost us together what that one longbow ran, but was still plenty of money to spend on a hobby. The traditional bow shooters I know are buying their type of bows about as frequently as the mechanical bow shooters at our club are buying theirs. True, we could be faulted for not growing the particular markets that my buddy in the business was talking about, but we are certainly contributing to someone’s financial well-being. That could be the big manufacturers and sellers of traditional bows and accessories but, more likely, we are buying from small shops and one-person businesses, patronizing individuals who are true artisans and purchasing a product that is all Americanmade. When we’re not paying for newly manufactured traditional bows, we’re growing the market for what I hesitate to call “used” bows. Would you call a classic car a “used” car? Technically, yes, but I can’t think of the 1970s-era Hoyt Pro Medalist that I obtained as “used.” When I was following a friend’s competition archery career back then, and doing a little club-level target shooting myself, this was THE bow for those who were Olympics-bound. The vintage takedown that came my way recently is white, which makes it doubly nostalgic. White was what serious competition archers wore, just like high-level tennis players and golfers, and was the default bow color. How do you put a price on a piece of history? As hunters and shooters, are we in our sports to “grow the market”? Contributing to the economy is generally not on our mind, but if we’re active in these activities, we will always need to buy something that fits our niche interest. We’ll go to the “big box” stores on the highway and we’ll go to the neighborhood sporting goods stores, pro-shops or custom craftsmen. We’ll buy and sell from each other, as excess or outdated gear becomes someone else’s must-have essential or classic find. A little money will get passed around in these transactions, and either someone’s financial bottom-line will expand or their closet of hunting and shooting gear will get a bit fuller. If their storage space becomes crammed to bursting and they hire a carpenter to enlarge it, I guess you could call that market growth, too. Books in Brief (Not available from the Game Commission.) Training Your Pointing Dog for Hunting & Home, By Richard Weaver, Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921, 717-796-0411, www.stackpolebooks.com, 128 pp., hardcover, $19.95. This book gives expert tips on how to develop an obedient gun dog that is also an affectionate family companion, with training schedules and advice on everything from handling a newborn pup to teaching advanced field techniques and finely tuned pointing manners. The book presents a simplified, commonsense approach that can be used in its entirety or to troubleshoot individual aspects of a dog’s education. The book covers the importance of early obedience training and appropriate transition to the field, including tips for retrieving, quartering, sight pointing and dog work. Richard Weaver is a professional dog trainer and breeder who lives with his English setters in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. JULY 2009 51

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Pennsylvania Game News - July 2009

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