About Us

My name is John Buchin. I have been a Michigander since birth. I have been bow hunting for 25 years, but hunting and shooting archery since I can remember. My story begins like many of you, with a Shakespeare fiberglass recurve in the early days. Today, my hunting is nearly 100% Traditional equipment...and has opened travels I have dreamed of as a wide eyed kid while watching Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, Howard Hill, and videos of Mr. Bear himself.

I am a Past President of the Michigan Longbow Association, a member of Michigan Bow Hunters, Compton, Professional Bowhunters Society, and of course, Michigan Traditional Bowhunters. I felt very compelled to join the MTB Board, because I feel the organizations we belong to need an active membership, and as someone with strong opinions and passion for bowhunting, felt obligated to help in any way that I could. The finest group of people that I have meet and spend my time with have all been through using Traditional equipment afield.

As Bowhunters, we are constantly under risk of having to concede our season in one way or another, and we need our voice to grow. I look forward to doing what I can to help grow our voice, and be another of many hands to help preserve our very rich bowhunting heritage. It only takes a generational gap to lose anything we have or gain, so keep passing it on and down.

I’m proud to say I was born, raised, educated and have lived in the great state of 

Michigan since birth.  The outdoors and hunting, particularly bowhunting with 

traditional equipment,  have been a passion since I was a young child. I entered the 

world of retirement at the end of 2024, after 45 years in various leadership and 

ownership positions in the insurance industry. I now look forward to spending a lot 

more time doing things I enjoy. I have been married to my wife Pam for 35 years 

and we have two wonderful grown children. We became grandparents in 2024 and 

what a blessing and joy that has brought to our lives. I feel very fortunate to have 

bow hunted Bear and Moose in Alaska, Elk in Colorado, Elk in Montana, Pheasant in 

South Dakota, Elk in Wyoming, Moose, Elk and Bear in British Columbia and Bear in 

Manitoba.  In Michigan I have hunted basically everything open to hunting but my 

focus is now on whitetail and Turkey. Retirement has opened a very big window of 

time that has allowed me to join the MTB Board and work with my fellow board 

members maintain MTB’s premier group representing all who bowhunt with 

traditional equipment. 

My name is Dave Pagel.  I live in Temperance, Michigan with my wife Angie and our two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Quigley and Abra.  I am retired after 41 years in major account management.  I spent 13 years in logistics with Chrysler as my customer and the remainder in the computer industry calling on General Motors for ADP Dealer Services which became CDK Global.

My early life revolved around athletics, primarily baseball.  I played on some great teams in high school and went to CMU on a baseball scholarship.  I was drafted by the Cubs and spent 4 years playing in the minor leagues before injury ended that hope.  However, baseball allowed me to travel a lot.  I played all around the U.S. including Alaska, Arizona, Texas, New York, Florida, Iowa and California. I also traveled to Puerto Rico and Venezuela.  Great times.

I grew up in Blissfield, a small town in Lenawee County.  There were not many deer and no turkeys in the area in the 60’s and 70’s so most of our local hunting was for pheasants and rabbits.  The family did head up to northern Clare County for firearms deer season, but no one in the family bowhunted until my older brother took it up while at MSU.

After baseball I came back to finish school at CMU and lived at the family cottage north of Harrison.  I needed something to fill the baseball void.  My brother had an old Bear right-handed recurve (I am a lefty) and some arrows in the cottage.  I started hunting the oil fields in southern Roscommon County and missed 7 deer that first fall.  I was hooked!   

I picked up a left-handed compound and took a couple deer with it, but that only lasted about 4 years.  My brother and I both switched back to traditional bows in the late 80’s and the rest is history.  I have hunted many states and provinces and enjoyed them all.   I have taken dozens of whitetails, antelope and 5 black bears with my stickbows.  Elk are my favorite animal to hunt, but I always seem to end up doing the calling.  Turkeys are my nemesis animal, but I love to chase them at my camp in Calhoun County.

 My name is Michael Fink. I have been bowhunting since 1981. Like most, I started out with a compound bow. In the late 1980’s a friend started shooting traditional bows, I always thought it was cool and told myself someday I would like to try that. Fall of 2005 I had the itch to buy a vintage Bear bow to mess around with and after that I was hooked. I put the compound in the case for good in 2010. Since then, I joined Michigan Traditional Bowhunters. I attended a couple of jamborees and met some real fine folks. I started shooting in a league at MSU Demmer center and met even more fine folks that I call my good friends today. Since then, I have joined Michigan Longbow, Compton and Professional Bowhunters and try to attend their events. I am amazed at the quality people I have befriended through these clubs.

  I have been married to my wife and best friend Bonnie for the last 36 years. We have two grown sons Paul and Stanley and one grandson SJ (Stanley junior). I have been employed as a Journeyman Machinist for the past 36 years. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel towards retirement, It is time to give back to the club and the sport of Traditional archery. 

Jon and his wife have 3 kids and too many animal to count. He has enjoyed 

traditional archery since he was in teens. He has played around with a lot of 

styles of bows throughout the years and his favorite is the longbow. Him and 

his family spend a lot of time in the outdoors camping, shing, hunting, and 

gardening. When he is not busy with his family he is working at DuPont or 

reading a book.

He is really excited too be on the board and looks forward to helping grow 

the organization and spread the joy of traditional bow hunting.