Jim Eeckhout lives in the “Thumb” area of Michigan in a log home he built as a young man. He has been shooting a traditional bow since the age of five and has been bowhunting with one since 1975. For Jim, traditional bowhunting is more than a sport — it is a lifelong lifestyle.

His passion for shooting and hunting with a traditional bow has taken him across North America, where he has pursued various big game animals, met many great people, and experienced diverse cultures along the way.

Jim is the past President of Michigan Traditional Bowhunters and remains an active member of PBS, Compton Traditional Bowhunters, and various state archery organizations.

Matthew grew up in the Midwest, where his grandfather introduced him to the outdoors and sparked a lifelong passion for wild places. He spent his childhood catching crawdads, fishing, and hunting whitetails. He began with a 7mm Mauser but switched at fourteen after buying a garage-sale Bear Archery compound bow to add more days to his season.

In 2021, he moved fully into traditional archery and bowmaking. Trained under master bowyer Correy Hawk at Organic Archery (Bowmaking 101 and Advanced courses), Matthew is now dedicated to the simple stick and string—crafting bows and taking big game with traditional tackle.

He hosts The Bowyer Podcast, sharing stories and knowledge from the traditional archery world. Hooked for life, he continues honing his craft as a bowyer and traditional bowhunter.