sig- burnie hit a few good points! Alot of people I have trained and worked with ALWAYS overbow themselves and take the fun and more importantly form out of it. Just as the first time you pulled back a compound you likely struggled to get it to come back (pulling the bow straight back with out having to raise it in the air or low to get it going). I have and know many who have harvested Deer with a 45# bow. Accuracy, sharp dependable broadhead and great form is more important than anything. There is no let-off, with your switchback at 70# with 80% left-off you are only holding at full draw about 16#! Big differance, than holding 40-50#. Besides bad form, too heavy bow can cause a pinch in the rotator cuff of the shoulder. A Recurve is faster than a longbow, but is much more sensitive and must be shot in static form (as with a compound). The Longbow, has lateral stability, in that the limbs are skinnier but thicker and thus eliminates limb twist and makes it more forgivening from odd posistions, like hunting (thus why Mr. howard Hill prefered it). The longbow takes little longer to master but once done will be able to shoot in any position, yes, even lying down. I would suggest if you know anyone close to you who shoots traditional, talk with them and/or try a few bows, like friends or cabelas. Or go to ebay and look at the recurves. You can pick up a good used recurve under 80.00 dollars. You want a bow at 45# max to start out, trust us, better in the longrun, you will likely love it and want to purchase another bow later, so why spend all the money now. If you need any help let me know glad to assist anyway I can. by the way don't think you will get the bow shoot a few arrows and be in the woods harvesting deer that night. shooting instinctively takes a little time and practice, but once you got it, it's there forever. Then cann't use the excuse that sights was off, bumped the rest, peep moved. Been there done that, let me know and enjoy, todd