RE: anyone start out traditional?
Yes I started out shooting a Darton hunting bow and bought a Bear kodiac later. I bagged a couple whitetails and shot quite a few cottontails and squirrels over 10 years. I was not to consistant to say the least. I shot many arrows that flew over and under the deer. One time I emptied my quiver on a doe and never did hit her.
I've shot compounds for many years now and have to say I make many more good clean kills which I could not have done with the recurve.
I still want to get out the recurve and harvest a deer one of these years again. Have fun.