Washington Hunter

Which is better, a compound or a recurve? I've got a Recurve and I've been thinking of doing a little hunting for carp this summer, but i was also thinking about picking up a cheap, used compound at a pawn shop and setting it up for them. Which would be the better bet?

Carpn

Either will w fine....I'd say you'd be better off using a recurve than using a high letoff compound...Low letoff compounds work good but high letoff ones are tougher to shoot fast due to the jerk when the cams breakover...I use Firebrand bows which are similar to Oneidas cept they have no cams or wheels..The nice thing about them is you can adjust the letoff from 0-99%...I shoot mine with the letoff in the 30% range..That way I can still snap shoot quickly.

Bulzeye

Yup.
Snap shooting is the way to go.
I can do it with my compound that is setup for deer if I just add the reel, but a quick handling recurve is best.
No sights, or gizmos, just something to hold your line.

Get a shorter ATA length bow. Longer ones can be a pain if you are shooting from the shore with reeds in the way, or when trying to climb over stuff when wading.

JRW

Buy one of each. On windy days you can tie a rope around the riser of the compound, throw it into the water, and it'll keep your boat from drifting.

HNI_Christine

Now, now JRW....

Washington Hunter, if you already have the recurve, then by all means use it.

A recurve has several advantages over compounds in bowfishing. They are lighter (usually), faster to shoot (usually), and you don't have to come to full draw (nice when the fish are really close or in log jams).

Me, I shoot a 17 year old compound that weighs 7lbs. Why? Because it's more challenging...

(okay, actually I'm too cheap to get a better bow)

JRW

It was said tongue in cheek. No need for anyone to go get their peep sights in a wad. Some of my best hunting buddies shoot compounds. I pray for their hethan souls.

Besides, I figure I earned a few sarcasm credits for not responding to the crossgun thread. [X(]

Washington Hunter

Ok, well I was leaning more towards the recurve anyhow due to the fact that I'm cheap. Now, what I'm wondering is how will the water affect the bow if at all? I got this recurve when I was 8, it was my very first bow, and I'd really rather not have it get messed up if the water is going to ruin it.

Carpmaster

I havent experienced any water damage on mine yet, i would definitely recommend the recurve.

E.J.D.

water wont hurt it...dropping it on the rocks, the deck, hitting trees if wading, that might mess it up. actually, the things that will mess up a wood bow, #1 insect repellant. some of that stuff can do a number on the finish. believe it or not, ive seen more damage to bows done by a sloppy, or off center cabled arrow. the loop in the noc end falls toward the riser and rips them up. especially those thick mono cables. the crimp on those are huge, and ive seen them gouge a bow a quarter inch deep!

HNI_Christine

Ah, I knew you were kidding Jason. (btw, what's a peep sight? Is it like a clicker? snicker...) I do have a nice Browning Nomad recurve that I could use for bowfishing but it's too pretty....


Washington Hunter, your bow will get a protective layer of carp slime on it which will protect it from any water. (kidding... well, it will get carp slime on it) My husband shoots a recurve and it's getting some nicks from being bounced around in the boat, but no water damage.