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- - older bows (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/bowhunting/128787-older-bows.html)

just wondering if anyone on here shot older bows. right now im shooting a xi legacy I think its close to 10 maybe 11 years old and I love it heavy as hell but shoots awsome. when I hold these new bows they feel like kids toys after packing my bow around. but I dont think ill be getting rid of it anytime soon. actually I killed a doe at 46 yards this year with it. sorry for the long story but I was wondering if anyone else on here shot the older bows

I still have my Bear White Tail II. bought it new and killed so many deer w/ it decided not to get rid of it. besides if my others get stolen. they wouldnt steal this one. LOL !!!! I could go hunting on the go.

I have a year or 2 old Browning Backdraft not sure what year it is a friend of mine gave it to me. This thing shoots smooth and on target. Haven't had a chance to get in the woods with it yet.

My current bow is a Proline Mountain Bow that I bought back in 1996.I've had several bows over the years, but I really liked the feel of this bow.I've taken lots of deer with it. I've shot these newer bows and they sure are smooth shooting compared to my bow. Maybe some day I'll get me something new.

Two of my current favorite bows are Wing recurves made in the mid-60's. I think they qualify as older bows. ;)

its good to see im not the only one shootin older bows. ive been lookin at the new bows but ill just hang on to my legacy. gives me more money to spend on guns lol

I still use my Bear whiteTail hunter, That I got from my dad, and every year I bag a buck

Hello all, i'm new to these forums but had to respond. I just killed a 9 point with a Bear polar, probably 15 years old. Yes they are noisy but they have killed a lot of dear. I think the bow market has some people brainwashed into thinking they have to have a new bow every couple of years. I just bought a Bear realtree extreme, it's not new but way newer than the old polar. Look forward to talking to you all. Mike

I'm with djkiller - Bear Whitetail Hunter II. I think it's 1984? I shoot instinct and fingers and it works great. 2217's fly nice and straight.

I shoot both my older bows and my new ones as well, but my older bows were top of the line when theywere new. I can see keeping and owning a top of the line olderbow, but a entry level older bow doesn't make much since to me. Anywaymy older bows are these, I have a 1991 Golden Eagle Formula 3D that I can never part with it. It killed my first archery bull elk (a spike), as well as a few other elk. I also have a 1997 Martin Fury, it killed my first 6x6 bull elk and of course italso tookother elk as well. Last year my wife bought me a Mathews Switchback that I love and will not part with for a long time if at all.After a bow of mine makes a kill on a elkit feels like it becomes part of me, and it would hurt to part with the memories. AnywayI admit the Switchback is so smooth and nice to shoot compared to my older bows. But I still shoot the others from time to time too just for fun. I know that if needs be I could still pick up my Fury or Formula 3D, and go kill a elk. saltflyz. Not trying to rain on your parade but my dad had the Bear Whitetail II as well whenwe first started out trying archery together in 1988, he didn't like it and either did I. He sold it and bought another bottom of the line entry level bow from a different company. Nothing real changed much and as a result he hated shooting his bow, he knew he needed to practice but it was a chore for him rather than enjoyment. Becasue lack of practice he wasn't confident come hunting season, sure he had fun being in the mountains and scouting for rifle season, but he never took archery serious. I on the other hand took archery very serious and did shoot mybow, and practice as needed. Starting out I had a new but entry level Golden EagleFalcon that I used for 3 years, After I started learning a bit and trying different bows, I didn't likethe falconmuch eitherbecause Iknew what made a good shooting bow and thatfalcon didn't have it. I honestly can say Ididn't like shooting the falcon much eitherafter I learned what I liked and disliked. When I bought my Formula 3D, I thought I died and went to heaven because the 3D was so much better than the Falcon at the time.My dadthough thought I was crazy paying $340 dollars for the newbow, he was already starting to give upon archery all together and I remember himme that anyone who kills a elk with a bow isvery lucky and the elk is realy dumb. And its almost inpossible to be succesful time after time with archery hunting for elk. Well after my forth or fifth elk archery kill he changed his mind about that.But even now he still has no desire to archery hunt, and he doen't own a bow anymore.Take this for what its worth but the old bear is not much fun to shoot, well at least it wasfor my father and I, its was no different than my Falcon that I started out with. I could be wrong but I bet if my dad had a better bow thatwas more accurateand forgiving he would have given archery a serious try.If I were you I would maybe try out several and buy a newer bow, not onlyshould it be muchmore fun to shoot. But it should be more accurate as well,the result is it will build confidence, and that in turn will help you become successful with archery hunting. After you have a few archery kills under youbelt, challenge yourself then pick up your old bear bow and go kill something with it. Just my advice and 2 cents. Jason

I got a Whitetail II for Christmas one year and I've never been so excited about a Christmas present. It was the Cat's Meow for me at the time. I took a few deer with it but it was so heavy and loud I grew to dislike it after a few years. I got a Golden Eagle Evolution and hunted for 7-8 years with it and took several deer with it also. My cousin still shoots that bow and enjoys it.

I have a XI Legacy also!! The best bow I have ever owned or shot (JMO). And I have shot and owned alot of bows over the years! Just to keep up with the times I have Bought a new bow every couple years. If XI would not have had money problems or whatever it was that put them under I probably would still be shooting them.
I want to bring it out of retirement but it don't look so good being that I will be purchasing a Hoyt Trykon very soon!
One problem with the XI is the size of the handle compared to the new bows. Big difference when you have not shot it in so many years. At least for me it is! But anyways "xihunter" the XI Legacy is surely an awesome bow!