RE: Compound or recurve?
 

idahoelkinstructor I've hunted antelope stalking and they're tough. I've done it myself elk hunting almost every year for the last 12 years and yes, it too is tough, but very do-able. I've killed several decent bulls, that was with compound though. 1st year I trad hunted for elk I shot over a nice 6x6 opening morning ARGHHH !

But yes, changing equipment isn't the only way to greater the hunt - leave the tree stand at home, the scent clothing, the blinds etc etc. is well worth it when the path less taken is taken isn't it ?

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Mathews: OK, back to the original question. Well not the answer of course, that would be too easy.[8D]If you go the traditional route, get a copy of Byron Ferguson's book, Become the Arrow. It will really get you off to a good start if you follow his method and stick to it. Like I said, shortdistances in the beginning. Tape your big X on the target and have at it. I never tried any of his training aids, like the drawing aids etc because I had already killed a lot of deer the 24 yearsbefore the book came out. But his book is really good. I was a self taught recurve guy with my form coming off the movies or pictures. I purchased another recurve a couple years ago and wanted to change to improve so I bought Byrons book. It's really good. If you take the time and do as he says, like not over shooting, concentrate yada yada yada..... you'll be way ahead of the game. AND, it'll stay with you. Good luck.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Thanks guys. I really appreciate all the help you guys have given. Although the topic might have strayed just a little, thats perfectly fine with me. I think I am going to go the recurve route. I'd like to do compound too but can't afford that much after spending over a grand at Cabela's the other day. You know what I mean.;);)

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Get the book and get the best recurve you can afford. You know a really great recurve or long bow will cost more than most compounds. For a first bow, don't blow your money paying extra for something like a take down. Just buy a great one piecer to begin with.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

I've went through a LOT of bows ......... some fit and some didn't I always gravitated to 3 piece TD longbows for their combination of quietness, shootability, good speeds and nice balances between recurve/longbows.

I'd suggest a 62"-64" bow in teh low 50 pound range @ 28". Assuming you're not terribly short armed or long armed, a bow like that would suit you well. $300-400 buys you a very nice used higher end recurve, whereas a higher end compound is a few hundred more.

PM me and I'll give you some web sites to browse and make reccomendations etc if you'd like

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

What would you recommend for a recurve if you shoot a bare bow 30" arrow @ 72#? How does a recurve differ from a compound as far as your setup. I know there's no let-off so that high a draw weight is not good, but what other differences are there?

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Byron Ferguson recommends that if you are going from a compound to a traditional type bow you should figure on something about 15 pounds less than you're use to shooting.Also, do to differences in draw, anchor shooting styles your draw length will be 1-2 inches shorter. All traditional equipmentis measured as X pounds at 28 inches. Of course if your draw is longer you'll be pulling more than the listed pounds so take that into consideration(shorter draw than 28 will be less poundage to pull). I like 55 to 60 pounds but that's me. I'd say at least get a 50 pound so you can hunt comfortably with it and expect it to kill something. Again, I prefer at least 55.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Talondale,

A lot depends on bow design..... There are bows out there that will out perform others bows that may be 10lbs heavier.... For instance, you could get the same perfomance from a 45lb bow as you would from a 55lb bow... The less weight you can use and get the same desired performance, the better IMO....

55lbs will be tough for you to handle at first..... Your shoulders have to adjust to the way a trad bow draws..... But it can be done.... Take your time and work your way into it.... I prefer bows in the 48-52 lb range.... Those bows will kill anything in N. America..... It's all about shot placement.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Maybe, but if he's shooting 72 pounds currently with a 30inch draw, he should beable to handle 55. His draw length with a recurve will probably come out around 28 1/2 + or -. He'd be pulling around 55 pounds, 17 pounds under his current weight. He should beable to do it fine. Go try a couple after you read the book.:D Yes it would be easier to learn with a 48-50 pound bow, but that extra 5-7 pounds would be nice for hunting. He won't be holding the weight for more than a second or two. I was trying to avoid having to buy another bow in 6 months.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Good advice. I shot 70lbs with my compounds set at 60% let off. My hunting recurves range from 50lb to 55lbs at 28", so im pulling about 54 to 60lbs respectively. My fishing recurve is even less, its 40lb at 28" so Im pulling about 44lb to 45lb on my fishing rig.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

everyone is different as far as strength. My buddy can bench press 3 times what I can but can't handle a 57# bow very well - go figure.

go to a local shot that has some recurve and longbows and try them. Its a very simplistic way to shoot - focus, draw, hit your anchor and release. If you're not cross-dominant in eye vs hand, you can use a sighting method lik eusing the shaft as a point of aim. if you are cross dominant like I am, its impossible to do, and you'll have to create your own method, something like Howard Hill had.

Some people shoot target style (Yen) some people shoot head bent to side (Hill) some people look gorgeous in their form (Bear) and some people hunch up like their pooping (Fred Asbell) - develope your own.


Its tough. Your first arrows will go EVERYWHERE and I mean not within 2 feet of where you wanted them to.


But when you get it down, and go into the woods stump shooting and pop a clump of grass that you didn't know was 34 yards away by simply focusing, drawing and releasing using no sights, no mechanical devices - just you the string and the bow - its a magical thing. Taking a deer with trad equipment is the a whole different ballgame

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

I'm a crotchetty old fart 62 years old that has a hard timepulling myselfout of bed and I can handle 55 pounds on my recurve easily. GO figure.[8D][8D] I know what you mean Porker about muscle man not being able to do it. My buddy that doesn't bow hunt wanted to try and shoot my bow on a turkey trip a couple years ago. He goes to the gym every day, lifts weights 3 days a week, can carry me around but couldn't break my 70 pound compound over no matter how many times he tried. It really got in his head.LOL

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Like ya'll said, a lot of it depends on the style you shoot... I have a much more up right target form.... I hold at full draw for several seconds... Therefore I prefer a lighter weight bow.... If you are a touch and got type guy, you can handle much more weight.....

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Double Creek, I learned from the get go on a 55 pound recurve 35 years ago. I used to shoot much like you do only more rinky dink. I had a sight on my old recurve. With my latest bow I'm doing it the Byron Ferguson way from the get go. I figure I've been away from trad long enough to forget my old style. I used to have the bow upright and all that, draw, anchor and release. I'm really getting into this canted bow, lean, draw, hit the anchor and it's gone. I got it back to 15 and 20 yard shot pretty quickly. I guess after shooting 15 million[8D] arrows in 35 years you get the feel of what a bow will do once you shoot an arrow. 15 is a given but I'll drop some at 20 that tells me I'm not ready for takiing it to the woods just yet. I had a little trouble at first but was worrying too much about the gap and not the spot. Now I don't even think gap. I just have to get more religious about practicing. When I get to where I'm comfy with 25 I'll take it to the woods. You can't pick it up once a week and build any muscle memory. I've just tinkered with it until now. Too many other things going on in my life... or should I say Non-life.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Good deal davidmil!! I hope you come back 100% trad! With the adventures you have, it would make for some fun reading!

From what I've seen at tournaments, if you can consistently hit the kill zone at 20yds, you will be ahead of the pack..... Most seem to limit themselves to 15yds and under..... Its really a shame...... With the proper work and form, 25yd accuracy is not unattainable.....

And like you, when I start dropping shots at 20yds, 9 times out of 10 it is b/c I wasn't concentrating on the spot.... I was either thinking about the gap, thinking about my bow arm, thinking about my back tension, or thinking about my release.... Your dang brain can really get in the way! If you just let it go and trust it, it will AMAZE you!!!

One thing I have to continuously work on is getting that subconscience release..... Itseasier said than done...... Ever since I've gone to a more target style, I've gotten much more accurate, but it is also much more critical that form is correct..... One slight mistake and I seem to miss worse than when I was just touch and go...... I'm getting there, it will just take time and work...... My goal is 10 ring accuracy out to 25yds on EVERY shot.....

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

I read an articl on Sentman the other day. He said he was a lanky fellow all his life, never real muscular - and never met a bow he couldn't full draw. I think 170 or 180 pounds was the heaviest he ever drew, his common, everyday bows are 90 pound longbows. His theory is that some people have more tendons and ligaments - or they're just different - and that muscles really don't aid that much in drawing a bow back.

I found it an interesting article because I'm a small guy, I'm weak upper body, yet somehow I manage to get things done, like shooting a bow, that stronger men find unable to do.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

Matthew, I'd really suggest posting your question about which recuve/longbow typeand poundage over on the Traditional Forum. You have been given some good info here from some current andsome ex-trad shooters, but there are a few more hardcores over on the the trad formum that won't post elsewhere. Could get some more good info over there.

Bob

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

To show you the level of consistancy you can have, Flhunters son, Eric, was up here to hunt with Len and I 3 years ago. The boy is fantastic. He can shoot better than a lot of compound folks. He can cut X's all day long. He's just plain deadly. He practiced and practiced and still practices religiously. He will make you shake your head. He shot 2 deer in two days at our place. I found some scrapes and things a week before they came and stayed out of that area to give Eric or Flhunter a chance at him. When Eric got here I took him out, showed the spot to him and we hung a stand. That night he shot a smaller deer and the next morning shot this one. I'm sure Eric could outshoot a lot of compound shooter here. He's always at the top of the heap in tournaments. Eric and his Dad, Flhunter who is also a very accomplished archer with compound and trad equip. Note the blood right where they heart is. Both deer were shot in the same spot. If I remember correctly he dressed at 168 or 166 and only made it 20 yards.

RE: Compound or recurve?
 

a key to any success