Recurve/longbow/Compound
 

To the many Bowhunters that have hunted with BOTH conventional rercurve or Longbow & Compounds. Do you take longer shots with Compounds & if so why?

53 Bowhunting years total.

I took 38 Biggame animals (Deer, Elk, Hogs) with Recurves & wood/fiberglass arrows in my 1st 18 years of Bowhunting.
(one) Longest was 1 Buck at 55 yds but average was 25 yds & under. Average Bow weight 60#s

Next 35 years with compound (Deer, Elk, Bears, Caribou, hogs & more) 70#s until 6 years ago & dropped to 60#s.
Longest shots-2 Elk at 35 yds (1-70#s 1-60#s), 1 Buffalo at 42 yds with 60#s(Rangefinder used). My average on 100+ Biggame animals with Compound has been under 25 yds..

I find after all these years I still shoot the same distances as I did with recurves. Why? Even though arrow material & Bows are more efficient I still feel it is in MY ABILITY to make a accurate killing shot that is the determining factor.
In todays New Archer "I" feel more emphasis on tackle determines
how far they shoot & their "true" ability takes a back seat to good judgement in many cases..not always but often.

Back in my recurve tourny days I "KNEW" I could spot out on a 28 target field course through 6o yds as my scores showed it.
I knew I could KILL a Deer at 60 yds with my Hunting recurve but would never attempt it.

Not a debate -just seeing if YOUR tackle makes a difference in your judgement. I doubt if many have much experience using BOTH....

Your shots with your trad bow DWARF mine. I took 21 big game animals with the compound before switching to trad, this year. So far, two whitetails down with my recurve.

Avg. shot distance on the 21 compounds animals? Less than 17yds. Longest kill was 33yds. Avg. shot dist. with the recurve? Less than 15yds (long of 17 and short of 12).

I wouldn't dream of shooting at a whitetail at 33yds with my recurve. NO reason to (where I hunt). I call that a "sighting". If I lived out west, I'd probably feel differently.

I DO hope to extend my max eff. range for my elk trip, next year. I'd like to go there with 30-40yds not bothering me in the least (on an animal with 2 sq. ft. of vitals area).

Sounds so much more worldly than deer don't it. :lmao:

Are you still biting at my ankles? Don't you have a side of beef to eat, or something?

The tone of this thread gives me a warm, fuzzy "I'm home" sort of feeling.:)

That turkey is a booner, any plains game photos?

I've been bow hunting only for 24 years. I used a compound the 1st 9 or so of them years and now have been using a recurve since, the same one to be exact. My yardage hasn't changed In the least from compound to my recurve and probably never will. My max yardage with my compound was In that 20 to 25 yard range and on most days my max yardage with my recurve Is In that 20 yard range, sometimes 25 If I'm on fire with my shooting. Will I ever be comfortable taking a 30 yard shot with my recurve? I don't know, can't answer that until the time comes.

It makes a huge difference to me. I'm lucky to be consistent at over 15 yards with my longbow, but 20 - 30 yards with my compound is a slam dunk.

I don't know if the problem with the longbow is me, the bow or just that I need someone to show me how to get the right arrow set up or what. All I know is that while I haven't gotten a deer with my longbow yet, if I can get one at 15 yards or less now, I can kill it. I'm still waiting for that to happen.

LMAO!!!

I hunted with a Recurve for years and I'd say my longest kill would have been close to 30. The Compound is a totally different weapon and IMHO has a much longer effective range. I've killed more than a couple whitetail, mule deer, elk, etc. at 40, 50 yards. Longest being 83 and 84 yards. I limit my shots to 50 or less now because the eyesight is not what it used to be.
Anyone that is a serious consistent shooter should be able to kill deer with a modern compound out to 40 yards when conditions are right!

That is the Tricky part knowing when an ethical shot is there and when it is Not. I'd say most can hit the vitals on a Deer at 40 yards in the backyard, but in a hunting situation on a live animal it's a different ballgame.
Still the over 100 animals I've killed with a Bow I'm sure my average shot would be 25 yards or less. The 8 point I killed last week was shot at 23 yards, and the 4X4 Mule Deer I killed last winter was a 26 yard shot. Last years 10 point was also only 23 yards.

Dan

I shot at a hippo, once, Jim. You don't have a twin....do you?

I could have, I've heard said we all have a twin. :cool2:

But I guess "heads of big game" is a relative term.

This fish in this picture is a great fish, but I do not preface it by numbering the blue gills I have also caught. :arms:

Jim:

Last time I checked, Jim.....whitetails and turkeys were big game animals (they are in my state). What I said in my original post was simply FACT.

But, like always, your fat ass chases me around in here like a puppy....looking to start something.

Congratulations on ruining another thread.

Lighten up Francis, in this post there "deer and turkeys." In your first post some newbies might have mistaken you for a globe trotting game slaying professional.Instead of a everyday bow hunter.
Sorry for the ego busting, I know how Modesty pains you. :wave:

Modesty?....lol I don't know anyone MORE self-depricating re: their hunting prowess (or lack, thereof) than me. I made a thread doing JUST this, yesterday on "the other site".

I AM just an everyday bowhunter....who's taken 24 big game animals by compound and recurve in 3 years.

Congratulations on your early success. I hope it continues for you, I enjoy the reading.

How many different species of big game have you been fortunate to bag.
Any more species in the near future?

The thread wasn't about "species". I cited "Big game animals". That's what I've killed. If you don't like the terminology....have the definitions changed. If it's really about you "don't like the poster", just say so (although it's quite evident by your childish behavior).

Seems the only unflattering words are coming from you, I have shown nothing but interest and praise for your success.

I would do the same if I were interested in fire fighting, if a fire fighter stated he had fought say 30 fires, would I be wrong to want to know how many of them were structure fires, and how many were camp fires? :confused0024:

They were all bg game animals. That's really all you need to know (more, actually...as the actual animals have NOTHING TO DO with this thread).

Jim...the "innocent" card....you don't have in your deck. Your intentions towards me are and have always been blaringly evident.

Since you don't shoot a traditional bow....I'd ask what your relevance in this thread is in the 1st place?????

I myself feel no one has any reason to shoot an animal past 30 yards with a barebow(traditional longbow/recurve with no sights). And I am not saying that because I can't do it. I can't. But I have yet to meet any archer who can consistently hit a 6" target out to 55 or 60 yards. Even tourney archers, and tricker shooters. Have I taken animals out to 55 yards with a traditional barebow? Yes. Should I? Absolutely not. It was irresponsible and lucky. I have seen Stacie Groscup, Fred Asbell, Bryan Fergonson, all shoot, and I know they cannot consistently hit out to those distances. Maybe your the rare one.

Once again hash words from you, when all I did was asked you to clarify your statements.

And as far as traditional archery goes you have a ways to go before you can claim superiority over many guys here.

As for me, I was killing deer with a recurve before you were putting your big boy pants on for dinner at the country club.:wave:

I'd be extremely lucky to hit my Morrell Outdoor Range Target at 55 - 60 yards with my longbow.

That's an extremely vivid imagination you have there, Jim. Wanna quote me doing some of this?

As far as I know.....you've killed one deer in your life. I'm not sure you even hunt....and I question why you peruse these forums....if all you seem to do is stir ****.

And thankfully I don't need your, or any but some close friends acknowledgment of my success to sleep well at night, although your achievements as trivial as some are require a wide spectrum of accolades before you are able to so braggadociosly continue your search for fame and notoriety. :hail:

Let's see some pics. OK....One?

Do you read what you write, Jim....lol? I mean....that must be some life you live there....if this is what you're reduced to.

"Braggadaciously"? Is that a word? And does this (a quote from me, YESTERDAY) sound like somebody "bragging"?.....lol

Have you eaten EVERYTHING in the house....and you're just bored, now?

While you were playing golf some of us grew up hunting, its a thing you do when you live in N.W. PA.

Shocking as it might be to you bow tech wasn't around in the late 70's neither were digital cameras or even cell phones.
Bear recurves and, yes wooden arrows were the norm. Yes, I still have mine ,thanks.

Hell Al Gore hadn't even invented the Internet when I shot my first deer with a bow, we just hung them up, skinned them,cut them up and ate them, it really isn't that giant accomplishment, really its just a deer.

No argument from me! Are you REALLY resorting to attempting to diminish others' accompishments as a pass-time, now, though? What's your motive, here? And...what does what I was doing 10yrs ago have to do with ANYTHING?....lol! Why you choose to want to "compare" me with anyone (in any era) else is laughable, to me....and only bolsters my assessment of your sad life. Do you have NOTHING better to do, Jim? You're coming across at the fat chick who's sitting at home on dance night.

I'm sitting at home cause I have the flu, and really its not so bad, I have my laptop and thats all I need to play you like a Stradivarius, it really is quite easy, and less stressful than trying to shoot and cough at the same time.

Yesterday was a little more fun, but I know how distasteful gun hunting is to you so I didn't post this.

Bawanajim\gmmat, the above quote is why we are here. If you two can't be nice or even act like adults please go elsewhere to flame each other.:mad:

I thought the picture of my dog was nice. He's a great Pup,

I wouldn't mind seeing a picture myself of these dozens up on dozens of traditional kills Jim is saying he is all about.

Come on Jim, indulge us.

I'll give a run of some pics with recurve & distance shot & year.
My 1st deer in 1958 (3rd year archery/2nd year Bowhunting) shot at 35 yds on the ground with 45#s & wood arrow-double lung, complete pass thru, went 30 yds.

Oh, another note. I shot the Barebow division most the time shooting recurves & posted ONE 560 Animal rounds with consistent scores of over 500. My average 28 target field rounds in those days was 480 with a few over 500 (520 being my best).


even though I COULD shoot very well at long distance my average shots on animals was less than 25.

I shot 4 animals last year 1@25 yds., 1 @ 5 yds., 1 @ 10 yds. & 1 at 10 feet from my stand. thats about 10.5 yd average.

1965 shot at 20 yds. with 58#s, wood arrow. Charged me & fell 10 feet from me. Double lung-arrow lodged in oposite shoulder.

1965-my 1st antlers-shot at 20 yds, double lungs, pass through & went about 40 yds. stand-On the ground.

1964-shot at 30 yds. went ZERO yds. Broke back. 65#s & wood arrow. Ground stand.

1990 Caribou-ground stand-shot at 10 yds, 70#s & dropped in tracks-arrow entered rib cage & deflected insde cutting the spine also. (on video).

1982-shot @ 18 yds while standing 7 feet up a tree trunk in a deadfall. double lung, complete pass thru, went 30 yds-watched him drop. 70#s.

2003-shot at 25 yds from a 10' ladder stand. Double lungs, complete pass thru, went 40 yds. 70#s

1990-15 yd shot with 70#s-heart shot, complete pass thru went 25 yds. On film-Bear scored 19". 14' tree stand.

2008-25 yd shot complete pass thru, double lungs & went 25 yds. 60#s 12 foot tree stand. thats it fellas-now lets hear from some others.

I plan on using one of my old recurves to fill a Bonus Doe tag AFTER I fill my Buck tag that I have eaten for the past 5 years (by choice-passing many younger Bucks).
Why am I not using my recurve now for the Buck? Because I only practice with it about once every two weeks through 30 yds...

ahunter:

MUCHO respect! I was BORN in 1964! .....lol

Thanks for sharing those AWESOME photos!