I like trad bow hunting since I first saw a bow and last year I got my chance to start and I was ordering a 45lb recurve with arrows and everything on ebayand I was outbid in the last minute so whoever you are thanks for crushing a kids dreams, so I started with a compound that is 57lbs and it is now to small and I am raising money this summer to get a viper deluxe longbow and I don't know what poundage to getI thought about 45 or 50 because I pulled a 55lb back at the store and it seemed pretty easy (just to add I am a BIG kid not fat but sturdy and very strong) and i used to go 100 to 150 shots with the compound with 10% let off without stopping, I even tried to make a bow but no success yet and I want a bowI can hunt with,is it a good choice.

Thanks,Matt

Matt, go down at least 10 pounds from your compound, I did and actually started with a 50 pound and then moved up to 55# bow.

Yah Matt I am just a bginer my self. I went from a 60lb compound with some letoff to a 45lb recurve, and now I am at at 60lb longbow. I have strugled alittle with the extra weight, it wasnt that bad. My first sestions were just getting my strenght up, now I am realy working on acuracy, and it is coming slow but sure.

This is my opinion you dont want to over bow your self to much but at the same time you dont want a bowthat you paied good money for to be to week for you after a few weeks of shooting. It sounds like you are on the young side and may still be growing, if that is the case I woulod look for a cheaper light bow to get your start with and then once youget were you want to be get a nice bow that will be with you for a long time.

I am in the same boat when it comes to money, I hade to work a few side jobs just so I could get my bow, and now I cant afored arrows.

As longbow said a 50 is a great waight to start at, from what I have read and been told it will bring down most animals in the woods. I know a lady who killed a 400lb black bear with a 45 lb at about 26in draw.

Good luckin finding a bow,and just so ya know these guys on here are real good guys and have tuns of great info to share.