The Mind

take the compound, removes the peep, sights, mechnical release , elevated rests and letoff and then let me know

its tremendously more difficult - thats why most people shoot compounds when bowhunting. They're vastly easier to fill tags with.

LBR

I'd say it depends on the person and the situation. I've seen folks take to a longbow like a duck to water, and I've seen folks really struggle. I know I can make some shots with my longbow that I couldn't consider with a compound.

If you get right down to the basic stand-up, shoot down an open lane at a broadside target at 30 yds, the compound is easier. It's easier to hold, with lots of gadgets to compensate for your mistakes. With a beginner, it's generally easier to hit a dot with a compound. Moving targets are usually a whole different deal. Several years ago, I worked a 12 hr. night shift--we got off work at 7 a.m. Some of the guys would come over and shoot their bows with me--they were all compound shooters. One of them couldn't hit a barn from the inside with a recurve if the target was sitting still, BUT.........I got him to try flu-flu's on aerial targets, and after a few shots he seldom missed!

Everyone is different--but if you enjoy archery, I think you will love trad bows.

Chad

The Mind

there is a reason 95% or more bowhunters use compounds - they're easier

deerhunter518

Shooting a long bow for me is like shooting at ducks with a shotgun. Its all hand eye cordination. When shooting a compound bow its like shooting a rifle at a deer you need to aim

LBR

That's a pretty good evaluation. My bet is out of that 95% that uses compounds, 80% haven't even tried a traditional bow--they have already decided it's "too hard" before they even give it a chance--at least that's been my experience. I've had a hand in converting a lot of these guys, who discovered (to them anyway) it's not as hard as they thought. Gobs of critters were killed by lots of hunters before compounds ever came along.

Of those that I personally have seen try both, each has advantages and disadvantages--very much like the shotgun/rifle comparison. I could shoot a compound well enough, and more accurately in some situations, but over-all it was a big hinderance. I didn't have anyone to help me get started with trad bows--I picked it up because I got fed up with the mechanical side of compounds (I do good to change the oil in my truck--I'm not mechanically minded at all). I have out-shot several compound shooters, when I pick the shots, and I've seen others out-shoot compounds when neither of them picked the shot (mainly novelty shoots, unknown yardage, uneven terrain, etc.).

Chad