I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I have been pondering the dynamics of Elk hunting and how my style jives with my equipment. I've thought of the weird and surprising angles at which the bulls have come in and how many times I had to make adjustments, click on my release etc. I seriously think that bow hunting elk is better done with a recurve. It's quick release is the key. I also will go in after a bull if it is hanging up, and again the advantage goes to a recurve. Maybe it's time to dump some of my gear and focus on a simplier style with an emphasis on hunting and not equipment.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

There's nothing wrong with recurves, but I've had good success with a stripped downcompound and finger release. Don't know if your bow is suitable for that though. You'd likely need to change your rest, unless you shoot a whisker bisquit, which some guys shoot well with fingers.

But like I said, nothing wrong with recurves. I'd shoot a bow with enough weight for elk, say 65 lbs or so. A good fixed blade broadhead and an arrow with some mass will get the job done.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

Sounds like you spend a lot of time not being ready for the moment of truth.:D[8D]

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

Muley, I don't think there is any doubt that recurves allow a lot more flexibility in hunting situations than compounds do. They are far better than compounds when you have to act fast or lose an opportunity... especially when you're hunting in heavy cover and those elk just suddenly appear, close enough to blow snot on you.[:-];)

By the way, I think it stinks that some moderator didn't think this was an appropriate subject for the bowhunting forum. Don't know why pondering whether a recurve might be better suited for certain hunting situations than a compound would be any different than comparing single cams to duals and hybrids, or fingers release vs mechanical release, or carbon arrows vs aluminum. It's definitely a bowhunting question and most certainly falls under the guidelines to be allowed on that forum.

If we're not allowed to mention traditional gear on that forum any longer, I won't be participating there again. [>:]

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

TAP TAP TAP......

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

Ive just got into recurve and longbow shooting in the last year and iam hanging up my compound(s).Going totally trad this year.
There are some people that think us trad shooters are not worth the time of day,because they are so selfcenterd on the compound.I was at a cabelas in Rogers Mn and no one would even say (can I help you)when I was looking at there poor inventory in trad gear.But when someone walked up to the counter with the compounds,they were all over em.I did e-mail cabelas about this and they called me.I explaned what happend,the day time and what I was wearing.I think they looked at thier vidio.
Anyway we as recurve or longbow shooters are frowned on by alot of compound shooters.They think there(u-know what)dont stink.
MYSELF I dont care what you shoot as long as you are good at it.....

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

Interesting perspective. When I told my co-workers that I bought a recurve and am learning to shoot instinctively, they acted like I was the archery snob. They were just joking around but as they either have shot traditional and modern bows or are familar with both, they believe traditional archery is much more difficult and seem to respect that.
Maybe the folks at Cabelas prefer to assist those interested in compound equipment because that's what they shoot and there is a lot more after market "stuff" to add. I don't know if they get a commission but I'd rather sell a compound bow with a new sight, rest, stabilizer, limb savers, string silencer and all the other goodies than a recurve and the basic accessories.
Just my two cents.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

My experience at the Bass Pro headquarters earlier this year was similar, but I found out after talking to the guys (very young guys) behind the counter that they just didn't know squat about trad bows--if I'd needed any help, they couldn't have offered it. They did seem to know a lot about compounds though.

Dunno why the thread was moved, but it's welcome here.

One of the main reasons I swapped to trad bows was for the sake of simplicity--I missed a slam-dunk shot on a nice buck (I think I literally could have killed it with a big rock--it was that close to my tree) because my sights got bumped (no doubt about it--left the woods and checked). Quick shots and awkward shots are much easier, to me anyhow, with trad bows. Some shots that we have at trad tournaments would be very difficult or impossible with a compound. One I always loved when I went to mixed shoots was the super-close shot--it drove the compound guys nuts.

Over-all, I think trad bows are better suited for hunting.

That pretty much says it all.

Chad

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

My basic recurve and basic needs for that recurve ran over 600 bucks,I know I can buy a compond with said items for around 400 bucks.But thats not the point.The point is some(not all)compound shooters snub there noses at us trad shooters.
The whole reason I went to trad shooting is that after 23yrs of shootingcompounds I felt it was no longer a challange,witch is why I went from rifle hunting to compound to start with.Now I just want a harder challange,my friends think Iam nuts for going to recurve.I just tell them dont knock it till youve tried it.
Just to make it even,I know trad shooters that wouldnt give me the time of day at the range when I was there with my compound.
so it goes both ways.
I can now say Ive been on both sides of the fence.
One dosnt realise it untill youve been there.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

B O G that is a vaild point BUT......I would rather have customers come back and by more then not have that customer not come back at all.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

Ranger,

Point taken. I believe it comes down to Cabelas' perception of the market and simple economics. Is there a market for traditional bows and accessories? Absolutely. We're a testimony to that fact. Which is the larger market? Compounds or traditional? Apparently, according to their market analysis, it must be the compound market. There must be more people shooting compounds, therefore they are supplying to meet that demand. If there are more people shooting compounds, the human resource pool from which to draw skews toward competency in compound bows and equipment. We by nature, tend to discuss things we are either interested in or know something about. Therefore, if Cabelas is hiring people with experience in the compound area, they would tend to lean towards wanting to assist potential customers interested in that equipment. They shouldn't avoid the traditional equipment like the plague... that's just bad business practice. If the items are in your product portfolio, you better have at least a minimal amount of knowledge about said equipment.
Anyway, this lack of knowledge and products opens the door for smaller businesses to fill that niche. Again... just my two cents.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

Main reason I started shooting longbow was for boar hunting. I was using a compound but getting drawed and anchored and aimed, and that son of a gun about ran over me. I could have had an arrow off and climbed a tree by the time I got the shot off. Also boar hunting, they tend to get bayed in dark cover, and a peep didn't work for me. But wiht a longbow, I got both eyes open and easier to see.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I got my recurve for the same reason bigcountry. To hunt hogs. It can get up close and personal and on many occasions I just don't have time to get ready with my compound. I won't hang up the Diamond yet but I won't be spending as much time with it.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I think you're right on the money muley! ;)

Huh, I can't believe the moderators moved it. Maybethey should change the forumtothe COMPOUND BOWHUNTING forum. [:@]

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I bought my 2 recurves and longbow from Sportsman Wharehouse.I went there after the cabelas deal.when I went to the Archery counter at S.W they were more then happy to help me out with whatever ? I had,and 3 out of the 4 guys shot both or all 3 types of bows.When I go back there the 1st thing they say to me is HOWS the shooting going,then its general conversation......Thats why I go Back to Sportsman Wharehouse.I also do alot of buying from 3rivers.Now that PASTEW has opened his shop.I will buy from him too.He has helped me out alot with tuneing arrows and such.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I agree with you.I think that it would be better.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

muley69

just list out the advantages of a compound vs a trad bow

compound = more power
compound = flatter trajectory & faster arrows
compound = more accuracy
compound = ability to draw more pounds
compound = ability to draw and hold
compound = ability to draw with the animal NOT in your presence
compound = short & compact

recurve = no parts to tune/tweak
recurve = more ability to maneuvre/adjust for shots
recurve = lighter to carry

A compound is a far better weapon to kill animals with, no doubt, can't even be debated.

However, people don't shoot trad bows soley for a better chance to kill animals, they shoot them to better their HUNT


JMHO

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I don't think the Sportsman's Warehouse here even carries traditional equipment. Compounds... crossbows. The only recurve I saw was for kids. Glad you received excellent service Ranger.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

B O G. The Sportsmans in Fargo ND.carries the Martin line and some PSE.They also carry Cajun ceder arrows,Selway,Zwicky,Snuffer,gloves, ect.they have about the best selection of trad stuff around(except for bows,Limited).

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

Which has always been the Number One argument against allowing CROSSBOWS in bow season.

Following the remainder of your logic, Buster, a rifle is a better choice for killing animals because it's far more powerful and has a flatter trajectory than ANY bow, besides the fact you can hold and aim it forever and you don't have to draw in the presence of the animal.

I could also mention the fact that the compound's flatter trajectory, greater power and faster arrows is what encourages far, far too many people to take shots that are actually well beyond their effective shooting distance. Which causes a huge increase in wounded and lost animals.

I can point you to a long term study done by Oklahoma State University at the McAlester, OK Army Ammunition Depot which shows the wound loss ratio for compounds is about 22% where the wound loss ratio for traditional bows is less than 2%. That's one of the reasons the Depot finally instituted a traditional only policy for the annual bow hunt on the property.

Of course, it's not the compound's fault. It's the lack of discipline and/or lousy ethics of a great many of the guys who use compounds.

Traditional bows don't give someone false confidence that they can take hero shots. The equipment itself pretty much automatically enforces shot selection discipline.

Compounds are NOT better for killing animals. Just different. Compounds allow for higher hunter success rates, but only because traditional guys are forced to let a higher percentage of animals walk, and because they are far less likely to take hero shots they know are beyond their capabilities.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I guess in my compound experience, I never really had that many opportunities where I was ably to draw and wait. Yes, there were a few. Deer (and animals in general) seem to move a lot and I never had a lot of success trying to predict when and where they are going to end up.FWIW, max letoff that I used to use was 65%. I always felt rushed to make the shot on game with the compound for some reason. I guess I got the feeling that if I don't shoot now, it's gonna move, or something like that. Hard to say exactly. Maybe it was my practice habits, who knows, and who cares.

But with traditioanl equipment, I feel much better drawing when the shot presents itself and not much before. There is no rushed feeling with traditional for me. Yes, a lot more animals walk. But I'm not out for meat or antlers, just for the enjoyment and challenge.

RE: I'm thinking a recurve is superior.
 

I feel pretty confident that the buck I killed this year would have gotten away with a compound.... It all happened so quick there is no way I would have had time to clip my release, pick which pin, etc..... It all transpired in a matter of seconds....