DE bowhunter

Want to buy a recurve bow for hunting from tree stands. I have been shooting & hunting with compound bows for the past 13 years and want a new challenge. My current setup is a MQ1 29” draw @ 74#. What I’m looking for is a forgiving/consistent hunting bow that has good velocity and is relatively quite. Price is not really that important as getting a bow that will instill confidence. Am considering a Shafer Silvertip, but know next to nothing about buying a traditional bow. Does it make sense to start with a good starter bow before purchasing a high end bow, or am I just wasting money on the starter bow. There are tons of books that one could read, which would be a must read.

Thanks in advance for the help,
Tony

Dick4bows

Personally I would suggest going to a traditional archery show or if that isn't possible, an archery shop with many recurves for sale. Shoot as many bows as you can and then decide. Everyone is different and that's one reason that there are so many opinions on who makes the best bow. Trust me, the search is fun. Dick

Wahya

Welcome Tony, it's good to see you here.

My personal opinion is that you start with a less expensive bow to start with. My reasons are that when you start shooting traditional equipment you should start with a lower draw weight, say in the 45-50# range. The lower draw weight makes it easier to draw and hold the bow at full draw. This will allow you to learn proper form, a smooth draw, consistent anchor and smooth release. Then, when you are practiced up and ready, you can start looking around for a heavier weight custom type. But like Dick said, shoot as many as you can before making a top dollar purchase.

Have fun. It's definitely a journey, not a destination.

stealthycat

Do or do not, there is no try

Tony - My advice ? Buy a darn nice bow used, so that if it doesn't fit you you can sell it later and at least get a large portion of your money back.

I like the "quality first" mentality. I went for it too when I first decided to go traditional and bought an Adcock longbow - love it too. I don't regret that one bit, and I know that if my arrows don't go where they are suppose to, or if I fail in the traditional world, it aint because of the equipment !

Try EBAY of course, or

http://www.women-outdoors.com/cgi-bi...lassifieds.cgi

- theres some nice bows there too. I use to draw 64 pound with a compound, and my 52# longbow is just now feeling comfortable. I would stay in the 55# range, because of resale, because of it being a comfortable weight and because it's enough to kill anything in North America. Overbowed is probably the worst thing starting out a guy can do.

Lilhunter

Welcome 'home' Tony! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>!

My first suggestion DONT DO IT <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>....take up a less exspensive sport where you wont be dreaming, thinking, planning, or doing it 24-7 <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>!

All joking aside, I would have to agree with what ALL the others have said. I would go with a used bow imo. Cheap doesnt mean lack of quality and exspensive doesnt mean quality either! I agree more with Dick. Shoot as MANY bows as you can get your hands on. Find a good mid run line bow, there are many many out there, fine one used (again shoot it first if you can), then run with it! Buying exspensive right off the bat isnt a bad idea either like Stealthy has said. Then again who is going to pay 500 bucks for a newused bow when that same person can pay the 580 it costs new (hypothetically speaking), when they can get there own names on there, the weight exactly the way they want it, with the woods exactly the way they want it? just my .02......have fun and good luck!

LBR

Tony, welcome aboard! I will also say that in my opinion the best thing to do is get a used bow or two before you order a custom--or at least borrow one. The main reason, to me anyway, is that until you have shot a while you don't really know what you like and what will work best for you. A particular bow or style that one person swears by, you may sweat AT. I was &quot;into&quot; traditional archery a good four years or so before I bought my first custom, and even then I found myself wishing I had gotten a few things different. If you still had rather go with a custom to start with, talk to several bowyers, and really pick the brains of the one you decide to order from. Try calling Roy Hall at Navajo or Ric Anderson at Marriah--both these men are excellent bowyers, and great people to deal with. I would strongly suggest Ric if you are set on a Silvertip--as I understand it, Ric was trained by the late Mr. Schafer. I don't have any experience with his recurves, but he sure makes a sweet longbow.

As you may have already seen, opinions run as rampant (or worse) in traditional archery as any sport. Do yourself a favor--go to some shops, tournaments, etc., talk to a lot of folks, shoot a lot of bows, and make an decision based on information and what feels good in your hand.

Best of luck,
Chad.

DEBob

Tony, Fellow Delawarian!! The New Castle Archery club have traditional shoots every now again. They advertise in many of the local shops. Go to the shoot and ask for some pointers. Try out some of the bows. All trad. guys love to show off their equipment. Next, in May, the Traditional Bowhunters of MD have a big shoot called the Mid-Atlantic Traditional Classic. Great shoot with a lots of good venders selling both new and used equipment. Additionally, up near you across the MD line is a guy name Joe Subolefsky. He is a custom bow maker that got alot of pointers from Schafer. His bows are maketed under the name Timberspirit. He has a web page. Get in touch with him. He is a wealth of knowledge!! Last, I have a Schafer Silvertip Paul made for me back in 1990. Its a good shooter. Your welcome to try it out sometime!

str8narrow

DE Bowhunter, I would suggest taking DE Bob up on his offer. That is how I started out, a friend of mine from KS (I live in CA) who I met online at an old bowhunting web site sent me an old Bear Minuteman to try before I invested in my own recurve. He is now a longtime dear friend, along with his wonderful wife and kids, more like family than friends. Oh yeah, the bow... After a couple of months I did buy my own recurve. I haven't looked back, now I have several curves & an open invitation to hunt KS whitetails.

That is the spirit of traditional archery. You start out to try something new or simple, but receive many unknown blessings along the way.

The friendship and comraderie is the greatest blessing though. Even though my friend from KS helped me with my traditional start, he shoots a compound. Doesn't matter to me. Like I said, the friendships are the best part.

YBIC,
Dave &gt;&lt;&gt;

Matt 6:33,34/Rev 3:20

Edited by - str8narrow on 01/16/2002 01:07:36

Bill Schoenig

The Mid-Alantic trad. shoot is in Baltimore on May 17,18,19 go there they have dealers , and trading blanket (at night ) and if you ask anyone I'm sure they will let you try their bow ,I know I would and I'll be there , comming down with a group from Long Island
Here's their web site.
http://members.aol.com/traditionalbowmd

DE bowhunter

Thanks for the responses especially DEBob & Bill Schoenig, I would like to take you up on your offer to shoot your recurves and a chance to get some insight on getting started down the right path. Will contact you via email.

Cheers,
Tony