I want to upgrade from my lil' red kids bow that I have been shooting in the backyard. I want to buy a hunting bow. I currently hunt with a compound and have for 6 years. But just messin' around with that red recurve has given me the itch to shoot a heavier bow that I can hunt deer with. I have been looking at the Hoyt Gamemaster in #45. I need a left hand bow. I also was thinking about getting some Flu Flu arrows and try shooting some birds. Will this bow do the trick? Any other bows you would suggest? I think I want to start off with a recurve, as I have heard that is the easiest. Thanks, Curtis.

That'd do the trick.

I'd also recommend looking at the ChekMate Falcon at www.recurves.com or a vintage bow from Bear, Pearson, Martin/Damon-Howatt, Wing or Shakespeare. You can usually pick up a good older recurve off Ebay for a good price if you're quick on the bid button. Some of the older collectable bows, especially Bears, can be pretty pricey though.

Yes, those Chek-Mate bows do look good. I am a bit skeptical of ordering form ebay especially a recurve. How do I tell if the limbs are twisted or not? How do I tell if there are any scratches, scrapes, cracks, or diformities? I did see a Chek-Mate Hunter II in the stickbow.com classifieds for $300.00. Is that a good deal?

If it doesn't look like it's been chained to the bumper of a pickup truck and dragged down a bumpy gravel road, then yeah. It's a good deal. Considering the base price for a Hunter II is $465.

Wow, that must be a good deal then. It looks to be in awesome shape, and seems to have some exotic woods in the laminate.

I'll vote for chek mate also. I bought the raven, it was a little heavy for me but I still loved it and you cant beat them for the price. Google G&M archery and archerybymail. They usually have some in stock. Call G&M because they only had 2 ravens online, but when I called, they had about 10. I would also reccommend a quinn stallion. I never had one, but thats what everyone told me to get for my first bow. It is cheaper than the gamemaster and better performing from what I've heard. $250 for the quinn custom made, it has a metal riser and drilled for rest, sight, and everything. They only take about 4 weeks until you have one. the falcon by chekmate is also only $250.

Shame you're not a righty-I have a nice longbow I'd be willing to send you

Yeah, ever since I started shooting left it has been harder to finda bow. And in circumstances like this wherea friendis offering me a bow but it is the wrong hand. Also, it is harder to find the bow I want in the classifieds, that fits me for my price. O well, thank you anyway Jim.