I just finished reading the latest issue of Bowhunting World magazine this evening. Having shot recurves, compounds, and stickbows I just can't believe how much bowhunting has 'evolved' since Bear started mass-producing recurves...

Today all I see is $700 bows on the market. BowTech, Matthew's, Hoyt - you name it. Everyone has one now it seems...

We have pushed the limit onAllen's original invention. Now we have 85% left off, speeds at over 300 fps, machined risers, vibration-dampening devices - you name it. The more I see of the evolution of the compound the more I have been reverting 'back' to the days of my Bear Kodiak Hunter recurve days shooting instinctively. Sure, I've taken deer with my compound bow but nothing beats the thrill of shooting instinctively at my 3D target, range roving with a Judo-tipped arrow, and just looking at the smooth, graceful lines of a recurve bow! For me I doubt I'll ever go back to my compound-toting days again. Yeah - I'm going to have to give up some yardage with the recurve and I'm going to have to practice more. But hey - isn't that the FUN part of bowhunting? Shooting the bow? G. Fred Asbell sure hit the nail on the head when he said that today our choice of bowhunting gear is pretty-much dictating HOW we are going to have to hunt with it. Nock the arrow, hook up the release, draw the bow, look thru the peep sight, pick a pin, hold the bow just so - release. Did I use THE right pin? Was that 31 yds or more-like 35 yds? Was the bow too loud? Oh shoot - I think my peep moved! Did one of my pins loosen up? Is my bow 'out of tune?' Damn! My rest came loose! Shucks - my string is unraveling! Damn thats gonna be at least an hour job to put a new string on my bow, re-tie in my peep, paper-test my arrows again, tinker, tinker...You get the idea...

Anyone who drops $700 on a compound bow has got to be crazy. Damn - I killed my first buck with a bow in 2000 with a 1970's Bear Whitetail bow, 2117 w/5" helical feathers, and a 125 gr Thunderhead broadhead. Fingers. Certainly a S-L-O-W shooting set up by today's standards. At a mere 14 yds! The bow didn't cost more than $80 I don't think at K-Mart back then - but the bow felt good in my hand, I shot it well, and I even shot my 2117 'off the shelf' on that bow using a rug rest! Perfect arrow flight from that bow!

Today I hunt with nothing more than a Kodiak Hunter recurve and 2117's. And I'm LOVING it! Practicing is no longer dreaded or a 'chore.' It's fun and I enjoy it. I string my bow, check the brace height quick and off I go. Ready in about 5 mins. And unless I cut that string or drive over my bow under my 4x4 there is virtually nothing to go wrong with my set up.

Now THATS cool!

man i agree the most i would pay for a compound is 400 and a recurve 350

I just sold my Oneida on ebay havent touched it since I bought a vintage Ben Peason Cougar 7050 55# Recurve. I am looking at new arrows now for it. I have rekindled my love of archery. I may not be as good with it as I was at 12yrs. old but can hit where I aim up to 15 yards. So I agree all I do is grab bow and arrows and go.

Ive spent 2,800 on 2 crossbows and a new compound this year with extras.Spring of 06 I spent 1,700 on Trad gear,1 TD Recurve,1 Martin Recurve and a Longbow,3dz ceder arrows,glove's,quiver's,BH's,FP's,and some other odd and ends.My plan was to practice all of last yr and trad hunt this yr but due to shoulder surgery I had to go crossbow this yr and hopefully I will be able to shoot Trad again nxt yr.
I stopped rifle hunting in 82 because I felt it wasnt a challage anymore and now I feel the same way about Compound.
I love my Martin Hunter.....50# @ 28",w/ceder 50/55 @29-1/2 bopand 125 fp's and bh's.....

I love all kinds of archery. Selfbows, longbows, recurves, compounds and, yes, even crossbows. At least, primitive or midieval style crossbows. I shoot it all. However, I do have to admit that I've got a strong preference for longbows, even though I don't shoot nearly as well with them as I do recurves. And I honestly don't shoot recurves as well as I do compounds.

The one thing I hate though, is mechanical release aids. If I were to point at one piece of equipment that ruins the archery experience for me, that's it. I don't feel like I'm even part of the shooting process when my fingers aren't on the string. Sights are almost as bad. I haven't used sights on a hunting bow - traditional or compound - in over 20 years.

Even though there are several bows out there I'd like to have, I'll probably never buy another compound. They've priced me clean out of the market.

Yea I agree. I used releases back in the 90's when I was shooting 3D archery and indoor archery clubs but since quit. I HATE not having MY fingers on the string! The bow may as well be mounted in a bow shooting machine and shot as far as I'm concerned! That how FAR from the total experience I feel when I shoot a release!

I don't really share all the views in the original post.

I shoot both trad & compound. And as you can spend $700 for a compound, so too can you spend that money for a beautifully crafted recurve. Some bows out there look to belong more in art galleriesoverthe woods. In either path you can spend a lot of money. Trad gear is far from cheap, unless you are using old stuff(in which case the same holds true dealing with compound equipment)

Maybe its still because I am newer to trad bows, but I don't feel it is any easier to tune a trad bow than a compound. give me a couple hours and I'll have a compound set up and tuned. Trad bows seem to have many things to "tweak". Brace height, nock point, point weight, and arrow spine seem like you could go in circles for days getting the perfect tune.

Practicing regardless of gear should never be a chore. Those who make compound gear complex do so on thier own, it is not difficult.

Good post Ryan.

Well, I guess I should clarify a bit. I'd have no problem spending $700 on a Black Widow or custom bow. Its the proliferation of gadgets that bowhunters no slap onto their bow's in their quest for a successful hunt. Now don't get me wrong. If a guy can't hit the broadside of a barn with his stickbow I'd RATHER (and so would the deer AND other hunters) that they hunted WITH the compound and sights, etc. BUT - all things being equal - as far as I am concerned, nothing beats a beautiful wood bow's warm/rich look coupled with some feather arrows and a nice fixed blade broadhead like the Wensel Woodsman, Snuffer, Zwickey, etc.

* 10 Scoobie! Back when releases were'nt legal yet here in Minnesota and they were going to vote on itwe had a big group of us at my place and each one of us calledthe local senator from my place that night and we all told him that this is not bow hunting shooting releases, your pulling a trigger! It didn't work but we all gave it our best shot to keep it from being legal. Before any compound people jump down my back I know the bows they make now are so short and pinch so bad that shooting a release is easier. They were'nt all like that years ago though!