I've been bowhunting (compound) since 1993 and am seriously considering getting into traditional archery and bowhunting. What bow should I start with, arrows etc. I currently pull 65 lbs with a 26" draw length. I am 5'10" tall.....Thanks....

Start out on 45#. Go to a store that sells them and bend a few. I say go with the wieght that you can hold at full draw for 25-30 seconds.

Weather you start out with a recurve or longbow keep it light when starting out. Try finding a bow in that 40lb to 45lb range. Less pounds mean better form, anchor, release, etc when learning and starting out. Its so much easier learning the basics when you can pull your bow back comfortably. When you get all this down and get your muscles in good shape a guy could then bump up in weight and look for something a little heavier, give it time though! It doesn't happen over night. Allot of the times too your draw length will generally shrink about an inch or so from your draw length with your compound.

Yep don't overbow yourself! I'm horse of a guy and I did slightly when I started, I worked through it as I got stronger with that style of shooting but I think it slowed the initial progress.

Also remember most bows you are going to get (unless it's a custom made job for a specific draw length and a specific draw weight) is marked as draw weight at 28". So generally if someone is selling a 45# bow if you only have best case a 26" draw it's in reality going to pull around 39-40# at your draw length.
Keep that in mind so you don't go TOO low if you plan to work into hunting with this bow.

I've seen that most adults with decent stregth who are archers already can handle a peak weight of around 45-48# comfortably at anchor...........for you that might mean a bow that is actually marked as 50-53# or so.

My suggestion is to go to a Bass Pro, or Cabelas or better yet a mom and pop shop if they carry traditional gear and see what those different draw weights feel like to you. 5# makes a BIG difference in feel trust me.

I'd also add not to get something too expensive for the first bow if money is a consideration. You'll more then likely not stay with your original bow as the primary. Maybe consider something used or see if Chad (LBR) has anything in stock to meet your needs. The Chek-Mate's that he sells to me anyway are the best valued bows out there. Also, don't go too short for the first one. I'd say nothing below about 60" for recurve, and 64" for longbow.

Also keep in mind that depending on how you anchor your compound, you may loose some draw length moving to a trad bow. More then likely you may shoot about 25". At some point down the road (no need to now), you'll more then likely want a custom made for you. Most bows are measured at 28", so I would say that if you get about 52#@28" bow, that would equate to about 45#'s at 25". You'd probably want about 40-45#'s at your draw, so I'd look for something between about 48 and 53#'s at 28".

Wow Matt and I pretty much had the same thought at the same time. Only I must type slower.

You guys are GREAT...If I got wooden arrows, how do you attach field points and broadheads?

I usually heat up the glue stick and rub a bit of it on the shaft tip. Then I just heat the metal tip and twist it on. The heat from the metal tip will re-melt the glue and all is well.

Obviously you have to buy points and heads that do not screw on. Are there many available like that?

I don't think you are going to go too light or too long with your first bow.40-45 @ 28 will be fine, even if you are drawing 25-26". You want a bow you are comfortably in control of, one you can shoot lots of arrows through without getting tired or getting sore fingers and shoulders. You can go too heavy and/or too short though.

The first bow is just a stepping stone--a starting point. From there you develop your form and start developing your personal taste in bows. You don't really know yet what you like or don't like, and that will most likely change several times over the course of a few years, as your style and form most likely will.

The first bow may not be legal hunting weight (or it may be), but you will be doing yourself a big favor starting out light--your will improve faster, you'll be able to shoot more, and you will enjoy it more. This is no time to start feeling macho--folks are a whole lot more impressed by the guy hitting the spot every time with a 40# bow than the guy who can't hit a barn from the inside shooting 80#.

Start out cheap and light--keep it fun, keep it simple, and get as much good information as you can. You'll start developing habits, good or bad, from that first arrow--and the bad ones are hard to break.

Don't worry yourself trying to fine-tune everything at first--you have to establish your form, and while doing that you'll change quite a bit--which makes fine-tuning impossible. Work on the basics, and when you have those more ingrained you can start on the more technical stuff.

I'd go with carbon or aluminum arrows, to start with at least--that keeps it simpler. Btw, there is a wide variety of glue-on field points, broadheads, and blunts for wood arrows, but wood arrows require a bit more understanding and right now my advice would be to eliminate as many variables as possible.

Good luck!

Chad