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I have been bow hunting for a long time but always with a compound. For the last few years, I have been thinking about going traditional. I just might for next year. I have been checking out new bows. I guess that's the first step.

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Sounds good, leave yourself lots of time to learn to shoot. Rather than spendign 6 months getting the perfect bow, get any bow and get out and shoot. You can learn to shoot a longbow at a basic level very quickly, but to shoot one well takes years.

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I've been at it 49 years and haven't quite got it right just yet.[:-] Sure is a lot of fun tho... :)

I agree with Ossage. Grab an old Shakespeare or Pearson recurve that's in good shape and get with it. One of those won't affect your wallet much at all. After you've shot that one for awhile, you'll have a much better idea of what you really want when it comes time to order that new bow.

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Yep--what Arthus and Ossage said. If you want, you can tell us a bit about yourself and maybe we can reccomend a bow for you. If you are like Arthur, and to a lesser extent me, not just any bow is going to be comfortable. At the other end of the spectrum, if you have a 25-26" draw you won't get very good performance from a bow made for someone drawing 30".

Chad

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When I do it I will just go all out. I will buy a decent bow and stick with it. My first true bow was a Oneida Tom Cat. It was different and inexspensive. I had a hard time moving up because I was killing deer. What else do you need right? I have moved up to the Oneida Black Eagle a few years ago and now want a new challenge.

I travel to another state to hunt because of the quality of deer I hunt where the deer are plentifull and have seen a lot of 160 class bucks. I have never gotten one because seeing one in one thing, having it with in bow range is another and having it present the shot to kill it is another. I have never had that shot or took a shot with the three I have had with in range. With a traditional I that would cut my changes even more.

My plan is to hunt in my state where I live. There are tons of deer but I haven't seen the monsters. Therefore I won't waste my time waiting for one. I plan on hunting meat. Until I get good enough. Then I will take it to my honey holes. It would be a trip if I got a 160 with a traditional before my compuond. That's why knowing me, I will probably stick with the traditional once I start.

That's my hunting plan now my bow setup. I have my compound set at 67# +/- and use a red dot scope. I guess I won't be putting one on my traditional. I'm not long armed my arrows are cut at about 27.5. I do use a release. I guess I will have to give that up too, right?

What I understand so far is:
Look for a 55# bow and keep it over 60".

Give me some options. I have access to many bow shops because I travel for living. I am also good at begging for forgiveness with the wife after I buy my toys.

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If you plan to buy a bow you're going to shoot for a long time, I'd recommend a takedown recurve. Most all of them have good mass in the riser, which makes for a stable shooting platform. And there are quite a few that have optional longbow limbs.

You can put sights on a traditional bow (you'd be shooting against compounds in 3D though. Sights aren't allowed in traditional classes), but I've had serious problems with noise when I tried to shoot a stickbow with a release. Sights on a longbow.... eeeewwww! Not very kosher. They're not quite so out of place on a recurve.;) Just simple pin sights though. Electronics and wood are definitely replusive.

For your draw length, 60" is fine, maybe even a tad on the long side. Longer bows are more stable and give a bit better accuracy, but you're talking fractions of an inch better. Tournament grade stuff. You have to take maneuverability into account for a hunting bow. Plus, guys with a sub-28" draw really need shorter bows in order to load the limbs properly and get full performance. I'd say a bow that measures double your draw length is a good rule of thumb for a hunting bow.

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Tournaments for bows are something I thought about years ago. I don't have anymore thoughts about them. I plan on only doing Offshore Tournaments for fishing when I retire.

I'm only going traditional to make it more challenging when I hunt.

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Hi Fm, welcome!
With your 27.5 draw and using release with your compound, I suspect your draw on a longbow or recurve will be shorter than that, could be anywhere from 26 to 27" depending on if it's longbow or recurve and also how your shooting form develops. Some say the switch is easier with recurve, but that's really a personal thing. Like the others said, too long of bow for archers drawing under 28" may not get the umph out of those longer limbs. Somewhere between 52-60" and 50-55# would probably be a good fit. All depends on how you hunt also. Myself, I like to use rather short bows when hunting out of tree stands and blinds.

If you're going to go all out for a good one and stick with that bow, good luck. Longbows and recurves built by different bowyers all have their own characteristics. Seems as though there's many trad archers that are constantly trading/buying, trying different bows looking for that "perfect" bow. I'm chomping at the bit right now waiting for my Fedora to arrive.

I don't know all that much about longbows, so if I were to recommend some quality bows they would be recurves (in no particular order)....
Bob Lee, Groves, Morrison, Palmer, Fedora, Black Widow, Brackenbury, and Schafer.... One another note - Chek-Mate bows are quality bows, but do not reflect the higher prices of those listed above. Don't let that fool ya, they are good shooters like the rest of them... go figure.

Actually the list goes on and on. Here's a website that lists most traditional sources available today.... thanks to Brandon Byers, a wonderful listing to browse.

http://tradarchery.prohunternetwork.com/

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Thanks, This site is BAD! I'm catching the fever.

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Caught the fever 2 years ago, I seem to have a compound bow in one hand and a recurve in the other, its like tug a war--it seems the recurve is slowly winning me over...I seem to keep picking up recurves, just trying to find one better then the other...already have (5).