Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Vroomvroom on January 14, 2024, 09:33:15 PM
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I have a Savannah. Great bow. All good reviews. But I never seem to hear of Damon Howatts recurves. Or very little. I did hear the hunter is a really nice recurve. Do any have experience with one of those?
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I had a 1965 model 62" 65#@28" and hunted successfully with that bow many years.(1977-1999) The Damon-Howatt Hunter was arguable the best factory bow made at the time. The bow shot a heavy arrow very well. At the time I had a 65# Big River recurve I was shooting and truly wish I had not though trading the Hunter for a longbow was a good idea. Foolishness of youth. The Hunter went to Idaho, and I wish it well. It shoot as well as any recurve I have had since.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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I have a 1964 Howatt HI Speed which is similar to the Hunter. The Hunter was 62" and the Hi Speed was made in 54" or 58". Mine is 58 and a great shooter. Howatt made lots of other models and ill agree with Wudstix these bows were right up there with the other factory bow companies.
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Damon Howatt produced many fine recurves for both their beauty and shooting qualities.
They are actually more renowned for thier recurves overall and overtime than their longbows.They had many models.The Hunter is a good.solid and fine shooting bow.They had many other models that were fine specimans in every regard.
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Damon Howatt is under new ownership, and located in Walla Walla, WA. They released some information in 2023 and here is a link to their new online catalog and sign up.
https://damonhowatt.com/
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I don’t see the exact differences between the hunter vs conviction other than the hunter has a touch more mass and maybe wood choices. I thought I saw somewhere the hunter could be bought 64” but don’t see it here. Actually I do see it now. 64” amo option
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Many so called factory bows shoot just as good as expensive customs.
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I would think they would. I never quite understood that really. I would assume the factory bows had a certain recipe that was perfected overtime and a great bow was being made from it. Maybe things like a custom grip or something. Wood choices or veneers. Or maybe a custom bowyer just makes a model you like.
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Had a Hunter back in 95 and with my 30.5" draw it stacked horribly for me. Sold it promptly.
Other than that it was ok.
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I would have assumed it would handle a longer draw being in AMO lengths of 62-64”. Decent for recurves. Not sure why I have such a short draw. I believe mine is only 26.5-27” if I remember correctly. From nock groove to the back of the bow at the shelf. I’m 5’9-5’10 about 195 lbs.
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I had a DH Hunter from about 1992 until I decided that I had too many bows in the same weight range. My Hunter was my ONLY bow for 15 plus years. Just didn't need anything else until I could afford something more custom. I managed to pay off my student loans and my visa card after grad school so I started saving. I fell in with a bad crowd and got introduced to Blacktail Bows. Bought a one piece from Norm. Sometime later a takedown. Several longbows in and out in the interval years. Eventually the DH Hunter was sold. A solid as any bow as there ever was.
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Mark;
That is right DHH was as good as most Customs I have shoot over the years. Only plus the Big River Kodiak clone had was physically less weight. Didn't shoot any better than the DHH, just felt like a longbow weight wise. Still wake up at night sweating about the DHH!!! Finally picked up a 1965 in 75#, I just take it out and look at it!!! Pretty bow.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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Wish there was a trad bow shop around here for me to look at them. Or any for that matter. I need a long and short version of every different bow type. ASL. Bling and short hybrid. Long and short recurve. lol.
But I just wondered as don’t hear many talk of them. The Savannah wince in a while I hear talk. But not as much as others. When I do hear of the hunters. Always seem like everyone had them in high poundage’s too
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We went on a cruise in 2018. From Miami. Of course bass pro shop was just down the street so the joke was I was down looking at bows before we were heading to Caribbean
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(https://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/cloudydraw.jpg) I've put thousands of arrows through the Hunter. Damn hard to beat.
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(https://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/FirstAntelope.jpg)
The late great Jack Howard chose to include it in his line of hand made beauties as the Howard Hunter model. High praise indeed.
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Nice
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The hunter is a top notch bow. They are a great bargain in the used market. They are every bit as good as the bear super Kodiak.
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I'll say it again, one of the best recurves I've shoot. Jack Howard seemed to think so as well.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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The Howard Hunter is a really good bow. My first choice historically of non custom bows. However, as I've gotten older and dropped bow weight, I've changed shooting styles. I'm much more deliberate and my draw length has increased to 29." The Hunter doesn't seem to like drawing longer, so it's not as comfortable as it was with a shorter draw. This is a bummer because I have a lot of nostalgia for this model, and it really is a great shooter compared to almost all production bows.
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Howatt Hunter! Spellcheck is awful
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Howatt Hunter! Dang!
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My wife bought me a Howatt Hunter our first Christmas together as a married couple. I knew she was a keeper!
I killed my first trad deer with this bow, and maybe a dozen or so more. She slings a heavy 2219 with 300 grains up front quietly and quickly. What’s there to complain about?
Heck of a bow that you can find used for $150-200
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How did she get it written on the limb?
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I had the bow refinished by the Bow Hospital (John Rafferty) and I had him add it. She bought me the Hunter our first year, then a Winchester Model 70 in 375 H&H the next year. I clearly don't deserve a woman that good! Here is a 2018 buck with that bow, a 2219 and a 200 grain Ace with a 100 grain insert I killed several with that combo.
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Wood grains on the new ones look even nicer. She must be an angel sent from gods
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2219 is good solid arrow for 65#+ bow, my favorite aluminum. Had a 1965 version that I traded for a longbow, recently picked up a 1965 version 75#, sure is pretty to look at!!!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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The wood they use looks much nicer. That riser looks like the limbs on my Savannah. Rich and grainy. Much nicer in person than in internet pictures I have seen. At least as far as the Savannah is concerned.
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I shot a #65 Hunter back in the day when I was young and fit. Fastest bow I ever shot. Maybe it was just that one ,but it was a great bow. love the Hunter model
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The DHH especially in the mid-60's was probably the best factory bow made. They were good solid bows, that shot fast and threw a 10-11 gpp arrow very well. Even without FF capability they performed exceptionally well. I'm getting misty.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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Funny how a fellow needs so many trad bows. Now I need one of those now…
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Really miss my 1965 65# DHH, I had radiused the flat rest area, so that it shoot the best. Doubt that it will find it's way back from ID, but it could happen!!!
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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At this time I have 3 Howatt Hunters. 1961 and 1962 Knife edge. 2 -43# and 1- 40#. Super nice bows. The Brazilian rosewood is unbelievable.
Smooth draw and fast arrow.
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I found a used one at a shop in a nearby town. It was rough to draw at my 29.5” DL. I was disappointed because I knew it was a good bow.
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I agree with Murph60. My son bought a hunter several years ago. It shoots a very fast arrow and is very accurate. I made try to buy the hunter from him.
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That’s may try to buy the hunter from him. It is a good looking and good shooting bow. I shoot s Wes Wallace Mentor but I have to say the Hunter is not a step backward. A fine shooting very fast bow.
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Here's mine. It's the only picture I have of it at the moment, but it looks like most every other one. I inherited it from my dad.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
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115# ? What the hell you doing with it. I’d short draw that and be just as well to get a lesser poundage. That is something I noticed. The hunters you may see for sale, or when someone says they have one is always 60# and up for some reason
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115# ? What the gell you doing with it. I’d short draw that and be just as well to get a lesser poundage. That is something I noticed. The hunters you may see for sale, or when someone says they have one is always 60# and up for some reason
I suppose I'd use this bow if I ever get a call to come take care of a nuisance brontosaurus in a bow-only area. I conquered my short-drawing problem by drawing to full anchor and holding for 10 seconds, then shooting. It really helps. All kidding aside... I've never even strung this beast.
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Where did you get a bow with that poundage? Must of been speciality built for African game. That is an issue I have when looking at bows. I think, it would be nice to have some light poundage bows than some older friends could shoot with me. Sometimes etc. but if I have ever wanted to hunt moose heater with it I need minimum, a 45 ln bow. Ideally 55 or more. So I’m hesitate to get a lighter poundage. Unless it was a 3 piece or something
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I'd like to find a 1964 in 65#, even better the one I modified and radiused the riser. Wish I'd thought to write the serial number down. All I remember is HHT
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
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Alway really liked the look of the old Purple Heart ones. Great lookers!!