My apologies if a similar thread has been posted before...
I have been giving serious thought to getting into bow hunting. Tho I have experience rifle hunting, It's something I have no experience in. This has been something that has been on my mind for about a year or so and I've always dismissed the idea but as it keeps coming back I'm giving in. I don't know why, maybe it's the basic-ness of it all, but I've been drawn to traditional bows and hunting over compound bows. Because I am/will be just starting out I am looking to begin with a relatively inexpensive bow. For this reason I've been looking at PSE as they start around $200 for either the Sequoia or Mustang. Now my question boils down to 2 things...
1) Is PSE a good company to go with for someone just starting out?
2) For someone who is just starting out, what would be better, a longbow or a recurve?
Beyond that anyone who has experience with either the Sequoia or Mustang bows or any other advice for a newb like me, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
Michael, since you'll be new to the bow and arrow you'll probably want to make sure you keep the draw weight to around 45lbs. Trad bows don't have letoff so it's harder holding at full draw than a compound. I shoot 70lb compounds, but only 45-48lb longbows and recurves. I can't say anything about the PSE bows because I havn't shot one. Martin makes pretty nice bows for a good price. Also, there are several nice used bows for sale on this site that would fit into your budget. You'll hear this from many others on here too, but maybe try and go to a trad shoot and try some bows before you buy, if possible? Lastly, a recurve and a hybrid longbow will be somewhat similar shooting wise and one shouldn't be that much harder to shoot than the other. Good luck.
I can't speak to the quality of PSE traditional bows. They are imported from China if that makes a difference. I shoot recurves and longbows equally poorly :D so I think that is a personal preferance. I would order a Maddog Mutt longbow from Mike at Maddog archery or if you want a recurve you can probably pick up a nice used Bear grizzly on various sites in your price range. I think you would be better served with either of these bows than the PSE but thats just my opinion. I would suggest you not go over 50lb @ 28" on your first bow and work on form. 45 lb would be even better. Good luck and have fun. Shooting traditional is a blast.
PSE is made in Taiwan. I have one of their low end bows KingFisher. If I was you, I would find every Archery shop around and look for Archery Shoots to try as many bows as You can.
The reason for this is, You may want a recurve but find out You'll shoot better with a long bow.
I Agree with getting a bow around 45#
First off...WELCOME!
I don't have any experience with those bows..sorry.
I'd look into Maddog bows as well.
Here's a link to his site http://www.maddogarchery.com/
Personally I'd REALLY like to own one of his midsized longbows.
He makes midsized and "full"sized longbows and recurves. His prices are right and the bowyer Mike Mecredy is one of the good guys.
Also there are numerous good deals on good bows in the classifieds.
Picking a trad bow is a very personal choice.
Chances are you won't find THE bow the first time around...it's sorta like dating.
A longer bow is generally more forgiving whether it's a longbow or a recurve.
I also recommend the around 45# bow unless you are way more, or less, strong than the average person.
Maddog!
Mike is an excellent man to deal with, and honest to boot!
We all know we can kill more deer quicker & easier w/guns; but, the Hunt is where its at. The combination of adventure & skill make trad as full scale a sensory rush as it gets...for us. Hope you the same. You;re welcome here. Bunch of good folks waiting to help.
I'll third Mike at Maddog, lots of bang for the buck and a great man to deal with.
The classifieds here are also a great source .......
Good Hunting!!!
:campfire:
I just ordered another Mutt from Mike, but this time for my self.
Do a search on this site for the various bows that guys mention on here.
Here are a few that I looked at for my step son before settling on the Samick Sage.
Samick Red Stag
Samick Deer Master
Lancaster Archery sells the Samick's.
Good luck,
Paul
get with the program. your life will be over as you knew it
With bow season just about over for this year, you have plenty of time to find a bow. I would visit a local trad shoot event and chances are good you'll be able to shoot several different bow types. That will give you a good idea what feels the best for you. I will also tell you, whoever said to stick with a bow around 45# is right on the money. I'm fairly new to trad archery and I'm shooting a 70# recurve. I hadn't found this site yet and severely over bowed myself. I'm currently looking for a cheap 45-50 pounder.
I'll also tell you Mike at Maddog is the man to deal with. I've ordered my 6 year old son a Maddog pup and if I had any spare cash I wouldn't hesitate to order myself a Maddog from Mike.
You've been given some good advice here my friend. Going to some traditional shoots is a great place to start. Shoot some different bows, or you'll spend the rest of your time chasing your tail, so to speak! Shoot a few and find one that "fits" you. Best of luck, and WELCOME to the best thing that could happen to a Bowhunter!!!
I had a PSE Impala Takedown Recurve I bought on a whim about 6 years ago. It wasn't an expensive or fancy bow, but it was good enough quality and shot well. They do make a good low end bow. To me the recurve handles seem to feel more natural to me over a straight handled longbow, but it is a matter of preference. One thing to keep in mind about bowhunting as opposed to rifle hunting, expect to have to practice to be proficient. You can't just pick up your bow the day before you go hunt and expect to hit anything. Practicing with a bow can be alot of fun and can be done at home. And killing something is alot more satisfying to me if done with a bow. Good luck and welcome, Bowhunter!
Welcome to Tradgang,you can learn alot from the folks here.Tradtional archery is a wonderful sport.The personal accomplishments are huge.
another vote for Maddog archery
Michael: Great decision. I bought my first compound in 1983 and within a month bought an older used Bear recurve. I've never "gotten over it" and have been shooting traditional gear since. I personally would not but a PSE trad bow. They make excellent compounds and that's their specialty. I'd go with a Martin or Bear or Maddog (per the others recoommendations) at no more than 45#. A Martin Savannah or a Bear Montana are great longbows you will love. Both companys make recurves and either bow style would work as long as you stay 45# or less for the first 6 mos -1yr as you work oon form and skill. Next, be sure to get with an experienced friend or new friend who is seasoned and get coaching. There will be many things yoou will need to learn. Don't turn back, stick with it and your life will be enriched more than you realize. The friends here are the best and they will help you in any way possible. Go for it!
Thinkin dont get nothing done,jump in and see just how much fun you can have
I would go with a Samick Red Stag. They make a couple different bows that would fall right at or under 200 that are great shooting bows. If you realize you dont want to do it you arent out 600-800$$$
Don't fight it the voices will not go away.
Welcome from Kentucky.
QuoteOriginally posted by amadeus76:
My apologies if a similar thread has been posted before...
I have been giving serious thought to getting into bow hunting. Tho I have experience rifle hunting, It's something I have no experience in. This has been something that has been on my mind for about a year or so and I've always dismissed the idea but as it keeps coming back I'm giving in. I don't know why, maybe it's the basic-ness of it all, but I've been drawn to traditional bows and hunting over compound bows. Because I am/will be just starting out I am looking to begin with a relatively inexpensive bow. For this reason I've been looking at PSE as they start around $200 for either the Sequoia or Mustang. Now my question boils down to 2 things...
1) Is PSE a good company to go with for someone just starting out?
2) For someone who is just starting out, what would be better, a longbow or a recurve?
Beyond that anyone who has experience with either the Sequoia or Mustang bows or any other advice for a newb like me, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
welcome to trad.
click on the 'new to trad archery?' link in my signature line below.
Thanks everyone for the advice and opinions... I think I will definitely have to check out Maddog as well as some of the other companies mentioned in these posts.
Welcome!!
I'm not the one to ask about what bows you should start with or which one is the best.
I must have a goal of trying them all...lol
I will say you've been given some sound advice.
If no one has mentioned them I have owned a few Bear Montana longbows and for the money they shoot great.
Mike at Maddog is a great man to deal with and makes an awesome bow. He can cover your whims whether it's longbow or recurves.
Dang it! I can't keep my mouth shut even when I start out to do just that...lol
Enjoy the journey with the rest of us.
God bless,Mudd
Ya'll talkin' me into a Maddog now. Welcome!....Phil
I just started traditional archery in late August so take this for what it's worth. I bought a used Bear Grizzly for $195 and love it. If you are close enough to Arvada/Denver Colorado then you should go to Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear. They have lots and lots of traditional bows to shoot, they are great guys and will set you up properly. It was helpful for me to shoot as many bows as I could before I picked my Bear, and they helped match some arrows to me and the bow before I left.
So after looking around at some of the companies mentioned on this thread I think I've settled on going with a Maddog Mutt if I decide to go with a longbow. However if I decide to go with a recurve I'm not as sure... I've looked around and one possibility that sounds good based on cost and being a company recommended here is the Jaguar Take-Down kit from Martin. Does anyone here have any experience with it or opinions on it?
Below is a pic of my new Maddog recurve. Mike builds an awesome bow regardless of recurve or longbow. This bow is 60", 50# @ 28" and really shoots hard and straight with the right arrow!
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/101_0247.jpg)
Welcome! You have come to the right place. I have just recently found this site and I have already learned alot from it. These guys don't mind helping someone out. I am new to traditional bowhunting too. I actually just bought a longbow in August and have not hunted with it yet but plan to next year. I have been bowhunting with a compound for 15 years and this could be my last. I am curently shooting a PSE Sequoia that I bought from a guy at work. I got it for $175 and it included 6 arrows so I feel like it was worth the price. It at least got me shooting. I have just started trying out other bows and have only shot a couple so far but I am already looking to get something better. The Sequoia shoots ok, it is very quiet. I don't really like the handgrip.It has some handshock. I didn't notice it until I shot a better quality bow. It is also a 68" bow. I guess this is a personal preference but I want a bow that is shorter. I would take the advice that these guys are giving and go to a traditional shoot and try different bows. That is exactly what I plan on doing as soon as hunting season is over here. Good luck!
Hunting with a rifle is sooooo much different than the pursuit of game with a longbow or recurve. If you stick around here long enough you will be infused with the love of traditional archery.
The thrill of killing your first deer with a trad bow is something you must experience first-hand to understand.
Get with it! Most everyone here will enjoy seeing you become successful. TG is literally a "world of experience".
Be prepared to experience a hunt like no other.
1. Developing your skills to have much closer encounters with game.
2. More in tune with your surroundings and taking in its mesmerising charm.
3. Living the greatest hunting experience w/o even a harvest.
4. Experience a personal achievement unchallenged when you do score.
5. It's not the increased challenge of trad that may draw you, but the oneness you feel with the bow and your enhanced intergral part of the hunt.
6. No justification is needed since you may travel the most fulfilling journey which many will miss.
7. Be prepared to join a family whose bond is nearly a strong as the family ties of blood.
Welcome to Traditional!!!
i had a pse bow before i figured out pse stands for pieces scattered everywhere welcome to trad welcome to archery stay away from pse
QuoteOriginally posted by amadeus76:
So after looking around at some of the companies mentioned on this thread I think I've settled on going with a Maddog Mutt if I decide to go with a longbow. However if I decide to go with a recurve I'm not as sure... I've looked around and one possibility that sounds good based on cost and being a company recommended here is the Jaguar Take-Down kit from Martin. Does anyone here have any experience with it or opinions on it?
The Jaguar is a Compound riser with recurve limbs. In my opinion, you would be way better off with a Samick Sage or another Samick.
The Mutt is a great bow. I just ordered one.
Thanks all for the reply's... You've pointed me in some great directions. I still haven't decided which way I wanna go in terms of longbow/recurve but I have time since my wife has made me promise to wait until we get down to Georgia in February. After looking at the Samicks I think I'll go with them if I settle on a recurve and Maddog if a longbow. So again thank you everyone for your opinions and patience.