Hello from Arkansas. I am a long time archer and bowhunter, but have not shot a traditional bow since a teenager and I am now pushing 48. I have been considering getting a recurve bow for a few years now and think that this year will be the year. Any advice on what I should be looking to get is appreciated. I have been looking through the classifieds and it is a bit overwhelming. I generally shoot my compounds around 65 pounds and have a 30 inch draw on those. I definitely plan on hunting up to whitetails using it.
I would recommend something in the 50 lb range to get reaquainted with Trad shooting. Anything higher and your form might suffer. Your draw will more likely be an inch shorter than with your compound. With a 29" draw you might need a 60 to 62 inch recurve to avoid stacking, although some bows handle longer draws better tan others withot stacking.
THe main thing is to get out and enjoy shooting. It is so much more fun shooting Trad!
Welcome to our Forum as well!
Welcome to tradgang!
Our ranks continue to grow and you are another important member.
Thanks for joining up!
I hope you enjoy your journey along with the rest of us.
God bless,Mudd
Shoot as many as you can before you choose a bow. Develop proper form and begin a liftime of enjoyment.
BTW, trad bow are like no other. I just started about a year ago, and I have NEVER had a fellow trad bow shooter refuse to allow me to shoot his bow, offer advise, or just become a new friend. Great faternity they are.
45 to 50 lbs 60" or longer would be a good starting point. Your draw will likely be between 28 and 29" and most likely fall at 28.5" at full draw. Shoots as many as you can get your hands on because one or in most cases many will 'just feel right'. Enjoy and welcome!
Welcome! Lots of fun in your future.
where in Ark. are you? if you're close to Pea Ridge we should get together & you can shoot sll of mine.
Welcome, I grewup in NC Arkansas! I would say start with traditional bow around 45-48lbs@28". with your 29" draw that will put you pulling about 48-51lbs range. Quite abit different pulling 50# on a trad a rig VS a wheelie! And as already stated shoot as many different bows you can before you purchase. The right GRIP makes all the different in the world.
I live in pope county. If you are close, shoot me a PM, I have a couple longbows you can shoot. There is a Trad shoot coming up at the local range. You would enjoy that.
God Bless,
Nathan
Welcome, I have another suggestion that if I had it to do all over again I would invest in some one on one with someone who knew the way. Either find some one to guide you or In your case you have within your state an excellence instructor by the name of Ricky Welch. He has won many state championships and IBO'S. I would look into taken his classes that he give, the knowledge and tips he could give would set you light years ahead. I started without any help and developed some pretty bad habits in my shooting form and still effects me to this day. I knew of Mr. Welch when I lived in Arkansas (Vilonia) but did not know at that time if he taught shooting etc... Not saying you can't learn on your own because many have, just that the resource is availible and I think it would be of great benifit :readit: The main thing is don't overbow yourself and keep it fun :jumper:
IMHO most new trad. archers start with a bow thats way to heavy.. the key word is STARTER BOW dont forget its not a macho man/who pulls the most race. get a nice used bow in the 38 to 45 pound range and by hunting season you will be in the 48 to 53 range and hitting what you aim at..Form first the weight will come later..We as Trad. Hunters owe the animals we hunt more than just flinging a arrow at them. But thats just my 2cents..
Thanks for all the responses. The supply of traditional gear in our nearby shops is pretty dismal to say the least. About the only thing I have seen is a Hoyt recurve before. I live near to the Fort Smith region. I do plan on attending Rick Welch's school once I get my gear. I would love to be able to pick up one of his bows too, but they don't appear to hardly ever come up for sale and the waiting list puts me too far into the summer to learn to shoot before archery season.
Welcome to the fold.
It's hard to tell someone what to buy. This is a very in dividual sport.
I would recommend going to a local shoot, and talking with the trad shooters there.
I'm sure they will be more thatn willing to help, and would probably let you shoot some of their equipment.
Again welcome, and good luck on your journey.
north, west, east or south of fort smith?
South about 20 minutes
It's nice to have you here! Look forward to getting to know you. Don't be shy, jump in and enjoy the ride.
:campfire:
Hello welcom to the camp fire. Here is a thread that might help.
http://www.tradgang.com/docs/newbies.html
Here is a link to a trad archery club in Arkansas that posted for a state shoot last June (or some June). It lists a member here you could pm for more info and some other contact info. Welcome and enjoy this site. There is a lot of knowledge here and good people willing to share. I am sure Rob will chime in here with a link to his site for trad newbies. It is a great time.
Welcome... pick a bow to grow, lite is rite...any bow that your comfortable with is best to develope your form.Name brand or maker not important at this stage, their are many of good ones,when your ready to move up in weight,your personal preference is what i suggest.More or less like buying a pair of shoes, good luck...
Hello........and WELCOME Greg !!!!! How have you been ??? I haven't talked to you for a long time. Sending you a PM.
Winterhawk1960
Great to have you on board. Congratulations on having one of the restored elk herds in the eastern United States.
Welcome to the Trad Gang and to Traditional Archery! If you can hook up with some local Trad. shooters they can help you with form and give you the chance to try different bows. Don't go to heavy in poundage, because you can develop bad form and not shoot accurately. You can always work up in poundage if you feel a need to. As you shoot different bows you will probably find one that feels right to you and that's the one. A 45# bow is a good place to start where you have been shooting a 60# compound. You will be amazed at what a 45# bow can do and then go from there. This is a great web site to get help from and ask questions, so dive right in and again, it's great to have you on board!
I can already see that a person needs to make a wise choice first off because this can get expensive in a hurry if you choose wrong and have to start again a time or three. I am also starting to get a feel for at least what my eye likes in a recurve bow form shopping around today on the Inet
Don, I PMed you my cell number so you can give me a call sometime.
Welcome, glad you joined us!
Sounds like you need a 64" bow to start off in low 40# area develope good form first,get a 3 piece if you can ,and get heavier limbs next year.LOTS OF DEER KILLED WITH 40LB BOWS,and remember you got that 30" draw will add 4 to 5 lbs DRAW FORCE to your bow, glad to have you I'am down west of Hot Springs.
Hey Cuz,
It was GREAT talking to you again and getting caught up on "life's happenings". I'll keep in touch and one of these days were gonna have to get together and shoot a few. :archer2:
Winterhawk1960
arky, I have gotten some great advice today thus far and I will be looking for a 62-64 inch bow at around the 43 to 47 pound range. I would really like to get a Dakota bow since he is from our area. I will be looking really hard for a ready to buy one of those in the near future since it takes too long to get one built up before the season comes in to make my practice time perhaps not nearly enough to be effective. You are about two hours of me. You must be near to Mt Ida.
If you can get down to Little Rock, look up Archer's Advantage. They has a very good selection of traditional bows. You can find anything from $200 to $2,0000. They have always worked well for me and are more than willing to let you try any thing out there on their indoor range.
abowhunr I'am between Hot Springs and Glenwood on hwy 70,Dakota is a very fine bow...good luck on your journey into traditional archery all it takes is time...
Welcome. There is a really good trad bow shop in Little Rock called Archers Advantage, tons of longbows and recurves. Jerrell is very knowledgeable and is a good Guy to deal with. Remember to start light and work your way up.
BOB
Little Rock is a 3 hour drive for me from my place.
Keep yalls eyes out for a Dakota bow in 62-64 inch and 43 to 48 pounds. I will be looking hard for one in the near term future.
arky714, I passthrough that area quite often as I have a deer lease near Magnolia and I go through glenwood to get there.
Hi abowhunr! Wow, is this a blast from the past! I remember you from another bowhunting site from the 90's. You, winterhawk, tumbleweed, susieq, jimbo along with many others were regulars there. Good to see you found this place!
Winterhawk called me up last night and we had a good chat on the phone. Tumbleweed contacts me via email now and again, but that is about all who I have kept in contact with. Quad died a few years back in case you didn't know that.
abowhunr let me know when you come through Glenwood I got a place to shoot...
I will be passing through Glenwood the weekend of March 12th on my way to deer camp, but I will have people with me on this trip.
We will be have a arrow 2 camp out on Lake Ouachita,during turkey season it will be at Crystal Springs Campground come on down hunt fish shoot a bow with us..Go to the arkansas site ...it has more info...will be pleanty of bows around to try out....all good guys..
I will certainly try to make it to the camp if at all possible.
How far are you from crow creek bows made by elmer patton? he's in Ark...go shoot some.
Welcome! I have plenty of Lefties for you to shoot!!