If you were to choose one of these bows and they were both the exact same price, which would you choose? The Martin Dreamcatcher or the Hunter?
Dream catcher is a lttle shorter than the hunter and has more working recurve at the end so I would think it would be a little faster. The hunter has been around and made the same for over 40 yrs so they did something right with it. If both are the same price or money not a factor I would choose the Dream Catcher .
I had a similar decision several years ago. I chose the Hunter. I thought is was a bit smoother and faster, but I have not way to prove that. It simply appealed to me more and fit me better. I would suggest that you choose the one you like the best and do not look back.
Either. :) I shoot a Mamba and also have a couple of Rebels. The Martins just seem to fit my hand good.
Dreamcatcher. I have both. But, my favorite of the Martin bows is the Gail Martin classic Takedown. I'd bet the Mamba is faster than Dreamcatcher or the Hunter. But I've never run them through a chrono. (nut) :bigsmyl:
I had a hunter and I still have a mamba. Put it this way, I really regret selling that bow.. Both bows are awesome.. Good luck.
If it was me, I'd pick the Hunter over the Dream Catcher because the Hunter is the longer recurve.
When Martin first introduced the Dreamcatcher I thought that was the best looking production bow out there. Over the years I kind of forgot about them and purchased a Hunter.
What a wonderful bow! I absolutely love shooting my Hunter and would replace it in a minute if something happened to it. I don't think you can go wrong with any Martin bow.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
A buddy of mine had the Hunter and it shot really fast and hit hard. I recently sold my Bear Grizzly because I wanted to upgrade. My only concern with the Hunter is the black limbs. On my Grizzly, it started showing stress lines. It had the black limbs and they were very visible. I know the Hunter is a lot better bow than the Grizzly so I'm thinking that probably won't be an issue. I've never seen the Dreamcatcher other than online but from what I can tell it is a really pretty bow. So I was considering it because according to a lot of the research I've done, it and the Hunter have similar performance.
Dreamcatcher all day long. It feels smoother when drawn and released. The grip fits me better. Much more appealing appearance in both wood combinations and riser profile (no weird lumps below the grip). The 60" length is just a bit more manueverable. Add a Selway slide on quiver and you have a nice package to take hunting.
I had both and sold both. I only regret selling the Dreamcatcher. It was my "President Bush bow". I bought it with the $300 rebate Bush sent out several years ago.
Can y'all post some pics of your Dreamcatchers? I can't tell much about what they look like on the websites.
I love my Dream Catcher.It is by far my favorite bow.Honestly, I like it better than most customs I've been around.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/jaicnd.jpg)
It's the one on the right ;)
Here's another...
(http://i44.tinypic.com/23ra39i.jpg)
I have never owned either, I do have an X200 & it's a pretty good bow.
I'd pick the Dreamcatcher, I think it's very pretty bow.
Frank
Sold my Dreamcatcher a few years back. Sold a couple different Hunters. Boy do I wish I had never sold the Dreamcatcher. Much nicer bow in all respects than the Hunter. The Hunter will stack before the Dreamcatcher also.
I forgot to mention, I shot my all time best 3-D score with my Dreamcatcher.
From what I've seen they look great. Keep the pics coming.
I own and shot both. I have both in a 60 lbs draw weight. As stated the Dream Catcher is the best looking. Both shoot very well. But for me the Hunter is my go bow for hunting. It is faster, seems more stable, no hand shock and I just shot better with it.
I would look for a Howatt Hunter with brazilian rosewood riser from the mid sixties to very early seventies. I like the grips better from that era and the fit and finish on the older Hunters is much better than what Martin is putting out now.
No doubt the Dreamcatcher is a nice bow, but I'll stick with my older Hunters.
The DC would be my choice... But I'd really rather have a Super Diablo. Much better looking bow IMO. I could never warm up to all those angles in the DC riser...
This has probably been linked to before, but it is a cool video called Making A Martin and features the Dreamcatcher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zxg7xZoU5U
I have had a Dreamcatcher for 10 years and it's a gerat bow. Bought it new for $299. I would love to have a hunter too. The dreancatcher is a tad short for me.
Chuck
Traded my Hunters&picked-up a Super Diablo.
A very smooth-shooting recurve. (//%5Burl=http://imgur.com/EyldRAm%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i.imgur.com/EyldRAm.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
(//%5Burl=http://imgur.com/yUhVMUt%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i.imgur.com/yUhVMUt.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
(//%5Burl=http://imgur.com/yVRWJPn%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i.imgur.com/yVRWJPn.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
I have a Dream Catcher in 55# I ordered the first year they came out and it pleases me to no end. Fast, relatively quiet and just a pleasure to own.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/deer2B.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/deer1b.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM0347.jpg)
May not seem like much of a deer in this image - but I had just had knee surgery a week before and it was the first year I hunted on my own land. A trophy to me.
I like to buy and use bows from the 1960's . . . but if I had an elk or caribou hunt on the line I'd be holding my Dream Catcher. Can't really say it is better than the Hunters or Diablos I have held and shot; but it is prettier and sleeker. ;-)
If I am not mistaken, DH / Martin just revamped / updated the Super Diablo's riser to make it the Dream Catcher. Otherwise I believe they are the same bow.
I have a RH 60# SD like the one above. I loved that bow, till, I bought other bows and it has now been hanging for years. It is still a great bow, but I have other toys now.
CHuckC
I have a 64 Rosewood Hunter. Smooth and fast. I've never shot a Dreamcatcher but I'd bet they are a sweet bow. Just wanted to chime in about the black glass. My bow is 49 years old and has no signs of stress. Maybe you should get both of them and send me the one you like the least. :goldtooth:
I have a black glass DH Hunter from 1992 and the glass is absolutely flawless...bought it used for just over 200 bucks...I would never buy a new one
DDave
I have shot and owned Hunters. They are fabulous and I will likely buy another one some day.
I have a friend that has both. He rarely shoots the Dream Catcher.
However, what is obvious from this thread is it's all about personal fit.
You really cant go wrong with either of them. I have two Hunters (and a Mamba) and have shot a dream catcher. All are great bows.
My advice is to shoot both of them and buy the one that makes you smile more!
I have a 68 Hunter, 75 Super Diablo and a 63 Hi-Speed. The grips on these bows fit me perfectly and I am much more consistent with them than I am with any other recurve I own, which is frustrating to me because I really want my Bear Takedown and Super Kodiaks to be my go-to bows. The length of the Hunter is not an issue for me. In fact, even though it is marked AMO 62", it uses the same string as my Super Diablo. Here is the Hunter.
(http://pmagistro.com/bows/68%20Hunter.jpg)
One of the finest shooting one piece recurves I've ever shot!
(http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q506/ORShooter1/101_0619_zpsfe9d9791.jpg) (http://s1161.photobucket.com/user/ORShooter1/media/101_0619_zpsfe9d9791.jpg.html)
I had a Dreamcatcher, sold it and then turned around and bought it back. Beautiful bow and the grip fits me perfect.
I've owned a few martins. a mamba, couple of hunters. even a kids recurve (prodigy) . I've shot the hatfield and handled a broken dream catcher.
they are all really very nice bows. they are well made, reliable, fast, quiet. a mamba with limb pads and some wool puffs is extremely quiet at 10gpp. as quiet as any bow i ever came across.
id take the dream catcher on looks and i like the shorter length.
Performance on both bows is great, you can't go wrong there. I think it's just a case of what length bow you want and how fancy you want it to look. I currently only own the Hunter because I like the length and it's long outstanding history!
I have and love a Hunter. I think I will also be looking into more of the Martin Howatt line in the future. My buddy has a High speed that is great also.
I do know that the Hunter is smooth, stable, pretty fast and the grip fits me well. A deadly work horse.