I shoot Habu bows exclusively. Right now I only own five bows. Two of them are Habus. Two are old bear recurves and one is a light weight longbow not heavy enough to hunt with. I use this bow for when children come to my house and want to shoot bows.
I have a brand new Habu Vyperkhan that is just over a year old now. Its an excellent bow for me. As good as it gets. I have only killed one animal with it so far and that was a turkey this spring. Been shooting it non-stop. But I also have an older Habu recurve. Ebony with Bacote limbs. I shot my biggest buck with this bow along with two caribou and a number of African game animals. When my buddy had enough of compound arrow shooters I lent him this bow for a season and he too killed his best buck with it. Dusted it off recently and it felt like an old friend in my hands. This is a bow that I will never sell. I have been offered twice what I payed for it. I'll never do it because of the memories I made with it. This bow that Chris Cox made for me will be given to one of my nephews when or if they decide to become a bowhunter.
Think I'll be using both of my Habus this season.
Both of my Blacktail TDs are my "old faithfuls". These are the only two trad bows I own.
Martin Savannah
If I do my part its a tack driver
Funny thing I have two plain jane Bob Lees that I always grab and a beautiful Bob Lee that stays on the rack lately.It is a little heavy wgt.not pull wgt. and just feels less comfortable in my hands.K-Mags also fit my smaller hands perfect.Kip
I sort of envy you guys you have a 1 only favorite,or loyalty. I can't get enough of them in my hands. I am to a point though,I have bought/sold/traded enough bows that I have tried or currently own just about any that tickled my fancy. That Baraga in my signature line,is the one I paid the least for,but I find myself picking it up more,and more. rat'
For years I shot an old Martin take-down, had the old ball bearing swivel limbs. Monsterous riser on it that I actually took a rasp and file to to help fit me. Was not fast or pretty or quiet but man could I shoot it. In all the years I hunted with that bow I never missed or lost a deer with it.
jon, got them Eastons good and straight yet, haha ? Wishing you luck in the great deer huntin state of ILL this year, we hope to come back one day soon if and when the economy ever turns ?
Mason and I have to hunt with our circa 1960's Bear recurves at least once a season so "Fred" can live to hunt again. Know what you mean by a older bow like that, "feeling like an old friend ". I need to make us up a dozen woodies that are retro Bear looking arrows to put on those bows and get some Bear greenies on the pointy ends too so we are period correct. Seen a set on here that were stained to match the Coco woods, then crested with green and white to match the glass and white line accents. :campfire:
I just committed to spending some serious money on a bow, so I'm going to have to sell 3 or 4 of my others to pay for it. The one I won't sell is my first bow after I started archery again in my late 60's. It's the one I grab when it's time to head for the woods.
A local maker, Kevin Cramer. He didn't even put his name on the bow or any of the bow specs. 60", 50@28, and it's a bit heavy for me now while I've been concentrating on my knee rehab and not shooting as much, but I WILL work back up to it. It's my deer slayer.
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Jon I wish you the best of luck this year and many more to follow. Great choice in bows.
Many bows have come and gone, but My Habu and my Hoyt Gamemaster 2 just shoot better in my hand than all the rest I have owned to date (including silvertip, assenheimer, RER, rose oak, marriah, and on and on).. I do have to say though, that my new Palmer may become the new "old faithful" as I am shooting it even better than my Habu
My first Silvertip has been my go to. I've taken several critters with it including the best shot I ever made:
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This year though I'm leaving it home in favor of a Big Jim Buffalo and Bear T/D.
For some reason I keep picking up my old Ben Pearson Cougar. Have a nice Ed Mikuta take down but just like the one piece old bow better. I just have a thing for the older bows.
My old Morrison Shawnee Longbow with the Dakota style limbs is by far the best shooting bow I have ever owned. This bow flat out shoots. Yet, for some reaon, I am always buying a "new" (used) bow!! I have an addiction I think.. LOL. When it's crunch time, I always break out the Morrison and stck arrows on top of each other. One day I will stop buying and selling bows and just stik with my Ole' Morrison! ~~~> Steve
My Hill bows. First is my Wesley Special at 65#, followed by a Cheetah at 55#. I'm shooting the Cheetah now mostly because a sore shoulder hasn't completely healed up, making it easier to shoot.
jrbb00, I have a pearson cougar too. that was the bow I hunted with my first trad season. I still shoot it sometimes, Its a good shooter and Ill probably never sell it.
Id have to say my favorite is my hill country longbow though.
Has to be one of my Shrews, although a Brackenbury or a Morrison would be wonderful too.
Allan
For the past 8 seasons it's been my DAS riser and Winex limbs....58" bow that draws 60#. I've tried other limbs (even Border HEX 5's and 6's) but the Winex seems to group better than anything I have put on that riser. I have a spare set of limbs and just got a Dalaa riser to keep handy in the house (my DAS is usually in the car or truck ready to travel) because turkeys always show up in the yard when I least expect it. Besides, I need a back up bow, just in case, that shoots the same.
I love longbows....but I always seem to grab my Holm-Made River Runner.....I just like that 60" recurve.......
Ron: Now all you need is a deer to shoot at!
I could not agree with you more Mr. Carlsen :dunno: I will give it my all again this year......
my Liberty Contender
Has to be my Great Plains one piece "B" models. I have two of them and both are 52@28.
I seem to be drawn to my pronghorn even tho I thought I'd be using my shrew CH this year.
Can not handle her anymore going to have to make some memories and game with the new lower # ones.
My 56" T.S. MAG :thumbsup: She's not only pretty but shoots like a dream :archer2:
Recurves I go with my Bruin 60" 57 pound Master TD, and my Bruin One piece 56" 50 pound HR. Love them both. Longbow I go with my 64" 62 pound Monarch.
I have reduced my bows to just one. I have had prettier bows that felt better in the hand. I just never have shot one that I could pick up after a month or two with no shooting and still shoot groups like my Roy Hall. Don't get me wrong because my Navajo Chief is a beautiful bow, but there have been others the were prettier. None shoot like it though.
I still love shooting other bows but life is so busy that I can't justify any change. Not to mention my history with this bow. The only now I have killed two deer from the same stand in one day, the only bow I killed three hogs with in one day. Trad bows wax nostalgia with every shot but no others have as much nostalgic appeal.
Chris
Yepper over the years I have narrowed it down to two favorite bow makes, My Shrews fit me the best of any of my bowss but still love the action of my Northern Mist.
However you will never find my collection without a Bear Super K or Kodiak Special, I would say they will always be my go to bow?
Pretty much any bow on my rack. Got an autographed bear TD that I need to get some blood on. It will be my first choice.
I have a bunch of bows. I like shooting them all. But my best fit, my go to, "was" my 1968 Bear Kodiak Hunter 50#. A real game getter for me. I say "was", as I have since picked up and fallen in love with an old Wing / AMF Red Wing Hunter in 50#.... WOW! Not as pretty as my father's 60's rosewood Houston Red Wing Hunter, but Man does it SHOOT that cedar and shoot that arrow FAST! I never thought my Kodiak Hunter would be replaced, but this RWH is like a new girlfriend, I just can't keep my hands off her! The string pulls my fingers!!! Until I can get down to Texas again and get a new Bob Lee Classic (same old Red Wing Hunter, under a new name), this vintage AMF RWH is my new "go to" bow. Next week, we have a date in the October woods together.
That would be my green stripe bear takedown..its always been my favorite..This year I'll be using my Wes Wallace Mentor but the bear is always along as a backup..It's the one bow I can pick up any time and shoot well
My old Astro II. Been my go to bow for many many years.
I have two my 58" wing recurve for tight spots and my Price RD long bow for open longer shots. Or what ever one jumps into my hand while going.
Both are dog killers.