Been kicking around the idea of going to one bow. Anybody else do this? Might drive me crazy.
Yes but, it wasn't by choice! :rolleyes:
Going from 15-16 to "just" 11 has hurt me deeply. I only shoot 1-2 on a regular basis and once I get withing a month of hunting season I shoot just one.
I could see maybe having only 5? Problem is I have a couple that I have almost nothing in, why get rid of those? I have some others that are a joy to handle and plink with from time.
I worry too that I'll get rid of a bow that I don't use today and wish I had it in the future.
I have two Silvertips but only shoot one of them. I haven't shot the other for over a year now. So I guess I consider myself a one bow guy, but I need all the help I can get with accuracy. Only shooting one bow I think helps a lot with that.
You can do it. You just have to resist the "urge" and "craving".
That's my problem if they are here I'm gonna shoot 'em. Can't help myself. Thinking maybe outa sight outa mind.
Does two of the same bow qualify as one?
Lol, I don't know how a lot of you afford more than a couple ! I could only imagine owning several !
Yes sir. You have been moving towards this path for sometime, even have said you were there in the past. You just have to commit to quit. Time to take action without contemplation. Focus on the positive of shooting only one bow. Avoid the thoughts of the new bow rush and looking for the "over the rainbow" bow.
QuoteOriginally posted by Nathan Killen:
Lol, I don't know how a lot of you afford more than a couple ! I could only imagine owning several !
In reality this is what solved my bow addiction! LOL!
QuoteOriginally posted by BUCKY:
Does two of the same bow qualify as one?
Bucky, that's my plan. A clone or as close as possible to my favorite for a backup.
Yes my Jedi. :p
What? I thought all tradidional archers were bow polygamous.
I have just 1. When I get another it will be a duplicate for a backup.
I mainly just shoot one. I have a couple others but they were made for me from the bowswap and I wouldn't get rid of them for nothing.
Seriously????? If I did that I would probably shoot too good and have nothing to work on and frustrate myself with - that just would not seem right.
I have been making laminated longbows for over ten years yet I only use one. I keep a lightweight loaner but don't shoot it. I feel I get accustomed to one and shoot better that way. Every four or five years I make a new one for myself. I also have and shoot the same 20 ga. shot gun that I bought in 1975! Same wife for 31 years. Same house for 28 years, same dog for 12 years, same truck for 7 years,.....am I boring or what?!!
QuoteOriginally posted by daveycrockett:
Been kicking around the idea of going to one bow. Anybody else do this? Might drive me crazy.
Yes...I've kicked around the idea...LOL
Not been able to bring myself to do it. Still too many bows out there for me to try.
I would probably be better off though.
One, probably not going to happen here, but I am considering drawing the line at five to six. I'm weak...that's the best I can do.
It hurt bad enough going to a one gotta go for a new one to come approach.
I am a one bow guy because I really can't justify getting another from a performance perspective. I also can't really afford any more bows.
Fact is, my Toelke performs flawlessly, I am very accurate with it (when I am not fighting target panic), and it is the prettiest bow I have ever seen in person. Why would I need another bow?
I have many bows......but......I only practice with one. I do 98% of my hunting with that same bow. It is my Sarrels Blueridge takedawn longbow. I shoot a lot of 3D and when I go I like to shoot as many rounds as I can. That is the only time my recurve and selfbow come out of the case and see the light of day!
Bisch
I used to buy 3-4 bows a year, now I have a Toelke Super D. It's the only bow I need or want. Kind of boring, but I LOVE that bow.
I am a one bow guy. It shoots at the range well, it small game hunts well, it stump-shoots well, it gets after deer/hogs well. The only thing that it doesn't do well is break down into two pieces to fit in my single cab truck easy.
I do have to admit though, I am not a one arrow kind of guy. I like a quiver full of those, preferably all tuned to my one bow. ;)
QuoteOriginally posted by Bodork:
I have been making laminated longbows for over ten years yet I only use one. I keep a lightweight loaner but don't shoot it. I feel I get accustomed to one and shoot better that way. Every four or five years I make a new one for myself. I also have and shoot the same 20 ga. shot gun that I bought in 1975! Same wife for 31 years. Same house for 28 years, same dog for 12 years, same truck for 7 years,.....am I boring or what?!!
Nice :thumbsup:
I'm down to two...boy was that hard to finally bring myself to do, but my shooting has improved for it.
Only one...I just couldn't do it:)
All the bows I do have shoot very similarly for me... does that count????
I've contemplated the thought of going down to two basically duplicate bows for years... but, I haven't been successful in the least...
Having one bow would be like having only one fishing rod, or one flashlight, or one knife, or one pair of shoes, or one.... ok I'll stop there lol. I could never do it, gotta have one thats right for every situation. Sure I could catch crappie with my bass rod, but it wouldn't be the right tool for the job, just like turkey hunting with a 68" longbow in thick cover wouldn't be as effective as my 48" bow. Right now I have 5 bows, and although none of them are the thousand dollar dream sticks some of you tote they all have a place in my arsenal and I have more to add.
1. Red oak longbow backed with canvas. This was my first bow, its 72" and 35# @ 32" I only use it for plinking, won't give it up cause it was my first lol.
2. Hickory selfbow, backup/loaner for bow fishing
3. Heavier poundage hickory selfbow, my bowfishing bow.
4. 62" Osage selfbow, 45# @ 28". My deer hunting bow from last season. Hope to have something a little heavier by next season, but I still plan to take a deer with this someday.
5. 48" Bear Supermag 45# @ 28". This is my turkey/rabbit/thick cover bow.
Bows that I plan to add to the list are...
6. A 68" 55# Reflex Deflex longbow for 3D and competition shooting.
7. A 60" 60# Reflex Deflex osage selfbow for deer/bear/elk hunting.
8. Another recurve like my supermag, but in the 58-64" range 55ish draw weight.
9. Either an Attila bows Ares Horsebow, or a Bearpaw Horsebow Express, cause they look freaking awesome. Maybe both someday, the Express has a center cut arrow shelf.
10. Probably an English Yew Warbow, 100# draw just for the heck of it lol.
And honestly, I doubt I will stop there cause I would also like someday to have a static recurve osage selfbow, and a take down bow of some kind.
I enjoy different style bows of various designs.Its an addiction and pastime for me.
I do only shoot one of those bows about a month before the hunting season starts until it ends.
Then its back to shooting all of them.I may shoot a different bow every day after hunting season is over.Kinda like a batting order.Its fun and more interesting for me that way.I dont find it difficult to go from one bow to another really.Minor adjustment period is about it.All the bows fit me well
But I am a 1 bow guy for about 4 months out of the year.The other ones are just eye candy and wall art during hunting season.
Once you start making your own, it's hard to stop at just one.
I may be the odd duck but I think I shoot better switching back and forth between two different bows. I mostly shoot a Black Widow recurve and a Howard Hill longbow. Both bows are completely different but I can shoot them both pretty well. I find when I try to stick to one of them, my shooting gets worse. Then I switch to the other bow and I am back to driving tacks. The only explanation I have for this is after a week or so I will pick up habits I am unaware of. So going to the other bow helps me break the routine.
I would beware of the man who could shoot any bow!
bigjim
I'm down to one now, unfortunately it's not THE one!
For me it's about getting rid of a bunch of STUFF that's mostly gathering dust. Trying to simplify my life. Spend more time doing stuff than looking at it.
I did this for one year ,last year.Then this year I bought two more bows.I have a hunt coming up and I have been jumping around shooting the two new ones trying to decide which one to take.well last night I took my recurve (only bow I shot for a year)out to shoot.Guess which bow I am taking on the hunt?Guess I should have stayed with just one,I shoot it better then the other two
I tried.....I tried...
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
I do shoot one bow, in a way. My three Harrison HHC's are all the same draw weight, length and grip. One is a T/D I shoot the most and the other two are "just in case" because there will never be any more HHC's made and I don't want to run out someday. I picked a Harrison T/D Blackwolf from Leo last month and that is also just like the HHC's in the specs but a slight R/D to it. I can grab any one of them and it feels the same as the others to shoot. For me, shooting the same bow, even if there are four of them makes me a much better shot.
I am with bicster. I think switching around every so often helps my shooting. A different draw weight and grip causes enough of a change to bring a little focus back to form that might have gotten sloppy. I usually shoot one bow for awhile, especially before a season. right now I have been shooting one bow for the last month to get ready for turkey season. It is tough because I have anew to me whip that I was shooting well. I will pick that back up in June.
One Wife Is A Given! Just one bow ain't gonna happen, for me anyway! Can't bring myself to sell any of the ten I now own... Then, maybe... Nevermind! :dunno: Like 'em all so much!
... mike ...
QuoteOriginally posted by BigJim:
I would beware of the man who could shoot any bow!
bigjim
X2
My "go to" bow (21st Century, 62", 51 @ 28") has somehow become my eldest son's bow. (gladly). I now have 2 Mohawks and 2 Hills that I take turns shooting. After Denton Hill, late July, I will choose my hunting bow for the year and shoot that one 95% of the time. I believe I am on the verge of losing my lighter Mohawk to my youngest son (gladly). So I am unwittingly getting closer to shooting 1 bow. Although, I will be cruising Denton Hill for a takedown longbow this year. :^)
In the last year I have sold two bows and bought none so the way that I see it when I buy the one I just made a deal on I will be at minus 1 and still have to buy two more to get to 1
DDave
Beware of the man that can shoot ANY bow. :D
QuoteOriginally posted by jsweka:
What? I thought all tradidional archers were bow polygamous.
I think the new term "they" are pushing at us today is "polyamorous" :saywhat:
It's like the old "Oak Ridge Bowyers" song-
"Tryin' to love two trad bows is like a ball and chain... :dunno:
But usually, it IS!" (Doesn't rhyme, but fits better for many archers) :rolleyes:
Would rather have one bow that I know and love very well than have many bows that I hardly know. Quality vs Quanity.
I really gave this a good hard try last year. I went so far as to sell every bow I owned as my long awaited custom was being finished and shipped. I WAS a man with one bow for about a week.
My new radical hybrid longbow was a little too radical for a longbow only shoot I attended that weekend, the next night I bought a Hill style bow off the classifieds.
A year later I'm back up to 6 but I keep telling myself if I buy one more it will be "the one" and I'll finally be a one-bow guy... Just one more....
Thom
Have 4 but really only shoot 1. Predator Hunter is my go-to bow
QuoteOriginally posted by bicster:
I may be the odd duck but I think I shoot better switching back and forth between two different bows. I mostly shoot a Black Widow recurve and a Howard Hill longbow. Both bows are completely different but I can shoot them both pretty well. I find when I try to stick to one of them, my shooting gets worse. Then I switch to the other bow and I am back to driving tacks. The only explanation I have for this is after a week or so I will pick up habits I am unaware of. So going to the other bow helps me break the routine.
I agree
Hmm . . . I'm not there yet! I have a handful of bows I don't want to sell and a few more that I want to try.
You need two bows and one cheap lighter weight bow. Find or decide what is your ultimate bow or the one you like the most, sell or give away all of the others, keep one of your lightest bows or get a cheap one that shoots good enough as breakin/injury bow, buy a second bow that is identical to your ultimate favorite or risk it hoping that the one you have will shoot forever, when all of that is done take your archery allowance and either buy your wife stuff that she doesn't need or give it to the poor. I will send you my address if you decide to give stuff or money to the poor. but seriously, I know of only one archer that has shot only a Bear super kodiak since 1970, years ago he decided that his bow was looking its age so he got a new one, an identical weight Super Kodiak. He doesn't believe in air conditioning and thinks it crazy that you cannot get a car without it. He does not have a computer or a cell phone, okay so he is a really good bow hunter, but he is also a total tight ass.
only ONEEEE bow :scared:
I have one, and a much better one being built now. I will only shoot the new one when it's done and my first will be a "loaner", or form training as it has lighter limbs. I can't afford a bunch of nice bows.
Dave shoot one bow and use the extra money for hunting/Shoots and St.Judes Auction!!!
Hate to say it Bicster and Maineac, but it is a pattern for me as well to start shooting better when I change bows. Usually when I decide to sell a bow that I have not shot recently it occurs. I'll take it out just to shoot it a few times, oops MISTAKE.
Maybe it requires fresh focus on a little different bow, I don't really know but it has happened too many times for me.
I think the shooting a different bow helping your shooting, buying new ones for this or that are all symptoms of NEWBOWITIS. :archer:
I like that concept, pavan.
I was going to one bow, but two (for a backup) and the one lighter one making sense, means I'd have 3.
I was having a bit of a hard time with the one bow idea, anyway.
And buying stuff for the wife is a good point getter...
1 bow only here
I only shoot one bow........at a time!
I consider myself doing well as I am down to 12 longbows. Why shoot just one when therem are so many to try?
Developing the discipline of simplicity in our lives is an overlooked task in our culture.
I would shoot for narrowing down to three bows: Your main, your backup, and a lightweight loaner/injury bow.
"Beware the man with but one bow" was actually first uttered by the first dude who showed up at a Trad shoot with only one bow.
Similarly, "Beware the man with but one gun" was first uttered by the first guy to show up on the skeet field with only one shotgun.
Tragically, both men died of embarrassment when they missed their first shots.
Buying and selling bows are part of the fun for me. Have 3 bows I made the riser with a set of limbs from a master bowyer[Dye RC, Hummingbird LB, Robertson LB]. Have Widow PSAV, Robertson RC, Titan RC, and Dye RC. Have listed the Dye twice thinking there are too many, then took it off listing after shooting it again. Am hopelessly bow addicted. But the upside is it is fun, and all were bought used at a great price. Thanks, Roy
I had 1 bow at one time......................
I have only one- RER XR recurve.(But 2 sets of limbs)
I'm starting to think I don't need those bows sitting on the rack collecting dust, and one or two might be enough for me. A couple of those bows (shrew, black widow) are way too nice not to be used.
No, I still live by the old saying..."Who dies with the most toys wins." Money is tight, but if, and when, I can, I fully intend to enlarge the collection.
I've never had more than six at a time. When I get the urge for a new bow I always sell one first. Right now I'm at five bows, four I shoot alternately and one for bowfishing.
I shoot all of them well in spite of their differences. It would be very hard for me to pick just one.
Brackenbury Quest 62" 45# @ 27"
Abbott 66" 47# @ 27"
Thunderhorn 62" 47# @ 27"
1972 Bear Grizzly 42# @ 27"
Greatree Solo 42# @ 27"
I am kinda a one bow guy. I use one bow for almost all my hunting, target, and stumping, and have a few others for bowfishing and the fact that it is SO MUCH FUN to have and shoot other bows!
I have only one bow.....of several kinds :bigsmyl:
I have been shooting my HH Big 5 exclusively now for about two months.
I did just get a Super Mag 52" Bear from the 70s as a bowfishing bow....it'll be my one bow for fishing...
the problem with only having one bow, is that if you should have a problem, you have no back up.
I've had this happen, which makes me glad I have more than one.
currently shooting 3 custom recurves and a 4th on order.
have a long bow as well.
all at once that would be very expensive, but acquired over the years, its really not that bad.
Each shot is one arrow, one bow.
I WOULD LOVE A SPONSORSHIP!!!
:pray:
I get board of shooting the same bow. Some times I use one in the morning and another in the afternoon.
I always tell my wife one bow is not fair.
i have the responsability to support the business of trad archery and men living with it :D
I only use one bow at a time. Does that count? The others I own are just back-ups in case something happens to my primary shooter. :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Beware of the man that can shoot ANY bow. :D
:clapper:
Having bows you do not shoot can help you fight off the urge to buy another one.
I have owned quite a few bows in my 60 years. I have always liked Randy Dehnels bows of Saxon Archery and in particular his American Series Longbows. I have managed to acquire four of those bows laminated and finished by the same bowyers in his shop at weights of 50#, 55# 60# and 65# They all feel pretty much the same in hand and I use the heavier poundage bows for elk and the lighter for small game and keeping my form in check. I do though, shoot only the one bow I decide on to use the upcoming season for big game starting a month or more before the season starts. I am always on the lookout for more of the Saxon bows, but they are getting harder to find. A lot of fine bows and bowyers out there and I got a kick out of a post several years ago where a fellow bow bender said that "His biggest fear when he died was that his wife would sell all of his stuff for what he said he paid for it" Maybe one bow isn't such a bad idea!
Here are my thoughts:
I've only got two hands and can only shoot one bow so there's nothing wrong with havign one bow, especially given the cost of a bow. It's great to have a backup, god forbid you're primary bow breaks.
I've only bought 2 trad bows. they're both York Thunderbolt recurves. One is "mine" and the other is for converting my compound shooting friends. It's a 49#er so most ppl can draw it, and I can hand it to a friend without worrying, It cost me $90.
Since then I started making my own bows and probably have a dozen good hunting bows ... so the point is more moot, but I still feel better handing a glass bow to a newbie than a treasured wood bow. I'm also working on equipping my buddies with there own wood bows ... btu the basic point remains:
Have one good bow, and a backup/loaner. It just makes sense.
I would like to just shoot my matching Robertsons and nothing else. I would just give my Schulz longbows and my yew woods away that I hardly ever use, but I have not found anyone worthy of them. So I guess they will remain lonely unloved wall ornaments.
I used to hunt with a lot of bows in a single season. I have fell in love with my Mohawk...until I got my stalker. I honestly can`t see shooting anything else. No desire to. So there.....narrowed down to two.RC
I maintain two bows at all times. It's been a longtime since either has been challenged for replacement. Getting tired of the constant cycle of purchasing new bows and selling them in classifieds at usually a slight loss.
#1 - Carbon backed Bigfoot Flatliner 62"54@28
#2 - Bama Bow Expedition Hunter 62"52@28
JD Berry Taipan in procurement due in June. Thats it! I'm done after that.
:deadhorse:
RC you the hunting machine! :thumbsup: