I see numerous posts where some of us own and shoot a dozen bows. Does anybody own or shoot just one? I own and shoot two Kanati longbows.
Just one for me. Northern Mist Baraga. Getting proficient with one bow is a chore enough for me. It'd be fun to shoot a bunch of different bows, but if I ever get a second one I think I would try to get a duplicate or something very close to this bow just in case something broke mid-season so I wouldn't be completely unable to hunt. I feel blessed to have one bow and the ability to hunt.
I own and shoot one Morrison Cheyenne, B riser and D Max 1 Carbon/foam limbs. Since I've retired, I don't have the fun money I had before retirement.
The first 14 years I shot traditional bows I bought, sold and/or traded 200+ recurves and longbows. In the past two years I've bought four bows, sold three and have settled on my Morrison Cheyenne, which I've owned for nearly a year now.
Bill
One woman? Yeah. One bow? No Way!!!! Life's way too short for that.
I actually shoot much better when I restrict myself to shooting one bow. For the past month I've shot only my 62" 55# Tall Tines and that's the only bow I'll shoot through the the end of archery season.
I do find comfort in knowing I have several backups if I need them.
DD
I am down to one. A 56" 54#@28" Lil Hoot.
I have owned 20+ and shot many more figuring out what I really like in a bow.
I own several but have only shot/hunted with my Liberty English for the past 7 years now. I may shoot a few arrows now and then with the others but the English is my go to for sure.
Beware the man who shoots only one bow... :archer2:
One bow for me. A Tall Tines 58" 53#@28. I have only been shooting with trad gear for about a 18 months or so. I was lucky enough to take my first trad deer last fall. I have taken several with my compounds over the years but going to trad has brought the fun back to archery.
I do and never feel under bowed.
Lately. I feel like I own a new one every week. I usually keep one as my "go to" hunt ready bow and then try other makes, models, poundages, lengths, etc. Generally, if one gets bought, one gets sold.
I did but I fell off the wagon.
My Super D will always be my most loved bow though
Even though I have the two Kanati's I feel like I shoot one cause the grips are so close. The length is the same as is the weight of both. I'm surprised how many shoot one bow.
I'd never have only one bow unless my economic situation dictated it. Would always want at least one back-up. I sure wouldn't want to be without a bow anytime during the season.
BTW, I don't buy the "beware the person with one bow, gun, tennis racket, baseball bat, etc. idea." Though there is merit to becoming intimately familiar with one or a few bows, i don't know of any top rung performers or champions in any athletic endeavor who have only one of the main tools of his/her chosen activity/trade. :bigsmyl:
Me! Due to events beyond my control I sold off a very modest modest Bear collection the last couple of years and have one Bear KH that I was able to keep. I have modified the grip and shelf to suit me. I actually shoot it better than I did my others.
I bought my first recurve in 1991 at the PBS banquet in Wheeling Wv. It is a Savage River made by Dave Guthery of Appilachian Archery. To this day it is the only bow I have ever owned and still shoots as great as the first day I received it. No reason to change what is not broken
Not me. I have two. But they're twins so I have a good backup. ;-)
homebru
I only shoot one, a Mark Daniels prototype Manchu style bow. After I lowered the shelf and built up the grip and added a thumb rest, I've never shot its equal. 66", 70#@38" (originally 43@28") and enough kinetic energy to knock down a forty pound bale of cardboard.
I have two Widows the same weight, a PSRX and a PLX with the same Toby grip.
I have only really shot 2 bows on a long term, regular basis, the two in my signature, a recurve and a longbow. They are 2 very different bows, but I shoot them both very regularly, and can go back and forth between them well.
I found that when switching between several different models, I wasn't shooting any of them well. So I got rid of the extras and stuck with these two.
If I ever get another bow, it will likely be identical to the longbow I already have, but about 10# heavier.
I started with a bob lee, and sold it after I bought a foley recurve off the classifieds. Me and my foley have been places together. I don't have an exact count, but I know for certain that I have shot in the neighborhood of 20,000 arrows through it in the last year and a half. While shooting this bow exclusively I have gone from barely being able to hit a target at 10 yards, to consistently shooting sub 3 inch groups out to 20 yards. I carried it with me last deer season, and all turkey season. This summer I don't even care to guess how many stumping miles it had traveled with me. It carries some scars, and a tell tale dimple in the grip from my wedding ring. I haven't gotten my first trad harvest yet, but this season is looking good, and the foley gets the nod.
I have two bows on order right now, and once they get here I am sure I will shoot them more often, but that old foley and I have a bond. It will stay with me until I can hopefully pass it to a son, or until they lay me down.
Jake
yes
Im down to my Martin Savanna
I figure if something happens, it was meant to be.
I currently have one Bow, My HH Big 5 68" 49@29.
Maybe in around 6 months I may get another Hill.
I have one longbow, one recurve, and soon will have only one hybrid. But then I'll be working on having one take-down.... :biglaugh:
I own several bows, but I only practice and hunt with one, my Sarrels Blueridge long riser longbow. I have a recurve and a primitive bow that I take out for another round at a 3D shoot, but I don't practice or hunt with them.
Bisch
I was down to one bow; now I have 2 curves and 2 longbows. I am tired of selling bows. Plan on keeping my small "family" intact.
I have one Bow, Big Jim Thunder Child 56" 50@28.
Yep, one Dakota Pro Hunter Recurve with 2 sets of limbs, but I do have another one on order with a light set of limbs for 3d, the risers will be identical.
I have 1 Bow, by PAW, a McKean, 58", 57#@28".
Wow! I'm surprised at this. It seems all you ever see is people with a dozen bows. I felt like I was the only one with 2 bows.
-Beware of the man with one bow, he probably knows how to use it.
One bow. I like it and it seems to like me.
What happens when that one bow breaks, or gets stolen, or gets run over by a car? Everyone should have a back up.
Last week I had my 20 years old recurve exploding on me,no serious damages to me but very sad day since I had a lot of memories and games taken with it.
I am glad that I have a back up,maybe more than 100 actually :biglaugh:
If I had the need I would only own one bow but I see no need so I have a dozen or so. I enjoy recreational shooting although not nearly as much as hunting, and for this I choose whatever jumps off of the rack at me. Usually stick to 1 or 3 for hunting during a season.
I have 3 bows but only shoot my 45# Grizzly.
Someone said "One wife, many bows..." I agree with that. But, starting now and through the deer season, it will be (shoot only one) for me. :archer2: ...
I have one longbow that shoot my Alaskan tapered graphites and Microflite arrows perfectly, one that shoots my 50 pound tapered cedar with 145 Grizzlies, one that shoots 60 pound Acme cedars with El Grande Grizzlies, one that shoot 1918s with 200 grains up front and one that shoots 1918s with 175 up front, one that shoots both the 1918s and my 55 Surewoods, and one that prefers 1818s with 145 up front. And that is just bows that I have sharpened broadhead arrows for. What the heck am I doing with all of this stuff? My bedroom looks like an archery shop and the rest of it is down stairs. I am determined to shoot and hunt with my lefty Morningstar and one right hand bow with just one set of arrows for each. However, that choice for which right hander is not coming easy. One would think that this picking and choosing is fun, but after a while it is not.
I am a one bow guy, but not by choice. I love my Toelke, and will never sell it, unless there is nothing else left. Bows are expensive!
But I really want one of Kirk's bows, and I really want another Toelke, and I really want a Shrew, and I really want a...
well, you get the picture.
I keep my red stag as a back up bow only. Since finding long bows my Stik is my go-to bow. I figure that every chance I get to shoot I should use that time to perfect my one set up. Besides, I can't afford too many bows at once. And if I had several I would never be able to settle on one, haha. One day I'll have a bow for each occasion, but for now there's much work to be done to perfect my game with what I have. In my case any extra money can go to the never ending list of accessories - arrows, tips, arrow building supplies, hunting equipment, etc.
I'm going to try and only use two this year. My hickory stick and a short recurve . But the other bows are starting to whine.
My #1 lady right now is the 2014 St.Jude's Java Man Elkheart Gregg built for me this year. It is everything I could want in a bow. Perfect wood combo, 2pc, perfect middle weight at 52@29, shoots like a dream. I will never sell this bow. Its the first bow where I truly believe that.
As it stands she is currently accompanied by 5 mistresses. 2 of which are also more or less permanent, and of similar specs to the Elkheart.. the other 3 are on an 'at will' basis, that is until I get the will to sell them and try the next thing.
Ain't life grand
I'm trying to cut down. I swear. At 6 I'm doing a lot better than in previous years. It took me a good two years to figure out what I like in a bow and a bowyer. LOL
I own, mainly, one brand of bow, Schafer Silvertip, does that count, LOL. Yes, some cannot afford more than one or two,and that is fine. Me, I can afford it and there is no reason for me to own just one, I shoot each the same and can pick up any of them and be in the woods ready to go, same arrows for all of them. Only other I have right now is a custom Huntsman, and it shoots the same arrow as my other bows. Life is too short to own only one bow.
In my lifetime I have owned over 300 of most of the top of the line custom bows out there.
I have stopped shooting my other bows and am only using the Grizzly. Deer season is close enough now, time to stay with one for me.
One for the past 20 years. (I do have a backup in case I need it- though I rarely shoot it)
I typically only shoot one bow at a time!
:bigsmyl:
I really should go down to 1. I would be a better shot
No way! I own a fair number, even though there are only a couple 0r three that I shoot regularly.
I only own one traditional bow. I don't know if I count because I'm not 100% committed yet - but when I do I will be sticking with the same one bow.
OMG! Your supposed count them? What's up with that?
The only bow I shoot is a 1964 Howatt Hunter. I'll keep shooting it till I find one I can shoot better.
I have only one trad bow right now, a PTFX Bocote from Widow. I am in the process of ordering a Silvertip. I am finally getting back into shooting bows after my move to KS several years back and didn't want to start back with the compound so I have started my accumulation phase for trad equipment :)
QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
What happens when that one bow breaks, or gets stolen, or gets run over by a car? Everyone should have a back up.
agreed... I have found my widow PSA to be the best hunting bow I can imagine, and shoot it exclusively a month or two before hunting season and during season, i shoot so much better by doing this it is a true confidence builder, but i do have a PAX with same specs and grip as a back up, i do have a couple others that have a sentimental tie of one sort or the other but they almost never get shot...
I have 2 that I built , one 47# , one 48# , both tuned to same arrow. 64" D/R longbows , both have gotten the job done before.
The ugly one is gonna get the nod for this fall, but barely...... :D
I have one. And believe that if i shoot it A LOT i will be better than shooting several of different weights, etc. I would like to have more, but would probably only really shoot one for weeks prior to a hunt and then, all season long. I shoot instinctively too BTW.
I have one. And believe that if i shoot it A LOT i will be better than shooting several of different weights, etc. I would like to have more, but would probably only really shoot one for weeks prior to a hunt and then, all season long. I shoot instinctively too BTW.
I have a Horne brush bow I traded for which is my only shooter, howeer as soon as the funds allow I want to get one built...a difficult choice.
I can only afford one bow, fortunately it's a fine one, and fits me perfectly. First new bow I've bought.
Sold my Selway, purchased used, to help fund it. Shot that Lil Mag a couple years, and am very lucky to have my (Javaman) Falcon as my present bow.
Bought both of these going on my gut feeling, and lots of helpful posts here. Had no opportunity to try any, just what I knew from my previous Wing SlimLine Pro. Both longbows have worked out well.
Still think about other bows -a lot - but will likely stay with one at a time. Sure would like a backup for peace of mind. (I just hope my wife would let me borrow her Toelke in a pinch!)
QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
What happens when that one bow breaks, or gets stolen, or gets run over by a car? Everyone should have a back up.
In all honesty I don't worry about it. It's a tool and I bought it because it was a tool. Not artwork, not because it was "made by hand", not for any other reason but historical reliability and a manufacturing process that is entirely repeatable.
But...should the unthinkable happen, I will simply call the bowyer and have him ship me another one. If I need one to finish a hunt or for a few weeks that isn't exactly what I want I'll rent/borrow it until I get home.
Why would I tie more money up in unnecessary inventory than need be? That's like saying I need two tents, two trucks, two shotguns etc. etc. simply because something might happen.
Isn't there a law against this type of behavior?
I have a bunch of bows but choose to shoot one and it's identical back -up. ACS CX 3 pc LB 64" 50# @ 28.