I'm new to traditional archery, being only my second years at it. I'd like to get a new custom longbow for this years deer season. Anybody that can steer me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
If you want it by September your best bet would be a Toelke. www.montanabows.com (http://www.montanabows.com) one of the best choices out there with customer service to rival all comers. There are a few other bowyers out there with short turn around times but I can't think of them right this moment. Some other folks will likely chime in and remember for me.
Take a look at what Abe has available in stock on the Cari-Bow website
DDave
Nobody here can tell you what you will like best!
That being said, I can tell you what I like best, and that would be the Sarrels Blueridge takedown longbow.
Bisch
Do a search on Bisch. He is a kill'in machine with his Blue Ridge. I've got one also that is a beauty and great shooter but I'm not the hunter Bisch is.
There is also a nice Toelke Whip in the Classifieds. You won't be disappointed with that one either.
QuoteNobody here can tell you what you will like best!
Exactly. Message boards are a great place to hear the positive, but you won't hear much negative, even if it's earned.
To do it right, you'll have to do your homework. First off I'd check warranties, and make sure they are in writing.
Unfortunately the most popular custom bowyers are generally the ones that are furthest behind. Black Widow is an exception.
Everyone has their favorite, but you are the main variable. A good hunter will kill game with a selfbow. A lousy shot will miss regardless of the weapon.
Well, you will need to decide what YOU mean by a longbow. Do you mean a straight limbed small riser Hill or Hill style, or do you mean the RD mostly recurve style of hybrid bow that is often called a longbow? I am not in any way casting aspersions on any style of bow--the Lord knows I love my Hills and Hill style bows, my Bear recurves, and my Treadway hybrid Black Swamp. Just saying...."longbow" means different things to different folks.
I'm guessing several bowyers have some stock bows that they might sell if they meet your needs. Custom, but not customized to your request. RER used to have some, not sure what they've got going just now.
If you want it custom to your spec's, yup, you gotta wait. Or, buy a used one here !
ChuckC
I shoot a Bear grizzly now, I really just like the looks of a longbow to be honest, and how quiet they are. Ive been hunting with a compound for 5 years now, and the challenge of traditional archery has caused me to slowly make the switch. I'm a fan of the RD longbows, and being that I do most of my hunting out of a climber, I need something maneuverable in a tree. Sarrels has a 50# blueridge takedown that has my interests. I was really just curious which bowyers you guys prefer. The black widows are pretty sweet too/
Robertson Stykbow has bows ready made, Dick Robertson is one of the finest bow makers there is. We have a bunch of them. It is quite easy to use any length bow out of a climber, just cant the bow when shooting down, which is a natural thing to do with a longbow.
I'm loving my Black Widow PLIII...
It's a pleasure to shoot and has a very nice cast... plus it's only a few hours down the road ( southwest Missouri)!!!!
Depending on where in Iowa you are, it could be a very manageable roadtrip. I highly recommend going and seeing them.
Good luck and God bless,
Rodd
Well I am have 3 Bamabows, 2 hunters,and a tribute royal take down, Nate made them all to my exact specifications from length to wood used and veneers ,they are spot on draw weight at the exact draw, and I have to say every one of them are works of usable art. his warranty is awesome as well.
no matter what one you get ,If you have the money for it I would recommend a takedown longbow. makes life a lot easier when packing for a hunt.
I second Toelke bows. Either used, in stock on the website or custom, but that is what I like.
I will recommend that you look at longbows of the reflex deflex type first before you dive into the Hill styles.
Of all I have shot I would have to recommend a Mohawk Sparrowhawk or a Robertson Primal Styk. Both are reflex deflex with bamboo cores and are outstanding bows...
have heard nothing but good things also about Toelke but not shot them.
I have shot Sentman, Noble, Keep It Simple, Black Widow, Wes Wallace, Howard Hill, Bear and Tomahawk...but prefer the Mohawk and Robertson to them all personally.
Good luck....pick some after reviewing others thoughts, visiting bowyer website for pictures and info...then try to shoot one of each that made your final cut. Some allow TRY BEFORE BUY like Robertson Stykbows so you can see if you like it for a week or two before ordering one or keeping one they sent.
Good luck.
I see your from Iowa, I highly recommend J.K. Traditions Kanati over in Forest City.
Give Al Kimery at Tradition-Al bows a shot. He does great work, has very reasonable prices, and fast turn around time on orders. I have one of his recurves and could not be happier with it. Do a Google search and you'll find his web site. Really nice guy to boot.
Pretty partial to Wes Wallace bows, you,d be looking around December if you ordered one now though.. I,d also suggest looking real hard at getting a takedown.
If ordering a new bow, Toelke could probably build you a takedown Whip in a month or less, there are probably too many good bowyers to try and list...
Another option to get you in the ballpark, the used bow section on here, think it's 35 bucks a year, check RMS inventory.,Or, once you narrow down what you're looking for, call the bowyers you are looking at, see if they might have a stock or test drive bow that meets your specks?.
Check the sponsers list of bowyers and contact them and see what they might have in stock and in used trade ins. I know that sometimes I take bows in trade if they are a nice vintage or well made custom that I like. I generally refinish if needed and sometimes set them up for ff string ect. and sell them as called on. Hardly ever advertise but do have them. I am sure other bowyers may do same or even have cosmetic seconds with a silvering in the glass ect that they will heavily discount and you get a perfectly good bow at a great price.
God bless, Steve
Kanati from Jason Kendall Forest City Iowa Great bow and a master craftsmen ; the price is very reasonable for a custom made bow too . Where in Iowa are you ? If not to far you can come shoot mine .
My son says that he used to live around Cedar Falls, but thought that he moved.
Two Tracks (a sponsor here)
You won't find a nicer guy or a better bowyer in my opinion.
He make a heck of a great mild r/d longbow!
There probably at least 25 or more good long bows to choose from. And all will work for some and not for others. I go to a lot of traditional shoots and try to shoot as many different bows as I can when given the chance. Have shot bows that have a great reputation and others love but they just didn't feel right to me. Personally I would do some research like you are doing, then try to shoot the bows you are considering. If that is not possible I would look to the classified and find a good deal on one you have considered. If you buy at a good cost you will be able to get most of your money back if it does not work out. In the last two years I have bought 3 used longbows and had one new one custom built. I still have the three used ones I bought. The other is gone. It was a great bow I just did not like the draw cycle in the end.
There are so many good choices out there...
I personally am really pleased with my Tall Tines Stickfinger.
Find a way to shoot as many as you can before you buy. Everyone has their favorite bow and bowyer but not every ones elses bow is right for you. Do some test drives with the ones you are interested in or wait until January and come to the Kalamazoo Expo and meet the bowyers and shoot their bows. Or you could gather up some buddies and make the drive to PA next month and do ETAR.
Just like Bow man said Dont rush buying a longbow, like others said their are so many good bowyers out there and they are putting out awsome bows. Go to some of the bigger shoots where they are set up and shoot as many as you can and narrow it down from their. Better to take the time to get what shoots and feels good to you. You will find out some bows will shoot better for you then others and nothing worst then getting a bow that you havent shot and you cant shoot it well, then be all bummed out cause your not happy.
Be sure and check out Big Foot Bows......
For sure check out Bigfoot bows and if you decide on a string follow longbow look at the Frontier 66 on my site.
God bless, Steve
If you like Hill style bows, go straight to the source - Howard Hill Archery. Northern Mist is also great, but Steve's wait time is about 6 months.
I assume that you are sufficiently confused by now. If not, please let us know and we will try harder.
Toelke---Montana Bows as others have advised. None finer!! Dan's bows are not only works of art, but they are excellent performers---fast, no hand shock and dead quiet. Dan will take the time to talk with you and the bow he makes will be truly custom to you.
I think that Brian McBroom has some bows ready fora national shoot. His bows are excellent as is many of the others mentioned.
Black Widow PL is a given, but I don't think Great Northern or Yellowstone Bows have been mentioned yet. I have shot and owned a whole bunch of different bows and my 3 keepers (as long as I can shoot them) are a PL II; 62" 57@28", a GN Lil Creep; 58" 55@28, and a Yellowstone Half Breed T/D; 60" 56@28. I'm glad I didn't ask what longbow on this site; there have been to many great options provided to make a clear, confident decision. Good luck.
Me and my wife are both shooting Dryad Orion ACS longbows! I hunt from a hand p hang on treestand with mine and its a 64". They will flat toss an arrow too! At 10gpp I get just short of 190fps but I have a super long draw so your results may be a tad lower! Beautiful bows too, very sexy lines!
I am sure you are confused by now, or your head is spinning from the overload. Mine is and I am not in the immediate market for a longbow.
I agree with those that have suggested research and shooting all types you can.
Good luck.
There are as many bowyers as there are days in the year, good luck and enjoy.
I'd agree with the other guys who said to get to some shoots and try some bows. Heck most trad guys will let ya sling some arrows out of their own customs. Good luck there are a lot of great bows made by sponsors on here.
Cory