I have been reading the posts on this site for awhile, and have deciding to give trad a try. I have hunted with compounds for years, so I'm not new to bowhunting. Question is which would be better to start out with a recurve or a longbow? Any and all input welcome!

Craig

I would say which ever appeals to you the most.One thing though,it would be best to try one out first.The Howard Hill shoot is coming up in Alabama.You could try lots of different bows if you can make it.

A recurve will probably be an easier transistion because of the grip but this is a personal choice for most. I shot a recurve better than the longbow when I left the wheelie. With practice though a longbow is fun to shoot but a bit more challenging, altleast for me.

Recurve or longbow, well thats up to you. Shoot both and decide for yourself. If I were you go to some shoots, there are always someone there that would let you shoot one of their bows. Thats the best way I think to find out. Its all personal preference. I came off the wheelies to and I went to a recurve, now have a longbow on order.  This traditional is addicting though.1 more thing, welcome    

For a newcomer to this I would advise to pick a system that has been fined tuned by an expert and stick with it. Do not claim that you should reinvent the wheel right away.  For Hill style John Schulz "Hitten' Em Like Howard Hill", for modern longbow Byron Ferguson, and his how to videos, recurve Gfred Asbel.  Pick the style, the miscellaneous equipment, and the bow to match.  Forget your compound draw length your new draw length will be shorter, do not think you need a heavy bow, unless you are already monsterously strong.  I can shoot 90 pound bows and so can my son.  He shot a 244pound 22'' wide ten pointer a couple of years back with a 47 pound Hill style longbow.  His second hit took the buck down at 55 yards on the run, with the first shot going through both lungs at twenty.  Unless you are hunting moose you won't gain all that much going over 55 pounds.

Thanks, for the comments!

Usually when compound shooters ask what to buy, people say recurve because of the similarity in grips. Now, lots of bowyers make longbows with recurve style grips, so you are back to square one. Ah! but working recurves are more efficient than longbows! Then again, innovations in limb design and new materials are erasing that difference as well.  :rolleyes:  

Go to any and all shoots and try out all the bows you can. You'll find something you like.

Killdeer  

Most will shoot a td recurve better when making the switch.Simular mass and a larger sight window for upright shooting is a plus for an easy change.Personally I can think of no easier bow to switch to nd learn with than one of the Quinn Stallions.The small grip on the metal riser makes switching very easy and the price makes it less painless. jmho

Money being a little tight right now,what would be a good choice for under two hundred! Still undecided between the two.

Check out the classifieds here. There is atleast one bow in your price range listed.

Dry Creek,  

As said shoot as many different bows as you can get your hands on, and you will fing something that fits you.  

As far as Recurve or Longbow it's a personal choice.....  I shot Recurves for the first 25 years of my shooting life, and have been shooting Longbows for the past 12 years, and I did not find the transition to be dificult at all, and, I shoot a Longbow much better than, I shoot a Recurve.  Shoot what feels good to you not what someone else tells you is best!  Hope this helps.

Mike

The one you can shoot best! I have had folks tell me that a recurve is easier to shoot but from my experience, I prefer a longbow. Shoot as many different bow as you can and pic the one that you shoot best.     Pat

I would say any bow with just ONE string on it