Well guys i am brand-new to Trad Gang, so ill do the best i can with my second post (my first one was at product reviews)       ...

Anyways, I was looking for a custom bow, and I came across Mahaska Bows in the sponsor list and am interested in their recurve bows, does anyone know of a better custom bow place with similar prices? Has anyone here ever purchased a Mahaska? And if so.. how has it performed? Thanks for your help guys!!        


If you want to look at the site here it is:
 http://www.mahaskacustombows.com/page3.htm

I haven't bought a Mahaska bow, I just wanted to say hi and welcome! There are plenty of knowledgeable people here. So ask and learn...
This is a great place with a great bunch of folks!!!

I had a 58" Mahaska recurve, osage limbs with cocobolo riser. It was quiet, had average speed, and a little bit of thump on release.  The bow always shot where you looked and was a smooth performer.  Very forgiving.  I sent it back to Kent and had him take the grip down to more of a straight grip.  Doing that ruined the whole feel that the bow had for me so I sold it to my cousin.  He still hunts with it and enjoys it quite a bit.

A Mahaska will last a lifetime and provide trouble-free service.  If you'd like the same style bow but with higher performance, check out Black Widow's PSR and Great Northern's Ghost.  Both are top performers but also carry a higher price tag.

Be sure to check out the Dryad Bows Orion on the sponsor's list.  I have never owned a Mahaska, although I've had a hankerin' to try one of Ken's flatbows...    
However, I just received a Dryad Orion Recurve from Mike and Jason.  I'm typically more of a longbow fan, but these static recurves shoot very fast and are quiet.  You would have the option of purchasing extra limbs as well.  Pretty close to the same $ as a Mahaska...unless you start adding options...    
Bob Lee (sponsor) also makes a nice bow, and I think they're doing a clearance on their Hunter models which would put them in the same price range...  

i have 3 of Kent bows love them nice shootting ,i'm shooting the 52@29 with a 560gr arrow @186 fps

Wow 186 fps... Nice! I was thinking about going a little heavier with an 80lb at 29"... i wonder how fast that would go, hopefully quiet as well.

the other recuve is 68 @ 28 it shoot a 2219 645gr arrow at 204 fps

The only problem with black widows in my opinion is pretty much just the price that i cant afford at all..    :(    The bow that i will purchase will be my first decent recurve  

also the more lbs the bows is the more the arrow will weigh

204 is indeed impressive for a traditionl bow, i wonder if there are any traditional bows that can go as fast as a compound..

also makes sense, my selfbow i made 50lbs@28" needs about a 550 gr arrow

By the way.. how do you measure fps?    

shoot it though cono at the bow shop

Mahaskas ain't the fastest bows out there but my recurve killed two deer the first season I had it 2016's 145 grain Bear razorHeads. The one was 28 yards . Arrow passed threw and stuck in the ground. Chronoed it for the hec of it was 169 FPS but Quiet and deadly accurate!!!

The Mahaska I had was a very nice bow! One of the quietest recurves out there, and well constructed also.....wont go wrong with one!

Mahaska bows are very well made bows and Kent seems like a very nice guy to talk too.....
You might want check out  www.dwyerlongbows.com  if you're looking for longbows..... And for recurves I would really look at Whisperstik.. He's an up and coming bowyer that's a sponsor here. Really makes an outstanding bow  at a good price.

I have heard a lot of replies that they are quiet, but will they also work for such things as maybe bowfishing? I plan to bowfish and hunt, and im not sure it will have the speed to do so... correct me if im wrong of course.

Brand new to trad bows + 80lbs can = Alot of bad habits down the road.Hence OVERBO,did that mistake.
If you can handle the weight you could put a harpon on that thing and go for Moby Dick.
Good luck on your search and Mahaska's are very good bows.

hahaha a harpoon!   :D  Well i can assure you im not brand new to traditional bows, currently i have a 50lb self bow, and a 65-70 pound old recurve and i wanted something just a little stronger, but thanks for the advice!!    

David
   I  recently picked pu a used mahaska That I am very pleased with. Kent will be great to work with if you choose to go that rout. To answer your question you can hunt prairie dog to elephant if you choose. As far as fish go (Fly rod) if you can mount a reel to if go for it.

Happy hunting