I few years ago I sold a Dwyer 64" original longbow. It had bamboo cores, bocote veneers, a bocote riser with a black ebony arch. Man it was gorgeous.  I have regretted selling it ever since. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to buy it back!(Thanks Bob!) I picked it up from the post office, set the BH and took it hunting the same afternoon. I took a nice doe with it that very evening. She was in the field with 3 others and they never had a clue. The doe I shot did not even know she was hit until she fell over within site. I forgot how smooth, quiet and forgiving a D bow is to shoot. I ended up taking 2 more does with the bow before the season ended. I guess something else I realized is speed is not what it is cracked up to be! I  would rather have a slow, quiet forgiving bow any day. I think I just realized that D bows just fit my style better!

Quiet is important to me.  Forgiving is nice in case of a poor release or other "outside force".  

I can do without searching specifically for slow.  I have enough slow to suit me in all my bows.  Stability and accuracy are more important, but speed is welcome when it comes along.    

Here is a picture!

please resize all posted pics no wider than 640

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/Dwyer1-2.jpg[/IMG]

I have recurve and longbows, actually to many, but I find myself always leaning towards an old Mahaska that I have that just shoot so nice. 66" 46# @ 28, I draw 29". "D" shaped, smooth ,and silent. Not real fast but it is just a joy to shoot!

A bow can be quiet, forgiving, and fast. As far as the speed argument goes I wholeheartedly disagree with the statement that speed is overrated. Everyone will agree that the most important aspect of bow hunting is accuracy, a trait that will trump many other problems. The faster your bow the flatter the trajectory, which in turn is easier to aim. I say speed is the among the most important traits as it directly attributes to shot accuracy.

Thousands of Archers before us proved this style over and over,somethings just can't be made better.Speed is just one factor in the overall picture,many more important things come into play in hunting situations.

I like a heavy, front of center arrow set up. 95% of all my hunting shots are within 20 yards, most are inside 15 yards. The heavier arrow makes the D bow quieter, and slower, but on the flip side the deer never hear it coming and  I almost always get a pass through!

Slayer,

my go to bow is a 66 inch mohwak, D shaped bow.  It is 54 pounds at my 30 inch draw.  I used to shoot my Tolke Whip 48 @ 30 and it is so quiet and smooth.  IT screams as well!!  But I seem to alway have the less pretty, slower D shaped bow in my hand when chasing deer.  I just love the bow.  It is quiet, slower but I would not say slow, loves heavy arrows and the last deer I shot with it never knew it.  She walked away 60 yards, laid down, looked around, put her head sown and died quietly.  Complete pass through by the way.

I love my D bow!

Bob.

I'd love FAST, quiet, and forgiving.
I settle for slow, quiet and forgiving...and accurate for me.

I prefer a quiet bow to a noisy bow. I have two recurves and since I don't take a shot over 20 yards, speed isn't a factor for me so both bows shoot very heavy arrows. My accuracy isn't due to speed. It's due to the low poundage bows I shoot.

I wanted a very heavy arrow with very little arrow drop between 10 and 20 yards and the arrow had to make the bow quiet. This is why my 42# take down recurve shoots a 637 grain arrow at 153 fps. With this very heavy arrow, my bow is so whisper quiet upon arrow release, it doesn't need and has no string silencers on it. The very heavy arrow, on a broadside lung shot, goes through a deer like a hot knife goes through butter via a pass through.

QUESTION:What are some good traditional shaped(D?)longbows, besides the Dwyer? Especially ones with locator type grips(I can't shoot the broom handle style grip)
Thanks

Great Northern makes an excellent one called the traditional.I haven't shot one but I also admire the longbows by Jay St Charles.

Take a look at Lynn Harrelson Achery, a sponsor here, makes a very good bow at a reasonable price. I own one and trying to get the bucks for another.

QuoteOriginally posted by tarponnut:
QUESTION:What are some good traditional shaped(D?)longbows, besides the Dwyer? Especially ones with locator type grips(I can't shoot the broom handle style grip)
Thanks

you want, er, you need to get yer hands on a  mohawk!

Tarponnut,

Mohawk bows are super and lot of guys talk about them on this site.  Also, Dan Tolke makes a clasic longbow D shaped , truley excellent.  I believe apex predator, makes a great D bow as well.  These all have locator grips, are extremely well made, and are affordable with as good of performance as you can get with this style of bow.

Good luck.

Bob.

Quiet, heavy arrows, that's me. I shoot arrows that weigh 700 gr total and barely hear a thump out of my Apex Predator longbow. My bow is plenty quick. I am sure it is not super fast with those heavy arrows, but the deer never know how fast it's going  

Thanks for the story. Never figured I sacrificed speed but then never worried about it either. Never chrono'ed my bows. Good lesson here S1.

Great story!  Slow, quiet, and forgiving aren't bad traits for hunters, either!!

I'm 100% happy with the speed I'm getting out of my recurves because they feel great in my hand during the whole shot process & seem to me to be very forgiving & quiet.

If any of my bows are pushing over 180 it's only because I over drew them which suits me because as long as I hit what I'm shooting at I'm happy.

I cant see the picture