Traditional archery ?'s

[2LEYS]

Well I am looking into taking up bow hunting. I kind of want to go the traditional route. Just wanted to know all of your recomendations for equitment and such.

What are some good brands? Long bow or recurve?

Thanks in advance.

[gottafish]

Black widow recurve, just be sure you use feather fleching. If thats two much money for you check out the martin line they are fair bows. Remember you don't need a 70# lb 55 to 65 is more than enough for elk. Go with a two blade broad head like steelforce or magnus. I shot many a deer traditional and went to a compound just because I did not have the time to practice, If you go traditional you need to practice a hour a day year round. you Need to know the bow and the typical three weeks before season is not the time to find out what your effective range is. If that is your idea of getting into bow hunting buy a compound the animals you shoot at requier you to be the best you can be!!!!

[2LEYS]

I won't take it into the field until I am good with it. I may buy a compound to start and then a traditional to play with on the side till I am good enough to use.

[gottafish]

Well I am looking into taking up bow hunting. I kind of want to go the traditional route. Just wanted to know all of your recomendations for equitment and such. This statement bothers me. Question: Are you takeing up bow hunting because you have a deep interest in the sport or because you could not get drawn for rifle? The reason I ask is I see a lot of clue less geeks out there with bows that should not be hunting with them but they all have the same story ( I didn't draw this year so i'll just bow hunt) if your one of they forget about a recurve get the best compound you can affored. Take a bow hunter ed class no matter what. If you want to be a bow hunter fine Be one , But don't play the fence.

[2LEYS]

I don't put in for tags other than antelope, sheep and goat.

I am in it for the sport. And I will not go until I am proficient.

[MarlinMark]

If you are intested in the sport then I would try shooting a recurve first. This would be to see if "you have an eye for it." If you are a "natural" then you will save a lot of effort fiddling around and packing around and worrying about all of that compound bow stuff. Cables, pulley, silencers, sites, dampeners, etc. It's a lot of gizmos to shoot a critter "the old fashioned way." If I get back into bow hunting I will either shoot a Black Widow or a Mathews. Fingers for sure thow. No trigger, wrist strap/handcuff BS.

Good Luck!!

Mark

[2LEYS]

I agree. I just want to go out and shoot. I don't like the idea of all that crap you have to worry about. Not that there is anything wrong with it I just would rather do it the "Old fashioned way."

Those black widows are nice. And expensive. I don't know if it matters but I used to sit on the chiminey when I was little and shoot everything in the yard with a little cheapy $10 hardware model of bow. Used to shoot bull frogs at the pond too. So I think I have an eye for it.

[sliverpicker]

The Black Widows are a good bow, but certainly not thee only bow on the market. There's some excellent bowyers right here in the northwest!

Norm Johnson of Blacktail Bows in Reedsport makes some beautiful, fast shooters. Wes Wallace over in Beavercreek makes an excellent bow. Both of these bowyers got their start with the late Jim Brackenbury, the Brackenbury line of bows are now made up in Washington, and I've heard they're as good or better then the old Brack's.

Allen Boice(Liberty Bows) down in Gold Beach makes fine longbows. Ron King(Fox Archery) over in Wallowa makes recurves and longbows. Ted Fry(Raptor Archery)over in Hood River makes recurves and self-bows. If you're into all wood bows then get ahold of John Strunk in Tillamook, he builds some of the finest self-bows imaginable. Not only functional, but works of art! There's some more NW bowyers which don't come to mind right now.

You might want to go with a used bow before spending alot of money on a custom bow. I'd suggest getting some copies of Traditional Bowhunter magazine to whet your appetite. Here's a couple of website's that specialize in traditional archery forum's.

www.tradgang.com

www.stickbow.com

There's alot of helpful people who will go out of their way to help you make the right choice's, so don't be afraid to ask.

If you have questions I'll try and answer them if I can. Just e-mail me. Good Luck!

sliverpicker

[Bait O' Eggs]

2leys - dont let them beat you up to bad about hunting bow as only an alternate to rifle hunting.

I am a bow hunter and love to bow hunt, but I also love to rifle hunt. I would hunt elk with falcons, muzzloader, rifle, bow, knife and sharp stick each year if the state would let me

I apply for hard to get rifle hunts each year and when I dont draw them I purchase the bow tag. There is nothing wrong with taking a year off from the bow once in a while to hunt a different method in a special unit.

The day I bought my fly rod, I didnt throw all my drift gear away

Sliverpicker threw out John Stunks name, I can tell you he makes some really nice stuff. I had John for a shop teacher in Junion High and he is a very talented guy. Last I heard he was putting on classes in building survival bows.

[sliverpicker]

B-O-E, I have a yew self-bow John made for me in 1988. I used to salvage premium yew billets in the clearcuts I was cutting and pack them out after work. When I got them home I'd sticker the ends. Then when I had a pickup load of yew I'd haul it down to John's house. Spent many an afternoon sitting in John's shop talking wood, bows, hunting, etc. I saw John last spring at the Western States Rendevous in Tygh Valley. John and Pat are quality people!

John Strunk does put on bow building classes, I think he usually attends the Traditional Bowhunter's Expo in Ontario, Oregon each spring.

One thing I'd like to add about broadheads. For years I shot 2-blade heads with Zwickey, Grizzly, Wolverine, and Magnus to name a few. Though I took my share of deer and elk with them, I was never really satisfied with the bloodtrails the 2-blade heads produced. Three years ago I switched to the Wensel Woodsman 3-blade. I've taken 2 bulls and 1 buck with these heads and every one has looked like somebody threw buckets of red paint along the trail. They open up a wicked hole that doesn't close up! I'm not saying they'll kill an animal any faster then a quality 2-blade, but for a clod like me I appreciate an easy trail to follow. If you hit the sweet spot they don't go far.

By the way, I've heard thru the grapevine that bow season changes might be in the works. One thing is hunters having to make a choice of weapons in the springtime. Thus eliminating hunters who apply for rifle hunts and not draw, turn around and go bowhunting. It's nothing definate, but don't be shocked if it comes about in the next few years.

sliverpicker

[gottafish]

I hope the choose before the draw is the real thing, :grin: :grin: I personal am sick of the classic ride around in a pick up crap I keep seeing, Bow hunters hunt. I know thats a broad statement but I get sick of the rifle guys who do that stuff thats why I bow hunt. every year more and more guys come to bow hunting and try to hunt like they got a 7mm. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] I have no problem with rifle hunters as long as they rifle hunt. and the ones that road hunt need to be busted!! we need more game officers....

[MooseTurd]

2LEY's, checkout www.recurves.com. Chek-mate makes terrific bows for a very reasonable price, and Chad will take very good care of you. If you're interested in a recurve I'd recommend the Hunter II. Another thing you should know is that if you are like me, it will take you about year of consistent practice to get comfortable with drawing on an animal with only your instincts to guide you. But if you're in it for the hunt, then the rewards are great. Good luck!

[Tilla]

I think Fishalot has a beaut of a recurve he may part with, Blackwidow I believe. Bristol condition.

[salmurai]

2LEYS, Every one here has made a valid point. Let me add on. Keep the hunt in bowhunting. There are bowhunters and bowshooters out there and they are both "hunting". Get a bow with all the goodies and you have yourself a short cut to proficency. It is all part of a system. One part gets broken or lost and the entire system shuts down. Get a bow, keep it simple and practice, practice, practice and you'll be a much better hunter. It is the hunt not the kill that matters so much. You've got some great intentions. GO FOR IT!

[2LEYS]

Take a bow hunter ed class no matter what.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">What exactly is covered in a bow hunter ed class?

Is it just ethics and shot placement or what?

Just kinda confused on what they would go over.

[sliverpicker]

2leys...I took a class about 10-11 years ago and they covered stuff like ethics and arrow placement, as well as blood trailing, animal anatomy, different types of equipment, and a broadhead comparison test. There were other subjects I can't remember right now.

At the time there was a rumor that the class was going to be mandatory, but for some reason it never came about. It was an all day affair, but I'm glad I went thru it.

sliverpicker

[dimwit]

http://www.bowsite.com

[nitrobass]

I hate hearing things like "keep the hunt in bowhunt"...or "those darn rifle hunters". Hunting's hunting, whats in it for you may be different than whats in it for the next guy, and there is no right or wrong. I probably made that confusing but it comes back to the idea of hunting being whatever it is to you and letting it mean whatever it does to other people without judging them.
Traditional archery gear isnt exactly "traditional" if you need to take it there. The tools, materials, and technology are just a bit further along than they were years ago. So too is camo, boots, trucks, binoculars, arrows, broadheads...etc. And remember using a "traditional" bow does not make you a better hunter than the guy with all the stuff on his bow.

[James in Idaho]

If you are pretty new to shooting recurves, remember that longer recurves are much easier and forgiving to shoot that the short ones. If I was going to go the recurve route, I'd find a bow 60" or longer. There are always a bunch of recurves on ebay, might look there.

[Mello-Yello]

What nitro said...