Newbie poundage or weight question

[BuckyT]

I've only been shooting a trad bow for a little less than a month.  So, I'm a greenbean like you!

I had a bow made for me.  62" 56lbs @28"  I draw it back to 29".

At first I thought I'd made a mistake getting a bow that heavy to start out with.  I've been a bowhunter for 20yrs with compounds.  My wheelie bow I hunt with now is 70lbs at 60%letoff.

When I started shooting my curve for the first time, I noticed I was using muscles in my back I've never used before shooting a bow! lol.

But...  I kept at it and didn't wear myself out.  I shoot everyday after work.

Now, I've conditioned my muscles nicely and I have no issues pulling my curve back, anchoring for a second or more and releasing.  My bow is probably a shade less than 60lbs at my draw length.

I went totally against the grain for what most newbies do when starting out.  But that's how I work.LOL!  I've made vast improvements in my shooting and feel fully confident with my setup now.  I'm shooting out to 40yds now.  Not saying I hit what I'm aiming at 24/7 but I'm not scared to fling an arrow at my target at any range now!  I stump shoot at targets (pine cones, sticks, grass clumps) out to 60yds for giggles and kicks!

Trad archery is simply awesome!  I can't wait to get it out in the woods and start hunting with it.  

I don't post much on here, but I can tell you, this site is filled with an endless amount of invaluable information for trad shooters at all stages of the game.  I normally spend my time here reading, reading, and reading!  I rarely have time to post anything because I'm trying to soak up all the great information here!

[Dick in Seattle]

lots of good comments here.  Just sat down and read through them again.  Glad to see several newbies benefiting from them.   I thought some of you might appreciate this.  It's a sign I made and put up in my shop, right beside my "Deadlines" sign, but that's another story...



A Simple Philosophy

1. A bow is just a spring that throws a stick.  Don't complicate it.

2. A good bow is one with which a good hunter can kill his quarry at an ethical distance.

3.  An ethical distance is one at which a good hunter has absolutely no doubt whatsoever of the outcome.

4.  A good hunter is one who is able to able to get within an ethical distance before he will even consider shooting.

5.  Speed does not kill.  Death is a message carried by the arrow.  If the above philosophy is followed,, it will arrive.

[xbmedic]

Thanks for posting that, Captain. By they way, Happy belated Birthday!

[graybark uk]

dick that sounds like a bowhunters oath & somthing we can all learn from ,thank you