Longbows were fazed out in the '50's, after fiberglass backed recurves came in to being. The fiberglass backings allowed for radically reflexed limbs, meaning more speed,smoother draw, eliminated handshock, and permitted a much shorter handier bow for hunting. Longbows came back into the picture when some started getting tired of the technology compounds, and went back, even farther back than before. The simplicity is an attraction, and in my opinion theres no better hunting weapon.