Enjoy yourself

[ed cowden]

I just got the chance to shoot a Border Covert Hunter recurve. A very exceptional bow with many qualities that no other bow has achieved yet. I feel if you are solely set in your mind that you are willing to pay and get each quality then you will be happy. The bow I shot was factory new and only had wool puffs to silence. I was very stabile and smoother than anything I have ever shot. Oddly I did not think that the bow was worth the extra money for all of its excellent features.
    Now I have shot just about every bow in this country and some were lower priced and some higher. I have learned some rules for what fits me and some bows do feel better than others. It is very personal but you like what you like and you have to question what it is worth to you for the different qualities each bow builder has.
     When I started back in 1970 with a Howatt hunter, it served me well and I did not feel lacking for any thing. Since then I have had over 100 bows that fit me and give mostly little difference other than looks or some smoothness. The main thing that changes how a bow feels for me is the grip and how the bow draws with that grip. Recurves are very different than Hill style longbows and I have to change how I grip and hold each when drawing. I am most accurate with a proper fitting recurve or hybrid with a recurve grip. The Hill's are just a joy to shoot and are about the most fun to shoot , but I can not hit quite as well with them. It is just a shame because I just love to shoot them, but if I am hunting the recurve grip is giving me better accuracy.
    So in the long run pick what you like best and be honest to your self what you want to pay for. You can spend a lot of money but you will not kill any more game for most of the extra features. It may look good and feel good but if you can shoot better with a Bear or some other factory bow then I would say to enjoy your self. Our old timers did not use all the fancy carbon and foam to hunt all the game they hunted. Use your time to shoot the bow and get use to your broad heads and practice the different shooting positions and you will get your game. I think the shopping around for all the different bows will only lead you back to shooting what feels best to you and what you can hit the best with.
     The Covert hunter is out standing but should you spend the extra money is up to you.

[Sixgun]

Well said!

I will also add, that I think it's great that there are so many talented bowyers that are making a living catering to shooters desires.

I, personally, try to adhere to the old axiom of "Beware the man that only owns one ____."

Ray

[Possum Head]

Good stuff, Ed.

[BOWMARKS]

           

[Amberjack]

Amen.

A lot of meat has fallen to factory bows.  Absolutely nothing wrong with them.

[ed cowden]

After reading and thinking about this, I truly believe the extra $700 or more could be spent on arrows , broad heads, and licenses and travel to explore and get ready. I know some people can afford spending extra, and some will go on 2 or 3 hunts a year. Some of us have to make due on less. We are all blessed to be out in nature, and that is the most important. Weather you go on 2 or 3 high dollar hunts or Africa or stay at home and hunt local we all wake up and go out and enjoy our selves. And it is just as good to go out and get a doe or a hog with a factory bow or self bow as it is to get the same thing with a $1700 bow and paying a guide in Texas or some where to cater to you and put you on a stand under a feeder. Just like Sixgun has Fred Bear's quote.