New to the site, hello. Questions follow.

[CTaggart]

As titled, I am a new member to this site.  As a newbie, I obviously have a few questions.  

Firstly, I am interested in purchasing my first traditional bow, probably in the taste of a recurve.  I have no idea what to look for in a recurve bow.  Something good for a beginner that also has the potential to hunt game as large as whitetail with.  I would prefer to keep the cost of the bow under $300 dollars and am not against purchasing a used bow.  

I guess that is really the only question I have right now.  I just need some advise to get me steered in the right direction so I know what to look for.  Thank you, in advance, for any and all tips you provide.  Happy shooting.

[McDave]

I hate to break the news to you, but you're probably going to need two bows.  The good news, however, is that you don't need two bows right away.  The first bow you're going to need is a bow that you can draw easily and hold at full draw for a few seconds without struggling.  That's the bow you'll learn to shoot with, and you'll want a bow that you can shoot many times in a row, to develop consistent form.  What poundage bow should that be?  You'll have to visit some bow shops and shoot a few bows to find out, but it will probably be in the 40# range, plus or minus.  The length can be on the long side, as that makes it easier to shoot, maybe 62 - 66".  When the bow is strung, look down the string from each end and make sure the string runs straight as it bends around the recurved tips: that the bow tips are not twisted to one side or the other at all.

As you learn to shoot this bow, and if you decide traditional archery is someting you really want to do, you will develop the necessary strength and skill to pull a heavier bow.  How much heavier you decide you want for a hunting bow is up to you.  I find that I can shoot a hunting bow that is up to 15 pounds heavier than my practice bow.  I find, as many people do, that my accuracy does not suffer at all in shooting the heavier bow; in fact, I think I shoot it better.  For about the first 10 shots or so, that is, and then my arrows begin to spread out.  But the first shot is the only one that counts when you're hunting.  If you're going to hunt from trees or in brush, you might want to get a shorter bow, say in the 58 - 62" range, for your hunting bow.

[CTaggart]

McDave, thank you for your timely and articulate advise.  I'm pulling 65 pounds on my Matthews right now, so I think that 40 pounds on a recurve would be a good point at which to start.  As far as brands, could you, or anybody else for that matter suggest one?