Getting back into it:)

[Pathfinder1974!]

So I've shot Trad bows for a minute 30yrs ago. I never hunted with one or even got all that good with one, but after all these yrs I'm taking the leap once again. My goal is to harvest a few animals with one in the next couple yrs. Now I've purchased a cheap Chinese bow to start with just to get the ability to shoot a bit before making the jump into a custom bow of my liking. I have no problem spending whatever it takes to get the bow I want once I get to fling a few arrows and develop proper form and become consistent. I figure that my purchase of a custom bow will come in a year to a year in a half if I feel comfortable with my progress shooting. I'm super confident with my compound and have harvested hundreds of animals with it and now find myself drawn to the Trad side of archery. Can't get enough of watching YuoTube videos on the subject!!!

So I'm looking at Black Widow bows as they are what I've been exposed to while at 3D's and while in the shops. However I like the look of Centaur Bows to but there website is very limited in telling you what options are for your build or for examples of bows built. Now they aren't alone in that area as I'm finding the websites for most of these custom bows very limited for the options they offer clearly after seeing some of the pics of finished bows either on Facebook or random YouTube videos. The truly only full website and bow maker with tons of owner produced videos is Black Widow and even though it is one of the bows I like theres so many options for custom bows and they are so expensive that when I do take jump I want it to be an informed one. Opinions or some sort of advise in this area when it comes to ordering a custom bow. For reference I live in Maine and don't mind a little travel to a proshop or gathering but can't drive 8hrs away on spur of the moment to get to a face to face easily. Thanks!!!

[Orion]

Luckily, you have plenty of time to look around and mull things over before deciding.  If possible, attend some trad shoots in your area to get some exposure to other brands.  There are lots of excellent 3-piece TD bow makers.  Here are a few you might consider.  Robertson,  Stalker, Blacktail, Wes Wallace.  There are lots more.  I'd also throw Bear TDs into the mix.  Morrison and Border if you want to consider super curves. Good luck.. 

[mnbwhtr]

My guess is you'll find the cheap Chinese bow will do everything a custom will do, only cheaper!

[Pathfinder1974!]

Hahahaha I know it will but it’s not quite like a compound that’s really a mass produced piece of equipment. It’s as much a work of art as it is a tool to kill an animal. I look at a custom trad bow as something I can pass down to kids or grand kids. If it were just performance based I’d go buy a black hunter or a nice used bear off eBay and go. If I can have the looks and performance though I don’t mind spending the $$$. Just want it to be an informed choice before I do choose.

[varmint101]

Well, most of these bowyers you can call right up and ask. They'd be happy to help you in your decision. Also keep in mind if you buy new since covid most of have months long waits. Widow is around 7 months but could be a littler sooner.  Toelke is about 4 months I know and that's not bad at all.  Some will have stock bows in hand from time to time as well, especially right now with show season coming up quick.  I think Timberhawk has a *7 month? wait but has many stock bows on hand.  Centaur if you go on facebook he's got quite a few he's taken pictures of over the years.  Stalker stickbows has a tonnn right now in stock and lots of options.  Man there's just a lot to choose from LOL.  Grips matter a lot though and you won't know what you like until you try it I don't think. 

[Pathfinder1974!]

Ya that’s one of my problems living up here in the north!!! I’m just a long way away from everything and yes we bow hunt up here a lot but rifle hunting still rules. I just took the leap two yrs ago into saddle hunting and that I found had the same issue and ended up spending twice the money due to not having access to try stuff out. Went primarily off YouTube videos and that’s just not enough when things require feel like a saddle or a grip on a bow. I mention Widows cuz the few guys I’ve seen shooting trad in my area that’s what they shoot. So when I really started looking at a custom bow I started seeing a ton of choices!!!! It’s hard to when you can’t try them how do I know what would suit me better a longbow, hill style, reflex deflex, recurve, super recurve, carbon overlays or even using an ILF. So coming from compound ILF would be the logical least adjustment in feel as they do feel like my compound and I luv the adjustability of them!!! However when I think trad bow I think horn over lays on some beautiful wood. That’s kinda why the Centaur peeks my interest as I like the way there super max recurves look and there longbows are sharp as hell too. I looked at timberghost, Great Plains and Java man too and some of those are great too!!!! Now I don’t care about money part as I do have a $2000 rifle so spending that on what I want doesn’t bother me but I don’t have the money to buy 5 to find out what I like the best. Buying one no problem but not 5 or even 2.

[Orion]

That's why I suggested you try to attend some traditional archery shoots in your area.  Most folks would be happy to let you try out their bows.  Does Maine have a state trad archery group.  Any archery clubs that offer trad only shoots?  You'll need to get your hands on a few bows to determine the type of bow you really like. 

[Pathfinder1974!]

I’m hoping to find a way to try some out. They have one shoot a yr as far as I can tell and we are down to a small handful of 3D shoots. Used to be some every weekend but now over last 15-20yrs it’s dwindled to almost none. I’m gonna have to make a big travel plan somewhere in order to handle a few.

[bucknut]

I would make plans to attend ETAR July 25-28th in PA. It is a long haul but worth it. Lots of Bowyers including (BW) there and lots of used bows.  You can shoot them all.  Big Jim usually sets up a couple tents there and has a couple hundred used bows along with his bows for sale.  That and lots and lots of 3D targets.  I think 7 different courses. And several speakers, often having shooting seminars.  All that being said if I only kept one bow it would be my Tall Tines for what it is worth.

[Pathfinder1974!]

Thanks for the advise!!!! I’m think about the ETAR weekend. It’s only 7hrs from me so that’s not a big deal.

[oldsledfoot]

You sure will enjoy shooting different bows and  finding what you like . There are a ton of great used bows in the 300-350$ range , on here and a couple of the other trad sites , built by custom bowyers that you may have never heard of . Recurves and longbows .
Generally, They hold value well . If you buy one and decide it doesn’t fit you , list it and sell it to the next guy .
Good luck . Ask questions here when you need help,. These guys love to talk Trad 😉.

[Pathfinder1974!]

It’s funny this journey is identical to my journey to buy my 1st saddle setup. Like the saddle I have changed my mind seemingly every video I watch. I LUV the look of some of these woods in the custom bows!!! However the triple carbon limbs of the Centaurs are sharp as hell too!!! I’m just a little frustrated with the area I live and how I prefer to hunt. We are just getting some guys into saddle hunting up here so there’s some ability to try stuff out but as for trad bow hunting there’s only basic stock bow stuff and not many guys that do it much anymore. Even 3d’s are very hard to get to up here now so exposure to different things is tough. Requires big travel usually☹️. Back in the 90’s there were shoots everywhere and there was a pretty good collection of guys using trad bows. Now it’s a tough ask up here sadly. That’s why any advise helps!!!

[David Mitchell]

My "Chinese" bows will do the same thing as my more expensive customs, but there is something about a beautiful bow built just for you the way you want it.

[Noah70]

You came to the right place for advice on custom bows, so why go anywhere else to find and purchase one?  Many, if not most of the bowyers on this site build custom bows that are easily every bit as good, performance as well as craftsmanship, as all the commercial builders suggested to this point. And each bow is personally handbuilt, to your specs and with the woods you have selected. Just look at the bows being created on the current 2024 Bow Swap.
Maybe start by contacting some of them?  Pride of ownership starts with the pride that was built into its creation.  Just my opinion?
Chinese bows? They shoot an arrow. Period. That is the only thing they hold in common to a custom build.

[Pathfinder1974!]

I agree with everything you said and I feel a little weird going the Chinese route right away but for $120 I will be able to get my shoulders tested and form down on the cheap. I do shoot a 72lb compound and have shot upwards to 80 for yrs but i get this is a different game. I tried to pull back and shoot a couple bows that were at the bow shop and found 50# way to heavy!!!! I tried a 45# one and even that felt doable but a tick heavy. I ordered a 40# bow just to fling some arrows and develop form. I’ve just always been intrigued by custom trad bows!!!! Never been good at shooting them so in my journey as a hunter I’ve now arrived at this spot. I’ve been able to test myself hunting and achieved some success with the goals I’ve set and this is my next one. I’ve always wanted to do this but never was willing to invest the time or had the time but I’m here now. Just trying to take the right steps.

[Wudstix]

It can be a challenge with so many options.  Choose wisely!!!