Thinking of Getting Started

[Hogcoots]

Brand new to the board. I started in archery as a kid with a 20# bear recurve shooting instinctively.  I have been bow hunting for about 32 years with various compounds (55 lbs - 65 lbs).  I would like to go back to my roots with a traditional bow and shoot instictively.  I want to shoot a lot and I am no bodybuilder so draw weight is a consideration. I would want a forgiving bow as well.  I would want to take the bow to the woods deer hunting and most of my shots have been under 25 yards.  I don't know anyone that I can ask for advice in getting started about bow type, length of bow, draw weight, etc. Any advice?  Many thanks and this looks to be a great forum.

[lpcjon2]

I am not the one to give you the best advice,but the guys on this site will fill you with so much good advice you will explode. Hold on!! and welcome to the group.

[RightTrailWrongTime]

Welcome! This is the greatest place to do all that you mentioned above. All and I mean all of the people I have met on here are truely good folks.
Pretty much everyone will tell you not to "overbow" yourself so my advise would be to start with a bow that will allow you to develop good form and get a good understanding of what you need to do in order to hit the spot you're lookin at- it's different for everyone but take a look in the classified section and you will find lots and lots of great bows for good prices and if you buy something and it doesn't fit you or you think you need to go up or down in weight or length etc.. you can always resell the bow.
For me I usually shoot bows in the mid 50's and have taken all sorts of game without issue, now I could write a book on all of the aspects of form and broadhead type and gettin em sharp etc etc  but the "search" function on here is a very useful tool that you should use to read up on just about anything you want to!
Otherwise post your questions and you'll be suprised at how many of us will be glad to help!
Good luck and shoot straight!

[DngrsDan]

Welcome aboard Carl, ya came to the right place.

In answer to your inquiry that would be hard to answer for you. You would have to try out a few to see what you prefer. As far as draw weight I picked the bow (longbow) back up after a 28 year period of not shooting and started out with a 45# (about 48# at my 29" draw) and had no problem holding that. My final purchase (well....maybe not THE final   :rolleyes:  ) is a 50#er (about 53 my draw) a few months later. Probably wouldn't even have had any problem holding 50# starting out. I'm now shooting a 66" longbow and loving every shot. Whether you go longbow or recurve is something you'll have to decide-I just happened to like the longbow.
As to length-I used to shoot an old Jennings compound using finger release and I had a good deal of finger pinch because it was a shorter bow. I get NO pinch with this one, and it could even be shorter than the 66" and not pinch. I just like a LONGbow.

I'm sure if you posted a request on here asking for someone in your area to let you check out their bow(s)you will get to meet some great folks who would be more than happy to introduce you to "trad". That's what I did when I was thinking about getting into trad, and met a great group of guys from in here who let me try out their bows.    

Sit down around the    and pour yerself a cuppa      and enjoy yer stay. You're in the right place.

[dan rothrock]

I would also like to give thanks to the folks in these forums for their attentiveness and good advice.  I had a great uncle who was a state archery champ back in the 50's. He shot his own bows,  which he made out of yew and Osage.  When I was a young teenager, I thought I would build one without any experience..I used a hedgeapple limb.  It turned into a pretzel in about a month. lol.  I have made several bows, mostly self, but it has been a road without guidance mostly.  I have learned a lot on my own but I wish this type of information was available as a kid.  Fortunately, I have rarely had any trouble with the bows I have built. I can turn one out so fast its easier to start another one than to spend hours and hours repairing one that has many problems.  It has been several years since I built one, but I made two over the weekend and that has got my appetite back for it.

thanks guys, you will probably see me on here from time to time.

[straitera]

You're reading 3/4's of the member's mail. Most went your route to the ultimate simplicity, fun, and apprecaition of trad archery. Welcome.

[redant 60/65]

Carl
 Don't over bow your self, with a long bow or recurve. If you where shooting 55-60 compound, I would think a 64" #50 bow would work well for you. I'm 62 and shoot all my bows at around #54 at 64" It works for me. Go out to your local range and try out a few bows if you see anybody shooting some trad bows ask if you can shoot it, or try to find a trad shop, not to many around, good luck your gona love it.