Wife's first bow?

[Rusty Snuffers]

It'll be a while before we get her one, but my wife has decided she'd like to try shooting and possibly bowhunting (She's pregnant and due in mid-Feb, so no shooting for a few months at least).  We'd likely do our hunting in LA and MS, so I did some googling and it looks like LA requires at least 30# draw and MS has no requirement for hunting weight.

That in mind, what would you guys suggest for a bow for my 5'3" wife to get her started, regarding draw weight?  Should I get something really light for her to practice with and get a heavier one for hunting?  What would you guys say is the minimum weight to hunt with?  (Is it Night Wing that shoots light bows?)  We'd most likely be hunting whitetail and hogs and small game.

After seeing Reed shoot his Maddog Pup, DeeDee and I are considering asking Mike to make her one of his mid-sized bows once she picks recurve or longbow.  That brings another question to mind: would it be better to get a recurve since we're looking at lower weights or are the longbows going to perform close enough to the recurves?  Maybe that's a question for Mr. Mecredy.  

Thanks in advance for any and all input.
Rusty

[emt137]

I got my wife one of Mike's midsize longbows for Christmas.  35# @ 28".  It's a beautiful bow and very smooth and quiet.  My wife is 6' tall so there is a difference there.  But, I would highly recommend one of Mike's bows.  

Pat

[Prairie Drifter]

Shouldn't make a difference,recurve or longbow.As you can see, I have a bunch of maddogs. Great bows for a great price. Your wife will probably have a short draw. I would say 35# for hunting should be fine. However, I would start her at around 20# to teach her the basics and get her form down. All weights would be at her draw length. Hope this helps.

[wingnut]

With light weight and short draw as issues I would go with as high a performance bow as you could.

MIke

[Bill Carlsen]

Wingnut is right. My wife wanted to start bowhunting about the time DAS came out with ILF limbs. I have to tell you, the tuning for them is infinite and if you get a lighter weight bow that takes advantage of all the preload it can handle  you will not be disappointed in the quality of the performance she would be able to get out of a short draw, low weight situation. My wife shoots 45# at 26" and a 500 grain 3 blade broadhead and shoots thru deer and bear. Her bow outperforms the high end bows I have that are 10-15# heavier at 28".

[Bladepeek]

I obviously can't speak for your wife, but I'm relatively new to trad archery and archery in general. With all the great, reasonably priced bows out there I would say don't go for the big dollar bow up front. I've gone through half a dozen, all of them used except my Lost Creek. What I thought would work best for me turned out not to be. The ones I have now all work well for me and I'm glad I waited a bit before ordering my Lost Creek. I tried the 55# stuff and found that 50# is my working limit.

Having said that, and much as I wish I could haul back a 65#er like the big boys, my lightest, 40# bow is a joy to shoot and will shoot through anything in Michigan if the angle is right and the broadhead sharp.

As much as you've been around this gang, I would think there will be ample opportunities for her to try a bunch of stuff. Then go for the high dollar, "I'm going to keep this one forever" bow once she sees what really rings her individual bell.

[b.glass]

If she gives birth on my oldest son's birthday Feb. 14th. I will build her a bow, bamboo backed hickory, in the weight that she chooses. Just let me know.

[Rusty Snuffers]

Originally posted by b.glass:
If she gives birth on my oldest son's birthday Feb. 14th. I will build her a bow, bamboo backed hickory, in the weight that she chooses. Just let me know.

       

I told her to keep her legs crossed.    

[David Yukon]

I would say that the best thing is to buy a bow that would have two sets of limbs( if you go 3 pc way) one light in the 30# @ her draw and one set 10# or so heavier, to work to and hunt with.

[FerretWYO]

For my girlfriend I got a morrison ILF with Carbon foam limbs.  The ILF gave some room for weight adjustment and increase along with good performance and Mike mentioned.

[GRINCH]

I agree with the ILF concept she can get use to the riser and move up in weight as she gets stronger.

[b.glass]

I like the idea of a riser with two sets of limbs too.