Are R/D longbows the latest rage?

[B.O.D.]

This is strictly my opinion, don't want to ruffle any feathers, okay?    
But it seems to me that more and more bowhunters are going to the R/D longbows, from mild to radical R/D models. ( myself included)
there are still recurve shooters, selfbow shooters( although I've noticed less and less threads about them than in the last few years...), and they seem to love their bows.
Anybody else notice this swinging trend to the longbow?
to me the forgiving nature of the narrower, thicker limbs coupled with the romantic allure of the "uncurved limbs", along with the whisper quiet arrows make my choice an easy one.
I shot recurves for 18 years, all types , weights from 85-60 pounds; now I like a good mild to moderate R/D longbow from 52-56#'s.
I get great flight and they are heavy enough with my 600gr+ arrows to tackle any game I will ever hunt.
     
Just my 2 cents worth, feel free to tell what you shoot and why you like it..    
BD

[Mike Burch]

Yep, seems to be a trend. I love the "hybrid" type longbows.

I look for the most efficient way to bowhunt. That is what I like about the Acadian Woods Tree Stick, shelf is center shot, so no problems with the durable carbon arrows. The reflexed limbs cast a 600+ arrow and Snuffer through anything I'll be hunting. No stringer required.

They are just an awesome hunting tool.    

Mike  

[Shawn Leonard]

Nope, they were the latest rage 10 years ago. I think ILf limbed bows and such are the latest rage. Shawn

[Kelly]

I agree with Shawn.

[B.O.D.]

Ahhhh, the DAS-style bows....   saw one shot by a few guys, wasn't that impressed, wayyyyyy too noisy for my personal standards.
To each their own though, after all, what you shoot is what you like.
What made me notice the R/D bow rage was all the custom bowyers that made only recurves at one time; now make at least 1 R/D bow.
BD

[Shawn Leonard]

It helps with sales, but I am not talking just DAS, Morrison has a riser out for ILF limbs and several other well known bowyers as well. Nice to hear from ya Kelly! Shawn

[B.O.D.]

stupid question....what is an "ILF" limb???

Olympic-style ?
  :confused:    

[4runr]

Yeah, I was wondering that too.

[SCATTERSHOT]

ILF stands for International Limb Fitting, like on Olympic bows. It's a standard fitting that allows the archer to choose from a wide variety of truly high tech limbs from different manufacturers.

[R.W.]

Question on the ILF limbs. Can a riser (from a compound) be modified to accept these limbs?

I have the riser from an old Bear "Whitetail" that I would dearly love to fit limbs to. (Took my first deer with an arrow with this bow)

Sure would be nice to hunt with part of this bow again.

[B.O.D.]

sounds pretty cool...I like my 1 piece longbows though, call me a romantic...      :p  
A hopeless one at that.

[Shawn Leonard]

Yup, if ya have a little Know-how it is done all the time. I have shot some of the warf bows and such, great shooters but too much to play with for me. I love longbows but do not shoot them well. I have finally learned my lesson and will stay with my reurves. Shawn

[vermonster13]

The limb pocket angles on the Whitetail Hunter aren't good for the conversion. If you have an old Black Bear you're in business.

[HARL]

Gee and here I went and listed my last Shawnee and decided to shoot only my Hill bows from now on !!! I guess I screwed up again and went the wrong way.  :confused:

[Orion]

Harl, I'm with you.  Haven't sold my Shawnee Dakota, but I'm neglecting it for my Hills and moderate reflex/deflex Dwyers and Robertsons.

The high/extreme reflex/deflex longbow is still very popular, and rightly so.  They're very efficient and smooth drawing and shooting.  Part of the trend also seems to be a movement toward shorter "longbows", i.e. 60 inches and less.