Newbie seeking guidance re Hoyt GMII / Dorado

[ShenandoahMike]

Greetings everybody, another New Guy joins the ranks. I read the newbie post cited in the welcome email and did a thorough search of the site before writing, but bear with me if I still end up being redundant to a prior thread.

My wife and I have settled on archery as our next joint hobby. (Oddly enough I was introduced to it during my deployment in Afghanistan last year.) Although the local pro shop is pushing compounds as "the only way to go" we are both emphatically in love with the elegance of a recurve.

Pack-ability is a desirable factor and my preliminary research led me to the Hoyt Gamemaster II or Dorado take-down recurves, both of which seem to be a frequent items on folks "go-to bow" list on the web, and largely complimented for stability, straight shooting and general quality. I have not seen anybody really give it a harsh review except on criteria way above my capabilities.

We are looking to shoot conventional targets or 3D walking trail targets at the local Izaak Walton League, while I want to sustain the option to hunt light game down the road. My wife and I have have 24 and 26 inch draw lengths respectively and based on the newbie article here, we will probably start with slightly lower draw weights to get a good basis on form and technique. Both right hand/right eye dominants so pretty standard there.

If I might ask those of you who have some knowledge with the Dorado / GMII bows:

1. Would you recommend the Hoyts in general, and if so would you recommend one over the other? (Dorado vs GMII)

2. Can somebody explain what is the function of the hi-tech riser design in the GMII?  Does that "backstrap" bar dampen vibration, stiffen up the snap on release, or….?

3. It was recommended to me to go with carbon arrows; can somebody give me a word or two as to why this might be a good or bad idea?

We had already decided (but felt good being affirmed by the newbie article) to go to a nice archery shop to actually select bows and get "fitted and kitted". We live in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley (northwest edge of the state) and while we are looking for a good shop nearby, we are willing to drive a fair distance to kick this off right. We were referred to 3 Rivers in Indiana as the top shop in the nation for recurves and it looks like a full day drive there from here, a haul but we'd consider it if it seemed to truly be unique in offering the widest selection of gear. If anybody has been there, does that sound worthwhile or just stick with my local dealers?

Thanks in advance gang, I know this is a spread of questions, we are in that early stage of trying to bracket what we don't know, much less what we do. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

best,
Mike

[Barry Winner]

As you can see in my signature, I have both the GM2 and the Dorado.  The bows are definitely worth getting(my opinion) although there are many other options for a metal-handled take-down bow.  Many will recommend the Hoyt Excel riser with Trad Tech limbs.  I've not shot one, but many do and really like them.  I do my trad shopping at the Gun Shack in Mt. Airy, Maryland.  That's probably about 1.5 hours north east of you.  They have a small, but good trad shop and I'd call first before making the trip(301-829-0122).  Enjoy.

[ShenandoahMike]

Many thanks, I will give Gun Shack a call.

Having owned/shot both bows, might you have any thoughts as to the differences between them? Is there any benefit from the GM-II design that would make cost-effective sense for a new shooter?

[Barry Winner]

Not really any great difference other than the GM2 is heavier and 2" longer.  Sometimes I like the lighter physical weight of the Dorado, but I seem to shoot them both equally well.