Longbows vs recurves for hunting

[MnFn]

I’ve used both, but hunted mostly with recurves earlier in my life. I have gravitated more to R/D lately. Just seem to like the draw cycle (or lower brace height) better on longbows.

[Wannabe1]

Like others here, I go back and forth. A little range time and I can shoot either well enough. With that in mind, I don't shoot past 25yds.

[Sam McMichael]

I started out with a recurve but later moved to longbows.  That was back in the 80's.

[Kirkll]

I think of all the replies Terry nailed it…. There really is no RC vs Longbow.

There are many different types of bows and different lengths available out there to look at and possibly try if you can.

 I’d like to offer another option to look into. I came up with a limb design I call a Hybrid long bow that has been very popular over the years. This unique limb design has a very smooth draw cycle much like the recurve limbs do, and delivers very nice performance. It can be built from 58” to 62” lengths and accommodate even the longest draw lengths out there. I have many of these in 60” lengths that are being drawn to 32”-33” that have been going strong after many years.

The grip shape can be done at any wrist angle you desire too…. Please give this one a look. This is the Sasquatch Hybrid.

The last link has a riser shape with a low wrist grip, and has both RC limbs and the hybrid long bow limbs….

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pSje89n6bQGaJTbE7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fsyti1qR41SFbVNj6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/af496SGEZNL6tJTs6


Here is one more album of the “Bare Foot” riser with hybrid limbs. I build a lot of these for the TD Bear fans out there….

https://photos.app.goo.gl/scEiShF9j2gmqR139

Kirk

[Mr Rover]

I thoroughly enjoy my recurve, anytime I shoot one of my buddies longbow I wind up with a big ole welt on my arm. My ole girl hasn't bit once me in over 20 years.
 I don't know if this is still the case today but I also feel like a recurve spits an arrow much faster, not that I'm relatively worried about speed shooting a 679gr arrow.
   In the end though you need to pick the tool that you are comfortable with and shoot extremely well. Just my 2 pennies

[Eecho]

Shoot them both, but there’s something about longbows that I’m levitating towards more and more these days.

[Red Beastmaster]

I've hunted with both for the last 35 years. To me, longbows have many advantages, recurves have none. Hybrid longbows probably suit me best for a hunting bow.

[Terry Green]

Guys n Gals, when you click onto Kirks links, give it a few seconds to clear up the pics.

[Hud]

Fred Asbell wrote about the differences, and the most obvious was the grip and switching back and forth for some could be a challenge. I believe it was in his first book, where he devoted more time to the differences.
The American Semi-Longbow that is under 6 ft. and different from the English Longbow over 6 ft in limb design and length. The reflex-deflex longbow and hybrids are shorter under 5'6" and generally faster than the first two. Although, there were exceptions recorded in Dan's two books, below.
Dan Bertalan wrote in "Traditional Bowyers of America" in 1989 and in his updated "Traditional Bowyers Encyclopedia" in 2007 about the bows of different bowyers of the time. I recall that Dick Robinson's Mystical (R&D) was as fast his two recurves the Peregrine, and Falcon T/D.

The difference between my Bear T/D, and ASL, reflex-deflex and hybids was the height of the arrow shelf above the hand. I prefer a low rest, and ended up lowering the shelf so the arrow is not above the hand and index finger. It is easer to shoot, and is like pointing a finger at the intended target. The other objections IMO is the added weight of a recurve with bow quiver (5 lbs +/- vs 1.2

[Mike Malvaini]

Nice Hud. 

[LookMomNoSights]

I prefer a longbow. For me, a longbow is more accurate and easier to shoot.    I'm sure others will disagree.

This ........  and I'm not a disagreer.   I own both,  have shot recurves plenty,  learned to shoot on them.   All being said, there is just something about the long bow for me that makes it my go to %100 of the time and it ain't worth trying to explain at this point I suppose ...... those who know, know.  And so many feel the same about the recurve.....and it's all good 
Makes for a good back and forth though and it's cool to see what folks think and why.  One thing I know for sure is when I'm planning on shootin' something with an arrow and I grab one of my long bows,  I never stop to think and wish or wonder how a recurve would feel in its place.

[Mike Bolin]

Bow choice, whether it be recurve vs longbow, or brand x vs brand y is a "feel" thing for me. I shot longbows for several years. A Widow LAG was my go-to bow for years, then a MOAB and finally a Widow PL. Picked up an older Widow TF recurve with a low wrist grip and it just "felt" right. Purchased a new Widow PTF with a low wrist grip and it has become my favorite bow of all time.
Most all of the quality recurve bows are extremely rugged and can stand up to the rigors of hunting. The R/D longbows perform on par with the recurves and are most likely less susceptible to limb twist or severe damage from a drop from a treestand or a fall on the rocks.
Main advantage to me of a longbow over for me is that I can get a longbow a bit quieter than a recurve, but with a good set of wool silencers and a bit of tinkering and tuning, I can get a recurve pretty quiet.

[Terry Green]

Good stuff Mike, one advantage of a longbow most don't know....

Would you toss your recurve out of your treestand? 

[Maclean]

Thanks Mike.

I really appreciate your input. 

[Pine]

I'll add my 2 cents, first off most recurves have a higher grip than a longbow and that can cause you to get too much heal pressure on the grip causing you to shoot high.
And here's something interesting that I learned years ago, you can shoot a recurve like a longbow but you can't shoot a longbow like a recurve.
Meaning, a longbow shoots better with your bow arm slightly bent and the bow canted over.
A recurve can be shot vertically and a more inline body stance toward the target ( Olympic target shooting  ) but that doesn't work well for hunting.
So bottom line, for hunting, do what you like the most.

[Maclean]

Good stuff Pine! 

[jcprintz]

I have both but switched to a RD longbow about 10 years ago and haven't looked back. As mentioned above it all boils down to preference, terrain, treestand or ground, etc.

[mnbwhtr]

People have said it's hard to switch from a recurve to a longbow because of the grip but I switch back and forth all the time. To me it's kind of a day to day decision on which bow to use, my first deer this year was with one of my Bear T/D's, the second and third were with my Toelke Whip. The bows pull basically the same 53#. In 1977 I shot my first deer with a Joh Schutz longbow which was a mule deer doe in No.Dak., my second in MN, a whitetail doe with PSE Compound and my third , a whitetail doe with my Bear T/D. I do shoot a couple judos every time I go into hunt for practice.

[Kirkll]

I'll add my 2 cents, first off most recurves have a higher grip than a longbow and that can cause you to get too much heal pressure on the grip causing you to shoot high.
And here's something interesting that I learned years ago, you can shoot a recurve like a longbow but you can't shoot a longbow like a recurve.
Meaning, a longbow shoots better with your bow arm slightly bent and the bow canted over.
A recurve can be shot vertically and a more inline body stance toward the target ( Olympic target shooting  ) but that doesn't work well for hunting.
So bottom line, for hunting, do what you like the most.

Oh boy.... I could sure debate the generalities part of your post here .... But..... I wont. 

   All long bows and recurves are not created equally..... Grip shape, and grip angle, shelf height, and how far to, or past center cut the riser is, are all determining factors in how they shoot.  Where you apply the pressure on the grip and wrist rotation are other factors on whether they can be shot vertically and canted both..... I shoot my own long bows exactly like i do my recurves.....  I love em both .....

 But...... like Terry said..... I don't throw my recurve out of a tree stand.    

[Terry Green]

I don't agree that recurve aren't as good for hunting because I can disprove that. I can shoot a recurve anyway I want just like a longbow.  I've kill a bunch of stuff with a recurve and I never said 'I wish I had a longbow.  Recurves have never been any kind of hindrance in shooting or hunting.

2 things about grips, .... recurves can have custom grips, and I can shoot a bow by holding the bottom fade out.  My hand yields to the grip, so no worrying about it to me.  Now I do know what is comfortable, not too big, not to small, no palm swell, and what I like, but in the end I can shoot any grip pretty well.