I'll be 68 in a few months. Have shot longbows and recurves both a lot and in competition. Also killed a few deer and hogs, but I'm short on patience and not a great hunter. I keep coming back to longbows even tho I can always score better in competition with a recurve. Something about a longbow I just love - tho recurves can be beautiful to behold. Now, I shoot about 52 lbs tho I can pull a lot more,but I don't want shoulder trouble that is so common to those who pull the heavier weight too long.
Some of my favorites now are my Ballistic longbow (bamboo),and Dwyer (really sweet)- two very different types. I have too many bows and like a bunch more I don't have time to shoot such as my Assenheimer (sp?)recurve that is super sweet, 2 Ballistic recurves and even a few great self bows such as a VinsonMinor all bamboo "Bow Of Wood" - really smooth,(where did he go?), and a Saluki- the older classic type they quit making.
I used to compete but quit cause I can't beat the younger guys!! Some days I have it and shoot great and other times I don't have it at all, but I mostly do okay and can still kill a deer! I'm wondering how long I can keep shooting. I don't see anybody yet older than me answer here and that's not so good!!! I plan to keep shooting til they carry me off.