I would recommend a Kassai or Grozer for a begining bow. The Kassai's are some of the most underrated bows out there. They have a very narrow arrow pass (almost center shot)which allows for more accuarracy. They are also very stable. Some models people complain about hand shock but I have not found that to be a probelm-especially with a heavy hunting arrow. Grozer's have a better finish but the base models are wider at the arrow pass and can be harder to shoot. I just got a Laminated Assyrian (from Grozer's Nomad Line) and the bow is fast, smooth and accurate. The nice thing about an Asian style bow is the are all SMOOTH on the draw-even the short Turkish models.
I totally disagree about the thumb draw not lending itself to hunting situations. The thumb draw is basically a "thumb lock" this allows you to "forget" about the arrow falling off while you are in a tree a stand or blind. Once you get used to the thumb the follow through and draw can be adapted to ANY style of hunting situation.