"Hill" style bows...Why all of sudden?

[Ben Maher]

Mmmm
I was waiting for this thread to appear.

I own, or have owned most styles and makes of bows but for hunting return to Hill style bows.

Yep,,,they do have more thump at the shot

Yep,,,my choice to use Hill style bows does , to some degree , involve the simple asthetics od the bow

Why would I play play vintage style guitars when I could play the newest carbon 7 string wonder axe ?

Why...Coz that is how I roll ...

I am at my happiest with a back quiver full of woodies and a Long Hill style bow out in the woods.
They just float my boat so to speak...I group better with them and certinly have better hunting success with them, most likely because I have been shooting them for a while .

I also figure that if Rik Hinton hunts with them , they must do something ok ...

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Ben Maher:
...

I also figure that if Rik Hinton hunts with them , they must do something ok ...

ooo, you name dropper, you!  :D

[Pinelander]

Originally posted by Guru:

I'll shoot the bow I shoot, because it's the easiest, most fogiving bow I've ever shot. To me that's what it's all about as a hunter.

I want to know when the time comes to release an arrow at a critter, I have the best weapon for the job..for me...

Nothing wrong with that. And no surprise coming from someone who has shot only a few longbows a few times, has never owned one, and has shot recurves for many years. :-)

It took "baby steps" for me... first the r/d hybrids, and now the very mild r/d bows. Haven't got there yet with the straight limbed bows, but I'm learning. Nonetheless, I'm just as confident hunting with a longbow today as I was hunting with recurves for over 20 years previously.

My main reason for switching was the super quiet of a d-shape when strung bow... deer have no idea what hit them or where it came from. :-)

I will always have a shorty recurve for turkey hunting because I hunt them using a pop-up blind.

Enjoy your bowhunting, that is the most important part.

- Dave

[joe skipp]

First...because of the name HILL

Second...the workmanship is flawless and Craig has a fairly quick turn around time

Third...In the hands of the right shooter, they are deadly and quiet.

Unfortunately for me, not in my hands. I just can't get used to the Broomstick grip or have to think about my hand placement. However, my 3 buddies who shoot Hill longbows...are deadly with them.

Although there are a few longbows out there I can shoot well because of the grip, I still feel more comfortable shooting my recurves.

[Ric O'Shay]

Originally posted by BWD:
If folks who have never shot one are running out and ordering them, I predict there will be many for sale or trade within the next several months.

Me. I'm just waiting for this to happen...already have my finger on their "Buy It Now" button...

     

But I honestly don't think that's gonna happen.

[Wannabe1]

I'm 'ornery and can't resist!   :D

 

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Wow! I went to sleep for the night, and wake-up to find that you fellows have sure been busy!

[Stone Knife]

They are bomb proof and if held right they won't loosen up too many teeth  

[Mudd]

Originally posted by Ric O'Shay:
 

Originally posted by BWD:
If folks who have never shot one are running out and ordering them, I predict there will be many for sale or trade within the next several months.

Me. I'm just waiting for this to happen...already have my finger on their "Buy It Now" button...

       

But I honestly don't think that's gonna happen. [/b]

Not me Danny, I'll just look and drool...lol

I have a good fix! (at the moment)

God bless,Mudd

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Originally posted by Guru:

I guess because of the grip, "lightness in hand", length, and, to be truthfull...my willingness to work harder at being a good shot...I guess I'll never be a "Hill bow" shooter.

I'll shoot the bow I shoot, because it's the easiest, most fogiving bow I've ever shot. To me that's what it's all about as a hunter.

Guess that's why I've been shooting the same bows for so many years...I'm more into shooting well, than having to work harder at shooting well, or the romance.

By that I mean, I guess I'm not willing to handicap myself, as some of you have put it...

I want to know when the time comes to release an arrow at a critter, I have the best weapon for the job..for me...

I don't shoot much 3d, but when I do I shoot the same bow I shoot when I'm hunting...it's what I'm the best with...

G'day Curt,

I can't and don't disagree with your thinking, because it is a very personal thing; I, too, know that I will generally shoot better, easier, with one of my flash recurves. But I know of two fellows who would say exactly the same things you said, but about Howard Hill longbows: Ben Maher and Rik Hinton. It goes to show that not only are we all different, but for some, the easiest, most-accurate bow to shoot is a Hill. Now, I wish I had exceptional Hill talent like those two, but alas, I have only moderately-good Hill talent.

Cheers,

Ben

[Guru]

Originally posted by Pinelander:
 

Originally posted by Guru:

I'll shoot the bow I shoot, because it's the easiest, most fogiving bow I've ever shot. To me that's what it's all about as a hunter.

I want to know when the time comes to release an arrow at a critter, I have the best weapon for the job..for me...

Nothing wrong with that. And no surprise coming from someone who has shot only a few longbows a few times, has never owned one, and has shot recurves for many years. :-)

Enjoy your bowhunting, that is the most important part.

- Dave [/b]

Oh I've owned two longbows, and killed a bunch of deer and a bear with them.

These were slight R/D longbows made by a local bowyer around here. Good bows, but not the performance of the the Original Silvertip I put up to shoot these two.

After a couple years of shooting these, I hoped there was something "better" out there.

Winter of '96 I went to Joe Skipp's shop and was enlightened about the Kempf Kwyk Styk      

So yes I have owned and killed things with longbows....but not "Hill style"

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Then there is the absolute magic in the words of Don Thomas written in "Longbows in the Far North" which absolutely struck a chord with me as a new bowhunter...

[Guru]

Originally posted by Ben Kleinig:
 

Originally posted by Guru:

I guess because of the grip, "lightness in hand", length, and, to be truthfull...my willingness to work harder at being a good shot...I guess I'll never be a "Hill bow" shooter.

I'll shoot the bow I shoot, because it's the easiest, most fogiving bow I've ever shot. To me that's what it's all about as a hunter.

Guess that's why I've been shooting the same bows for so many years...I'm more into shooting well, than having to work harder at shooting well, or the romance.

By that I mean, I guess I'm not willing to handicap myself, as some of you have put it...

I want to know when the time comes to release an arrow at a critter, I have the best weapon for the job..for me...

I don't shoot much 3d, but when I do I shoot the same bow I shoot when I'm hunting...it's what I'm the best with...

G'day Curt,

I can't and don't disagree with your thinking, because it is a very personal thing; I, too, know that I will generally shoot better, easier, with one of my flash recurves. But I know of two fellows who would say exactly the same things you said, but about Howard Hill longbows: Ben Maher and Rik Hinton. It goes to show that not only are we all different, but for some, the easiest, most-accurate bow to shoot is a Hill. Now, I wish I had exceptional Hill talent like those two, but alas, I have only moderately-good Hill talent.

Cheers,

Ben [/b]

Absolutely! I couldn't agree more bud!
I've shot with some fine, fine hill style bow shooters. Todd and Bryan Hathaway are two that come to mind...Deadly!

With the array of critters that you've layed down with them, I'd say you're more than comfortable with them as well        

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I read that somebody hinted at a design flaw in Hills...

If an old World War One warbird is flawed in design, so is the Hill. But I maintain that both are things of beauty and fun that are also deadly.

[Guru]

Also, There's no doubt in my mind that if I set my mind to it, they wouldn't slow down my "killin'" one bit...

But it would take a total transformation in how I shoot a bow because of how I grip a bow.  
Guess I'm not willing to do that though. And I don't want to have 2 different "styles" of shooting, because for me, I don't feel I can be the best I can be shooting 2 diff. ways(grips, locked/un-locked elbow,etc...)

I'm of the "fear the man with one bow" metality...

Now I know that in my quest for a longbow, I'll be looking for one with a more 'curve style grip.

[Guru]

Never thought this would be 8 pgs. in less than 12 hrs...good stuff    

[Molson]

Originally posted by Guru:
Never thought this would be 8 pgs. in less than 12 hrs...good stuff      

Regardless of how they shoot, they sure do draw a crowd!!  

[Ric O'Shay]

Design flaw in the straight end longbow?

I wonder in anyone ever conducted a focus group  with the French Army survivors after The Battle of Agincourt to discuss this issue?

[Wannabe1]

Curt, I sent ya a PM.  

[Pinelander]

Yes, it's "the grip" for me too. I have a few longbows that look gawdawful where I've wrapped the grip to fit me and what I want. Can't imagine how they would look if they were Hill style handles. :-)