Anyone hunting with a NON custom bow?

[Arkansaslongbow]

ALL traditional bows is a work of art and I "drool" over some of the bows that are pictured here on this forum but anyone using/hunting with a bow that is consisdered "mass produced"? some of the most incrediable bows are of the Bear line and many others to go along with it;

I long to some day own a custom made bow and I will but until then I am hunting with a longbow that is not considered custom but does a great job; anyone else doing the same?

 

[m midd]

I am sure there have been tons of deer killed with production bows over the years. If i pick up a bow and it shoots good and fits me It doesnt matter if its custom or production. The one custom I will order in the near future is from Elmer Patton in Wynne. His bows are very nice and every one I have shot have been absolute shooters

[Ringneck]

I like good shooting bows whether they are custom or production. I have had poor bows in both also. Shoot what you like and your budget will allow, either will get you there.

[Ben Maher]

I have owned many bows and still do that are considered 'production' bows . They shoot just as good as anything else I have shot and have often ben better made .
A Martin Hunter is one of the best performing bows you can buy IMHO ...

The differences , generally at hunting range regarding bows etc are generally greatly overstated .

Ain't nothing prettier than a Bear Kodiak !

[Ari]

My only bow at the moment is a production bow, and I do hunt with it although I'm not terrible successful as I'm only learning. That said I have my first custom bow in the making, a Hill style longbow by David Miller 52#@27, can't wait.

[Bowwild]

I by-passed all my customs to hunt with a metal-risered production recurve with "factory camo" this past season. I went with the set-up that I felt I shot best.

[jsparky93]

I personaliy shoot mainly custom bows but I think its more what you like & what you want & what fits you & your budget.

[calgarychef]

The first deer I shot and a P&Y trophy if I decided to register it was with a $150.00 off the shelf bow.  Nothing wrong with production equipment.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Have done. Martin Hunter, 60#. One brumby, two donkeys, one buffalo, one goat. It's the bow that got me hooked.

[straitera]

Proline Saxon Hunter, 75#@28" & 68" ntn. My 1st heavy hunting lb 30 years ago. One of my favorites & still hunt it.

[Roots]

Will probably be hunting with my samick stingray, this is the bow I am most accurate with right now.

[Armand]

I shoot with a Bear Grizzly (Gainesville)), Kodiak Magnum (Grayling), and i added a Kodiak Hunter (Grayling), there is something special to me about hunting with bear recurves, i have the rest of my compounds on another site for sale, shoulder injury sidelined me for 4 years from shooting my recurves and now i am back and if i get what i want for the compounds i will have one of the new Super Kodiaks, i get to impatient waitng for custom made bows (my bad), i really want a Shrew but wow i may be hunting with Fred himself by the time it gets made 12-18 months a lot can happen.

[cacciatore]

From time to time I enjoy shooting my Bears and Damon Howatts,they are just a little too light in poundage for what I am used to,but I love to hunt with them.

[Whip]

I own a half dozen custom bows, and have had many more than that over the years.

But I've really been drawn to the older production bows lately.  Last fall it was a '68 Bear Super Kodiak.  This spring it has been a Damon Howatt Super Diablo.  

I love the craftsmanship and beautiful woods in a nice custom.  But some of the production bows will stack arrows right along with the best of them and look great too!

[YORNOC]

I love the Damon Howatt line too.
A FANTASTIC production takedown was the Martin Hatfield.
Was never a big Bear archery fan only because I prefer longer bows, but had a 64" 55# '66 Kodiak that was a heck of a shooter for me. And any of them that had the bubinga/zebrawood combo look as good as any custom.

But to hit on the topic, I agree with you a custom bow is a great luxury to have, but not a necessity by any means.

[Converml]

I would have gone with the Bear Montana longbow if I didn't travel so much making a one piece more difficult. I passed one up for @ 150 for the take down. I did the math and as cheap as the Montana was I would have paid for it in the long run 1 or 2 trips with airline fees so that is the only reason why I went for the takedown if I didn't travel I'd have a Montana Bear.

[bigbadjon]

I hunted with a Bear Montana for years. My brother still hunts with a Martin Hunter, imo it is the best production bow money can buy and outperforms many of the top custom bows.

[Swamp Yankee]

58" Red Wing hunters are probably my favorite production bows for hunting.  Light, quick, smooth; what's not to like?

[Stumpkiller]

I have a Dick Palmer Hunter longbow that is a semi-customized Martin ML-10 (limbs reworked to trapezoidal cross-section).  before that a Bear Kodiak Hunter.  For many years most recent a Martin Dream Catcher.  Taking a 1966 Browning Explorer out this fall and I have a new-to-me Ben Pearson Hunter (1965) I hope to bloody after the Browing.

Probably never will own a custom bow.  It ain't the bow - it's the arrows.  ;-)

[misfire]

I do enjoy hunting with my Quinn Longhorn T/D. A tough reliale bow for sure.