Toelke Kestral---Opinion from a Longbow Shooter

[tippit]

I'm pretty much a diehard longbow shooter even though I have a lot of recurves...actually a lot of bows period.  I've been selling bows like mad lately to reduce the burden off my family in the future.

So I have No Reason to be buying another bow...except addiction!  While posting a few bows for sale in the classifieds, I noticed this Toelke Kestral for sale.  I really like my Toelke Whips.  I've also had Dan's 3pc recurve and his Chinook which were great bows but just not for me hence sold.  

Back to the Kestral...I love short longbows.  This past spring found me in a Turkey Blind for the first time in my bowhunting career.  I was shooting a 58" longbow and proceeded to miss a very nice gobbler when the tip of my longbow caught the roof of the blind...No Gobbler & a Leaky blind         No need to feel sorry for me as I did manage to tag two other birds.  Anyway this bow was in my weight (low 40's) and in my favorite color (All Black).  Since there didn't seem to be a lot of these around, I figured I could buy, try, & re-sale without much problem (in fact I had two guys offer to buy it from me if I didn't like either a recurve or a very short bow...perfect!)

The bow Rocks...if you like short bows!!!  Very stable and smooth as silk.  I didn't have any problems shooting out to 25-30 yards even though 20 yards is my cut off point on an animal.  Being all black & short, it is the perfect Bow Blind Bow.  For tree stand hunting I'll probably ad a few puffs of light color paint on the back of the black limbs (course this is done over a layer of wax which allows for easy removal).  JMHO...tippit


     

     

Set up with EFA 5 arrow quiver (black African Frog skin), black Beaver Tail riser wrap, and of course my White hunting arrows        ...

     

[Chromebuck]

Longbow guy myself, but these Kestrals scream out to me too!

Nice rig Jeff...Black African frog skin???  Whoda thunk...

[LBR]

Does anyone know how to contact them?  Email has been useless.

[Rick Richard]

Call Dan's number.  I just spoke to him yesterday.

406 253 4949

[TxAg]

Great to hear. They make fantastic bows.

[twistedlim]

Call Dan.   He usually picks up...even if his caller id says it me  

[Bowhunter4life]

I don't want to say I told you so, but....

Enjoy the new bow!

[nineworlds9]

Glad that one worked out for you!  Kestrels are great little bows and wonderful for any draw under 29.  I'm a bit over so I chose to sell mine.  Just didnt feel quite as smooth as I liked past 29.  Switched recently to a Super D and I'm much more comfortable, found my Toelke.  Good luck with that little gem!  Nice quiver btw!

[tippit]

I didn't expect that I'd be keeping the Kestral let alone actually really liking it!

[Guss]

Good info Jeff...! I've got one waiting on me when I get home this afternoon....  

[LBR]

Do their strings normally follow AMO specs, or?

[birddogdoc]

Hey Doc...I love mine too!  Can't wait to be in the turkey woods this spring in my DB blind

[TxAg]

Are you doing anything special to get it shooting quietly?

What's your brace height?

[hunthold]

Glad you like the bow! I had Dan make it with a low grip, but I needed it even lower than that.(longbow).having owned a few whips,I thought the bow screamed for the weight and was a solid bow. 48"strung should help out with clearance for you.
Gotta love them short bows!

[nineworlds9]

BTW, Get a 6 strand SBD string for it with wool wrapped ends, put a little soft Velcro in the string grooves, brace at about 8.5" load up a 10gpp arrow and she'll be super quiet for a recurve.

[tippit]

It is actually shooting pretty quiet now.  What really quiets a bow for me is a bow quiver...especially the small EFA quivers.  I normally hunt with a 3 arrow quiver.  The EFA quivers don't effect the weight of the bow very much.  They seem to shoot the same with or without.  Again JMHO...tippit

PS:  I've always made my own strings so that isn't an issue.  It always amazes me when people talk about a specific brace height.  I will play with that trying to get the lowest height that is still quiet & good arrow flight...but it is different for every bow I shoot.

[Gator1]

Jeff

Tell me bout those white arrows sweet bow too

[tippit]

Mitch,
I spray paint all my hunting arrows white.  It gives me an extra 15 minutes at dusk before my arrow disappears from vision.   I can't tell you the number of times that has made for a successful day!  The 'Ole Timers used them a lot...oops maybe that's me     Try pointing a regular arrow at a 3D target at dusk/dark along with a white arrow (not shooting just in your hand). It has to be close say 10 yards and you'll see what I mean.  How many times have you had deer or hogs come in at that time?  How many times have you gotten a good shot off?

[Steelhead]

I picked one of these up to have some fun.I echo what jeff said.Surprisingly smooth and stable shooting.If your looking for a shorter recurve these are really fine weapons and a solid choice in the short bows available out thier.

I draw this about 30 inches and it is one of the smoothest short bows I have tried and I have tried quite a few.Some worked and some did not.I give this bow a thumbs up.A well executed design in a small package.

[D. Key]

Thanks for the info. Doc.  I ordered one from Dan about 2 weeks ago and it should be shipping early next week.  Dan fixed me up with some mystery woods (at least mystery to me), so I don't have a clue what it will look like.  I just told him to be sure they have a lot of grain.  He said I'd be pleased with the outcome and I am certain I will.

Thanks and best of luck shooting it.  It is a looker.