Takedown Recurve for Hunting - Recommendations?

[bigbadjon]

I'm shooting a Hoyt Tiburon now. If you search for my thread I have some pictures and give details I had trouble finding while I was shopping. I know if I was going to buy a brand new bow today I would get a Qarbon Nano. The price drop, warranty, and satisfaction guarantee are hard to ignore on such a high performance item.

[Wannabe1]

Well, I'm sold on the BigJim Desert Bighorn. It is just an absolute fantastic bow and customer service is all that one could ask for! BigJim was sitting on a stand hunting and still took time to answer a question for me. That is true customer service!! Here's my link for the Bighorn.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=140392

[Wheels2]

I have an ILF rig.  Actually two now.  I really like the bows.  Easy to adjust tiller and weight.
My risers are both metal with wood handles.  I was able to get a high grip and really like it.
I started with a 19" riser and on a whim, I bought the same riser in 17".  I actually shoot it better than the longer one.
I am no expert, but I have learned that when picking a bow, handle grip and balance are just as important as a smooth draw and good speed.

[TheYak]

Wannabe1 - that IS customer service...beautiful looking bow, too!

Thanks again, Gang!  I'm picking up a LOT of good info here.  Before today, I wouldn't have considered used bows, ILF builds, or known about try-before-you-buy. Like Ben Kleinig, I feel like I might be in a situation where I won't be able to try to many locally so try-before-you-buys and a lot of research will be a good start.

I imagine all of the recurves recommended here will steer me in the right direction - any of the above are undoubtedly better than my $10 garage-sale special.  I may not find the best bow for me on the first purchase, but I'm sure I'll better be able to understand what it is I'm looking for after I've had some more experience with a good bow as a baseline and a lot more practice.  

One last question - if I go the ILF route...is there a good thread on here that explains all the factors one needs to take into account when choosing a riser, and limbs for it?  How does one know if a set of limbs will work with a given riser?  Is it typically best to go with a riser and limbs of the same company, or mixing it up?

Thanks again, guys - you've been a huuuuuge help!

[ron w]

Do search on pow-wow and look ask for ILF set ups or ILF info. You should get some places to start.

[ron w]

I just did a search for ILF set ups and got 94 hits......that should keep you busy for a while     Have fun..!!

[bigbadjon]

Here is a link with some helpful and concise ilf info.

 http://peteward.com/2009pages/articles/ILF%20Guiude.html

[Archie]

Knowing what I've learned, and having tried what I've tried...

I'd look for a used Bob Lee take down.  They are excellent bows, and their used price is less than I would have expected them to be.  They sell on the big auction site quite regularly.  I'm a big fan of Black Widow bows, but the used Bob Lee comes cheaper than a comparable used Widow, and would certainly hold its own against a Widow.

There are lots of fantastic TD recurves out there.  I'd definitely go with a used bow first though, until you have enough hunting-bow experience to know what you are looking for.

[Flying Dutchman]

If I were you, I would not spend too much money on your first bow. It is very likely that you want something else after some time.
Take a look at the classifieds here. You have to donate a fee to get access, but it is worth it!
Lots of second hand bows in very good shape for very fair prices.
In this way you will save yourself lots of money!

If you have questions about a specific bow, you can always use powwow to get more info.

[hnt2mch]

i'll put a vote in for a 3 rivers dalaa they take ilf limbs also it is bout all i shoot anymore

[meleagris1]

I really like the Morrison ILF risers and the Max1 or new Max2 limbs.

[the elf]

Do you shoot right or left? If left---we should
make contact---as I live not far from Ottawa.

Elf.

[njloco]

I don't buy any bow that I don't shoot first, and I do not mean a few shot, I mean taking a few dozen purposeful shots ! Use your bow untill the 3D season starts again in the spring and get out to some local shoots and shoot some bows, that's how you'll find one that you really like.

Good luck

[Diamond Paul]

Most of the take down recurves out there are good.  It basically comes down to personal preference.  It would be a good idea to find a club or a dealer that does traditional archery and shoot as many different brands as you can.  I've owned many top bowyers' bows and they were all well-made, but I didn't like quite a few of them.  Something out there will suit you better than the rest.

[TheYak]

Thanks again, guys.  All that ILF info is great!

At first, the classified fee kept me from checking it out, but based on the almost-zero hits I got on Kajiji for my entire province, I think this would have to be the way to go to pick up used bows.  Besides, I'm thinking that the gang here is more likely to take better care of their gear than those not so passionate about trad shooting.  A great suggestion - I'll sign up!

[Archie]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned, but you ought to go to as many trad archery meets, shows, expos, etc., as possible.  There you can look at and often try out a lot of bows.  I go to 2 big events each year in my area (Kalamazoo Expo & Compton Rendezvous), where I try as many bows as I can that interest me. It's a lot of fun, too.

[2nocks]

I echo the used bow recommendations. you could also start with a sage just upgrade that string.

[J Dean]

Welcome.  Also another Canuck from just down the road a few hours from you.

I have to say Hoyt Dorado..  Got one and love it.  Easy to change limbs to any ILF set with the addition of a $10 bushing set.

[TheYak]

Another awesome nugget of info - I hadn't considered checking out meets, shows, etc.  That makes a lot of sense.  I'll have to look into any that are coming up and plan ahead.  Are there any good resources/pages that I should check out to find out what's coming up for shows/meets within a particular region?

Thanks again for the great info, gang!

Also, hello to my fellow Canucks!

Elf - Unfortunately, I shoot right  :(

[joe skipp]

Your from Canada...I would seriously make a phone call to Alberta and talk to Bowyers Jack Kempf and Abe Penner. These 2 guys make GREAT custom recurves that are top performers. I promise you will not be disappointed with any bow from Jack or Abe.