I screwed up bad...

[haas0311]

I went shooting yesterday at the free range next to Bowzone and they're was this lady there shooting a recurve. I started talking to her about it and she was telling me how much fun it was.. here is where I screwed up, she said if I wanted to shoot her bow I could! Now being the type of guy who loves to shoot archery period, I couldn't resist, so I shot her bow. I don't know if it's possible but, I seemed to have a knack for shooting off of instinct and I didn't realise this until I shot her bow. Here is the problem, I think I like trad shooting better than compound shooting and I just can't afford that. Had this happened with anyone else? Any advice? If I was somehow able to afford a recurve, what poundage should I go with as I'm a big fella capable of holding a large amount of weight? It's there a "Draw length" associated with the bows?

This is driving me nuts now. Never thought I would get hooked onto another archery form..

[Chew]

Start off with low weight to develop your form. 45 lbs or even less. Lots of good used bows on the market to save money as you try it out. Arrow tuning is the most important thing. I fought it but finally got it right and my shooting got better instantly. I"m still new at it but there is a wealth of knowledge over in the Trad forum. No draw length associated. A bow will be marked 50lbs @ 28" or something similar. THat means if you are pulling 28" the draw will be 50lbs. But if you are pulling more or less than 28" the draw weight will increase or decrease proportionally.

[SneakyPhil]

You could alwways sell your compound to fund the traditional bow.

[AtTheWall]

I always belived that young archers should start Trad first and go from there.

I started that way...it makes you a much better shooter! You can always pull the sights off your compound and shoot that instinctively till you find the right TRAD bow to get you there.

It's a nice option....you can shoot instinctive and or sights.....night time hog hunts = THWACK, no sight pins needed!

[Hamshire]

I've often wondered if I would like it as more if not more than using my compound. I really respect the guys with the trad gear.

[flywise]

45 lb Segway
It's an addiction worth having. Once you get proficient and kill something you might end up like me loaning out your wheeled bow.

[Txjourneyman]

I did the same thing. I now own a compound, a longbow, and a recurve. There are some remarkably affordable trad bows out there. But over time you just want that newer, sweeter, prettier bow!
As far as weight goes I'm a pretty good sized guy at 6'2" and 220#s but I only shoot a 50# recurve and a 55# longbow. Either of them is enough to down any big game in North America. (although I would be reluctant to shoot a grizzly with either!)

[Loreva13]

The samick sage and samick journeyman are great starter bows for less than $150. Like Chew explained the key is to start out with something that is low in poundage so you can develop your form and consistency. Arrow tuning will be important and once you get it down everything will flow nice. I absolutely love shooting my recurves more than anything! It's an absolute blast to say the least. Go to the trad forum and read the stickies at the top and feel free ask as many questions as you want. There are incredibly nice people on the trad side.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Yep... never should have shot that dang stick bow!!! It's worse than crack! I have always enjoyed stick bow shooting over wheelie bows. IF you have time to practice shooting so you can maintain proficiency, it is WAY more fun than with a sighted/balanced/tricked out compound. To date, I have taken my largest (and in total most) animals with my recurves. You don't have to spend a ton of money to get into it. Heck, I've bought a bunch of recurve "vintage" bows off eBay to make bowfishing bows. Many of them make very nice hunting bows too... You will find yourself stump shooting a lot, and it will sure keep the fun in archery if you do it. Thing is you MUST dedicate yourself to practice and practice regularly to keep your instinctive shooting skills honed. I strongly urge you to give it a whirl. In reality, it is much less expensive than wheelie bow archery... You don't need much... just a bow, some arras, and a glove or tab... maybe a quiver... You don't need sights, range finders, stablizers, etc. etc. etc... A 40 pound recurve can kill the biggest white tail or hog that walks the woods... Worst thing in the world you can do is to start out with a bow that is too much poundage... It creates all manner of problems from poor form, target panic, loss of interest, and the list goes on. Get yourself a one piece simple 50# bow and some good carbon (maybe start with what you are already shooting) arras and a shooting glove and get after it. Start out at 5 yards or less and put a dark piece of tape or string vertically on your target. Shoot at the vertical line and slowly back up until you can consistently hit that line (no matter how high or low) out to 20 yards or so, Then put a cross line (horizontal) and shoot at the vertical line until your arras are hitting near the cross... again, Practice, practice, practice... It's just like throwing a baseball (or a rock for that matter). ENJOY you new ADDICTION!!!

[Landrover]

LOL......gotta love it!!! Headed to the range over there within the hour!!!

[Speedgoat]

Hey, whatever it takes to talk to a woman bro

[grizzman]

Yeah, you can get started in trad pretty cheaply. I shoot a recurve, but hunt with a compound. I got a Ragim Matrix, for $120 new. I used some lighter carbon arrows that I had and refleched them with feathers and put heavier points on them. I already had a glove and arm guard from when I use to finger shoot my old compound twenty-five years ago.

It's addictive, but I have to tell myself to put the recurve away for now because I need to shoot my compound as much as possible during hunting season.

[JTRichardson]

hey, whatever it takes to talk to a woman bro

hahaha

[denimdeerslayer]

I dont see why you couldnt find a good used recurve cheap.

[sharkhunter]

MY MY MY !!! Did you get her number lol!!