new to trad need help

[dirzo]

Just bought a used bear kodiak magnum 55# recurve. I have been shooting a compound for 25 years but have never shot a recurve so I'm clueless. Need info on how to aim,form etc. Thanks in advance

[Kingslayer]

Check out the stickys up-top...Or their is a guy on right now named Buff..Im sure he could help ya.... I think he has been shooting a Recurve for awile now... And I think he has some of the best hunting video's online..A whole lot better than most of the shows on the Outdoor Channel..IMO

[txpitdog]

Welcome! I just started myself. I have,kt quite figured out the aiming thing either, but you'll hear the term "instinctive shooting" a lot, and that's exactly what it is. Think of it as muscle memory; kind of like how a boxer doesn't aim his punch, but muscle memory and hand-eye coordination guide his punch to the mark.

Start close to your target! Maybe 5-10yds. See how you do and whether your arrows are grouping before moving back.

I cankt comment on form or how to do anything the right way, as I'm just now beginning to group my arrows at a mere 10yds.
Welcome to the forum and be sure to ask a lot of questions. Many many friendly helpful people here

[Idaho TradBow]

Wow. You sure did pick a doozy for a learner bow ...that's a 52" AMO and unless you've got a real short draw length it's gonna be tricky to master if you're new to shooting trad bows w/fingers. And starting out with the draw eight at 55 in conjunction...but if you're patient and diligent you can do it. Use a real protective glove/tab 'cause you're sure to experience some finger pinch. The shorter AMO is also going to make for a touchy, not very forgiving bow. But once you have it mastered, it's a darned good bow for using out of a ground blind that has a roof, and any other tight spots. And it spits an arrow out quick too. SO there's positives...I'd suggest reading through the Trad forums threads...go to Stickbow.com...check out Asbells excellent instructional materials. Ditto Byron Ferguson's stuff. Get together with somebody who shoots trad. You're gonna experience a little frustration at first, but if you stick with it, the rewards are huge. Make sure you have a nice wide/safe backstop to put your mind at ease re being afraid of where the arrow's going - no sights is spooky until you get used to it...like taking off the training wheels. Biggest things to remember are "pick a spot"...focus, focus, focus...and you can't hold a trad bow at full draw like a compound. You're going to have to learn to burn a hole with your eyes in the spot you wanna hit, then keeping focused on that spot, in a smooth, steady motion, pull the bow to a draw as you keep focus on your spot, lining things up in your semiconscience/peripheral vision as you're drawing, and at the moment it all comes togther (or just a second and no more) let the string slip while keeping your bowhand steady and following through continuing to focus on that spot until you see the arrow in it. Sounds easy, right? Well it does take an investment of time, and repetition is key to develop "instinct"....to save myself a bunch of wear on the fingers here's a link to comment I made awhile back on here for another guy startin' out

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2632857&postcount=12

lots of folks here are going to start chiming in with great advice, so keep an eye on your thread over the next few days. But do read through the old Trad threads for "nuggets"....there's a bunch of 'em. These guys are the salt of the earth I've found in helping guys like yourself. I'll be back with more useless info down the road, but I'm needing to get my poop together and get a nap before I head out for my hunt tonight. Welcome to the trad family dirzo!!! We're here to help, and before you know it you'll be givin' advice to others such as yourself (and probably us too)...

[Idaho TradBow]

Thanks for passing on the torch txpitdog...lol...I was busy typing up my comment when you had your's posted already....funny...I was just saying "..and before you know it you'll be givin' advice to others such as yourself (and probably us too)..." to dirzo, and you hop in ...see what I mean? This trad thing never fails to bring out the best in people. You sir are what I'm talkin' about! Okay, I gots ta split now...a certain sweet miss piggy is callin' my name out at Granger ...

[equin]

Welcome to trad! I'm still kind of new myself. As for tips and advice and such, get the "Master of the Barebow" DVD sets (3 volumes) from 3Riversarchery.com. Lots of good info on shooting a traditional bow.

[kestimator]

First sell me your Bear for $50 and then get yourself a 40-45lb for starters. Seriously, lighter is better IMO for starting out. I started with a 55lb bow and have dropped down recently in weight to work on form. The above info is great!

[glen]

Whatever you do - do it the same every time- thats the best advice that I can give you. Everyone shoots different and there is no right or wrong way.

[Ol Man]

Best advice I can offer is to get with some guys who shoot in your area... Many of them are seasoned archers and can help point you in the right direction.

[Buff]

Best advice I can offer is to get with some guys who shoot in your area... Many of them are seasoned archers and can help point you in the right direction.

[GILBERT]

WECOME!

Idaho TradBow covered it very, very well.

For your information let me list the AMO lenght of bows as they are recommended for different draw lenghts. There might be some difference from one bowyer to an other...not much if any.

lets start with the AMO lenght you have 52"

52"Amo--24" to 25"
54"Amo--25" to 26"
56"Amo--26" to027"
58"Amo--27" to 28"
60"amo--27" to 29" (at this point you can push it to 30" draw all depending on certain bowyers limb design...on the Bear bows i feel that you can)
62'Amo--29" to 31"

I will stop here, even thou there are longer Amo bows to accomadate longer draw lenghts. The Amo lenghts listed are in a manner to reflect not only the bow being smooth to that draw but to also show the draw lenght where that certain bow will the most efficient. As example if your draw was 26" and you are shooting a 62" bow you would not be drawing this bow to fully maximi9se the limb design to be efficient at lets say 29" or 30".

Like my freind Idaho Tradbow said WOW!. You did pick a Bear (no pun intended) of a bow to start out with. I am a Bear nut, and i do shoot a Magnum, simply because it is a Bear, and it perfect to shoot within the confinement of a pop-up blind. THAT is the only time that i occasionally shoot it. Yes you can get somewhat profficient with it a short distance but not for very long. I am repeating what TradBow has said allready. I WOULD NOT recommend anybody to start out with such a short bow. The finger pinch is attrocious, not forgiving at all...unless your draw is25" or so.

IMO keep that little bow for later, start out with an appropriate AMO bow to suit your draw lenght. Get some good shooting technique under you belt....Then shoot this little bow. I am afraid that you will develope bad shooting habits with this little Bear.

Again WeLCOME!, and good luck.

TradBow????.... I give up, WHAT?? is a "dirso" lol!

GILBERT

[GILBERT]

WOW!, did i just put my foot in my mouth or what?

TradBow, i asked what is a dirso?. I had not paid attention, and just found that it is the gentlemen's TBH "handle"...spelled "dirzo".

My most sincere apology "dirzo".

I need to start getting my ducks in a row before i start teasing, and funning.

See what you made do TradBow!. Shame on you.

Again my apology "dirzo".

GILBERT

[trad"Doc"53]

My best advise, WELCOME!!!! That's all I can add, everything has already been covered.

[dirzo]

Thanks for the info guys. I can tell this is a great group to be in. If yall are ever down around sargent I owe yall a pig hunt and maybe yall can give me some live pointers. Its all good dirzo is just a nickname one of my football coaches gave me in high school because he couldn't say my last name(dirzanowski) and then my baseball coach started callin me that and it just stuck since then and is what everyone calls me. Hopefully soon I can get one that is better for me to learn with but I only paid 10$ for this bow so I will give it a go. Been wanting to shoot a duck with my bow for a while now so looks like I will get a chance to sling some arrows at em. Thanks again guys. I'm on way way out to shoot her

[Bisch]

Dirzo, like was mentioned above, I think your best bet would be to get with some of your local trad guys. They can get you started in the right direction and shorten the learning curve for you. You will find out quickly that trad shooting/hunting is no piece of cake and takes a fair amount of dedication to master. If there is an archery club near you that holds monthly 3D shoots that would be an easy place to go and meet a few of the trad guys in your area.

Good Luck,

Bisch