elevated rest on a recurve

[Loreva13]

My grandfather and wife use a rest on their recurves. There ain't no shame in it.

[popup_menace]

If you want to use a rest, go for it. Remember, the first guy to put sights on a recurve was picked on for it, just like the first one to put wheels in the limbs and run another string. Both these guys led the way to modern archery. There is a reason technology stays around for years, and that's because it works.

[Dragonheart]

Here is a link on how to make the toothbrush rest. These are the BOMB, better than anything I have ever bought, well far as a hunting arrow rest. They look TRAD whatever that means. Bisch there is a picture that shows the angle of the rest.

http://www.tradbow.com/public/How-To-Make-a-Toothbrush-Rest.cfm

[bowhuntvideo]

i know most hard core trad guys would say stick to the shelf one less thing to go wrong or break. over the last 10 years ive enjoyed shooting the trad bows i have, have some great memories hunting with my recurves only have 23 kills but i still struggle past 20 yards my maximum range for hunting is around 17 yards which i feel very comfortable at 17 or less. ;lately on some older Bear recurves ive noticed some of them having the Bear weather rest after doing some searching and talking people say they have improved accuracy using an elevated rest i realize there is no substitute for bad form ancoring steady bow hand and follow through. im strictly a gap shooter although distances less then 20 comes automatic now ive shot enough with my kodiak mag that it comes natural, i also shoot 3 fingers under. ive tried split finger in 10 years could never get consistant. what are you alls opinion of trying a bear weather rest? some famous hunters have used elvated rests i know its not the Trad thing to do i already have gotten a hard time on another site. ive seen my daughter win 3-D tournaments using a stick on bear rest and to this day she still can outshoot me

Only killed 23 ...

[Bisch]

Thanks Jeff! That is very ingenious!

Bisch

[Dragonheart]

Paul Schafer, many argue was the best all around bowhunter in modern times. When you look at his accomplishments, his methods of hunting, and his ethics in his short 44 years before his untimely death, you begin to see a bowhunter that based his choices on being very pragmatic instead of some aesthetic value. He chose a recurve because he felt it was better for a quicker shot and more versatile than a compound.

In an interview he did for bowhunter magazine years ago he explained that he shot an elevated rest because it allowed for a better sight picture and improved arrow flight. He shot no "gap" system of aiming, he described his aiming as looking down a pipe to the spot to hit. He was known for his accuracy at long range. He used 4 fletch vanes after discovering on a trip to British Columbia the noise when stalking and problems with wet feathers in the wet environment of Canada.

Most older recurves were designed and tillered to be shot with an elevated rest. The shelf and side of the bow are flat.

Find what works for you. Just a word of caution. If you are interested in 3-D competition you will run into static with an elevated rest on your bow with our state organization. I have been told there is no room, not even to shoot for fun, for bowhunters that shoot elevated rest at the shoots. The interest there is in competition, and keeping it fair. I believe that line in the sand has been drawn. So be it. If you long for the adventure of the wilds and really like shooting critters, than the elevated rest may be just the ticket.

[Bisch]

Find what works for you. Just a word of caution. If you are interested in 3-D competition you will run into static with an elevated rest on your bow with our state organization. I have been told there is no room, not even to shoot for fun, for bowhunters that shoot elevated rest at the shoots. The interest there is in competition, and keeping it fair. I believe that line in the sand has been drawn. So be it. If you long for the adventure of the wilds and really like shooting critters, than the elevated rest may be just the ticket.

I would be interested in knowing who told you that! As far as I know, you are welcome to shoot a fun round with a bow with an elevated rest, as long as you know you cannot turn the card in for score. You would be welcome in my group any time you wanted to come out, Jeff!

Bisch

[howie1968]

thank you men, most of my kills with my kodiak mag have been hogs 6 deer and a couple rams. i appreciate all of the advice and the green light. my reasoning for wanting shooting better is alot of the places i hunt i hunt the trails and routinely have deer 15 yards or less i feel with my kodiak mag i can draw quickly and quietly and make a humane shot at those ranges. i dont see a point in carrying any of my compounds or crossbows when i have deer that close to me. Also ive been bow hunting over 30 years now its time for me to progress as a hunter. i find it no challenge to shoot a deer with a compound or crossbow at 15 yards.
beside that some of my closest friends only hunt trad bows swamp ghost and andrew bollich. At 3-D shoots i like shooting with the trad guys they are alot of fun very helpful. i feel if i progress enough ill eventually hunt deer only with my recurve or my longbow im very close to making that commitment as i type but i really want to get better first. once again thanks for all the opinions

[howie1968]

Mr. dragonheart, i shoot 3-D some usually the chester shoot but never keep score and fannett and used to shoot cowtown when i lived in Ft.Worth. i dont mind getting flack as for me trad bow shooting is for relaxation and enjoyment nothing to tune no worries when i pick up the trad bows i have its because of the love of archery, its not something im real good at and the quest for knowledge is constant in my mind. And there is nothing like grabbing your favorite recurve or longbow on a nice cool morning with your stickbow in hand. the animals ive been blessed to harvest have been my most meaningful i shot my first trad deer about 4 years ago with my friends old browning stalker that i had in my possesion for about 7 years shot it at 12 yards clean pass through the big doe went 30 yards. ive shot more deer since then but that had me hooked

[Dragonheart]

Howie,

There is nothing like it, bowhunting! Would like to visit sometime, maybe have coffee at IHOP one morning if you are interested. PM me your mailing address and I will send you a toothbrush rest if you want one. I have several made up, or I can put it on for you we would just have to get together. Not like we are along ways from each other. I am in Nac.

Bisch,

That is what I was told straight from the horse's mouth where the buck stops. I believe from the conversation, "the line in the sand" and steadfast adherence to everyone shooting off the shelf is more a reaction to the metal handle "olympic" bows that are not welcome and those that have pushed for an "open" class in the organization, than just if someone has an arrowrest on the bow. I have no interest in competition anymore, and I called suggesting a non-competitive class where bowhunters could pay to shoot, shoot what they bring (trad bows of course), for practice. I was told that at the shoots all shooters have to follow the rules which exclude elevated rest. I believe the concern is "if we give an inch they will take a mile" is the mindset. That is what I was told. I greatly appreciate your welcome offer to shoot together. Take care.

[Buff]

shoot what you like.

that said i cant see where moving my arrow up away from my hand would help me at all.
I tend to cant my bow quite a bit and the closer I can keep the arrow to my knuckle the better off I am

[Dragonheart]

You shoot a Black Widow, those guys know how to grind a shelf to get clearance! Probably the best out there. IMHO.

Buff with your track record on taking game, well my friend, you have no reason to change!

[coop]

shoot what you like.

that said i cant see where moving my arrow up away from my hand would help me at all.
I tend to cant my bow quite a bit and the closer I can keep the arrow to my knuckle the better off I am

Exactly the same for me. Mr. Bear also told me this same thing. If you ever notice his actual hunting bows the shelf was cut down more than his production bows.

When I started shooting and hunting with a bow there was only archery. Compounds had not made the seen but archers were constantly trying to improve their abilities. That is the reason sites and elevated rest were being used before the compound even made it's appearance.

I'm not sure why the word Trad is so important to some and who decided at what point in the evolution of archery to draw the line. My first custom bow had to be re-tillered and the shelf cut down to allow me to shoot off the shelf. At that point in time there were a lot of elevated rest shooters.

Hunt with what you enjoy, but keep on hunting.

JC

[El Paisano]

I say shoot what shoots best for you, but I also say that stretching range is not a good idea. Targets are generally pretty predictable and don't move much, can't say the same for animals.

[Draco]

If you do decide to use an elevated rest then take this advise. Put double sided tape on the paper that is on the double sided tape that is already on a rest and stick it on the bow some where that it will be safe from losing. Carry another in your pocket and one in your pack. They tend to come off when you need them most and you can just stick another on fast.

I shot a stick on rest years ago and loved it. I went on an antelope hunt in north western Colorado. I wasn't even finished digging my pit blind when a group of antelope came in. The biggest buck I have ever seen, before or after, came in and was walking past me at around 20 yards. Huddling in the hole, I grabbed my bow and pulled an arrow out and nocked it on the string. As I put the arrow on the rest I noticed it was no longer there. I set the arrow on the shelf and moved the nock down about the same on the string and tried the shot. The arrow flew horribly and very high. Oh to have had another rest, sitting there the rest of the day watching antelope come in would not have been so bad.