Refreshed And Ready To Try Something New…
Posted by doodaa on August 5, 2008
I am back from vacation, feeling refreshed, although a little under the weather thanks to a cold I picked up from daughter. Nothing like a summertime head cold.
So there I was, thinking about the upcoming seasons, and an idea just jumped into my head – recurve. I am about to learn the in’s and out’s of recurve shooting. There’s just not much of it on television these days, with so many people shooting compound bows. So I thought it would be a perfect addition to our Team Hammerdog Outdoors segments. I can chronicle my progress from start to finish, and show folks the pros and cons of recurve shooting. I’m sure there are many people out there who are interested in shooting a recurve or longbow, and I might inspire a few to give it a try. So if any of you shoot a recurve, please post up any tips and advice that I should be aware of.
doodaa
That’s funny – I’ve been thinking the very same thing! Shooting a recurve, I mean. I just haven’t decided how serious I want to get with it, but I’d like to learn. Let us know how it goes…you’re right about not seeing much of it on TV – should make for a good addition for you guys.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Good luck with that, fellas!
I just made the opposite switch. After four or five years of trying to take game with the recurve, I switched to compound. Part of the reason was to improve my consistency and accuracy to a point where I felt ethical shooting at game.
Trad bows are definitely certified game-getters, but you have to practice a LOT (or be totally gifted) in order to shoot consistently deadly shots. I found that when I could no longer shoot regularly (I shot almost daily for the first few years), my groups began to expand from six-eight inches to a foot or more… which is way too much variation for hunting.
I look forward to following your progress. It’s a big jump, but I actually think the way you’re doing it, starting with compound and then switching, is a lot better than my stubborn insistence on starting out the hard way, getting frustrated, and finally giving in to common sense.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
To be quite honest with you guys, I am not real comfortable shooting a compound bow. Every time I pull one back there’s a little voice in the back of my head pleading “Oh string please don’t snap…”
I like shooting compound bows, and have for years. But I have always had this fear of the string breaking and going haywire, slapping me in the face and wherever else it can land, and then tumbling out of the stand from the reaction. I wear a safety vest, so I’m not worried about falling, but there’s just no guarantee I won’t lose an eye or something from a compound bow string breaking. I have become real paranoid about little such things during my years as a news producer.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Strings can break (and have) on recurves too. I busted one on mine a while back. It wrapped my wrist, but didn’t really do any damage.
The worst thing so far has been when a fletching peels off and pierces my palm (three times now).
Recurve shooting is a blast, and you should definitely feel the thrill of success when you stick something with it. I think it will be really nice for treestand hunting when your shots are consistently in close.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:32 pm