Anyone hunt with Recurves?

Not anymore but I did for 25 years... I started with a Bear Kodiak, and then bought a Jim Brackenbury custom bow... Ended up using Jim's bows exclusively for more than 20 years, except for a couple forray's with a Black Widow... I still have not caught up to my recurve kill talley with a compound yet after 15 years of using them... Partly because I practically lived in the bush when I was younger... I have taken countless deer, bears and moose with recurves, also taken fox, coyotes and a lynx. They are an effective weapon, but require practice and patience... I prefer to see experienced hunters using them... Folks that have the experience and discipline to wait for the "right" shot BEFORE dropping the string.
 
I have a 40 pounder that I bought in the fall. I don't think that I am consistent enough yet to go out with it yet. One more summer of practice, and look out.
 
I shot recurve bows years ago. Killed many gophers with them but switched to compound bows in the 70's when I started to hunt big game. The thing about learning instinctive shooting with a recurve is that it makes you a better shot with any other type of bow. Nowadays, if your peep or release got lost or broke most guys would just go home.
 
I would really like to but am a bit confused. I am Right handed, but left eye dominant, and I cant get a straight answer on whether to buy a right hand or lefthand bow?!?!?!? I know normally you wanna use the one with your dominant eye but at most things with my left hand I'm pretty dang useless. Any suggestions?
 
I tried to fill my 2012 whitetail using my 45# recurve last year without success. I really like the simplicity of it versus my compound and it's just so nice to carry around. I like trying for grouse with it as well. Notice .. "trying" - I shoot more arrows into ground, sticks and trees than into grouse! Though I do get lucky now and then :)
 
I shot a custom Bighorn take down recurve for years. Shot lots of game with it.

I was lucky enough to drive down to Fort Lupton Cololrado to meet the bowsmith. It was Fred Asbell (then President of the Pope and Young Club). Really nice guy! Had the chance to see him finish up a set of limbs while I was there. And he signed the bow as well. A great trip!
 
Last edited:
I would really like to but am a bit confused. I am Right handed, but left eye dominant, and I cant get a straight answer on whether to buy a right hand or lefthand bow?!?!?!? I know normally you wanna use the one with your dominant eye but at most things with my left hand I'm pretty dang useless. Any suggestions?

Get a right handed bow... Draw with your strong arm... Your sightinng system will be relative to your own characteristics... Worse comes to worse, just shoot with your left eye closed... Many do. It is "best" to adopt a "both eyes open" style, but not necessary. About half of peep shooters shoot one eye closed.
 
I would really like to but am a bit confused. I am Right handed, but left eye dominant, and I cant get a straight answer on whether to buy a right hand or lefthand bow?!?!?!? I know normally you wanna use the one with your dominant eye but at most things with my left hand I'm pretty dang useless. Any suggestions?

I would say to see if you can try both hands, preferably of the same model bow to control the variables. Try to shoot with both eyes open, and do what feels natural. If your first instinct is to do it a different way than how the bow is set up, go with that, otherwise you're going to be fighting that instinct for the rest of your life.

I plan to start hunting with my recurve in the near future, but I've got no friends and no one wants to bring anyone new hunting so it might never happen.
 
I plan to start hunting with my recurve in the near future, but I've got no friends and no one wants to bring anyone new hunting so it might never happen.

Why do you need for someone to "take" you hunting? When I started bowhunting over forty years ago, there was nobody in the area of Northern Ontario that I was in who bowhunted... I bought my first bow in the states because no retailers had bows... I taught myself, learning as I went along... I made lots of mistakes but learned much more from my failures than successes... I shot a bear my first year bowhunting and a moose my second year but it took four seasons to figure out whitetails and harvest one. Don't wait for someone to take you by the hand, just get out and do it... It is worth the effort... Bowhunting offers a lifetime of sport and great memories...
 
been hunting with a recurve for 15 yrs.. 50lb Martin Hatfeild cedar arrows... 4 p&y.. mule deer 2 antelope and bear... lots of others tasty critters... Just go and do it...
Leroy
 
Back
Top Bottom