I've been shooting recurves for years and love doing It. I quit shooting a compound back In 1995 being the thrill wasn't there anymore and I wanted much more of a challenge. The recurve I'm shooting now Is the 1st and only recurve I've used for hunting. I've been bow hunting with the same recurve for 14 years this fall. It's been a great recurve and we've done very well as a team. It's shot me many deer and bear, 2 of which were P&Y animals (140 1/8" Mn Whitetail and 20 5/16 Mn Bear). This spring at a Traditional shoot It seemed almost like my recurve lost some spunk to It. When I 1st got this recurve I was hitting 220 fps shooting XX75 2216 4" 4 fletched arrows weighing at 561 grains. It seemed my arrows at longer distances were arcing more then they ever had before. I didn't think to much of It at the time until after I got back from bear hunting on September 9th. Before I went bear hunting I knew my range was going to be very limited (15 yards max) because I wasn't my normal self at 20 yards and I couldn't figure out why I was always low consistently. 15 yards Isn't to big of a deal anyway being most shots are generally 12 to 15 yards bear hunting. I ordered myself a bow scale being my brother and I share one and when I need It, It's always at his place so I ordered one so I could finally have my own Instead of "ours". It got here rather quickly and right away I checked my draw weight. My draw weight up till last fall was 73lbs at about 28 inches. When I checked It that day It was about 61lbs at the same draw length. I was stunned! I couldn't believe I lost that many pounds In a years time and figured my recurve was starting to loose It. Since September 10th I've shot about 500 arrows a week to learn how to shoot my bow all over again to get use to the less draw weight. I was finally getting consistent and back to form come October. After my 3rd or so hunt of the year at the end of October I was coming In from a morning hunt and went to take my recurve out of It's case to hang It up. I always check my recurve from top to bottom when I go to hang It up. I noticed the top limb had some slivers peeling away from the side on the top part of the limb. I then thought, oh my, this must be why I'm loosing pounds!! Right away I got nervous wondering If this bow Is going to blow up when I'm 15' up In a tree drawing back. Right away I went outside and shot It and no noises or anything happened. I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn being I was so damn nervous wondering If It was going to blow or not. I kept on shooting every day and slowly my confidence came back being I didn't think about It blowing up anymore. The other day I was shooting and I when I released an arrow I heard a different sound. My arrow went perfect but something sounded different. I looked at my bow right away and there layed my string In 2 pieces. I have a back up string so I go and put the new string on and set the brace height and nock height and shoot It for the 1st time and couldn't believe how high I was shooting. I was shooting a good 8" higher and about 3" to my right. About a week later I had my grouping back again but I had to learn how to shoot this bow all over again being the new string was really flinging my arrows out much faster then my other string was. As of right now I'm pretty dead on from 10 to 18 yards. 19 to 25 needs a little more consistency but It's getting there. I checked my draw weight at my 28" draw and I'm still at 61lbs but my arrows are coming out much quicker then they were before with the old string. This winter I plan on trying to fix the slivers coming off of my top limb and talk to a few bow makers and see what they think. Every once In a while another tiny sliver will appear but so far so good. 61lbs Is still plenty of pounds but I like to knock my animals on there keesters when I hit them. I'm sure It's going to keep dropping as time goes on. I'll be buying another recurve this winter regardless of the out come. Either way I look at It next year I'm guessing at this time I'll have a new Recurve In the woods for th
Steve... What kind of Recurve do you have?? It is kinda sad, it's like losing an old friend. Might I suggest a place of honor for your old friend. A "wall of Fame" with photo's and such!! You planning on getting another bow just like it?? or something different?? Chris
Chris, I was hoping you would see this and reply. My recurve Is a WindWalker Custom Made Take down. It was made here In Minnesota In a small town about 45 minutes north of me. The company no longer exists so I know there's nothing much I can do with getting different limbs as far as I know. I wouldn't mind getting another recurve In the same draw weight (73lbs at 28) but going a tad lower to 65lbs wouldn't be so bad either. Whether I get another take down or not, who knows. The recurve I have now has a very high wrist to It and I've gotten quite use to It over the last 14 years but In saying that I don't necessarily need another one with that either. Any suggestion's? I really don't care to spend anymore then 600.00 to 700.00. I also know you get what you pay for so If I got to spend the extra buck I'd be willing to If that's what It comes down to.
Steve look around in trad gang classifieds there are some EXCELLENT used bows in there with some good mojo. If you looking for a new bow nothing wrong with window shopping in there to get an idea whats out there! I check it out every day, several times a day. Bows come and go fairly quick, well cared for to! You can get a new bow for far less than you think. Check out Whisperstik, Rivers Edge Recurves, JK Traditions to name just a few for a new bow for around $500.00, an excellent one to boot. Yep time to retire your old friend and put him on the wall where he deserves to be, Wall of Fame! FYI, Bob might have just the bow your looking for a a GOOD price... check it out! 703, right up you alley!
Schultzy, have you looked at the footed shaft? He has a good selection of used bows. You might be able to find some limbs for your bow there. They have a misc wanted section on there. http://www.users.uswest.net/~footedshaft/footedonly.html Good luck to ya, Kendall
You might keep an eye on E-bay also. Quite often you can find a like new bow for a lot less and so far I've had pretty good luck with the people being honest. I have a couple Wing take-downs that I really like, so last summer I got my hand on a Bob Lee Bicentennial Recurve. It was same as new, not a mark on it and I got it for about half the price. Do you have preference for a certain length of bow?? Any Winter Bowhunting gatherings in your area?? Maybe a place that you could test several different kinds of bows?? Have fun picking a new one, there certainly are a lot of different bows out there to choose from.. Chris
Thanks guys!! It's still flinging 30 to 40 arrows a day with no problems yet. I usually practice an awful lot so It's getting a good test that's for sure. Either late this week or early next week I'll be heading back out In the woods to try and shoot myself a good buck and try and see If I can catch a glimpse of this 2nd rut, that would be a great retirement for It.
