Traditional bows

[802bowhunter]

Names mike im new here
Is anyone on here still using trad gear?
If so have u found u set ur stands different?

I found I push more with it and get closer to trails And beds resulting in much closer encounters granted ive blown 2 oppertunities at nice bucks because of it

Curious how many long bow or recurve guys were on here

I switched from compound 2 years ago to a hybrid long bow and I'm not sure I can,go back its so enjoyable.

Live to read some trad gear stories
What u run for broadheads and wieght

[DaveT1963]

I set up most of my shots for 15-18 yards, takes a little more thought on tree/stand selection but doable.

[moondoondude]

I'm shooting a recurve this year for whitetail. Probably going to be hunting from the ground a bit too. I have found that i shoot much, much more consistently while elevated with the recurve but my ground shots will be under 20 yards.

I'm making some adjustments to set-ups but mostly just setting things up for 25 yards and in while elevated, preferably 15-20 yards. I've shot a compound for a long time, I'm just trying to reignite my deer hunting a bit. I'm hunting trees with a bit more cover as well since I'm not climbing well over 30 feet like i typically have done with a compound. Less of an angle when you don't climb as high obviously - especially at closer ranges.

[Boogieman1]

Yes Mike I found I had to do some major changes in stand set ups when I switched over to trad gear. With a compound u can hunt much less desirable trees due to the ability to draw b4 hand. With a trad bow I need ample cover in a tree so I can draw without getting picked off with a animal up close a personal. I set up for 15 yard broadside shots. So getting closer means I had to get better with air currents and predicting deer movement.

This will be my 10th season I believe with trad gear and I absolutely love it. Broadheads I'm not married to any particular brand. I flip flop between 2 blade and 3 blade. 550 gr total arrow weight is my comfort zone. I like shooting footed carbons four fletched with 3 " shields

[Josh_S]

I absolutely love the hybrid longbows. I have had 2 custom built for me in the past year, so no kills with them yet. This is the most fun I have ever had shooting a bow. I do plan on hunting with both, but I would have to flip a coin to tell you which is my favorite.

Big Jim Thunder Child
54" length, 51# @28
400 spine Gold Tip Traditional Arrows cut to 28.5". 175 grain 3-blade VPA broad head + 30 grain screw in weight

Dwyer Endeavor
58" length, 54# @28
500 spine Gold Tip Traditional Arrows cut to 29". 175 grain 3-blade VPA broad head + 100 gain brass insert + 20 grain screw in weight

[mipubbucks24]

I have been practicing a lot with my long bow but don’t know if I will be ready this year, just too inconsistent at 10 yards yet. Just picked it up in July and have only been practicing a couple months now.

[Noreast10pt]

I bought a recurve this past winter that I'll take out this season.

I think I'm confident with my 10-15 yard shooting.

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[KLEMZ]

I have been hunting traditional for 40 years. I can't compare compound bow set ups vs traditional setups because all I know is traditional. I typically strive to set up for a 15-20 yard shot. Shorter or longer and you are asking for trouble. Although my biggest deer to date was a 35 yard shot, the vast majority are less than 20. Closest, 6 yards.

One disadvantage of trad bows is the longer limbs being obstructed by branches. You must select spots on trees that allow for this. This makes it a bit more challenging to mobile hunt without having first prepped a tree.

One advantage of trad bow set ups is that you can wait for the deer to enter a shooting lane and then draw and shoot. None of this drawing and holding for 1 or 2! minutes and hoping the buck enters a lane while you can still hold the bow back. That has always seemed extremely awkward to me. Notice how Dan shoots. Even though he hunts with a compound, he shoots as if he is using a recurve. The animal enters a shooting lane and then Dan draws and shoots...just like a trad bow. I believe their is an advantage to that.

[bowtechjim]

I absolutely love the hybrid longbows. I have had 2 custom built for me in the past year, so no kills with them yet. This is the most fun I have ever had shooting a bow. I do plan on hunting with both, but I would have to flip a coin to tell you which is my favorite.

Big Jim Thunder Child
54" length, 51# @28
400 spine Gold Tip Traditional Arrows cut to 28.5". 175 grain 3-blade VPA broad head + 30 grain screw in weight

Dwyer Endeavor
58" length, 54# @28
500 spine Gold Tip Traditional Arrows cut to 29". 175 grain 3-blade VPA broad head + 100 gain brass insert + 20 grain screw in weight

Shameless plug. I have a Thunderchild I'm trying to get rid of if anyone is looking for one. I do really like the shorter length of these hybrid longbows for hunting

[Hawthorne]

I hunted with nothing but longbows and recurves for about a 10 year period. I didn’t even own a compound during most of that time. Now I only hunt with a compound. I still shoot in a winter traditional archery league every year. I have 2 Dwyer longbows now that I mostly shoot. One old recurve I use for bowfishing. And one grayling bear recurve I bought for a collectors item

[moog5050]

I primarily hunt with trad bows and am using a Schafer hybrid LB this year. I set up pretty much the same whether its compound or trad bows. Most shots are set up for 15-25yds and all of my trad bow kills are under 30yds. I actually prefer 15-25 over 5yds - don't love the close angles. Good luck.

[moog5050]

And my BHs this season are 300g VPA 3 blades. I used german kinetics for the first 3 years I started with trad and they work really well, but the VPA did a number last year too and are much cheaper.

[Tennhunter3]

I have Samick Sage 45 pound.
Never hunted with it probably should at some point.

[DaveT1963]

I'm back with my 55# Caribow Taiga, 2117s with 165grn simmons shark up front.

[Josh_S]

I absolutely love the hybrid longbows. I have had 2 custom built for me in the past year, so no kills with them yet. This is the most fun I have ever had shooting a bow. I do plan on hunting with both, but I would have to flip a coin to tell you which is my favorite.

Big Jim Thunder Child
54" length, 51# @28
400 spine Gold Tip Traditional Arrows cut to 28.5". 175 grain 3-blade VPA broad head + 30 grain screw in weight

Dwyer Endeavor
58" length, 54# @28
500 spine Gold Tip Traditional Arrows cut to 29". 175 grain 3-blade VPA broad head + 100 gain brass insert + 20 grain screw in weight

Shameless plug. I have a Thunderchild I'm trying to get rid of if anyone is looking for one. I do really like the shorter length of these hybrid longbows for hunting

I saw that in the classifieds. If I didn't have pretty much the same bow (just different riser and veneers) I would consider. That's a fair price minus the 16-18 month wait on Big Jim's build list.