HI, Kurt.. first of all. Thank you for your service, God Bless.

Bear Montana is a good bow. And a good choice for starting out. I would start out with 45# personally, But as an experienced archer you’re probably ok at 50# anyway,

There are many on here who can tell you more than I can. Just a couple of things though:

Get a couple of books: 1) Byron Ferguson;s, “Become The Arrow:, and 2) Brian Sorrell’s, A Beginner’s Guide to Traditional Archery. 3) Jay Kidwell’s, “Instinctive Archery Insights” another helpful guide as well,

Most importantly – Have Fun!

spotknot wrote: Also what are the pros and cons of using gloves, tabs, and finger savers.

Kurt,

I’m guessing by “finger savers” you mean those rubber things that slide over the serving. If so, they are popular with bowfishermen but not much beyond that point (youth bows perhaps). With very rare exceptions, finger shooters use tabs or gloves. There’s no right or wrong between the two — the choice comes down to with what you shoot best. I personally prefer a tab, but others shoot better with gloves. If possible, try a few of each and see which feels best to you.

And like Steve said, thank you for your service. It’s much appreciated.

Kurt.. I have a couple of Tabs that are like New. Tried them, but I have always been destined to be a glove shooter. I have two like new cordovan tabs, you are welcome to them if you want to give them a try. Just send me a PM and I’ll put them in the mail.

I have a Large Hand, but you could trim them down if necessary.

Those book suggestions are good ones. I’d also throw in G. Fred’s Advanced Instinctive Shooting. I didn’t read his first two, but that last one really helped. Also, check out the fine videos by George Stout and Moebow. Also, cafefully read the tuning threads on this site. They are have been a big help to me.

I’ve been enjoying the FOC discussions. I don’t have any archery kills yet, so I cannot speak from experience. I will say that I’m having fun playing with the arrows in regard to FOC and seeing how they will shoot.

Have fun with it!

While you will get great advice at these forums another suggestion is, upon your return from deployment seek out and become a member of a local bowhunting organization. They are full of mentors willing to share their wisdom and experience, and are great fun as well. Thank you for your service and sacrifice and that of your family as well.

Again, thanks for the service.

Another vote for the books.

I’ll add bowmaker.net/tuning for a great tuning guide and also Dr. Ashby posted a great tuning guide here…anyone have the link?

Don’t have compound archers give compound advise/equipment/arrows for trad bows!! Most compound shops don’t know “which end of the shovel to dig with” for recurves and longbows.

The MASTERS OF THE BAREBOW video series is outstanding and well illustrates the different shooting styles.

Have fun!

Some say a Tab gives a slightly better release and hardly wears out like a glove. I am a glove shooter but can use a tab also. I prefer the American Leathers gloves with the Black Widow glove a second choice. I have two AL gloves, one is Elk hide, the other is Buffalo. The Elk glove has been used for four years and is just now broke in good. It has been shot thousands of times and carried on two Elk hunts and numerous whitetail hunts. I shoot at least a 100 arrows a week year round unless illness prevents so you can see it has and still is a good glove.

If I were just starting out in Trad?? I would start with very light poundage and work on the form first! MOBB volume three and follow Rod Jenkins advice. 🙂

I hunt Whitetails on the ground when the leaves are still on. I usualy go up a tree later on when the leaves are gone but sometimes treestand even early when I might be hunting in warm weather and sweat.

I always Elk hunt off the ground with my type of hunting but would carry in a lite climber if I found an active wallow that did not have ample cover for a hide.