I know, I’m still very interested in a Great Northern Bushbow. Was looking at them before I bought the Predator. I like my JD Berry Yahweh but it is about 68# and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to handle it again. I wonder if they would reduce the weight for me ans put a new finish on it?

My first experience with archery was watching Fred Eichler in one of his earlier videos. He was shooting his recurve bow and that got me set off. Been in love with recurves ever since.

I own both but shoot my recurves more often.

Started on a recurve but gravitated to the heritage, simplicity, and challenge of a longbow quickly. I’m not looking back.

Its hard to explain. You’re either a longbow shooter or you aren’t. You’ll find out fast.

I agree with LimbLover, started with a takedown recurve and I had no interest in a longbow! I shot LimbLovers Bama Hunter and I was instantly hooked, sold all my recurves and know own 2 Bama longbows and a Silver Creek! Go figure!

I shoot both, I know a lot of people advise against switching back & forth.
I like a recurve, lately I’ve been shooting a last years Bear Suoer-K. I also have a Howard Hill 66″ longbow I shoot a lot & really like.
The longbow is quieter & nearly as fast as the Super K, I like both & switch back & forth.
I also have a nice Blacktail Elite recurve, & a Fox High Sierra. I like both recurve & longbow & will probably continue to shoot both.
Frank

LimbLover wrote: Started on a recurve but gravitated to the heritage, simplicity, and challenge of a longbow quickly. I’m not looking back.

Its hard to explain. You’re either a longbow shooter or you aren’t. You’ll find out fast.

YEAH….WHAT HE SAID, EXACTLY!:D

I shoot only the longbow but with the handel designs reflex deflex limbs there can’t be much diffence between the two anymore other than the classic D shape

Smiley wrote: I shoot only the longbow but with the handel designs reflex deflex limbs there can’t be much diffence between the two anymore other than the classic D shape

That would be a hybrid sir. Not a longbow. 😛

Guess I’m in the recurve group since the two longbows I have are Hummingbirds and they have mild deflex and reflexed limbs and a fantastic “pistol” grip. I also have four recurves. Three of which are almost as old as I am. Like some others, I shoot them all and swap back and forth. I just love to shoot and couldn’t bring myself to settle on just one style.

But I own two cars with manual transmissions and one with an auto. My guns are bolt, pump, semi-auto, lever………only got one wife though 😆

It’s all fun!

This is what psychologists call an “approach-approach” conflict–ie., the anxiety that arouses when a subject is forced to choose between two equally attractive choices. I solve the problem the simple way: by shooting both. (In fact, I have a piece on this issue coming up shortly in the magazine). I love both, and have learned to go back and forth according to the demands of particular hunting situations. One fact needs to be addressed though: the prevailing assumption that the longbow is more “traditional”. In fact, the Asiatic horse tribes were using curved, composite bows (the forerunners of the modern recurve) long before the development of the English yew longbow (in turn, the forerunner of what we know as the longbow today). Cheers, Don

I agree with Don. The argument that one is more traditional than the other is a load.

The history of the longbow is just a bit more attractive to me as I’m a Howard Hill fan.

I’d also like to point out that one of my reasons for making the switch is finger pinch. I’m a tall guy with really long arms and didn’t like the finger pinch I was getting out of my 62″ bows. I felt like shooting a 64″ recurve was silly so the longbow felt like the natural progression.

I currently shoot a 68″ and would love to buy a 72″.

I have a Bama Hunter 55# and love it, I also have a Tomahawk Desert fox 56# great bow. I am getting a Abbott recurve retro style 59# recurve as well. I love the longbow but I shoot the recurve really well. I guess I like both, the longbow has a special feel and sound and the recurve is more of a natural shooter for me. If it has a string on a stick I love to shoot it all day long.

I was at a shoot at Big Bear a couple weeks ago and shot a few recurves at targets after my longbow shots and I have to be honest, I love the longbow but shoot the recurve a little better. Go figure? I shot 3 different recurves and all with good accuracy.

I currently have two Bear recurves. The first, a newer Grizzly, 55@28, and the older, a 70-some Kodiak Mag, 55x#@28. I shoot both pretty well, but the Mag a little better, I think. I’d like to get a takedown longbow at some point, but one that I can put longbow or recurve limbs on. I know…it’s a big order to fill…lol.

Michael.

LimbLover wrote: [quote=Smiley]I shoot only the longbow but with the handel designs reflex deflex limbs there can’t be much diffence between the two anymore other than the classic D shape

That would be a hybrid sir. Not a longbow. 😛

NO ITS A LONGBOW TOO. THE STRING DOESNT TOUCH THE LIMB LIKE A RECURVE. ITS A HYBRID LONGBOW!

i went from recurves to longbows.

I shoot a 64″ Fred Hermann 3 piece recurve and have a little trouble telling it, when I’m shooting, from a 64″ reflex/deflex bow a friend of mine owns. Now if hybrids are not longbows, maybe I need to change my thinking. Accuracy, between the two seems to depend on things like the weather, how much coffee I’ve had or my mood in general.
Find what you like and shoot it!

It was pure chance that I ended up starting my traditional archery journey with a longbow instead of a recurve. That’s what was recommended to me when I was in the hunt for a traditional bow. I will say that I did and still do prefer the lines of a longbow compared to a recurve. I don’t care for the huge riser on the typical recurve.

I have to say that all the discussion about what’s a longbow, a recurve, or a hybrid leaves me a little weary. I’m not a “Big Tent” advocate by nature, but this is an exception. These are all real bows, as opposed to you-know-what. Let’s just string ’em up and go hunting! Don

I have them all, but but shoot longbows the most by far. I just like them.

donthomas wrote: …and have learned to go back and forth according to the demands of particular hunting situations.

That statement begs the question, how does a particular situation demand a longbow vs a recurve?

BTW, I read the article and was shocked and HORRIFIED to find that you’ve been shooting recurves! I immediately burned my copy of Longbows in the Far North. 😆
(It was a great article)

I have – and like – both, but I prefer the longbow. I can’t tell you why, I just do. My father prefers recurves…we still get along though :D.

I’ve got 7 Recurves and 2 Longbows, and just prefer the recurve much better.

After owning both, I much now prefer the longbow, I agree with Patrick I just like the weight aspect of the longbow, I just got used to the small riser! My neighbor has a Black Widow takedown and my nephew has a top of the line Predator takedown and the other guy in our shooting group has a new Dakota takedown! What is funny is that I can shoot their recurves real well but they cannot hit nothing with my longbows! They all at one time had longbows they just prefer the takedowns, I find at least in my limited shooting expierance that recurves seem to be a lot more forgiving than my straight limbed longbows but for me it is longbows all the way!

turtlebunting wrote: [quote=LimbLover][quote=Smiley]I shoot only the longbow but with the handel designs reflex deflex limbs there can’t be much diffence between the two anymore other than the classic D shape

That would be a hybrid sir. Not a longbow. 😛

NO ITS A LONGBOW TOO. THE STRING DOESNT TOUCH THE LIMB LIKE A RECURVE. ITS A HYBRID LONGBOW!

I was being facetious…but I respectfully disagree. 😈

We’ve all got our lines of definition. I won’t cross this one. Nothing wrong with them, but they are not what my definition of a longbow is.

I agree with Don too though. They are all stick and string and they are all nice. I do not condemn anyone’s choice in bows.

I only shoot one bow, a recurve. I love the looks of a longbow, but have not found one that does not have a noticeable hand shock vibration. I love shooting and I am afraid I would not enjoy shooting as much with the vibration (don’t know if my years of swinging a hammer until my forearm hurt from the vibrations has made me over sensitive).

I’ve got a really nice longbow that has no hand vibration! They do exist.

Anyway I don’t consciously have a preference but history seems to indicate I prefer the longbow… Considering I only have one recurve but several longbows.

I don’t know why one would deprive themselves of the fun of shooting so many variations of the real bows…..whatever names we attach to them. They are bows….one and all; names are given by humans so we can separate them to our understanding. I wonder what moniker Jay Massey would put on his little 55″ pignut hickory bow? They are bows….dats it dudes.

O civili, si dem gaux, fortibus es inaro;
O nobili, daes trux, indem arsum, causen dux.

While I believe in definitions, they have nothing to do with why I shoot a bow.

I don’t shoot recurves because they make it harder to transition back to my longbows. I can’t do that. A lot of people can. Not me.

So what is the longbow that has no hand shock. Love to try one or two out.

I own both and like to shoot both but for me it doesn’t rise to the level of an approach-approach conflict.(lol) When push comes to shove I’ll always grab my trusty recurve.(nut):lol:

have both and am currently shooting the recurve fairly exclusively. I don’t miss the hand shock from the longbow but, for some reason, I actually shoot the longbow better.

have both and am currently shooting the recurve fairly exclusively. I don’t miss the hand shock from the longbow but, for some reason, I actually shoot the longbow better.

I shoot a take-down recurve. Why you ask? Because that’s what my mentor helped me make. I had a longbow a year or two ago. Was interested in trying one, bought a used one, shot it good too. But I felt as though I was cheating on my recurve. Donated my longbow to the troops in Iraq. Since then I’ve wanted another one. But then I made a red oak board bow, can’t shoot that one too well yet. So I picked up my recurve again, shot the first group of arrows out of her and have decided that this will be my one and only. I still like the looks of a Howard Hill but the length gets me. Where I hunt a long bow, literally, get’s hung up too often. So, it’s my snaked recurve from here on out. And it’s easy to travel with. Just my 2 cents. You can keep the change. 😀

-Jeremy

I guess it is all personal preference. I have never shot anything but longbows. And that’s all I care too shoot. Just something about a longbow. They are harder to master, and I do take some pride in that. I think the bottom line is.. I’m just a hopeless romantic. And all the changes we are forced to make in life, my choice of hunting preference is very important to me.

I find a good deflex/reflex design as easy to shoot as a recurve; smooth, and rarely is there any handshock from them.
The only thing they lack is mass, in most cases, and some of the three piece models have as much of that as any recurve made. I see little difference in shooting characteristics among em’, other than their individual designs. I don’t hold or shoot them (longbows) differently than my recurves.

It is funny how we gravitate toward things like bows. I can see romance in an old recurve bow; smooth drawing, classy looking little risers with those vivacious curves 8^)))). I like them all, but the 60’s recurves get my attention the most.

Just tell me this one ain’t sexy. 🙄

George D. Stout wrote:
It is funny how we gravitate toward things like bows. I can see romance in an old recurve bow; smooth drawing, classy looking little risers with those vivacious curves 8^)))). I like them all, but the 60’s recurves get my attention the most.

Just tell me this one ain’t sexy. 🙄

Ah Geoge… I was tempted to go there. But since you did… I love my longbows… because they are long, lean, beautiful and sexy!!!! I knew Freud would eventually show up!!! 😆

It’s all in the grip. If the grip is the same and the center cut is the same and the physical weight is the same you won’t be able to tell the difference whether or not if the limbs are recurved, straight or reflex/deflex or if the string touches the limb. Today there is really no firm definition of a longbow. Most longbows of today were called semi-recurves 50 years ago. I know a “real” longbow when I see one. I’m sure some of you do too:)…Van

I love all stickbows! I prefer my hybrid longbow, but own all of the above. I enjoy shooting all at one time or another.:lol:

George D. Stout wrote:

Just tell me this one ain’t sexy. 🙄

Nope, it aint sexy… ITS REAL SEXY 😆

LimbLover wrote: Started on a recurve but gravitated to the heritage, simplicity, and challenge of a longbow quickly. I’m not looking back.

Its hard to explain. You’re either a longbow shooter or you aren’t. You’ll find out fast.

Same story here!

Hey George,
That is a sexy rig but watch out for that poison ivey!
Duncan

PS to stay on topic, I shoot both just not at the same time….

man.. i been missing alout on this forum. i was tryin to offend anyone about the hybid longbow thing (limblover). it just kinda came to me so i posted a reply? see u all later

Bought my recurve in 1965 or 1966. Never really learned to shoot it until the internet gave me connection with wise archers like people on this site. No one I knew shot a bow besides my self and my brother back then. It is a joy now that I have gained some skill.

I use both. However, I gavitate toward LB”s more than RC’s. I think I shoot LB better.

Mike

Long bow for me I think it is more forgiving

Thanks Duncan….but that is Virginia Creeper, not Poison Ivy. 😉

I shot recurves alone for around 25 years before I bought my first longbow.
Somewhere along the way and while shooting competition at the top level with my recurves,I lost something.
I was winning big competitions,and feeling like I wasn’t achieving anything,feeling like I was somehow at the end of a journey,,,and I wasn’t happy about it.
Then I read an articule about how many sportsmen reach a transitional stage in their lives where winning things is nolonger really important,,,it’s somewhat like having done the the study and earnt the degree,,but now having nowhere to use it.
Some become coaches,some fade away,I turned to the longbow to become a better archer.
For me getting to the top in competition was earning my degree but it was also the end of a journey,,shooting the longbow to simply become as good as I can for my own satisfation will never end.

John.

George D. Stout wrote: Thanks Duncan….but that is Virginia Creeper, not Poison Ivy. 😉

George I see some creeper in there but that to the left looks like “leaves of three” 🙂

I love them all, and shoot them all. In fact, just tonight I shot a Bear t/d, a Great Northern Bushbow, a Frank SanMarcos longbow, and a Bear Super K!

Never had much trouble switching back and forth between different styles, and understand what Don was talking about different situations calling for different bows. Besides deer hunting I love to hunt squirrels, and have always felt that a longbow was much better suited to that task (at least for me) because of all the weird shot angles and quick shots involved.

donthomas wrote: This is what psychologists call an “approach-approach” conflict–ie., the anxiety that arouses when a subject is forced to choose between two equally attractive choices. I solve the problem the simple way: by shooting both. (In fact, I have a piece on this issue coming up shortly in the magazine). I love both, and have learned to go back and forth according to the demands of particular hunting situations. One fact needs to be addressed though: the prevailing assumption that the longbow is more “traditional”. In fact, the Asiatic horse tribes were using curved, composite bows (the forerunners of the modern recurve) long before the development of the English yew longbow (in turn, the forerunner of what we know as the longbow today). Cheers, Don

Thanks Don for the input on “longbows being more traditional or vice versa. I made the switch this year to traditional bows although I have been shooting recurves part-time for years. I like hunting with the recurves very much. But.. am experiencing some self imposed pressure to go to longbows, partly because [I believed that they were a more “traditional” style, and partly because I long for a truly quiet bow. I can’t really afford another bow right now so thanks for helping to pacify me, at least temporarily, I will be more content with my recurves.

I just started shooting a recurve a couple months ago and I love it. I also got to shoot a longbow a while back and I loved it also. In fact, I shot it every bit as well as my recurve. Now I really want a longbow too.

I am pretty much sold on the recurve. Mine is 64″ long so it is as long as most longbows. It’s a Tree’s Custom Shadowhawk and I think I have found my “soul-mate” bow with this one.

I started shooting a recurve in 1959, and was taught to use a “high wrist” grip. It has worked well for me over the many years. When I attempt to shoot a longbow, I struggle with the grip because the handle design of the longbows do not lend themselves to the “high wrist” concept. Consequently, the recurve is my choice.

Ron

❓

Ron Vaughn wrote: I started shooting a recurve in 1959, and was taught to use a “high wrist” grip. It has worked well for me over the many years. When I attempt to shoot a longbow, I struggle with the grip because the handle design of the longbows do not lend themselves to the “high wrist” concept. Consequently, the recurve is my choice.

Ron

Actually I was kicking around the idea of using a high wrist grip reasoning that with my naturally short draw length of 25.5″ it may give me a little longer draw lenth and allow me use a longer and thus a heavier arrow. I just don’t hear much about using a high wrist so was reluctant to go that route. ❓ I was thinking of taking one of my bows and trying to build up the grip with tape, leather or rubber to simulate the high wrist. What to you think?

I shoot a take-down recurve. I’ve tried two longbows, donated one to Iraq and sold the other. I built a red oak board bow. I love shooting it. But I always seem to grab my recurve when heading out the door to hunt. Not sure why.

-Jeremy

vermonter1 wrote: :?:[quote=Ron Vaughn]I started shooting a recurve in 1959, and was taught to use a “high wrist” grip. It has worked well for me over the many years. When I attempt to shoot a longbow, I struggle with the grip because the handle design of the longbows do not lend themselves to the “high wrist” concept. Consequently, the recurve is my choice.

Ron

Actually I was kicking around the idea of using a high wrist grip reasoning that with my naturally short draw length of 25.5″ it may give me a little longer draw lenth and allow me use a longer and thus a heavier arrow. I just don’t hear much about using a high wrist so was reluctant to go that route. ❓ I was thinking of taking one of my bows and trying to build up the grip with tape, leather or rubber to simulate the high wrist. What to you think?

Responce to Vermonter1,

Building up your grip with tape or rubber may give you the desired affect of a high wrist grip, however, I noticed in the latest “3 Rivers Archery” catalog, they advertise the low, standard, and high wrist poly grips for the Dalaa bows. Perhaps attaching one of the high wrist models to your bow may give you a good solid grip. The high wrist grip runs $40.

I believe using a high wrist grip does give you a little longer draw length plus I don’t have any “torque” problems with my grip. Much less contact is made on the bow handle with the high wrist grip. My arms are not long, but I draw 29.5 inches because of the high wrist grip and having an anchor point slightly back farther than the corner of my mouth.

Ron Vaughn wrote: [quote=vermonter1]:?:[quote=Ron Vaughn]I started shooting a recurve in 1959, and was taught to use a “high wrist” grip. It has worked well for me over the many years. When I attempt to shoot a longbow, I struggle with the grip because the handle design of the longbows do not lend themselves to the “high wrist” concept. Consequently, the recurve is my choice.

Ron

Actually I was kicking around the idea of using a high wrist grip reasoning that with my naturally short draw length of 25.5″ it may give me a little longer draw lenth and allow me use a longer and thus a heavier arrow. I just don’t hear much about using a high wrist so was reluctant to go that route. ❓ I was thinking of taking one of my bows and trying to build up the grip with tape, leather or rubber to simulate the high wrist. What to you think?

Responce to Vermonter1,

Building up your grip with tape or rubber may give you the desired affect of a high wrist grip, however, I noticed in the latest “3 Rivers Archery” catalog, they advertise the low, standard, and high wrist poly grips for the Dalaa bows. Perhaps attaching one of the high wrist models to your bow may give you a good solid grip. The high wrist grip runs $40.

I believe using a high wrist grip does give you a little longer draw length plus I don’t have any “torque” problems with my grip. Much less contact is made on the bow handle with the high wrist grip. My arms are not long, but I draw 29.5 inches because of the high wrist grip and having an anchor point slightly back farther than the corner of my mouth.

Ron, thanks for the insight on the high wrist grip. I am definitely going to experiment with a high wrist grip right after the deer seasons end (middle of December here in Vermont.

i have both but i shoot the recurve better and yet i only shoot my longbow

I shoot both, A super Shrew L’l Favorite (recurve) and a Shrew Classic Hunter Armstrong Ghost (longbow) They are both made with the same handle, so the grip doesn’t change. I enjoy them both, and don’t see a heck of a difference on whitetails. They even shoot the same arrows. If I had to choose, I would go with the longbow, asthetically they appeal to me more.

I’ve gone back and forth for years. I switched from predominantly longbow to predominantly recurve before I could find a takedown longbow that I really liked, since I was doing a tremendous amount of travel. Now I’m hunting with my longbows again. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but i’ve never shot better than when I’m really in tune with my longbow. As for heritage, let’s not forget that the Asiatic nomads were shooting recurves from horseback long before the first true longbow arrived on the scene. Don

I shoot my recurves more but I do like the feel of the longbow. I have 6 LBs and 9 recurves. I guess its just good to have choices!

Wolf Among Dogs wrote: I shoot my recurves more but I do like the feel of the longbow. I have 6 LBs and 9 recurves. I guess its just good to have choices!

Gee if I had that many choices I think I’d spend more time trying to decide what bow to shoot than actually shooting. 😕
I envy you though.

I own one of each,an old Ben Pearson recurve and an old Outdoor Products self-longbow. I prefer the longbow for the aesthetics, but shoot the recurve a little better with heavier arrows. In choosing one, I’d go with the longbow just because I like the way it handles and because it has Heritage written all over it!:D

I own both, started out in my trad life with the recurve. Once I picked up the longbow and felt how light it was, I fell in love with it. I believe I shoot it better than I do a recurve but that may just be my perception. To be honest, I sometimes find myself going back and forth mentally until I pick up my longbow again and the question leaves my mind. The flatter trajectory of the recurve is nice, as is the right of center shelf. All logic points to the recurve as the way to go but then I see my longbow hanging up or hold it and I forget I even have a recurve in the basement. The length is not really an issue as I like longer bows in general and my longbow and recurve are both 62″. Thank goodness for that or the decision might be more difficult. I say if it’s made of wood, it’s all good.

I have both and I like both. But I’m partail to longbows because they tend to be quieter than my recurves and feel more natural in my hand. But that’s just me.

I shoot recurves.

I own a couple of vintage Hoyts made when Earl still ran the company, but they are retired. My take-down Shafer remains my go-to hunting bow, but I’ve recently started hunting with a short (54″) one-piece recurve made by Mike Dunnaway of Wild Horse Creek Bows; a Fifties-style recurve like the ones Fred Bear and Glenn St. Charles used to shoot. The bow is light and much easier to carry around the woods all day. It’s fast, dead quiet, and superb for tight places.

Both my brother and my hunting buddy shoot Pronghorn longbows. They are beautiful to behold, but I’ve never been able to shoot them as well as my recurves. And, at bottom, shooting well is what matters most – certainly not “what’s more traditional.”

Chris

I have both and I shoot both. But if I had to choose between the two I’d go with a longbow. Can’t explain it but there’s just something about longbows that I find compelling.

I shoot a longbow..Er.hybrid longbow for you nitpickers…because that’s what I like, and that is what I enjoy, now I can shoot compounds and recurves too….. but the longbow is me.

Since the topic of bows is in question. What do ya’ll think of the Shrew? I have seen them online, and honestly I would love to have one, but they do look different than any longbow I have ever seen and makes me curious on how they shoot.

i owned only recurves and i like it much. this week i have orderd a new bear montana longbow… i will see whats better for me. i think everyone has his reason why he loves recurve or longbows more then the other… 😉

Own both but as it get older and slow down I prefer my 67″ custom longbow only pulls about 46# at my draw lenght