The pros an cons of recurve vs longbow are not a good basis to be choosing what you want to do.
There are many types of both,so I personaly belive a person should just decide on a bow that appeals to them on their own terms and go from there.
About the only thing I’d tell a new shooter is to go light to medium wheight,,,and long.
That’s a bow that is light enough to control and learn with,,and long 62″ to 66″ for a recurve,,or 64″ to 68″ for a longbow depending on type.
The reasons for the longer length bows is simply because I belive they are smoother drawing,provide less finger pinch,and are easier to control.

Good luck,
John.

10 — I agree with John’s advice in general, assuming you plan to spend a fair amount of time target shooting before you start hunting. Lots of folks who can afford it have more than one bow, one or some for target archery, and one or more for hunting. Few would argue that longer bows make better target bows, while shorter bows, within limits, are far better for hunting. If you want to compromise, most bowyers I’ve talked to would recommend 62″ whether recurve or longbow. “The Traditional Bowhunter’s Handbook,” by T.J. Conrads, comes highly recommended and I suggest buying and reading it before you buy a bow. And the best advice of all is to try to work a way to shoot a bow before you buy it, and to shoot several before you buy any. If you can arrange to attend any of the big trad events, held mostly in the East in late winter, like Kalamazoo, MI to name but one good one, you can shoot dozens of great bows and talk with the folks who make them. Anticipation is always a big part of the fun, so it’s counterproductive to rush it. Best luck, dave p

All I can add to what’s been said is to buy a used bow cheap. If you can find a shop somewhere close, they usually have a variety of used bows on the wall for $75.00 or so.

As you start out with traditional gear, your draw length will change, your release will develop, and your strength will develop. Not to mention your taste in bows.

Buying cheap bows will allow you to develop your tastes in equipment without causing you to break the bank, or tick off the wife… 🙄

Uh oh, another one lost to longbow mania. Welcome to the club. And before any of you castigate me for including hybrids among longbows, let me just say as the owner of two sticks without kinks in them:

“I’m straight but not as narrow as my bows.” 😉

I see you are from Arkansas and if you are near Little Rock, you should go by Archers Advantage. They have hundreds of bows and will let you shoot them all in their 20 yard indoor shooting range. They have many different kinds of arrows to shoot to get the right bow/arrow combination.

I have both recurves and longbows. I prefer a longbow, that’s just my preference. I think it is the challenge above all else.

Jim

Jody — let’s see some photos of you shooting that new Bear. Bear was always the bow I wanted most as a kid but could never afford. Since that I’ve owned two Kodiak Magnums, very short, and I loved them except they stacked. Enjoy. dp