What kind of recurve bow should i buy

These bows average about half the cost of custom bows. I've also shot Bear and Martin longbows that performed very well. Custom bows do have their advantages. Well-made models are great performers, and each bow is truly a work of art made to your specifications.

If you order a custom bow, trust the bowyer and listen to his or her suggestions on bow length and materials. There are literally hundreds of custom bowyers, so do some research before laying down any money.

I haven't shot them all but some custom recurves I've been impressed with include Palmer, Horne, Stalker, Foley, and Robertson. One thing you should always consider is the warranty. If a company, whether a large manufacturer or a one-man custom operation, isn't willing to back its products, don't take the chance. Go with one that believes in its bows and is willing to back them. Probably the most informative part of this column is my advice on how to hide your new purchase from your significant other.

I've tried every excuse in the book, and these are some that have worked for me in the past. I say "past" because Michele reads Bowhunter Magazine, and I'm sure this part of the article will tip her off. But I feel that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few - in this case me.

Try one or a combination of the following lines to cover your tail. The key is not to admit you've actually spent any money. Give a Gift Subscriber Services. See All Special Interest Magazines. All Bowhunter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow. Get Digital Access. A bow with "29lbs of draw weight" will have 29lbs of force being applied to your finger tips at full draw. Archer's Age. Recommended Draw Weight.

Youth Age lbs. Teenagers Age lbs. Young Adults Age lbs. Adult Females lbs. Adult Males lbs. Draw Length. Have someone measure the distance from the tip of one middle finger to the other.

T ake that number and divide it by 2. This is your calculated draw length. However — and this is important to understand — the main parameter that determines if you can hunt with your recurve is the draw weight on the bow, not the actual model you purchase.

The higher the draw weight on your bow, the more powerful it will be and the further your arrow will travel and with more force. Let me explain why this is important.

Simple: choose a recurve bow which has a draw weight of 40 pounds minimum. Now, you can hunt perfectly well for smaller game like turkey and rabbit with a 35 or even 30 lbs. All you have to do is take a look at my recurve bow draw weight chart. So while you might not be able to handle more than 30 lbs. A bow is considered a Take-down when the two limbs of the recurve can be separated from the riser.

Draw Weight. This is a good place to start. Draw weight is the resistance you feel when you pull on the bow string, described in pounds. A bow with a low draw weight—of, say, 15 pounds—will have a bow string that is a lot easier to pull back than a bow with a high draw weight—of, say, 60 pounds.

A higher draw weight is more difficult to pull, but results in more speed and power. Adult males 21 and over : 25 to 40 pounds with 40 pounds being on the very high side. Bows are available in a wide range of draw weights, from 5 pounds all the way up to near , but be careful, and try not to overdo it.

Draw Length. Archers of different sizes are going to have different draw lengths, and in order to get a bow that fits you, you need to know your draw length.

So how do you find your draw length? There are two ways:. Bow Size. So, for instance, a person with a inch draw length may use a inch bow, instead of the recommended inch bow. Brace Height. This is the distance, in inches, from the inside of the bow grip to the bow string. Left-Hand vs. Usually, lefties use left-handed bows, and righties use right-handed bows.