If you were going to get into trad hunting, what bow would you buy and why, along with size/length/etc.?

I'd advise buying two....

right now buy any used 58-60", 40-45# recurve and learn to shoot it, working up to draw weight.

later any well made (Bear is good) 58-60", 50-55# recurve.....A Bear Super Kodiak is a good bow.

so you just ask a question and walk off Clem????

No, still here.

I have an older recurve I need to start shooting again. Just had that itch to see what anyone else might suggest.

The Super Kodiak was recommended a coupla weeks ago. Too pricey for now.

Probably will string mine and shoot some this weekend.

need any advise just ask

They are all pricy. No more $30 yard sale Bear or Pearson bows around.

It's hard to give you advice about trad events in parts unknown but you need to go to some trad 3D's and handle and shoot a bunch of bows. Don't buy anything until you shoot enough to know what you shoot best.

When I first started I thought I liked light weight one piece recurves. I later learned I shoot 3 piece bows with more mass a lot better.

By something lighter in draw weight than you think you can easily handle. You will learn better form and release.

55# Black Widow

I missed you wanted to stay reasonably priced. The widow will be out. Great bows though.

Clem if you want to start cheaper and work up, go with a good riser that will accept ILF limbs. You can get cheap limbs with ILF fittings for less than $100. You could get a cheaper set with around #35 draw weight. Once you get your form down pat and muscle memory developed, you can get a heavier and better set of limbs to hunt with.

55# is too heavy to start with....

I started out with a Great Plains Rio Bravo recurve pulling about 52#. I went to one of the trad shoots at Tannehill and made the mistake of picking up a Bushmen American Native longbow. I traded the recurve, plus a little boot and brought it home. I'm pulling about 48# with it. Tried to get a deer with it back in 2008. I missed a doe at 12 yards and stuck a cow horn spike in the shoulder blade at 25 yards. I haven't carried it since. One of these days I'm going to get serious and kill a deer with it. I have killed several tree rats with it in the yard. Shot one between the eyes with a judo tip about 25 feet up a water oak. Damn lucky ass shot.

Im in the same situation. Unfortunately there arent many good trad shops in the south much less AL.Ive been looking at the Dorado,Gamemaster,and Buffalo(pricey!). Sure would be nice if you could actually shoot'em before partin with the cash.

Fishnut, check out the Alabama Society of Traditional Bowmen at ASTB.net and their schedule of events. You may be able to find some to shoot and check out at their events, along with getting questions answered. Good folks.

go to any of the trad shoots at Tannehill or Brierfield. There are plenty of bows to try and for sale.

Alabama Society of Traditional Bowmen, Terry Harris' Spring Fling and Howard Hill shoot,.

Clem, you aren't a lefty by chance are you?

Only when I wanna go slow.

I too am looking to get into traditional archery, more specifically self bows. I can only imagine the sense of accomplishment having built something yourself that you can take a deer with. Having never shot traditional to any great extent I have been told by a friend recurve is what you want to start with to gain a feel and sense of shot. I was told the grip is much closer (than a self bow) to what "we" recognize as a compound "pistol grip" style bow which can make the adjustment much easier. I personally am more attracted to the build it yourself style. My buddy has told me Osage is the way to go, as far as the wood is concerned, considering it it prevelant in the black belt of Alabama, and remarkably strong. He has also recommended the purchase of "kits", which consist of a roughed out bows with the wood of your choice ready for refining. From there you can form the bow to your liking, may I suggest Youtube.com for tips. While the self bow process is very labor intensive the tools are not as out of the ordinary as you may think. That being said, make sure you watch a video on "chasing the ring", the backing of the bow is critical. Either way, I can go on and on with what I have been told but I would suggest as a first step of the purchase of a recurve or standard long bow to get used to the feel. I have also been told the Fred Bears are all over ebay for reasonable prices and are more than enough to get started with,

The BEST advice I rec'd for selecting a bow of any type was to find the bow shops with ample inventory; go shoot everything they have; the bow will choose you. With recurves, the most overlooked skill is the release; you can't "lock in" with a recurve, so your release has to be silk smooth.

Thanks for the info guys. My son loves primitive bows.Personally Im looking at a more modern recurve. I love the simplicity and reliability of these bows. Some of the Hoyt's (Buffalo) are nice but very pricey. Check out Sav-Big-Outdoors if your interested in a Hoyt. Anybody ever been to one of the shooting schools like Rick Welch's school in Arkansas? I'm thinking of going to a set-up consisting of modern recurve, Guido's Web tree seat, and using my "Baby Possums" treesteps. Not getting any younger,trying to lighten up and simplify.