If I was going to try to hunt with a recurve bow next what is a cost for a decent one and what is the comfortable range with shots?

I'd try a bunch to see what I liked in style and weight

new/used anywhere from $150 to sky is the limit

go to one of the bow shoots at Tannehill or Brierfield and try some, plenty for sale usually also.

If buying new,a good way to go would be one of the entry level 3 piece bows with 2 sets of limbs,maybe a 30- 35 and s 45- 50 lb set,just depending on the individual. No need to spend a bunch until you shoot a bunch and know for sure what you like.

Been wanting a Hybrid Longbow for a while now.

This is your best option if you can get to one of the traditional shoots.
If not, I have a Samick Sage and it is a very good shooting bow. It doesn't have the finish of a $600 bow but it functions well.
I put a BCYX string on mine, ditch the stock string, use it for a backup.
If I were going to get a bow to start with and I couldn't make it to a shoot to try other bows, I would check out Andover Archery.
They have the Old Mountain Edge which is made by the guys that use to work for Samick.
It's the same bow as the Sage but has a better finnish and smoother lines than the Sage.

My Sage shoots as good as a lot of custom bows I've owned or shot.

And don't think you need to pull the same poundage as your compound. It's not the same!! Back off about 10 pounds or so, maybe more.

Getting into the world of traditional gear is a funny thing. You can spend a little or a lot and still have a pretty good set up. I started out hunting with a traditional bow and haven’t looked back. My first was a Martin Jaguar that my uncle bought me for $50. I’ve also shot Bob Lee customs and owned several Widows. Widow was my first bow that I actually picked out the wood/laminates for and bought myself so I think I’ll always be partial to them. Whether you buy a Widow or Bob Lee or any other you’ll be able to build a relationship with your bowyer like you would a tailor. You get so used to shooting one it becomes an extension of you.

That said, my advice is go buy a cheap takedown bow in the 30-35# range. As Fred said, the sky is the limit. I’m a Black Widow and Bob Lee fan myself but wouldn’t start with that. You can get a PMA or PSA for around $1200 and an exotic bow for around $1800 vs a Samick for a couple hundred. It would be a good bow to learn on and get your form down. Just keep it in the 30-35# range. You don’t need to be worried about killing a deer right now. You just need to be worried about learning form and your release.

Don't overlook the longbows... I have owned, traded, swapped a ton of bows, and I found Herb Meland's Pronghorn to be my best shooter.

If you have some patience, find what you like at the trad shoots, then stalk the trad website classifieds until it pops up. I've picked up Widows, Palmers, Bob Lees, Hills, Martins, ACSs, Navajos, etc, etc, etc that were like new, for roughly half the price of new ones.

It is surprisingly very very easy to make a selfbow. Get a copy of the bowyers bible and go at it. Dont worry so much about cutting a growth ring. Just back that bad boy with deer sinew. None of you will ever appreciate how many fibers make a tendon until you spend a weekend or two pounding deer tendons with a stone and seperating into equal size fiber bundals.

I have shot and owned several , I love my bear take down at the price of $850 it’s not a bargain . the samick sage / journey was a good bow for $125 , if I was starting over today. I’d look for a good quality used bow and start out with 30lbs at my draw length.

Hop on over to tradtalk and look around for a good warf riser with some good high quality limbs. Them thangs depending on the riser and limbs are some fine shootin bows and can be had cheap. Mif its a complete warf bow then its orobly gonna be a decent shooter and will be better than most all cheaper low end bows. Also id start around the 50lb or less range in draw weight ideally 43-46lbs would be great. As for distance on deer, id probly shoot for a 3in group @10-15 yards. Im a pretty good shot with my bow, that being said, ive never killed a deer with it tho ive missed one and hunted with it a few times. Good luck to you.

Not only is the Sky the limit. But some of those custom bows come with a long wait time to build. It took a little over a year for my ThunderHorn to come in. But man that joker is a shooter. I went with long bows . My Thunderhorn is a 46lb and my other is 48lbs and i can't remember the guys name? Jim and I believe he lived in or around Cullman?

there is a BIG trad shoot at Tannehill starting today thru Sun morn. There will be a lot of bows to buy or try and lots of vendors with stuff to sell.