| Author | Message | ||
     U4euh |
Hey all-Got a question about Bow's. My daughter has been wanting to take up the sport for target shooting only. She wants a recurve bow and is not super strong. What would you all reccommend for a person who is 4'10", 14 years old, and cheap. I don't want to spend a great deal of money on something that she may lose interest in, at the same time I don't want it to be so cheap that this makes her lose interest. She was ready to buy a $59.00 bow tonight and I told her to wait until we could research the pros and cons. Any information would help, Thanks JIM | ||
| Tramp |
I just happen to have (well, Z-girl and I) two practice recurve bows, here. fiberglass, thin, range bows. bets bet for a lady or lad before getting into hunting, by far, as the draw weights of hunting bows not only make learning more difficult and more painful, but they'll cause bursal damage due to the *inconsistent* form that a beginner's untrained arms will exhibit. You do NOT want a heavy-draw bow tractioning tender elbows and acromioclavicluar joints. If you're interested, We can send you a nice practice bow cheap. She can either borrrow it for a couple months to see if she likes it, or you can buy it, it'd be crazy cheap. These aren't the cheap little plastic jobs, they're fiberglass range bows, light-draw. (I've been really into bowhunting since childhood) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I am also interested in taking up target archery. What are your suggestions for what I should be looking for? | ||
| Daves |
I agree with Tramp as far as your girl goes. And his offer makes it easy. Tell her upfront that archery takes a lot of practice! As far as Natex, Go to a pro shop. They can give you hands on advise we cannot provide via the net. | ||
| Rackman |
I also agree with Tramp and Daves. I shot targets when I was too young to hunt, I started archery hunting @ 12, and have been hunting ever since. you can keep the rifles, I'll take a bow everytime. That way I can enjoy the hunt not just go kill something... | ||
| Tramp |
side note- some people, likely through atavistic genetic memories, are 'naturals' with the bow, immediately. i mean real naturals. you just never know | ||
| Ceejay |
if she gets into it you can also get a recurve, or a long bow-way cool, super nice shooters-specifically tailored to her size, strength, intended use. | ||
| Tramp |
In my family, there WAS no other kind of bow. | ||
| Mikej |
You can get as fancy or technical or as simple as you want with archery. As noted above, find a good local shop and hopefully one with a range available. Both an indoor and outdoor range would be even better. I like recurves myself. Very basic would be a simple straight bow with no sight on it and no arrow rest. Everything beyond that adds technology. | ||
| Ceejay |
I do like haveing the simple arrow rest on my recurve, just a slip of leather really...Always wanted a long bow, just haven't found the money, A freind of mine shoots with one, no sights/pins, wooden arrows, real feathers, fills his card every year...I like fishing with mine, but have't got to do it in a while... | ||
| Tramp |
Long bows are fun to make, in the winter, especially. Yew and Osage Orange are trees of choice. If you don't have access to either, let me know, I might be able to locate some for you. making your own longbow is an incredibly satisfying experience- there are likely good resources regarding this that you can easily google. My grandpa showed me how to build 'em, but I had some nice books regarding this as a kid, too. really gratifying, esp. after you've taken game with it. well- Off to the ice with me, time to tug out some more pickerel and perch | ||
| Henrik |
Tramps offer of a loaner/cheap purchase is a great way for your daughter to get to try out archery. If there are any clubs in your area, they may well have beginners equipment she can rent/borrow until she figures out if she's into it and/or gets an idea of exactly what kind of archery she'll be leaning towards. Low draw weight is key for learning good form - without form she'll struggle - I know from own experience  I started target/3D shooting (this was back when 3D was still only 2D  ), and loved shooting my Martin Take-down recurve. Nice smooth draw, beautiful workmanship. These days a few manufacturers make "youth bows" - compound only though. The big advantages to those is, that both draw length and poundage is adjustable over a very wide range, which will accommodate archers growing both physically as well as skill wise. Anyway, I'm rambling - what else is new. Let's know how it goes. Henrik | ||
| Tramp |
another excellent reason to consider a compound  | ||
| Rackman |
I still had my original long bow from when I was a child, that I had all 3 of my children play with. 22# pull fibreglass limbs, as they grew and expressed more interest, I actually went to the compound just because of the potential growth factor that it gave me, that I would not be purchasing new equipment every year. I currently have several compound bows I use, up to 95 pound draw, I used in South Africa hunting big game, for Cape buffalo, I had to go that large to be able to penetrate the hide. but I still have the recurve with a simple rest, with a string knock that is laced into the string, with home made strings that I made myself. I have fun shooting all of them. When I am hunting in the US, I actually go to hunt, I don't always kill something, but I really, really enjoy the hunting, stalking, and attempting to match my skills to the wildlife... They win most of the time  I don't even fire an arrow unless I have a perfect shot. | ||
| U4euh |
Tramp, you got mail.  Wow, didn't realize so many Bow users were Bueller's, way to cool! Thanks for the information. I believe Tramp may be thinking in the same park as I am. My daughter being 14 years old, is still at that short attention span stage as far as likes and dislikes. I will say that she has been interested for quite a while, but still weary about spending abunch of money to see it being used to hang her jeans on! Had to go back and give you 5 stars! (Message edited by u4euh on December 12, 2005) | ||
| Tramp |
Thanks- and no big on the bow- We'd WAY prefer someone were using it, rather than just have it sitting in our storage unit, idle. that's just plain silly. If it gets dinged up or whatever, no big deal. If you wanted to buy it, we couldn't ask more than $30-, but we'd rather she just use it to see if she even likes the sport, then, if she does, you all can shop for a nice new one. We're just really impressed by any young lady who wants to take up archery. The actress Geena Davis got into archery, and in a short time made the US Olympic Team, as I recall. Please feel free to use it for as long as you likke, and keep an eye on ebay or in the shops as you learn more about what she requires. It's an old-school fiberglass bow, so it's very bulletproof and neither of us will freak if/when it gets scratched or gets tarry from all y'all's heels. My best friend from childhood, who's also a muchbetter archer than me (and I don't suck), and he's also made his own longbows since we were li'l guys, moved to NC a couple years ago. He's in some place called Gastonia, and he rides an M2. If he's anywhere near you, I'll give you his info, as well, as he'd help you guys out, and is a he*l of an excellent instructor himself. he does a lot of industrial maintenance training, so he's patient and really, really nice. His main bow is a really cool little 1960's Browning Wasp, My primary bow is a Bear Kodiak Hunter. both, needless to say, are recurves, and both have taken many whitetail. | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
tramp, we gotta get together, i would love to learn how to fashion a bow from local trees. | ||
| Tramp |
"Z-Girl" and me were doing cool nature projects with kids around here this fall. We'll be expanding considerably in the Springtime. Making bows will be on the list. Of course, should you get a jones to go icefishing, I'm out on the ice a lot. Past few days have been great, as the ice is still really thin, so noone else will go out there, and I have the reservoir all to myself. Fish are striking at anything, and when you're the only soul out there, it's peaceful AND productive. There is, in my book, no activity more 'zen' than icefishing. | ||
| Blake |
Bow shooting is a great hobby. I've shot bow on and off again just for fun almost as far back as I can remember. Dad made my first bow from a tree branch and some string; I was maybe age five at the time. I still recall shooting my sister in the leg and the arrow bouncing off. I must have been an evil little tike. She did walk in front of my target. Silly girl. Lost my bow-shooting liberties for a couple weeks for that little incident. By age 14 I had got myself a really nice PSE compound - GR/EP over wooden core limbs with magnesium body/risers, just 50%/50-LB, nice and simple forgiving beginner's bow. Still have it. The draw length is a bit too short now, but it is still fun to pull out the target and shoot in the back yard. I've never enjoyed using any kind of sights, bare-bow all the way. I guess I like my bow-shooting the same way I like my motorcycling. I did fashion in junior-high metal shop a rather humble compensator. That definitely provided a more stable shooting platform. Here's a great web page for technical info on compound bows. Lots of innovation since I bought mine back in 1975/'76. I wonder what kind of outside the box innovation Erik might come up with if he were a bow-shooting enthusiast? | ||
| Blake |
Oops, forgot the web page... http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowselection.htm | ||
| Ceejay |
Tramp-youse got some good sized yews up that a ways, aint never heard of osage orange, most of the yews I come across are usually only about 24" tall, I will have to scout a little as a nice longbow will be even better if it were handmade my my own hands...good luck on the ice... | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - me and my sister had been playing with bows since we where toddlers, by the time I was six I could hit the center of a target 50 feet away, and we usually shot farther. During my 'fun' stint in St Cathrines - the only Marine Millitary school in the US (closed 2 years after leaving for being too rough) in Anaheim, Ca - 5 blocks from Disney - we where allowed bow target practice - the usual jr 30 foot stuff, however, the sargents window on the second floor was only another 40 feet and up - lol - nailed it on my first try and wasn't allowed to touch a bow while there for the rest of my stint - lol - have had a lot of good times with archery through the years! GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Daves |
The Erik Buell bow! I'd put a deposit on one right now if he agreed to make one. | ||
| Rkc00 |
I have been shooting archery for the past 13 years here on Long Island. I am the President of one of the oldest clubs in NY. Check out our web site at www.suffolkarchers.net If anybody is out on Long Island and would like to shoot or see the club let me know. Mike | ||
| Jackbequick |
Okay, lots of bow hunters here. Let's see how many of them have strong stomachs. Warning! Links below are to photos of an injured human, blood, etc. Some may find them unpleasant. I am posting links to the photos instead of uploading them so that anyone that does not want to view photos of an injured human can avoid that by not clicking on the links. The said, it appears that the injured man lived and the wound was recoverable. I know nothing about the particulars of the accident or his recovery. I found the nature of the wound and the mechanics of dealing with it interesting. http://users.adelphia.net/~jackerbes/Buell/bowhunt1-1.jpg http://users.adelphia.net/~jackerbes/Buell/bowhunt1-2.jpg http://users.adelphia.net/~jackerbes/Buell/bowhunt1-3.jpg http://users.adelphia.net/~jackerbes/Buell/bowhunt1-4.jpg I think they guy was lucky in that the arrow struck the thickest part of the skull. I'm still wondering if they pounded the broadhead out and put the plug back. Jack | ||
| Ceejay |
Ouch!!!. Tramp I found out what an orange osage is and they are all over the place, used to throw things at one another when we were kids, I just may give this thing a try, might be fun to make one for my kiddos too. Don't know why but I never thought of making one myself, guess all the handmade ones I've seen are so beautiful I just wanted one of those....Wallys are kind of boring to catch, but damn good to eat-stealing from another thread here Good luck with 'em | ||
| Tramp |
Thanks ceejay- I've always heard exactly that about Walleyes. It's bizarre that I've never gone for them- fished since i was a toddler. Osage Orange is preferable to yew. Like I say, google something about bowmaking, a there are certain times of the year that have better wood than others (I seem to recall february aas ebeing the time of lowest sap, which is the time you get the best-drying, most dense wood) I can't stress, enough, how really gratifying it is to make your own longbow. Pay real close attention to drying time/temp with regard to the wood. This will dictate any predisposition to or from warpage. try making two or more at a time, also, so if you do something really wrong with one while working on it, you don't have to start all over again with the drying process. Finish is personal preference, I use oil (typically linseed cut with mineral spirits), but varnish can be beautiful to behold. | ||
| Blake |
I once saw a week-long bow-making camp featured on a television show. The participants started out by selecting their tree branch and what was cool is how they showed that you let the branch dictate the form of the bow, based upon its natural grain characteristics. It is a very interesting art, bow-making. I'd really like to do that some-day. But ohmygosh, shooting a sizeable longbow requires some serious physical prowess. Gotta love them compound bows. Osage Orange or as we call 'em down cheer, "Bo-dark" trees, correct spelling "Bois d'arc" offer some seriously dense/hard/resiliantly strong wood. Bois d'arc... durn cajuns.  There's one growing on the creek bank accros the street. | ||
| Ceejay |
A lady down the street puts the seeds/fruits of the osage orange around her house anyone know why? | ||
| Blake |
Me not know. I bet Tramp does though. |
