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Getting started

My recommendation is a riser with interchangeable / replaceable limbs. Samick Sage and ILF seem to be dominant. Start with 25# or 30#. I started with a 50# Ragim Impala, realized that was a whoopsie-piddle, couldn't find 30# limbs for it, and auction-sited a 30# Cavalier. Not a problem having multiple bows, but for simplicity - and $$$ - sake, it's tough to beat a Sage.

Another option, that might be up your alley (I haven't watched Alone so I'm not entirely familiar with your motivation) - Google up "pyramid bow" and build yourself a selfbow or four.

My local bow shops don't spend any time on trad stuff, but to get my recurves out of my hair they pointed me towards a trad shop about an hour and a half away. You might be able to find a Hoyt dealer within driving distance who stocks recurve stuff.

Final tip is to hang out on TradGang and see what you can pick up there. They tend to be a bit more standoffish than this crew - you won't want to admit you have a bow with 'training wheels' or you'll find yourself banned - but if you listen more than you talk you can learn a lot.
 
I am by NO MEANS an expert on this forum. This is my 2 cents from my own experience. Samick Sage or Black Hunter Recurves. They run about $125. You can start at low limb weight, like 25, til you can learn correct form and buy increasing weight limbs. I started at 25 and have built up to 50. Read Tradtalk or other forums with traditional archery subgroups. And have alot of patience. Watch Clay Hayes youtube on shooting styles. I still shoot some compound. Trad is different. You pull back and hold ALL the weight. No cams to take you over the hump and give you 20% to hold. And practice practice. I have been practicing since May 2021. I will hunt with mine this season. If you dont have patience, it will be difficult at best. I wish you the best of luck. Finally, think about calling either 3Rivers Archery or Lancaster Archery. Lancaster techs helped me starting out with the right weight and arrows for the bow. Good luck.
 
Thanks for everyone's advice and help. I think I am going to get a black hunter longbow or recurve. From everything I have read and watched (YouTube) I am leaning towards a longbow this Friday on payday. Now to get arrows.......
 
Loopwing said:
Thanks for everyone's advice and help. I think I am going to get a black hunter longbow or recurve. From everything I have read and watched (YouTube) I am leaning towards a longbow this Friday on payday. Now to get arrows.......
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You are about to have a lot of funstration in your life. Congrats!!
 
BTaylor said:
Traditional archery will bring you funstration probably similar in some regards to kids...moments of pure joy followed by moments of pulling your hair out.
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I'm thinking about trying left handed. I throw a ball righty and shoot a gun righty but dribble and shoot a basketball with my left. I've played lacrosse most my life and am fairly ambidextrous.

Would that be like already having a 14yo and deciding to have another one at 46? I mean, just for context.
 
kbetts said:
I'm thinking about trying left handed. I throw a ball righty and shoot a gun righty but dribble and shoot a basketball with my left. I've played lacrosse most my life and am fairly ambidextrous.

Would that be like already having a 14yo and deciding to have another one at 46? I mean, just for context.
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Except when you're 46, you don't have much hair to pull out anymore. And the free baby sitting helps.
 
kbetts said:
I'm thinking about trying left handed. I throw a ball righty and shoot a gun righty but dribble and shoot a basketball with my left. I've played lacrosse most my life and am fairly ambidextrous.

Would that be like already having a 14yo and deciding to have another one at 46? I mean, just for context.
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Go with the dominant eye and I suppose that will be like the free baby sitting mentioned above. Keep in mind we chose not to create or Pro-create like @Red Beard so my comments are based purely on anecdotal observation of the afflicted.
 
HuumanCreed said:
Except when you're 46, you don't have much hair to pull out anymore. And the free baby sitting helps.
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Baby sitting would be a go.

I grew my hair out at 40. I've got it pulled back right now. Both my grandfathers had plenty of hair. 72 yo Dad still has all of his although it thinned as my brother grew up.
 
BTaylor said:
Go with the dominant eye and I suppose that will be like the free baby sitting mentioned above. Keep in mind we chose not to create or Pro-create like @Red Beard so my comments are based purely on anecdotal observation of the afflicted.
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I shoot with both eyes open and had trouble when I was young using strictly my right. Probably should've gone lefty back then.
 
kbetts said:
I shoot with both eyes open and had trouble when I was young using strictly my right. Probably should've gone lefty back then.
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My dad was right eye dominant and did everything right handed except archery. He shot left handed because they guy that introduced him to archery was a lefty and Dad learned on his equipment and never changed. It didnt stop him from being a well above average tournament archer. Roll with it if that is what is comfortable.
 
Welcome. You are in good company. This crew has endless patience and frequently answers repeat questions all the time. You are in for a ride.
 
Petrichor said:
Welcome. You are in good company. This crew has endless patience and frequently answers repeat questions all the time. You are in for a ride.
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You're still young to remember how you answered the first time though. I'm getting old enough to not remember the first question. ;)
 
Loopwing said:
Honestly I have no idea at all what I want. I have deer killing tools, lol. I just want to have the stick, string, and fingers skills also. I am one that limits my archery shots to less than 40 yards anyways. I know traditional is even closer than that. I am ok with the self imposed limits to be ethical for the animal I am trying to kill.
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When I went from wheels to no wheels, I learned quickly that I had to adjust the way I hunt. My first season I set all of my stands just like I did for wheels and everything was out of range. I took a hard look at what I was doing and started scouting and prepping stands for 10-15 yard shots at lower heights than I did with wheels. Every season brought small changes to my set ups. I became a better hunter because of it.
 
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