I've been shooting a 40# Samick Sage recurve and a 35# Wing Archery Red Wing Hunter for a couple years and have been hunting with the Sage exclusively this year and took my first deer with a recurve on opening day. My plan has always been to use the Sage while learning to shoot/hunt with a traditional bow and then, if I liked it, to upgrade to a nicer bow. I can't spend $1200 on a Black Widow or the other really high end bows so I'm looking at the Bear Super Kodiak, Bear Super Grizzly, Martin (Damon Howitt) Freedom, and Dryad Epic TD Recurve. I'd prefer a one piece recurve but am will to consider a take down. I DO NOT want a metal riser and I don't care about the limb options afforded by an ILF system. The bow will be for recreational shooting and hunting. I have no plans to compete at all. I plan to stay at 45lb AMO draw weight... with my draw length that puts it at 48.5lbs.
I know that everyone will recommend shooting as many bows as possible and choosing the one that's "right for you." Unfortunately that's not realistic. I can get to Lancaster Archery (it's about 4hrs away) but they carry limited brands in stock in the pro shop. I don't know of any archery shops anywhere near me that carry traditional bows (other than Samicks and cheap PSEs).
I'm not interested in a used bow.
Questions:
1) Does anyone shoot one of the bows I've listed above? If so, what are your thoughts?
2) Any recommendations on bows / bowers in the sub $800 range?
3) Do any of you VA guys know of an archery shop that carries a decent selection of traditional bows in VA? I'm in the Fredericksburg / Culpeper area.
Aside from those specifics, feel free to share what (traditional) bow you shoot and what you think of it (regardless of price).
Thanks.