I'm gunna be a newbie again.

[Dave]

I have finally decided to give the Trad thing a go and have ordered a Recurve from Kim. I want to go back to the days of fingers, no sights, etc where I started 20 something years ago. This does not mean I am giving up my Outback. :wink:

I have a HEAP of questions rattling around in the brain box and would firstly like to say a big thanks to Kim, Rory, Pat and Adam who have been more than kind with their pm's.

I can remember hazily that I shot 5" feathers back then, do you need a bit more length with feathers as I normally shot 4" vanes?

Off the shelf, or with a rest like a brush rest?

Woods or Carbons? I still have a heap of Easton 400's sitting here.

Cheers, Dave.

[Mick Smith]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the world of traditional archery. :wink:

In answer to your questions, most blokes go with 3 x 5 inch feather fletching. It tends to stabilise your arrows more quickly and this is important at the close ranges we traditional bowhunters try to achieve when stalking game.

Once again most blokes simply prefer to shoot off the shelf. All you need is either a piece of leather, or if you want to get flash, you could use some artificial hair such as "Bear hair". For the strike plate all you need is a piece of leather to stop your sight window being marked. I much prefer the simple approach. The simple arrow rest and strike plate are quicker to use for fast follow-up shots than brush rests, etc.

You can use whatever works for arrows. Of course wooden arrows are the way to go if you're looking for going all the way with traditional archery, but there's a growing band of carbon arrow users. I've found that carbon arrows tend to shoot better and more accurately than most wooden arrows, but then again, half the fun of traditional archery is making things work with simple and cheap tinkering only. I still much prefer wooden shafts personally, but I do enjoy "playing" with my carbons.

There's something very satisfying about hunting with high quality, but very simple and basic gear. I've gone down the compound road (many years ago) and it didn't give me anywhere near the same satisfaction as my simple bent stick with a few wooden arrows. 8)

I hope you too enjoy the experience. :wink:

Mick

[adam]

Thats great to hear Dave, What type of bow did you order from our mate Kimal.

I've always used 5 inch feathers in a high profile like shield cut, if the shield cut feathers are cut right they can be as silent in flight as parabolic(very inportant for deer hunting and fox hunting, as both critters will drop on sound aproaching). When using 190 ribteks and 700grain shafts I use a 5.5inch banana feather, I found these held the arrows well. What Mick.S has said about the shafts straightenig up quicker with 5 inch is very inportant. Im sure you'll experiment with time anyways mate, thats half the fun.

About heavy hunting shafts. There's a few reason that some of us prefer a heavy shaft wether it be carbon filled arrows or heavy timbers. For starters they will silence the loudest of huntign bows, weight acheives better penatration then speed, more punch when it comes to hitting bones, and I believe a light arrow will break or shatter long before a heavy one. I've found the heavy arrows obsorb a lot more shock.

But in saying all that Dave I still use unfilled carbons from time to time and port orford shafts that are pretty light. Prefer heavy timbers though.

Hope this all helps and look forward to hearing more.

Adam

Good on you Dave , they tried to warn me when I started that the bug has a powerful bite , Prepair yourself for loads of fun (some frustration) more fun , some challenging hunting oh and good fun.

What kind of bow have you ordered from Kim a curve or a stick ?

If your shooting around 60lb the 400 eastons will come out like a beam from a Laser , I was just shooting some ICS 400 bemans out of my Wes Wallace Royal this morning with 200grn field points they are brilliant.

I look forward to following your story when the bow arrives.

Simon

[rory]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Another one bite's the dust.... :wink:

Mess around with your arrows, play with all the various combinations, it's all good fun. In the end, it's a totally personal thing (that's half the fun/challenge) :D

I have found that within reason, no matter the arrow set-up, your release is paramount to good arrow flight and all the things (penetration, noise etc) that come after.

I am but 2 steps into my bowhunting journey, and havn't the photo's or trophies yet to show for my passion, but I can tell you that if you stick with it, and shoot a heap of arrows along the way, you'll realise why you started :D

[Dave]

At the moment Kim is able to get me a left handed riser for a Talon and he will loan me the limbs off of his own Talon (45# and 55#), how good is this man :D

I am actually pretty keen on a take-down Woodsman but Kim assures me that the Talon will be a good start for a "newbie".

I have been out to the shed and started to go through OLD boxes. So far I have found a Wood sharpener, some Wensel Woodsmans and Ribteks that haven't seen daylight in about 20 years...aahhh the memories...

So it begins...

[aussiehunter]

its a great journey dave,look forward in hearing ur exploits when ur bow arrives..

and as always heaps of blokes here to share info

im off this arvo to try and break in my longbow :)

pat :)

[Paul R]

Good to hear Dave. :D

It can be frustrating in the begining (it still gets frustrating at times) while you are trying to get your form consistant, but if you persevere the rewards are great and definately worth the effort.
I enjoy shooting recurves and longbows far more than I ever did compounds and I regret ever giving them away to shoot a wheel bow for the five years that I did.

I have been shooting trad bows again exlusively now for about 5 years and i'll never look back. I love flinging arrows again and really enjoy walking the paddocks just stump shooting, and that's something that was lost when I was shooting a compound.

I like the talon, IMO it's a good bow and the Samicks are great value for your money.
Good luck :D
Paul

[Dave]

I have been shooting trad bows again exlusively now for about 5 years and i'll never look back. I love flinging arrows again and really enjoy walking the paddocks just stump shooting, and that's something that was lost when I was shooting a compound.

Yeah that is one thing I really miss about it all....I find I get too determined with the compound, if I am having a tired day I just make it worse by trying too hard at times...then the fun goes and you get frustrated.

[Warlocke]

I have got a Samick Talon and love it.

I had longbows and recurves for thirty years and put the bow down for nearly ten years then started shooting compound.

Won't give up the compound, but nearly all my time is spent practicing with the recurve rather than the compound.

They are definately a satisfying challenge, moreso than the compound.

[benhohnke]

the terrible bug bit me and i am selling up my compound and getting a 50# talon hpefully in the next 2 weeks. i have my cedars ready to role