new archer?

[superdown]

Would you rather hunt comppound or traditional I think traditional but my dad thinks I should go with compound and then he said I should try an inexpensive setup in both which I cant disagree with but having read the mechanical broadhead discussion I have always been drawn to the traditional side of archery. I am left eye dominate and have shot recurve right handed and have not been very accurate but i have been able to keep my projectiles on a 4x4 target at 20yards. Knowing that I need left-handed equipment my dad is mostly concerned with let off and I don't care. He first taught me to shoot without sights with proximity shooting. Going with that set of prerequisites i would think that instinctive shooting would be the way to go. He is more concerned with the animal going down as humanely as possible, which nobody can argue with. I have no idea I just want to archery hunt next year to create more of a challenge.

[300rum]

I agree with the starting as cheap as possible.  Try shooting someone else's stuff first, especially a trad bow to see if you like it. 

I am left eye dominate and shoot just fine right handed, no problem, I just use my peep and everything goes where it needs to go.  I couldn't go with a left handed bow, just like I can't go with a left handed gun, although I bat left-handed.

If you have a year to practice you will find your groove by then.  Everyone has a bunch of questions before they take the leap but you eventually with get the hang of everything. 

Don't worry about all the new bells and whistles right now, my newer setup misses just as good as the old ones.

[Armadillo]

if your able to try both before committing for a purchase go for it. I prefer compound because im relatively new to archery too and Im still on training wheels   I give my respect to those trad bow guys; compound is tough for me as it is

[Ray]

Sounds to me like you prefer the stick bow. Go with your instincts. You can always get a compound bow later.

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[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

"When shooting instinctively, it matters not which eye is dominant" Is a quote from an archery great (Glenn StCharles) Both Fred Bear and Glenn shot left-handed while being right eye dominant to overcome issues with form. Practice is essential to instinctive shooting. A lot of Glenns bows were made to shoot off either side in case the situation demanded it.
If you want to just pick up a bow and be accurate with it, get a compound. Sights and a release greatly reduce the need for practice (although do not eliminate it)
If you just want to have fun shooting and have time to practice, get a recurve.
Or you can do like I did and get a Compound to hunt with and a recurve to play with (you can get them pretty cheap on #@ay) and after a few years you might make the switch.

[timmyg]

Do what you want to, but understand that your father probably knows best.  Actually just practice and be proficient whatever route you go.  Try to borrow a trad and a compound and shoot a bit with both.

[superdown]

Thanks for the replies guy's i have been thinking about this for a long time . I still don't know exactly what method i will choose . But two points that were brought up in the in broadhead discussion were about fly fishing and muzzle loading. I fly fish because i lost alot interest in spin/bait casting because it doesn't take much skill to put some bait on a hook and and cast out to catch a fish, to me it became boringly repetitious even though i still enjoy both. With fly fishing it has much more intrigue and challenge . About muzzle loading their is no point in having a muzzle loader with a 209 primer and a scope with a capable range of that of a modern rifle in a primitive season that takes everything primitive away from it and that is what i want to avoid with archery even if i go with compound.

[Armadillo]

you cant have a 209 primer or a scoped muzzleloader in Wa state so its a little more traditional then you think  

[superdown]

you cant have a 209 primer or a scoped muzzleloader in Wa state so its a little more traditional then you think 

I know that . It was a point about personal Principal

[coldsteel3d]

Before I bought my first bow the best advice I ever received was to buy the best equipment that I could afford. I bought a Mathews Switchback and have never regretted it. 

[blindpig]

Go with what feels right

[Crunchy]

I am also one who went out and bought high end for my first bow. I kinda knew I was done rifle hunting elk so made the switch.

[Matt]

Even with modern archery equipment you have to have skill and luck.  Your success rate will be around 10% on elk give or take some depending on how you hunt and what you want to shoot.  I hunt spike/cow areas and success rate is about 75% for me.  I can make it more challenging if I want.

With traditional you take the success rate down to less than 5%.  Both are fun and you can control your challenge level.

[boneaddict]

It sounds like you already know what fits your personality the best.  I've had the priviledge of hunting and fishing with just about everything and I am also drawn to the simpler things.  Some folks are gadget guys and some aren't.  To me its a lot more satisfying hunting with the Trad, and fishing with flies.  Even more so when you start making your own flies or arrows.  Some would jump to insult and say I'm a purist and thats plain BS.  Its just what I like.  I own both types of bows and both type of fishing rods. 

[coldsteel3d]

Even with modern archery equipment you have to have skill and luck.  Your success rate will be around 10% on elk give or take some depending on how you hunt and what you want to shoot.  I hunt spike/cow areas and success rate is about 75% for me.  I can make it more challenging if I want.

With traditional you take the success rate down to less than 5%.  Both are fun and you can control your challenge level.

I have been bowhunting for 3 years with our group of 4 and our success rate is up about 75%  Maybe we are just quick learners.