Recurve hunting

[Oneshot1Kill]

So i bought a recurve bow the other day, its a good bow, I've been shooting recurve before i got a .22, but this new bow has a 50lb pull. I can still legally hunt with it but does anyone know what distance would be the max i could take a deer? Also, i'm shooting carbon arrows through it right now, but would switching to cedar arrows change anything? I get great grouping with the carbons, but i wanna try something different. Thanks ya'll!

[chrisb]

I think with a recurve (I shoot one too, with carbon arrows as well) 35 yrds or so is probably your max. At least thats what I would feel comfortable as a max.

[konrad]

I agree with Chuck Adams. He says if you can keep every shot within the vital area of your game species, you are OK. A lot of folks consider the 10 inch paper plate to be the “vital area” for the “average” Whitetail deer.

If that is 10 yards, OK.
If that is 50 yards, more power to ‘ya!

The following is a link to Traditional Bowhunter’s web-site. There is no fee for joining. All you have to do is sign up…Great Folks and a lot of good information.

http://www.tradbow.com/members/main.cfm

[Recurve]

  I would say a 50lb recurve is a very good weight. At 50lbs most people can shoot very comfortably that is important because at heavier weights you can develop bad habits like snap shooting or not pulling back to a consistent anchor point. With carbon arrows and practice I agree 35 yards max but some guys are just good and can shoot 40 plus yards. Just like some people shoot layups and some people shoot 3's. Cedar arrows are my favorite but im old school and they drop a little but its all about what you practice with.

[Rovingarcher]

I shoot a 52# recurve for deer, 58# for Alaska hunting.I'd say shoot whatever distance you can put him down with one shot.After all, you don't want trad shooters to put on a show like the compounders did recently in Concrete.

[Shootmoore]

My personal longest distance is 50 yds with a recurve.  I am concerned whether right or wrong with penatration past that distance.  That being said my max distance can decrease or increase up to that 50 yds each year depending on how much string time I spend.

In other words my longest range up to 50 is determined on my confidence of hitting the vitals consistantly at that range.

My Recurve delambed on me, so I just picked up a stick this week.  After shooting it a bit my max distance at this time would be 25 yds.

Shootmoore

[joebear]

I don't even understand how you guys can think about yardage. you are calling youselvs trad shooters. last ilooked most trad shooters pride themselvs with great ethics and working on getting in close. woth that said yards don't mean anything. As for you ?
50# is a great choice and you will do great I am sure( practice,practice,practice)

[Shootmoore]

I don't even understand how you guys can think about yardage. you are calling youselvs trad shooters. last ilooked most trad shooters pride themselvs with great ethics and working on getting in close. woth that said yards don't mean anything. As for you ?
50# is a great choice and you will do great I am sure( practice,practice,practice)

haha true, but "close" does not tend to lend itself well on answering the question he had.  Putting yardage on the answer for the question of yardage seems to be reasonable.  In shooting a recurve or longbow the closer the better, however that was not going to do much to answer his question.

Shootmoore

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I agree, I practice every day on my 3D course in my back yard (12 targets) and NEVER count distance...If it feels right it is instinctive....If it feels wrong you don't release....
I walk around my 5 acres and try shots from different angles and when it looks good, I fling.
Instinctive means just that, because you dont have sight pins to adjust your aim, its kind of like throwing darts, trip 20's, trip 19's, double in/out..etc. it should be natural.

But to answer your question, my max on a (live) animal is around 40.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Also as far as arrows go, whatever works best in your bow will be different, length or your draw, brace height on bow (fistmeil), off the shelf or off a rest, true center shot, or a little off center, what weight broadhead, or field point  etc.. these things affect arrow flight.
Carbon arrows have a wider spine and will be more forgiving, whereas with cedar you will have to try a few to find out what flies best, but that is what makes trad fun, fine tuning your equipment !!

[konrad]

I shoot a 52# recurve for deer, 58# for Alaska hunting.I'd say shoot whatever distance you can put him down with one shot.After all, you don't want trad shooters to put on a show like the compounders did recently in Concrete.

What happened in Concrete? I'm almost afraid to ask.

[bowhuntin]

I shoot a 52# recurve for deer, 58# for Alaska hunting.I'd say shoot whatever distance you can put him down with one shot.After all, you don't want trad shooters to put on a show like the compounders did recently in Concrete.

What happened in Concrete? I'm almost afraid to ask.

Konrad, this thread is all about what happened in Concrete. It is a long read and a few links in there with pictures. It was on the news as well. Not good for the hunting community.

Check this link out... http://didia.smugmug.com/Pacific-Northwest/n-cascades/elk/10769726_xXySN#751637373_tgmoC

[high country]

the best part of trad hunting is being able to leave my rangefinder at home.

[carpsniperg2]

it is all up to you and your bow and shooting skill to fiugure out your max range i do the paper plate walk put a plate at 5 yard inc's ans keep moving back when you get to were you can't keep 3out of 4 on the plate you are past your distance mine with my recurves is about 25yards

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

3 out of 4 on a paper plate?.....Keep practicing...