Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: Sleady1983 on August 22, 2013, 11:13:15 AM

Title: Trad bow question
Post by: Sleady1983 on August 22, 2013, 11:13:15 AM: I'm about to buy my first recurve bow. I was looking for some advice if it is easier to shot off the shelf or to use an arrow rest. Any other tips would be greatly welcomed :)
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: JODakota on August 22, 2013, 11:20:16 AM: Shoot it off the shelf, its part of the trad experience!
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Special T on August 22, 2013, 12:29:48 PM: I shoot mine off one off a rest, one of those little plastic stick on ones... I have the entry recurve. Its a Samic Sage recurve in 45lbs I picked it up with a half dozen arrows, & finger glove for al little over $220
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Tree Killer on August 22, 2013, 12:58:58 PM: Most the newer bows are designed to be shot off the shelf. Cant your bow slightly, opens up your sight picture and your arrow will never fall off the shelf.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Sleady1983 on August 22, 2013, 02:41:12 PM: K thank yall very much, I recon I'll give shooting of the shelf a try 8).
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: scotsman on August 22, 2013, 04:49:03 PM: When setting up your bow to shoot off the shelf, you might want to adjust your nock point to at least 1/2" above square. If the nock point is too low your arrow could kick up off the shelf. Start at 5/8 above square and move it down until you see the tail of your arrow kick up. Then move it slowly up again 1/16" at a time until you get good straight flight.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: boneaddict on August 22, 2013, 05:16:11 PM: Shelf
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 22, 2013, 05:27:29 PM: I shoot shelf on 5 out of 7 trad bows I have.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: TONTO on August 22, 2013, 10:55:59 PM: Another vote for off the shelf. Got me a big ol sheet of the female velcro sticky back, I just cut it in strips. Abit cheaper than replacing bear hair. If you realy wanna be traditional you shoot off your finger :tup:
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: hillbilli on August 22, 2013, 11:43:04 PM: I've tried both, and I shoot better, and seem to get better arrow flight with a rubber flipper rest, but then thats just my experience, and most of what i know about trad archery, i just got from shooting, and if I saw someone doing something different, i tried it for a while..
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: boneaddict on August 23, 2013, 05:05:58 AM: female Velcro, seal and leather....
(the three I use and have used)
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Sleady1983 on August 23, 2013, 09:17:34 AM: thanks to everyone for their input! Cant wait to get my new bow and try it out :) I know archery is addictive so I'm hoping this new form of the same drug has the same affect!
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: boneaddict on August 23, 2013, 10:04:51 AM: Oh it does. I promise. It can be a little frustrating at first, but if you have patience and stick with it, it is unreal. The first 4 I put down with my longbow is one heck of a trophy to me, and I have killed dozens bigger. HECK, many on here would scoff at it even being a trophy. When someone comes over and I am showing antlers I hold that one with a lot of pride and guys just look at me funny.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Tree Killer on August 23, 2013, 11:19:11 AM: Quote from: Sleady1983 on August 23, 2013, 09:17:34 AM
thanks to everyone for their input! Cant wait to get my new bow and try it out :) I know archery is addictive so I'm hoping this new form of the same drug has the same affect!

What bow are you getting? New bow, used bow? Custom bow, factory bow?

One thing to watch for is, don't overbow yourself! There's a huge difference between a 60# compound and a 60# stickbow.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: 12Gauge on August 23, 2013, 11:52:12 AM: Quote from: Special T on August 22, 2013, 12:29:48 PM
I shoot mine off one off a rest, one of those little plastic stick on ones... I have the entry recurve. Its a Samic Sage recurve in 45lbs I picked it up with a half dozen arrows, & finger glove for al little over $220

Bought a Sage too, 55lbs from Cabela's $149.99. Nice bow for the price and you can replace the limbs.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 23, 2013, 11:59:59 AM: Have a question I hope isn't too far off topic. Haven't bow hunted since the 80's, and used a compound, so no experience with traditional equipment.

Should the arrows be fletched with feathers instead of plastic vanes for shooting off the shelf?

Wouldn't the standard plastic vanes cause a disruption/interference of the arrow's flight when they contact the bow shelf?
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Ibcnurun on August 23, 2013, 01:08:40 PM: Quote from: Blacktail Sniper on August 23, 2013, 11:59:59 AM
Have a question I hope isn't too far off topic. Haven't bow hunted since the 80's, and used a compound, so no experience with traditional equipment.

Should the arrows be fletched with feathers instead of plastic vanes for shooting off the shelf?

Wouldn't the standard plastic vanes cause a disruption/interference of the arrow's flight when they contact the bow shelf?

If you are just getting into the trad thing I highly recommend the Instinctive Shooting books by Fred Asbell. They will anwers all of you questions about shooting off the shelf, vane type, etc.... A really good read.

http://www.gfredasbell.com/GFA_Books_Videos.php (http://www.gfredasbell.com/GFA_Books_Videos.php)
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: boneaddict on August 23, 2013, 01:13:43 PM: I do shoot "feathers" versus plastic.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 23, 2013, 01:19:56 PM: Feathers on all my trad arrows regardless of the rest. I like calf and seal best as a pad on the shelf.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: npaull on August 23, 2013, 01:23:45 PM: Shelf and feathers, man. Anything else is a travesty.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Sleady1983 on August 23, 2013, 01:40:37 PM: Ill be getting a Sage from Cabelas :) I have done research and read a lot of good things about them. Is it true that the string they come with is junk and I need to buy a new one right off the bat? I fig its not to expensive for a starter bow and the fact that its a take down really appealed to me.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Special T on August 23, 2013, 02:58:25 PM: No just shoot it a while. It may not be a "Great" string but since your just starting out i'd not worry about it. I know I didn't and i'm not concerned yet... Besides if i get that into it where i worry about the string i'll likely carve my own bow or buy a high end recurve. :twocents:
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: hillbilli on August 23, 2013, 07:23:16 PM: i just shot the factory string on the sage until it got worn, then put another one on it, and I tested it, it works to kill deer, but the closest I've gotten to an elk with it so far is 50yds, so havent tested that yet.. and anyone who tells you 3 blade muzzy's dont work on deer out of a recurve probably hasn't tried it. good luck, get lots of practice in..
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: dreamunelk on August 23, 2013, 07:48:09 PM: Quote from: npaull on August 23, 2013, 01:23:45 PM
Shelf and feathers, man. Anything else is a travesty.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: wideleft on August 24, 2013, 09:24:24 PM: Feathers
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: AKBowman on August 25, 2013, 09:19:45 PM: Quote from: hillbilli on August 23, 2013, 07:23:16 PM
i just shot the factory string on the sage until it got worn, then put another one on it, and I tested it, it works to kill deer, but the closest I've gotten to an elk with it so far is 50yds, so havent tested that yet.. and anyone who tells you 3 blade muzzy's dont work on deer out of a recurve probably hasn't tried it. good luck, get lots of practice in..

When did anyone say 3 blade muzzys won't work out of a recurve? They have a cut on contact tip so they are just as good for a trad set up as a Eskimos or Woodsman. I don't understand why anyone would say that outside the fact that 125gr is as heavy as you can find them. I just put 100gr copper inserts and they shoot just like field tips out of my custom 60# @ 29-1/2" RER Vital take down. I shoot the same gold tip 7595 shafts out of my recurve as I do out of my compound just fletched instead of gained and about 3/4" longer with the 100 gr inserts.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: 12Gauge on August 25, 2013, 09:29:52 PM: Quote from: Sleady1983 on August 23, 2013, 01:40:37 PM
Ill be getting a Sage from Cabelas :) I have done research and read a lot of good things about them. Is it true that the string they come with is junk and I need to buy a new one right off the bat? I fig its not to expensive for a starter bow and the fact that its a take down really appealed to me.

Also buy the stringer with it to remove the string if being stored for more than a couple of days.
Title: Re: Trad bow question
Post by: Machias on August 27, 2013, 10:59:33 AM: Shelf, feathers and I do not cant my bow at all. Same good form, IMHO.