How do you decide what bow you are grabbing for the day or for that practical hunt? Do you set up all bows so they shoot the same or listen to the bow and adjust to shooting each one? I only have 2 bows right now a custom recurve and a self bow. Ill be ordering a new custom in the next few days which will by far mean the most to me. I truly dont see me shooting my other bow after i get the new but dont see me getting rid of it either.
I own many bows, but I am a one bow man! By that, I mean I only practice and hunt with one. Right now, that bow is a Primal Tech takedown recurve. Once 3D season starts, I still only practice with my "one bow", and then pull the longbow, selfbow, and composite bows out at the shoots so I can shoot more rounds.
I really should sell some of the ones I never shoot, but they all have sentimental value, and I just haven't been able to make myself do it yet!!!
Bisch
I have three bows right now that I regularly shoot in the off- season. But then the bow that I develop a confidence with will separate itself from the others.
I have had a few top end bows, and been successful with
some but haven't felt sentimental about any of them yet.
I guess I have been too busy looking for the perfect bow for an imperfect archer.
First off, don't try to tune a bow to the arrows.
Big mistake and frustrating.
I have several bow and 3 spines of arrows.
As far as whitch bow to grab; whatever floats my boat at the time.
I don't flip flop around too much.I typically got 6 bows on the rack.Way less than I used to have.When not shooting them their exquisite wall Art.The rack can change depending on what I am up to.I like to play around with buying,selling and trading.Its a passion and kinda a hobby.More passion though since I am serious about it.
In my earlier days I had like 2 or 3 bows.A good traditional styled longbow and a good 50s style recurve and T.D recurve.All I think I would really need.Except one short brush,blind bow which is handy and I like to have and do have most of the time these days.
I did collect bows a lot for a few decades.Slowed down a bit on that.But still get my kicks trying some bows out here and their.
I typically shoot my hunting bow exclusively from Sept to the end of the Season.
Then I might pick another and enjoy it for awhile and go down the list and do the same essentially with all my bows .Their all good bows and fit me well or I would not have them.My bows don't collect too much dust.I rotate them around.
I shoot my main hunting bow the most annually.I gotta be in touch the most with that bow and the arrows I shoot out of it.Like an extension of myself.
I usually hunt with what's in the truck.. I can take any of my bows at any time and be confident.
I only have 4 bows. Not too difficult.
BigJim
I have a bunch of recurves from the recurve days but I'm all longbows now. Specifically one single Tembo longbow. It's the only bow I shoot year round. Same arrows same broadheads all the time. You can swap bows as much as you like but you'll never reach your full potential or level of consistency. I've got several longbows and from time to time I'll shoot a few arrows with one but everyday practice especially during bow season it's one bow.
My two widows are setup nearly the same. As such, I can switch between them easily. They are point on the same...the PSA is a few feet faster than the PL but it's not enough of a difference to make a noticeable difference in arrow trajectory at least at hunting and practice distances).
I decide which to take based on stand/blind clearances, which one matches my outfit, the phase of the moon.....just which ever one I want to.
I've shot the same bow every day now for a year (what a year! My Covid bow). I always used to switch bows every six weeks or so, but during the last year, every time I decided to switch to a different bow, I would switch back again after a time or two. I haven't been hunting for a while, but when I go I have another bow I will use. When I decide I want to shoot longbows again, I have several of them to choose from. I have loaner bows for guests and relatives. I have classic Bear Kodiaks that look good on the wall. I have bows that I can't bear to part with that are too heavy for me now. I have several bows that are very similar to the one I shoot every day, but none of them is my favorite now, although that could change tomorrow.
I like to shoot all of my bows but I only have 3 or 4 that I shoot a lot, and right now only 2 that I shoot consistently enough to hunt with. One recurve and one longbow. They shoot a bit differently, but luckily they both like the same arrow so that makes things easier. If I want to switch, I just need to go spend 10-15 minutes recalibrating and I'm usually good to go from there. For a few years I had no choice and had to use my takedown since I had to leave it with public safety at school. Now I don't have to worry about that but have found that I shoot that bow the best at this point so that's what I use the most.
I set all my bows to shoot the same. I look at the same place in the site window on each. I do shoot different arrows on those with different draw weight.
I grab whatever I've been shooting last few days. I'd been primarily shooting longbows but hunted most this year with a whip, for some reason now season is over I've been shooting mostly a recurve again and if I go out in our Jan season that's what I'm bringing as of right now. I'm a guy enjoys shooting all bows. I don't shoot far so the changes even with dif arrows seem relatively minor at those ranges. I still use the bow a bit before I would take it w me
I've got only 3 bows, and other than the draw weights and the wood they are made of, all identical specs. They do shoot a smidge higher or lower than each other, but after only a couple or three shots, my brain seems to adjust quickly to which bow I'm shooting.
Definately shoot the heaviest one the best and most consistent by far though. But no doubt that's because its the one I shoot the most, I'd shoot it 20 times as much as the other two put together.
Best
Lex
I get a bow and some arrows ready the night before. :banghead: Then change my mind just prior to driving away. Sometimes a few times!! :biglaugh:
I have 2 custom longbows, an old Hill "Mountain Man" longbow (that I can't hit squat with LOL) about a dozen old Bear recurves that I've picked up over the years, and my new (2015) Bear Kodiak T/D.
Now, I am a very consistent shot. However, I'm not a "good shot"... Try as I might, I just can't seem to tell the difference between a "custom" bow, and an old Bear?? So, the customs collect dust.
Over the past years, I have killed deer with almost all of the old Bears. I would pick one (usually the "newest") set it up and hunt with it. Next season, I'd pick a different one.
Past 5 years, I've used my Kodiak T/D for everything... :archer:
I have several bows -- recurves, mild r/ds and ASLs. They range about 7# in draw weight. I have different arrows for some, but am shooting about the same gpp for each, which means there's not a big difference in trajectory at 20 yards and in. I take two bows on my Western hunts, usually both recurves or both longbows. Around home, I select from about 4 bows. Doesn't really make any difference which one I pack on any given day.
I have 5 bows. All Schafer Silvertips. 58 to 55 lbs. All shoot the same arrow. So no problem. I just pick the one i want to shoot and go. I also have a Dale Dye that i recently aquired and it shoots the same arrow.
I have around 20-25 bows at any one time that I am confident in hunting with.....I just tune arrows so that I can flip flop back and forth however the mood suits me that day and I know they will all hit the same POI for my shooting style. They are about equal numbers recurves, longbows, and selfbows. Some with wood, some with aluminum, and some with carbon. I shoot the selfbows split finger and the recurves and modern longbows three under. The key is setting them all up so that they hit exactly where I am looking without need for mental adjustments.
I do pick bows each time I go hunting depending on where I am going to be sitting. If I am likely to get only shorter shots, then I will take a selfbow. If I am going to sit on a field edge or on am open wooded area, then I am more likely to take a modern ILF recurve that I am comfortable shooting at double the distance of the selfbows/flint points. Shooting lots of different bows is a large part of the fun for me!
Matt
I have 3 Bear T/D's set to go, 2 are 62" 63# and 52# and 1 58" 52#. depending a lot on the temp outside which one I pick up for the day. I have a judo in each quiver and usually take a shot or two on my way into my stand for confidence. Lately my 52# 62 " has been getting the nod as the temps have been below 35. When I sit for more than a couple hrs anymore than 52 gets hard to get back. Age has something to do with it!
Bows, probably way to many !! With my ILF stuff , Chad Holm collection and my ASL collection I have 55-60 on the rack. Most I can pick up and in 10 minutes shoot it well enough to hunt with it or go to a 3/D shoot. I do have a few favorites, most will all shoot the same arrow. All are 40-46 pounds. I really should downsize big time !!
I own a fair number of bows but only regularly shoot a few of them. Several are close enough in performance that they shoot the same arrows. This makes it easy, and I have a whole bunch of 50/55 spine arrows.. Some of the others will only shoot one set of my arrows, but since I don't shoot them all that often, it all works well. I have a couple of Hill style bows that don't seem to care what spec arrows are used. They may shoot one spine better than others but will adequately shoot 3 different sets. Honestly, though, I don't shoot several of my bows at all and don't even know if I have suitable arrows at all.
3 bows. 2 I shoot regularly. Both Primal Techs. Right now the longbow is being kinder to me than the recurve. However until today I've been shooting poorly with all of them. May have to string up the recurve to see if the fix is universal.
I also like having all my bows the same weight and share arrows. So far it's worked.
So how do I decide which bow?
My confidence in my lethality with it.
Most of this season my kills have been with the Primal Tech recurve and one with the longbow. That said I take them both to the ranch and whichever one is easier to shoot well gets taken to stand.
The new to me Tall Tines is a work in progress.
I have a couple bows I will use for hunting. The others I shoot when I get the urge. Tomarrow is a range day for me and wife. I will take my LB and a recurve. That is my usual way but sometimes I take 3 bows.
I was a "one bow" guy in another life time. While it's a good behavior for being a hunter it doesn't suit me for the rest of the year
I have three Toelke whips, all the same weight just different lengths and just ordered a Toelke Whistler in the same weight as the other bows. All my bow's shoot the same arrows.So depending on if I'm hunting from the ground, treestand or blind will determine what bow I use.
I am most fortunate to have a stable of fine bows. There are eight that are setup to hit the field immediately. I give love to the one I am with.
Have 3 that shoot the same: Mountain Monarch, Kanati and Toelke Whistler, I can pick any of the 3 up and can put the arrows in the same group. The only other bow I kept was an ILF Recurve which shoots a bit right of the others pbeing centre shot. 3-4 volleys and I'm right where I need to be.
:archer2:
I inherited a decent stable of bows when my dad passed, but I shoot one exclusively leading up to and throughout hunting season. I need to do that to build confidence. This next year I'm thinking about sticking with that one year round.
For just shooting targets I pick the bow I fancy that day. Some days I may even shoot a couple different bows. But for bowhunting I'll pick one bow that I decided to hunt with for the year and I will start shooting that bow only a minimum of a month before the archery season starts and will only shoot that one bow until archery season is over. This year it's my 1990 Bear Kodiak, 55#@28", with german spruce arrows.
I am blessed with a good number of quality longbows and 1 recurve (which hangs). All my longbows shoot better than I. During the months of Jan - Apr, I am shooting in my basement at 12 yards to keep my muscles strong, my hold steady, my form consistent and my aim true. I'm inside avoiding the Michigan cold and snow. In May, I move to the back yard and shoot 2 - 3 of my favorite longbows at varying distances until the end of July. In August and September, I shoot 'The Chosen One' longbow I've decided to hunt with and occasionally the longbow that will serve as my back-up if something goes south with 'The Chosen One'. During the Michigan Whitetail Archery Season, Oct - Dec, I continue improving with 'The Chosen One' and back-up longbow. Like Most of Y'all - I Love Me Some Traditional Archery All Year Long!
I've got, now, several more bows than I can realistically use which is something I said wouldn't happen, but it did. I started with a factory bow, had to have a custom job, got interested in a few "vintage" bows which I procured for myself and was given several bows which I have fixed up and made pretty again. Each one is kind of special to me but the custom is the one I have had the longest. It's the one I take hunting, kind of like taking your best girl to the dance on saturday nights. I'll have to say though, since I got it, I have really been enamored with a '72 Bear Grizzly. Just an inexpensive factory bow with no "bells or whistles", just a nice clean old bow that shoots great for me, even though it's not supposed to fit me. It's the one I have taken to the dance a few times this year. Don't tell my steady, ok? ;)
Ive only got 3 bows, my primary Hunting bow I've had several years is a widow 60" SAV take down recurve, that's around 56 at my 27 in draw. the other 2 are longbows that my good friend has built me , one is a 66" 54# at 27 the other a 64" 45@27, That he built me this year after a health scare. So they all are pretty different . I typically stick with one bow most of the season but this year I wanted to kill with the only bow that hasn't done so, that being the 45# longbow I just got this summer. I should have shot it from the time I got it and left the others on the rack but I kept going back to the recurve that's 11 lbs heavier , and shoots a 630 gr arrow very well, even though the longbow shot excellent and had plenty of punch with a 520 gr arrow, I just shot the recurve more consistently and was having issues with the lighter bow and the big drop in weight. The first week of season I shot a smallish buck with the 45 lb longbow with a less than perfect but fatal hit at 10 yards. That bothered me, I felt I was being irresponsible shooting a bow I didn't feel as comfortable as possible with. So I picked up the recurve and killed a buck at 15 yards with a good shot. So now I'm gonna try to really work on the longbow and dedicate my self to it this season, 2 weeks ago I failed on a 12 yard broadside shot at a big doe, luckily missing her low rather than what could have easily been a wound . I'm finishing out our 5 month season with my recurve. I'll work on the longbow this summer then make a decision what to hunt with and stick with it a month or so before season.
My problem is the big difference in bows , I let friends talk me into trying a much lighter bow after a bout with cancer and radiation this past year tnat luckily I came out ok and still in pretty good shape. I was spooked I was going to lose the ability to still shoot my heavier bow. Sorry for the long ramble but to me hunting with a bow should be automatic and fluid, not having to think about anchors and shot sequence when it's time to shoot like I do with a unfamiliar set up . To me, that leads to bad stuff. Its cool you guys can switch bows like ya can. I'll do it during the summer but just don't feel I can while hunting
I have the obsession so I breath I eat and think about bow hunting all day long, down to 70 bows right now but all all been shot and fine tuned.I shot as many as 6-8 bows a day not big differences at hunting distances with a pretty close GPP from one to the other,from 50# to 70#. So always ready to everyone,but before elk hunting I practice with 2 at the same specs and arrow until the end of September.
I have five bows usually. I sell one to help fund the next purchase. I switch regularly but will stick with one throughout a hunting season. I have two arrow groups that cover the bows I have.
Thank you cacciatore! I was beginning to think I was the only one. A few years back I was asked at a shoot "How many bows do you own?" and replied "About 30". My girlfriend standing next to me broke out laughing. Maybe I undershoot a little. How do you folks get by with only a few bows?
I pick the bow that calls to me at the time, shoot some arrows to remember it and then take it afield. Arrows matched to each bow and I pick the one arrow to go on the string as I stalk or wait in the stand at the last minute by whim or intuition.
Out of the 20 bows in my stable the one I pick to shoot is just by the mood I'm in.