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I qualified in 1994 to go to the World shoot off in Chicago but about a week before got my trigger finger seriously damaged ( destroyed all my ligaments. 35% disabled in my right hand) so I had given up bow shooting until my 19 yr old daughter asked me to teach her. I have started her out on a basic, no sights, no stabilizer bar, no fancy arrow rest 35 lb pull Thundor recurve. Today was her first day. She did really well for her first time . I always used a Compound. I owned many of them, Browning Mirage, High Country Safari, High Country Supreme, Jennings Carbon Stealth Hunter, Jennings Carbon Extreme to name a few, but after destroying my trigger finger in 1994 I gave up and sold all my bows except for the Carbon Hunter.. All her life she has always checked out my trophies and would look over my bow, but never asked me to teach her until yesterday. She came over and looked around and said where are your trophies. I said I needed the room and that was so long ago I donated them off. She almost cried and said I loved seeing them, ( She was born in 1996 & never saw me shoot.) then hit me with teach me and let me shoot some tournaments. I decided to use recurves ( Less expensive to start) to begin her out on and if she liked it to move up to a compound later on. Which one do you like better? Do you think I should have started her out on a compound?
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Bow Hunting
Bow Hunting
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Despite starting on a recurve, at age 8, many years ago, my personal preference is a compound bow. I’m not a traditionalist, I’m not a competitive shooter and I’m not a ‘born again bush crafter’… I shoot as a hobbyist and a hunter. While both bows can be equally capable, I like the fact that a compound bow allows for more growth with the shooter; changing draw weight, etc. I no longer know enough about recurves to tell you if they are more forgiving than a compound but I’d be less than honest if I didn’t add that I rely on the ‘let-off’ of a compound as my shoulder ages with the rest of me. I started my daughters shooting 2 years ago (6 and 9 then) with compound bows and they are shooting the same bows today at ages 8 and 11. The adjustability of the compound bows allowed this, although my 8yr old is almost at the limit of the bows draw weight and I know that one growth spurt and/or increase in strength will be the precursor to getting a new one.
I also need to add that I got both of their bows for a really good price. I do understand that recurves can be much cheaper than some compounds and, for financial reason, less of a risk if the intended person does not like shooting or doesn’t pick up the hobby. My fall back plan, if my girls didn’t like it, was to convert the bows to a bow-fishing rig.
I think you did fine. No fancy rest, sights, stabilizer… still teaches the fundamentals/instinct shooting. There will always be compounds and they will continue to get lighter, faster etc… if/when she wants to make the transition, or you want to influence it then get one. If she wants to stay on a recurve… that’s great too.
I also need to add that I got both of their bows for a really good price. I do understand that recurves can be much cheaper than some compounds and, for financial reason, less of a risk if the intended person does not like shooting or doesn’t pick up the hobby. My fall back plan, if my girls didn’t like it, was to convert the bows to a bow-fishing rig.
I think you did fine. No fancy rest, sights, stabilizer… still teaches the fundamentals/instinct shooting. There will always be compounds and they will continue to get lighter, faster etc… if/when she wants to make the transition, or you want to influence it then get one. If she wants to stay on a recurve… that’s great too.
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Cpl James Waycasie
Sir, thank you for your insight. I bet your children are awesome shots. My daughter has fell in love with her recurve and was really doing well, but then began to shoot sporadically. I found that the standard arrow rest was coming loose, so I replaced it with an Allen adjustable ( looks like a TM Hunter) . I hope this will get her to shooting consistently again. God bless and have a great day Sir.
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Cpl James Waycasie Tough decision.I started with a re-curve 45 lb. Browning(no sights,no stabilizer,no rest,etc) and really enjoyed shooting it.I have used Browning,Martin,PSE,Matthews,etc. and now shoot a Bear which i really like (80% let-off,whisker rest,fiber-optic sights,etc). Question being--will she shoot in competition for re-curves or plan to shoot in compound competition?The compounds now have so much technology,you have the knowledge and experience to make her exceptional (you know--get the basics right and practice,practice,practice) ---the only down-side of the re-curve i can see is if it causes her to lose interest(being hard to pull and hold(even at 35 lb.) and the re-curve isn't as flat shooting as the compounds of today. In the end YOU know your daughter,so i guess i am just applauding your interest in her. Semper Fi
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Cpl James Waycasie
I pulled the Carbon Stealth Hunter out today and started to explain everything about it. She surprised me by saying I really think I want to stick to the re-curve. I said why? She said it's simple and doesn't have all that tech stuff that can malfunction. Then said Dad if we have to end up living off grid, learning to shoot this way will be better. All I will need is more arrows and some extra strings and some of them gold thingies on the string your arrow goes under. I laughed and said that makes sense. She is now wanting pistol and rifle training also. We live 20 miles from Chattanooga Tn and when the shootings of the four Marines and Sailor happened, I think a lightbulb went off in her head and she has become real interested in weapons, hand to hand, everything about home defense, gardening, etc. She told me I want you to teach me and my husband, I think something real bad is going to happen soon so I want to know as much as I can. I cannot argue with that logic. :-)
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SSgt Terry P.
Cpl James Waycasie - Wow,James(if i may),sounds like a good head on those young shoulders.I actually didn't think about the simplicity of a re-curve,my thoughts were turned more toward competition than basic survival --dang,not long ago my first thoughts would have been concerning survival (old Marine).
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Cpl James Waycasie
SSgt Terry P. -
Sir her answer really shocked me. I was thinking the same thing by her original comments, but I do like the way she is thinking Sir.
Sir her answer really shocked me. I was thinking the same thing by her original comments, but I do like the way she is thinking Sir.
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