new bee trying to get started

[fl.hillbilly]

Hi yall , I must confess I am archery ignorant however , I want to give it a try . I just dont see the point in spending a grand or more for a bow ( new compound + arrows  etc. ) when  my hunting spot my shots will be 20 yards or so .  especially when a re curve or longbow will do the job with a lot more style .
 
 so. where do I start ? If it helps i shoot a rifle left handed . 

  Thanks in advance .

[All Hawks Kill]

We welcome to a band of brothers!  I think everyone should start out shooting traditional as it teaches them so much about bows, arrows and how the two work together.   

I guess one of the first things you need to do is decide on the type of bow you want to shoot, recurve or longbow and then try to find one.  If you shoot a rifle lefthanded then most likely you will shoot a bow left handed as well.  I would recommend you getting an entry level bow, just to get started to see if this is really for you.  There are a lot of good entry level bows out there but one that I will recommend is the Samick Sage as it has a lot of the features of high dollar bows at a very low cost.  You can order them from 3Rivers Archery over the internet for $120.00 + Shipping.  I would recomend not getting one with a lot of draw weight to start with something in the 45 to 50 pound range is all you need to take a deer at 20 yards.
 
Next will be your arrows and a lot plays into what arrow you will shoot well from your bow.  You will need to find your correct draw length for starters.  There are many ways to do this, the best being going to an Archery Shop and having them measure you.  The next is to use this calculator - http://www.dewclawarchery.com/Bow_Draw_Length_Calculator-a/192.htm

Once you have your draw length established then you can better calculate the actual poundage of your bow.  I know this sound strange but most all bow's poundage are listed for a 28" draw.  If your bow is 50 pounds at 28 inches and your draw length is 29 inches then your bow is 52 pounds at 29 inches.  This 2 pound per inch again works for most bows, but not all of them.

Knowing the correct draw weight of the bow and draw length lets you select the correct arrows.  Your arrows should be at least 1 to 1.25 inches longer than your draw weight and they should be spined for the weight of your bow.  Now the weight of the point (field point or broadhead) also factors into this as well.  It may be better for you to just go to this link and read, or I'll be here all day typing.  This is a must read for all new archers - http://bowmaker.net/tuning.htm

Ok you are now on your way, good luck and don't feel bad about asking a lot of questions.  One of us will have the answer for you.

Welcome once more!!!!
Derek

[scout4]

Hey fl.Hillbilly! Welcome!!  All Hawks did a great job on the info He gave. The only thing I will differ on is the draw weight. All Hawks is right in that 45#-50# draw weight gets the job done on deer. However, for someone just getting started I would suggest a lighter draw weight. A bow in the 35# range will be easy to draw, a lot less tiring, and will help you in developing good shooting habits. I agree with Him also in that a bow like the samick sage would make a great starter, I have the cousin to that bow and have been well pleased with its performance. This is just my 2cents worth. Good Luck with whatever you decide! If you need more advice, all you need do is ask. scout4<><

[All Hawks Kill]

Scout makes a good point on building good shooting habits with a lighter bow!  I know when I got started (many, many moons ago) it was with one around 25lbs.  Good luck and let us know if we can help.

[Cottonwood]

Scout4 done good with his recomending a lower poundage recurve or longbow.  I have a Bear Kodiak Hunter 35# that sometimes just for fun, I take it out.  Dang this is a light bow, compared to a 50, 55 or 60# bow.

Get a low poundage bow to start, then the fun and addiction begins 

[Winter Hawk]

Back in the 1960s (before they put training wheels on bows) the general advice was to use a light bow of 25 - 35 pound pull for practice, then go with a hunting weight bow for a few weeks before deer season.  This gave you an easy way to work on your form without straining yourself.  Then when you went to a heavier bow you had the muscle memory to properly shoot it.

For the hunting bow, check the regulations of the state you will be hunting in for minimum bow weight.  I have always used a 45 pound recurve, but it wasn't enough in Wyoming or Oregon where the minimum was 50 pounds at the time.

Hope this helps, and enjoy the experience.  Get a bow, an arm guard and finger tab or glove, some arrows and have fun!

-WH-

[Frank V]

fl.hillbilly, welcome to the dark side. I think the first thing you need to do is find out which eye is dominant. I'd suspect it's the left but you should know for sure. Get a friend to stand about 6' in front of you, extend your arms, & with palms toward your friend & form a triangle with your hands, then look at your friend through the triangle. whichever eye he sees is your dominant eye.
With a bow it's a lot easier to learn to shoot well with the same hand as your dominant eye. A rifle can be shot either way by adjusting your head, it's a bit uncomfortable, but I've seen it done. With a bow it's way easier to use the same hand as your eye.
Then I'd see if I had any friends who shoot & see if they'd let me shoot some of their bows. If you have a club nearby that'd be a great place to start.
Don't try to get a bow too heavy to start with, a 40lb bow would be plenty to start with. When you can dominate that bow you can go up in weight. A bow too heavy will almost guarantee you will develop bad habits, habits that will be really hard to overcome. This may be a lot to throw at you at one whack, if you can try different bows that'd really help you decide. Good luck, & keep us informed of your progress. Traditional bows are a lot of fun.
Enjoy, Frank

[JonD.]

Another good way to find your dominant eye is to hold your finger up and extend your arm out. Line your finger up with something several feet away with both eyes open. Continue holding this and shut one eye first and then the other. Whichever one your finger stays in line with is the dominant eye. I'm right-handed, but left eye dominant and shoot both a gun and bow left-handed. I have tried to do both right-handed and couldn't hit a bull in the hind end with a bass fiddle.

Try looking for an older recurve on e-bay. I found one for $35 plus shipping and it shoots great. Like others have said start with a low poundage to develop proper shooting skills and then move up to more power.