I’ve found a new passion, and it’s in the form of a recurve bow.

For twenty years I’ve shot a compound bow while hunting and enjoyed every minute of it.  Today’s compounds are sophisticated pieces of archery equipment that shoot high tech arrows at unbelievable speeds.  They’re extremely accurate and very effective.

So why would I want to give that up for a simple recurve that’s harder to shoot and less effective?

I’m not quite sure of the answer, but I know it’s something I’ve been drawn to for a few years…and now is the time to make it happen.

I’m shooting a Predator recurve from Hunter’s Niche Archery in Tawas, Michigan.  I’ve been practicing a lot and feel like I’m shooting pretty well.

Shooting a recurve is completely different than a compound.  There are no sights, so you have to aim instinctively.  Theoretically, you look at what you want to hit and your brain sends the arrow there.

Most of the time it works pretty well.

Also, with a recurve you don’t have the speed of a compound so you have to generate kinetic energy in other ways.

I’m shooting heavier arrows and broadheads.  The shafts are Easton Full Metal Jackets.  Those are aluminum shafts wrapped around a carbon core for extra strength and weight.  I’m also using  cut on contact broadheads.  NAP Razorcaps are my choice.

Fortunately, I have a long draw length and that helps store energy and improve performance.  My bow is forty eight pounds at twenty eight inches.  Since my draw length is closer to thirty inches, my poundage is in the low fifties.  That’s more than enough for whitetails and bear.

It will also do the job on turkeys, and that’s what I’m hunting now.  So far I’ve had several close encounters with big birds…even missed one that was farther than I thought.

I still have a lot to learn about traditional archery, but it’s exactly what I need at this point in my bowhunting career.  It’s made me excited about the sport again like I haven’t been in twenty years.

In some ways, it’s like an addiction….