Decisions, Decisions

[Beendare]

I'm in a quandary....and I'm sure I'm not the only one that fights with this;

Should I take my Recurve Elk hunting.....or my compound which is almost automatic success?


The recurve has cost me many elk....and many opportunities where I came home empty versus if I had the compound.

I shoot both decent...but of course the Recurve limits me to closer shots. I just got back from scouting my elk unit and its big country. 30y versus 50y is a big deal there. The shifty winds will really handicap me on getting the short shots I need with my Recurve.

Sadly, I do not enjoy shooting my compound much anymore....I would much rather shoot my recurve.

I think I'm going to hunt with my Compound [I love elk meat] and just shoot the recurve for fun and hunts like hogs and such.

 

[TCUHunter34]

Whichever you decide, make sure and use your 4mm arrows! Haha

 

[travis.smith]

For me it would come down to how often do I think I could do this hunt. Is it a yearly thing, every couple years, or once in lifetime? If the latter and I was you I’d probably take the compound. But with that said if it was me I don’t own a compound so my longbow would make the trip. Just sell the compound and you won’t face this dilemma again lol.

 

[Vaquero 45]

I would sell the compound with all the gadgets connected too it at fair market value too a potential buyer and yourself. Sold all mine years ago , never regretted it , but everyone thinks differently and has different tastes. The funds from the compound would help towards recurve/ longbow hunts when the smoke clears . Remember this is coming from a single string hard-core lover. Remember this the Trad section of the ROK , if you ask this on the compound section, your responses would and might be the opposite.

 

[Tilzbow]

I hunted with a compound for the first 5 years then hunted with only recurves and Habu longbows for 15-20 years. Then I then hunted with both for 10 or so years depending on how I was shooting. The last 5-7 I’ve only been hunting with a compound. I had target panic bad back around 2005 which drove me back to the wheels but that’s since been cured. Three of the four best recurve shooters (3D, field round) I’ve even known hunt with compounds (one of these guys won the world field round championship in Australia 30+ years ago when there was only one world championship).

Hunt with whatever meets your objective is what I do. I really like elk meat and the last three I’ve killed were shot with a rifle in MT during November.

If it was that Nevada elk tag you will never draw I’d surely recommend the wheel bow !

 

[Roostergun985]

That’s a tough one. I would take my compound bow.

 

[lelliott8]

Sadly, I do not enjoy shooting my compound much anymore....I would much rather shoot my recurve.

Seems like you have your answer to me

 

[Tradchef]

You know my answer but I feel ya in certain situations as it does make you think about it. That being said, why the hell are you even thinking about taking your compound???? Grab the curve and get after it!!!!!!

 

[dennis502]

I always bring my compound "just in case", but have only used my recurve for the past 10+ years. Have shot a number of nice bulls with the recurve, and it's MUCH more satisfying than shooting one with the compound....

 

[dennis502]

For a decent recurve shooter, 40 yards is a reasonable distance on elk sized vitals (and elk reflexes). No way I'm taking 40 yard shots on whitetails, but I consider a 40 yard elk "in range".

In addition to the obvious advantage of range, I think that being able to draw and hold with a compound might be an even bigger advantage.

Bring both and use both. If you're not getting it done with the recurve, grab the wheelbow...

 

[LostArra]

I'm in a quandary....and I'm sure I'm not the only one that fights with this;

Should I take my Recurve Elk hunting.....or my compound which is almost automatic success?

I've not heard "automatic success" and "elk hunting" used in the same sentence.

If you take the compound you should realize your shot opportunity will be at 15 yards. Kind of like hunting with a cow tag and being covered up with bugling bulls.

 

[Blackcow]

In case you guys didn’t know, he’s not new to either one, and has killed a ton of stuff with both. Use which ever one that will scratch whatever itches Bruce, and have fun. But you knew that

 

[Beendare]

In case you guys didn’t know, he’s not new to either one, and has killed a ton of stuff with both. Use which ever one that will scratch whatever itches Bruce, and have fun. But you knew that

Yeah, thanks. I will have both bows along and just go with my gut.

FWIW, I went years killing an elk every year with my compound, its been pretty automatic...until I picked up a recurve and my success plummeted.

I can't even tell you how many elk I muffed with my recurve; Bulls called in that either held up while I was trying to hold at FD.....or spooked when I drew....or jumped the string. [I know, I know, An elk jumping the string? yep, 3 of them]

I never should have posted this here. I did it out of frustration with my options for getting a close shot in my current elk unit after scouting last week, covering some ground and looking it over. It's going to be very tough with a recurve due to the swirling and changing winds. Every time at every spot I would stop to check wind it would switch in 15 min or less.

 

[ScottinPA]

I'd go recurve. I love hunting elk and the one success on a dink bull with the recurve really satisfied me. Yes, I've screwed up shots that would've been slam dunk with the compound but that one kill seems to drown it out. I keep trying hoping to replicate the success.
I went back to trad in the early spring of 2001 and sold my recurve that summer.

Good luck with whichever you choose.

 

[flytrue]

Go trad and make it happen. Do, rather than doubt.

 

[GLB]

Sell your compound so you don’t have a quandary

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

Why is this even a question? You know better bud! Sell the compound! a compound and a crossbow are in the same skill set.

 

[nevadabugle]

I'm in a quandary....and I'm sure I'm not the only one that fights with this;

Should I take my Recurve Elk hunting.....or my compound which is almost automatic success?


The recurve has cost me many elk....and many opportunities where I came home empty versus if I had the compound.

I shoot both decent...but of course the Recurve limits me to closer shots. I just got back from scouting my elk unit and its big country. 30y versus 50y is a big deal there. The shifty winds will really handicap me on getting the short shots I need with my Recurve.

Sadly, I do not enjoy shooting my compound much anymore....I would much rather shoot my recurve.

I think I'm going to hunt with my Compound [I love elk meat] and just shoot the recurve for fun and hunts like hogs and such.

Here is my two cents. For years I went back and forth with the compound and recurve. During that time I had very little success with the recurve. Then one day I decided I did not enjoy shooting the compound and I sold every one I owned. Magically, I then began being successful on most hunts with my recurve. I cant explain it, but as soon as the wheels weren't an option I found ways to get it done with the stick.

Sounds wierd, I know, but that was my experience.

 

[Vaquero 45]

Why is this even a question? You know better bud! Sell the compound! a compound and a crossbow are in the same skill set.

So is a " Lever " bow . However as we know crossbows can be of great needs for those Family archers of ours , who because of circumstances which are not there fault and beyond there control have special needs which we all have in different ways .

 

[Kentucky]

Single string…sold the wheels in 2015…If I’m meat hunting I’d rather hunt with a rifle than a compound…