Bowhunting, as a sport, is rapidly gaining in popularity. It is far more difficult than traditional hunting with a rifle because the bow has a much reduced effective range. This forces hunters to learn some outdoor skills in order to stalk close enough to make a clean kill. Choosing a bow for bowhunting should be done with care.
When choosing a bow for bowhunting, you have three, some say four, different styles of bow from which to choose. The traditional longbow has been around since medieval times and has a longer range than any other type of bow. The drawback is that aiming is generally not as accurate. A shorter bow with a bend at the ends that points away from the archer is known as a recurve. These bows have a shorter effective range, but within that range, they pack more of a punch. Aiming is very accurate. A compound bow uses a system of pulleys and cams to both multiply the draw weight of the bow and provide a let off at the point of full draw that will allow an archer to hold the bow in a cocked position for a longer period of time than the previous two types. Some people consider the crossbow to be a weapon suitable for bowhunting. Others do not. It depends on where you are from and how you hunt.
Traditional longbows are usually made of wood, typically yew. These bows are very straight and are often the same length, or near it, as the archer is tall. These bows have been used as weapons since the dark ages. They are capable of launching an arrow up to 300 yards, yet they are not accurate enough to hunt with at such distances.
Recurve bows were invented in the twentieth century. When not in use, they are stored in an unstrung position that resembles a letter "C" to release the tension in the material, usually wood. When strung, a recurve bow has tips that stand straight up and down or point slightly away from the bow hunter. These bows generally have a stronger pull in a shorter draw than a longbow.
Composite recurve bows are made of wood with another material laminated to it to add strength and increase the draw weight of the bow. Composite recurve bows can be purchased with draws ranging from 40 to 100 pounds.
Compound bows are the newest addition to the armory available to bow hunters. These bows have many superior features such as stronger pulls and the release of tension mentioned earlier. Most modern bow hunters choose to use a compound bow for this reason.
Crossbows are not much different today than when they were invented in the 14th century. One vital difference is the addition of cams and pulleys similar to those used on compound bows to make the draw strength higher and allow for a release so that the weapon can be carried in a cocked position. This is beneficial when hunting deer and large game because the window of opportunity to fire a shot is usually quite short. Some compound bows have such a heavy draw that a lever is needed to draw the string back to firing position.
As you can see, there are several options available from which to choose when choosing a bow for bowhunting. Take some time and become familiar with each type of bow and practice with them to determine which works best for you.
David F. Hugo is an archery and bowhunting enthusiast. He spends his time teaching others how to develop archery form. To learn more about how to choose a bow for bowhunting, check out his website http://bowhunterguide.com/
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