the following are traditional bowers in Texas
http://www.palmerbows.com/newhome.htm
http://www.bobleearchery.com/
http://www.woodsandwateroutdoors.com/
http://www.greatplains.pampa.com/index.htm
http://www.hornesarchery.com/
http://www.21stcenturylongbow.com/
http://home.flash.net/~scorcher/
http://www.renegadearchery.com/
http://www.massiearchery.com/index.html

I shoot a rare bow- It's Mike Palmer's design but built in Bob Lee's shop.
Of the bows listed above the Palmer and the Lee are the best. Both are very similar but Palmers are faster because you can get carbon fiber laminated in the limbs.
Both are incredibly smooth and neither stack..

this is my Partners bow- it was a gift built by Mike, Bob & Earle Bateman (EW Bateman&Co- http://www.ewbateman.com/


Bob Lee's original shop- Wing Archery was in Bellaire, Texas, in our neighborhood. When Palmer & I were little kids we used to ride our bikes to Bob's and watch him build bows. Palmer & I both shot Wings in competition when we were growing up. Palmer was the NFAA National Bowhunter Champion in 1968 with a Wing. It was the last year a recurve won Nationals and Mike set a new record. The picture of me shooting in my signature line is a pic from the Texas state championships shooting the original prototype Wing compound.

I'm wanting to get back to a more traditional style of bowhunting. The compounds have just gotten too outrageous lately. However... it's been years since I've shot a recurve with any sort of seriousness. I haven't stayed up with the advances in bows.

Can anyone recommend a good, reasonably priced recurve, particularly a take-down model? I like simple classic lines. I'm not looking for "Indian-authentic" when I say more traditional above, just a nice solid bow to hunt whitetail with.

Thanks!

I have a Bob Lee take down and love it! Bob started Wing Archery many years ago. He started making his signature line of bows a few years back when the market demanded it.
Another bow made here in Texas is Palmer. They too are fine bows with both looking and performing alike.

I'd suggest that you get to one of the larger Trad. Expos and get your hands on several bows, and shoot some arrows through them. Riser & grip design will make a big difference. Just like your compounds, handguns, & rifles...You WILL go through a few before you find the right one. In jan. there will be an Expo in Kalamazoo & it travels to Washington St.(I think)

I had a Bob Lee, 10 years ago when I , like yourself got feed up with Modern Equipment. The pistol grip made the transition easier. But, when I went to a more neutral grib my shooting got better.

I've shot Navajos http://www.navajobows.com/ for 7 years now. The one in the pic is my 70#er.

If you just have to get a bow new...Martin....or get a used bow at a shop. Do get at least a 62 long bow & keep your draw wt. low....to get started again..

Good luck & welcome back from the dark side!!...LOL

Quote :� Do you have any trouble/conflict switching back & forth between your compound & recurve?�

coldbore,
Honestly, not at all. I don�t know why.
As I said I used my large Mathews Conquest3 for hunting with sights, but I am practicing with a Great Plains Rio Bravo 60# at 30.
Most of the time, I am practicing snap shooting only and I feel no difference between the Mathews and the Rio Bravo. Under 20 yards, I am more accurate this way. Beyond 20 yards, Mathews and sights only.
I have another recurve, a Scorpion (maker Avakian), a tiny bow 54�, a real feather weighting 300 gram (a little more than � lb) 69� 54�. My!!!!, I gave up using
it, it smashes my left elbow and my left shoulder as well . A pity, because it is very handy, especially in dense cover.
On saturday I took part in a driven hunt. I missed a piglet and refused to shoot a not allowed big boar. My friend was using a Rio Bravo. Damn, his bow was too cumbersome in the brush, no way to shoot a standing 100 lbs boar at 5m.
But I agree with You : no release.
The best : no release, no sights, no pulley .......just instinctive.
Shoot straight.. Jean