Hey guys,

I am looking into archery, and I know nothing about it, I was hoping you guys could give me some information about it. If I do start, I will use it for small game, and practice, and I want to start with a longbow, or recurve, but like I said, I know none of the jargon and was hoping you guys could help me here. Also how much would I be looking to spend to get started with good quality equipment?

Is there a archery shop in the area? If so, go and shoot as many bows as they will let you. Figure out based on that what you like the feel of.
Longbow and recurve are different in the way the shot feels to me and I prefer the recurve but to each his own.

Also make sure you get your draw length measured for you so you have a bow that fits you.

What spieces are you ultimatly looking to hunt with it? This will go a ways to determining the draw weight you will need.
If you are looking to learn to shoot and hunt small game then you might want to start out with a
bow in the 40 - 50 pound draw weight to learn and practice with. After you begin to get the hang of it and think you are ready to go big game hunting then you can get and practice with the heavier bow that summer.

As for what it is going to cost..... An inexpensive factory bow new at [URL=http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jhtml?id=cat600272&navAction=jump&navCount=1&parentId=cat21424&parentType=category&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen% 2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fcategory-link.jhtml_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21424]Cabelas[/URL]
costs from 170 to 500 and custom bows go from the upper range on up depending on what you want.

Let us know what other questions you have.

A very good source of info is, "The Tradional Bowyer's Bible" from Bois d'Arc Press.(It may be in your Public Library) This is a 3 book set that covers Traditional archery in depth by some of the top people invovled today.

Don't over look used equipment to start off with. Get a used 40# bow & some arrows, which should be attainable for under $200. Learn to shoot & above all else have some fun.

If I can every answer any specific questions feel free to E-Mail me.

Just dont try to order anything from PSE right now,I have been waiting on my bow since OCt 18th,the man at the local pro shop says they wont be back into production until the 28th of this month,which means I will be lucky to see my first bow until sometime in January! Not a very good intro to archery!

Diesel Dude - Wait to you decide to move up to your first custom bow. Delivery times are a min. of 6 months.

Just like waiting for a custom rifle! This just happend because the guys up at the archery shop did not know they were ordering 2004 models,I looked at a Mathews, that I could have had in a week! Trying to start out slow,archery is a game of patients! even when waiting for your first bow

DP,If your looking to go Trad.Read Asbell's "Instinctive shooting".He has two,but the 1st one explains the mechanics of shooting a recurve perfectly.

Guys will say different technics are better but most will agree that Asbell's is a great way to start.When your off and running you can try things like using the point of the arrow,gap shooting,Ect.

Madddman - Good point, I use Asbell's swing draw style most of the time. It's a much more natural, fluid method, compaired to the more formal field style form.

go to www.stickbow.com and the click to view their leather wall. I was interested in recurves mytself but have since dropped the idea b/c i dont need to spend any money@!