Inherited my Grandfather’s Ben Pearson Recurve when he passed away 20 years ago. I had been a compound shooter since an early teenager, and was excited to try something new, if only to connect with my heritage.
I did some research, bought some arrows and started shooting. In short order learned more about the importance of spine, anchor points, release, etc, than I had in 15+years of shooting compound. I had always shot fingers, even with my compound; Chuck Adams was my hero, and the reason I bought a bow.
I took one whitetail buck with that recurve, and hunting with it on and off for a few years. Shooting and carrying it was fun and rewarding, even if it lowered my success rate quite a bit. I would take my compound out near the end of the season when needed. North Dakota’s bow season is over 4 months long, from late August to early January, with no shut down for rifle season, one of the longest in the country. Gives a person lots of time with the bow. And with bow tags over the counter for residents, and the opportunity for up to 4 buck tags at the time between all the seasons, it was a bowhunting paradise.
I was concerned with some cracks and de-lamination on the bow, and one of the local bow shop owners agreed it might not be the best thing to shoot for safety. I made a bow rack with some barn wood and mule deer antlers, and hung it up in the man cave. Back to the Mathews.
Last year I won a long bow in a Montana Bowhunters Association raffle. Beautiful 68” made by Pronghorn Custom Bows in Wyoming. It’s been fun to shoot, and I plan to use it exclusively now, retiring the compound. Montana’s bow season is short, but if unsuccessful, I can use it during the rifle season too.
Of course I’m always hoping I’ll draw a good tag for a limited, coveted species like moose or sheep, that doesn’t seem likely after 35 plus years of applying. I’m excited to play around with a new bow, of a new style to me. Can’t wait for spring bear and turkey!
