wish me luck

[JBen]

Sweet looking bow SG

Speaking as someone with a wonky left shoulder that gets very painfull if I so much as lie on my left side for while.
You should be ok.

My Long Bow draws at 55, My cmp at 55.
Most of the work is taken up with your back muscles, and I suspect you will find the excercise will help.
I dont notice any real difference drawing either bow, however the comp has a very noticeable difference thanks to the let off, and holding at full draw. Basically with my Long Bow its more instinctive vs drawing and aiming. I draw, come to my set anchor and release. Where-as with my CMP, its draw, anchor, steady.......release. I can hold my CMP at full draw for a good long time, my LB? Much more than a couple seconds and my shoulder starts feeling it and the shakes start.

In time, if archery really gets its hooks into you, consider adding a X-Bow. I have all 3, each has their Pros/Cons. Lots of time for you to see and feel how things go, and if you really want to do some hunting, especially late season. A Trad and X-Bow will serve you well.

[kdp89]

Have fun with the new toy!

You'll be up and running in no time. I blew out a shoulder a couple years ago in July, couldn't even throw a ball it was so bad. But I toned down the bow, practiced drawing and strengthening the muscles and I was bow hunting on the opener. Recurve is a little different, but take it easy and you'll be shooting before you know it.

[smallgamer]

Thanks for the info and positive words JBen and kdp89. I am really looking forward to many days afield with this rig, and maybe I'll even bag a deer with it someday. If not, well, days in the woods are never wasted.

[oaknut]

Best of luck with the shoulder. The skills to shoot proficiently won't require luck. Just practice. If I ever get the time to spend practicing again I will be using my recurve or one of my longbows again. I found it helped with my form to practice drawing all the time. I would sit in front of the t.v. at night and draw the bow every ten minutes or so. After a while it becomes natural to draw and anchor in the same place every time.

[Hawkman]

GOOD LUCK smallgamer.

The flight of the arrow is an addictive thing to witness and feel. That bow looks sweet and I am willing to bet that it is going to be a JOY to play with! Good Luck putting that thing down after a day of shooting!!!

I bought my compound bow in late 1980 and still love it. My shoulders are also bad so I just bought a crossbow for the 2013 season and got very lucky harvesting a nice buck with it. I am sure with practice and the exercises which you have mentioned, you'll do fine with your bow. We look forward to seeing your successful hunting photos next season!

[hunter391]

Hope your shoulder and bow work out for you. I had a left hand compound but had a hard time the problem being I:am right handed and left eye dominant . Sold the bow and bought a crossbow works great. We are very lucky in Ontario too be able to hunt deer with a crossbow without proving a physical disability , in many States in the USA that is the case.

[M_P]

All the best with the therapy and the new bow. My son bought a used compound off of a member here a few years back he was almost 12 at the time. We took into to the bow shop to have it turned down and tuned. They managed to get it down to about 35lbs but it was still a struggle for him to draw. He drew it a couple of times each day and it didn't take long for him to build up the strength to draw easily.

[smallgamer]

Thanks guys. I have been drawing it in the basement and took it out yesterday. I fired twelve arrows and that was enough for that outing. The first group of six were pretty scattered but I tightened up the second bunch a fair bit (but not good enough to tell you the group size ) lol. I was only shooting at ten yards to start. I am trying to teach myself instinctive shooting and knowing the range makes it hard not to cheat by placing the riser in my vision with relation to the target. While I will keep exercising with the bow in the house to improve my shoulder conditioning and form, I will also continue shooting at target butts from known distances (the range has the yardage marked) until the conditions outside improve enough to plink in the woods, at targets of various elevations and estimated distances. This will be a challenge for me for sure, but when I do eventually bag a deer I will be very satisfied.

[GW11]

My dad managed to get a nice little buck with a recurve a few years ago. It was a very rewarding experience for him. He practices a lot and is very good with it.

I have one that I plink around with when we get the target out in his yard but I just don't have the time to become proficient enough to hunt with one.

It sounds like you're on the right track. The key to bagging a deer with one is to practice exactly the same type of shot you would take from your stand (elevation, etc.) and be patient enough to pass on anything less than a perfect opportunity. Good luck! Hopefully we'll read the success story of your first recurve deer here sometime.

[mbhunter]

Nice looking bow! Practice makes perfect shot placement