Archery Bow Selection Made Easy
As far back as the Peleolithic era, man learned to used stone tools and eventually developed a crude bow for hunting and gathering of their food. Ancient Assyrians and Babyloians practiced archery as a sport and used bows heavily in warfare. Today, though, we have the know-how to select archery bows that work best for our modern needs.
There are three types of bows used today, and variations of these even exist. Essentially, the basic three are the traditional longbow, the recurve bow and the compound bow. In medieval combat, the longbow was the archers weapon of choice because it shoots straight and hard. In many cases, the actual bow is taller than the archer using it. Being able to take aim and shoot over long distances is an appealing feature of this bow with the only downfall being it is cumbersome and large. During hunting, the longbow has it’s advantages and drawbacks that may help or hinder a successful hunt.
The recurve bow is shaped differently than a longbow. Often, the tips of the bow will curve away from the archer. With these curves set against the natural curve in the bow, it provides more power with a lighter bow weight. Quicker turning and maneuverability makes the recurve bow especially good in woods and forest. When the recurve bow is strung (unlike the longbow), the string will actually touch the upper portions of the bow itself.
Today’s compound bows use modern technology coupled with age-old wisdom. When the shooter pulls back on the string, two cams shift holding the string taut which allows the archer to hold it easier. This makes the bow much more stable and gives the shooter better sight and aim at the target.
Having a basic understanding of the types of bows available will help in you decide which is advisable for your needs. Another factor to consider is how much the bow cost and what is your budget for buying one. Bows can go from 50 to over a 1000 dollars just depending on the type of bow your looking at so it’s best to know what your looking for before you buy it.
Its also a good decision to have a basic of understanding of the techniques and fundamentals of bow shooting. One of the best ways to buy is bow is used. This can save you hundreds of dollars and allow to make sure you have the right bow for you before you go ahead and buy that brand new expensive bow later.
When buying a bow, it is best to buy a bow that is suited for what you intend to use it for. With bows for many different styles of hunting and target shooting, choosing the right bow will go a long way in being successful as either a hunter or an archer.
You don’t want to be trying to hunt using a bow that would be used in archery competition. It would really hamper your efforts of getting a good kill. And likewise, a competitive archer would not want to use a hunting bow.
