Help wanted

I am looking to buy a Tomahawk Diamond series longbow from 3Rivers or get one from Ron LaClair�s Super Shrew longbow. Does anyone have and experience with any of these bows?

I have been hunting with a compound for 20 years and have shot my fair share of deer but would like to switch to traditional. I know a lot about compounds but it has been a long time since I pulling the string of a traditional bow.

You may want to borrow a stickbow or get a cheap one and shoot it for a while. Make sure stickbows are for you before laying down the big buck for a bow/style that is very difficult to do well.

Recurves are much easier for the novice to learn with. Consider a Black Widow.

Black Widows I hear are noisy, great bows but alot for the money. Would I do better with shooting a Martin recurve or Fred Bear? So many bows to choose from only two arms to shoot with. Really want a longbow but everyone tells me they are hard to shoot and you have to have a death grip on them.

I'd get sometning chep and underpowered. A BW will take a toll on your checking account.

A used recurve especially those around 40# and below, are a buyer's market. Some really fine bows out there.

Some find a longbow easier to shoot, but I don't. It's a matter of choice.

You can spend too much on a beginning bow., IMO it's a bad investement to buy a Purdy SxS hoping you'll like to bird hunt.

"Black Widows I hear are noisy"

Mine weren't

Black Widows are not noisy; just like any other recurve, they just have to be set up correctly, that's all.

You can bargain shop for a Bear Recurve, like a Kodiak, Kodiak Magnum, or Grizzly, at any archery shop or yard sale.

Have it checked out, and if it's good to go, you're likely out of pocket $100... probably half that (I have two old Bears, and total they cost me about $75). Very good bows, very serviceable, and very good; both to hunt and to start/restart with.

If I had it to do over again, I'd get them again.

"Black Widows are not noisy;"

That's what I said. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I'd hate to move you elsewhere, but the guys at Stickbow talk about longbows and recurves all day long.
http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/THREADSx2.CFM

Type "tomahawk" into the search field and click the "titles" icon. You will get a lot of info on them. Same with Shrew.

I was looking into a custom longbow very hard. After reading about so many building their own I tried it myself. My first Oak longbow cam out perfectly. Final weight was 51#. I probably had 30-40 hours into it, but some guys put out 1 every evening.

Here's some instruction sources in case you'd like to look into it yourself. Only a few simple and inexpensive hand tools are needed. Good luck
http://www.geocities.com/salampsio/oak.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/magic/jawge/boardbowbuildalong.html
http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/brdbows.html

As a traditional bowhunter of 35 years, I will say that you are getting SOME good advise here.

1) Do not "overbow". A 45 lb bow with a good sharp broadhead will shoot through an elk.

2) A recurve is a little more forgiving (not better) than a longbow.

3) Black Widows are only noisy when shot with too light an arrow. (And they are "top of the line".)

I would like to add that traditional bows ,within reason, are not limited to draw lengths and I would buy a used bow on Ebay or wherever, before spending a furtune on a new custom one.

I have some experience with Ron LaClair's Super Shrews:







I've got a 51# Samurai, a 52# Scout, and a 53# Chameleon. About 7 years ago, I was in the market for a stickbow. We have a HUGE traditional archery show here in Mi every January...I shot EVERY bow in the place and felt the SS's were the best shooters there. You will not have trouble switching over from your compound to a Super Shrew.

I would definietly try before you buy...I have not ever shot a Black Widow that left me impressed. Everybody is different.

Not to take money out of Ron's pocket, but you might try a Hoyt Gamemaster. It has a "tec" riser like you are probably used to, you can start with 40# limbs and get a heavier set when you are ready. Set up properly, they are a slick little outfit.

I don't shoot Widows either. I said they were "top of the line", but not neccessarily worth the cost. Traditional bows are not the machines that compounds are. They are very individual. Shoot a few and find one you like. Just don't succumb to the "Mastercard Complex".

Steve-
What was the set up you used to take the elk?

I bought a [email]54@30[/email] SS a couple of months ago and really digging it. I found this one used, would like to find a TD at similar specs, but finding one of Ron's bows used is tough. I may have to get in line soon, it would be my first brand new trad bow.

53# @ 28"
125g Wensel Woodsman with 125g steel adapter on a 35/55 Gold Tip XT

Awesome pictures looks like you have had some good sucess with the Mighty Shrew. Did you get the Elk in Michigan or out west?

David, there was one on ebay last week is was TD @ 60#

Good job with the SS.
We have a traditional archery expo up here in Grayling every year, the third weekend of June.
Long bows ad recrves are in for me.

Thanks for the pix and narrative.

Don

12pt--That bull was taken in a "crappy" unit in AZ.

DMB--That would be the Michigan Tradional Bowhunters Jamboree--http://www.mitraditionalbow.com/jamboree.shtml

It is one of the FINEST shoots. The weekend before that is the BEST traditional archery gathering in the country:

http://www.comptontraditional.com/read.cfm?id=4

Steve,

Thanks.
I only live about a mile from Hanson Hills, where the Jamboree is held, and have been to it a number of times.

Don

Stevo

Did you ever shoot the Tomahawk bow before you bought the screw? Is so who did you like it.

Have not ever shot a Tomahawk, but I know Dale is a very good guy...he gets the money of mine Ron doesn't ;~)

I would imagine they could let you try one before you decided.

Thanks for the info. It is always good to hear from someone that shot one of the two bows instead of the company. Make an easier decision. I am sure both are excellent bows just have to see what work best for me.

No problem. One thing I can be sure of; you will not find a longbow with a better grip than a Shrew. As far as longbows (or hybrids) go, it is completely shock free and very quiet.

Steve,

Really awesome pics!!! I bet you don't hunt CRP very often though.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It seems traditional archery has bought into the hype of name brands and technology. The true secret to traditional archery is the nut behind the string! Look at Howard Hill. His bows had terrible handles by most our standards. They had immense hand shock and were not quick for there pounds by todays standards.
If you want a longbow, go for it. A true longbow is the length of the man shooting it. The string does not touch the limbs. Other than the in the grooves. Handles do not tend to be the pistol style you see on recurves. The longbow will have more arc to the arrow. It used to be Archery, starts with a arc? intresting.This arc will take lots of shooting to master. They are more combersome, youll have to learn to be aware of your limbs.Theres the archers paradox, as the arrow bends around the bow handle. Hand shock will be less if you use heavy enough arrows, and shoot with a bent bow arm. Just slightly and pushing away from you as you draw. You dont need to spend a lot on the bow. Look for one that is about [email]50@28[/email], more than enough power to start. Spend your money on matched arrows! Get alot of books and read. Hill had a weird way of sighting his targets but you will learns from him. Pope's books are good. There is so much to learn about the simple longbow. It is part of the hunter, you cant buy that. It is about as far from compound shooting as toy poodles from pitbulls. If this seems like to much, then just look for a center shot recurve , It will increase your learning curve. You can gap shoot it, much like sights and it will be more familiar to you other than no let off and slower that the compound. If its a longbow your after GO for it! You will find, steady consistent and reliable are more valuable than alittle more speed. Matching arrows to bow, and shooting style will solve the noise and shootability of a bow.

Nebraska,

Not since my buddy died;



Back before the kids came along, we searched all over for the few phesants we have in Mi and took trips out to SD & IA...never shot a wild bird with the bow <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to drift off topic...

I hope you have an 8x10 of that on your wall; that's an awesom pic!! The GSP in my avatar is 13 years old now. I feel for ya and can't imagine what that day will be like when it's her turn.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />