If you are a beginner at bow hunting, then Recurve bows may be a challenge…
Because recurve bow hunting is challenging and requires a lot of experience at shooting at the targets.
Recurve Bows are similar to longbows but the difference is that the limbs curve back at the end and store energy when you pull the bowstring, shooting with extra power.
Long Bows and Recurve bows are also called traditional bows due to a long history and recurve bows are also used in Olympics archery competition as well.
If you’re just starting out with bowhunting, compound bows might be a better option. Although they look complex, the additional tech makes them easier to aim and shoot consistently. However, if you are persistent and passionate it’s still possible to start with a beginner recurve bow for hunting, so read on, but be prepared for a lot of practice!
Why Recurve Bows are good for Hunting?
In the era of compound bows and crossbows, there are still some advantages of using the recurve bows for hunting.
1: Less Noise
After a lot of still-hunting you don’t want to lose your target animal, right?
If your bow makes a bit of extra noise the animals which you shoot will hear you before the arrow reaches the animal, so it’s very important to use the almost silent bow.
All the recurve bows are not quiet but most of them have limbs made with specific quiet material and dampers are attached with the strings which help further in reducing the noise.
2: Better Draw Weight
Hunters don’t want to injure their prey as they want their arrow or bolt to pierce the target animal. It’s a very important part of shooting to kill the prey quickly with your weapon.
Draw weight plays a big role in penetrating the body of the animal and again all the recurve bows don’t come in better draw weight but most companies keep this in mind.
So, while buying a recurve bow make sure that it has a draw weight of at least 40 pounds.
3: Good Length Required
Recurve bow is also used for archery competitions and not just for hunting. So we should keep these things in mind before getting our hands on the recurve bow for hunting:
The good length of recurve bow will actually help you in shooting at the target and the minimum length you should look for when buying a recurve bow is 58 inches.
2 Disadvantages of using Recurve Bow for Hunting:
1: A beginner in archery can’t use recurve bow accurately as its old fashioned and require a lot of experience for shooting arrows at the targets as compared to other modern bows.
2: An inexperienced recurve bowhunter can leave his/her prey badly injured instead of killing because hunter needs to check a lot of things like draw weight, length, etc. which then ensures penetration through the body of the animal.
Recurve Bow Hunting Regulations (All US States)
Find your State and Click on it for Viewing the Recurve Bow Regulations.
AlabamaRecurve bows are legal in Alabama without any restrictions of size and length of recurve bows.
Within Alaska, it’s allowed to use the recurve bows but with a minimum of 40 pounds draw weight while hunting for big games such as deer, black bear, wolf, Dall sheep, and Wolverine.
Within Arizona, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting all kind of animals without any size or length restrictions.
Within the state of Arkansas, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds.
You also need to use the 7/8 inches wide arrowheads for turkey, bear, and deer hunting. Poison is not allowed to be used on the arrows and mechanical broadheads are allowed to use for hunting as well.
Recurve bows are allowed to use in the state of California for hunting all the animals without any restrictions of specific arrows, broadheads, length of the arrow.
Within Colorado, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow but mechanical strings, are strictly prohibited.
Mechanical releases are only legal if not using other attachments. recurve bows require a minimum of 35 pounds draw weight.
Automatically loading arrows are strictly prohibited with the state of Colorado, Also hydraulic technology cannot be used for storing energy.
Recurve bows are allowed within the state of Connecticut, if you are going to hunt deer and turkey then policy requires a minimum 40 pounds draw weight.
Poison at the tips of projectiles, arrowheads, bolts is not allowed. Also, you can’t use mechanical strings.
Within the state of Delaware, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting, Delaware requires a minimum of 35 pounds draw weight.
It’s allowed to use the recurve bows within the state of Florida but requires a minimum of 35 pounds draw weight.
Within the state of Georgia, it’s allowed to use the recurve bows without any restrictions of bow length, size and draw weights.
Within the state of Hawaii, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow during the hunting season but it requires a minimum of 35 pounds draw weight.
It’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting within the state of Idaho with at least 40 pounds of draw bow and 24 inches of the broadhead.
Within the state of Illinois, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting with a minimum of 40 pounds draw weight and requires a minimum of 20 inches arrow length.
Mechanical devices for string are illegal within Illinois.
In Indiana, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting with a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds. Arrow rest and other attachments which supports the arrow or bolts are not allowed and hunters should pull the arrow with hands.
Within Iowa, it’s allowed to use the recurve bows for hunting but shooting broadheads with any bow is illegal.
The arrows must be at least 18 inches long.
Within Kansas, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting without any restrictions on bow weight, draw length and bow length.
It’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting within Maine, but it requires a minimum of 35 pounds draw weight and broadhead arrow of 7 inches.
Within Maryland, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting with a minimum of 30 pounds draw weight.
In the state of Massachusetts, You can use the recurve bow for hunting but they require well-sharpened steel broadheads with a minimum of 7 inches width.
Mechanical releases are also allowed and there are no limitations on the draw weight.
Within Michigan, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting without any size and draw weight restrictions.
In the state of Minnesota, recurve bows are allowed for hunting with a minimum draw weight of 30 pounds on it.
Recurve bows are allowed for hunting within Mississippi without any restrictions on size and draw weight.
You are allowed to use mechanical broadheads as well.
Within the state of Missouri, it’s allowed to use the recurve bows without any restrictions on draw weight and size at all
Within the state of Montana, recurve bows are allowed but it requires a minimum of 28 inches length and less than 28 inches length is considered illegal.
The arrow should also weigh a minimum of 300 grains with broadheads.
In Nebraska, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting, but it requires a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds.
In Kentucky, it’s allowed to use the recurve bows for hunters without any restrictions on size, length and draw weight.
In Louisiana, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting and it’s allowed to use the mechanical releases as well.
Recurve bow is allowed to use for hunting in Nevada, but the bow should be capable of throwing the arrow 150 yards far at least.
Arrows are required to be 24 inches long with a minimum of 7 inches broadhead attached.
Within the state of New Hampshire, it’s legal to use the recurve bow for hunting with fixed blades of minimum 7 inches wide.
The important thing is you need to mention your name and address on your arrows while you are hunting or practicing within New Hampshire. So, the arrows used could be identified back to the user.
In New Jersey, using the recurve bow for hunting is allowed with a minimum of 35 pounds draw length.
Using recurve bows is legal in New Mexico but make sure there are no sights connected and lights being used during the hunting.
And it is compulsory to attach the broadheads.
Recurve bows are legal with a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds, anything below the minimum draw weight is illegal.
Hunting with recurve bow is legal in North Carolina but requires a minimum pull of 40 pounds and fixed broadheads of minimum 7 inches.
Blunt-type arrowheads can be used for hunting small animals like birds etc.
Within North Dakota, you are allowed to use the recurve bows for hunting but the bow must be pulled with hand instead of any mechanical pull.
For big game, the bow needs to have at least 35 pounds of draw weight and arrows must be at least 24 inches long with broadhead attached in front of them.
Recurve bows are allowed in Ohio for hunting but only for the big game animals and you cannot hunt birds with your bow in Ohio state.
Within the state of Oklahoma, you are allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds without any mechanical releases attached as you are required to use your hands.
In Oregon, recurve bows can be used for hunting with a minimum draw weight of 40 lbs.
And for hunting ELK you need minimum draw weight of 50 lbs.
You can use recurve bows for hunting within Pennsylvania but requires minimum draw weight of 35 pounds.
Broadheads are compulsory to use during bow hunting with a minimum 7-inch diameter.
Within the state of Rhode Island, you are only allowed to use the recurve bow if it has a minimum of 40 pounds draw weight.
Arrow broadheads are compulsory to use but only with 2 metal cutting edges and a minimum of 7 inches width.
In the state of South Carolina, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting without any restrictions on the draw weight and size of the bow.
Within the state of South Dakota, you are allowed to use the recurve bow without any usage of poison or hydraulic points.
Illuminated arrows and lighted sight pins are legal to use during recurve bow hunting.
In the state of Tennesse, it is allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting without any restrictions on size and draw weight.
Within the state of Texas, you are allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting without any draw weight and size restrictions.
In Utah, recurve bows are only allowed with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds.
In Vermont, Using the recurve bow for hunting is allowed without any size restrictions.
In Virginia, You can use recurve bow for hunting without any size restrictions.
In Washington, it’s illegal to use the recurve bow that weighs less than 40 pounds and the arrow that has a length less than 20 inches.
Within West Virginia, you are allowed to use the recurve bow without any restrictions on the size and draw weight.
In Wisconsin, it’s allowed to use the recurve bow for bowhunting but only during the hunting season with a proper license.
For hunting deer, bows are required to have a minimum draw weight of 30 pounds and it is must that broadhead should be attached that have at least 7 inches width.
Within the state of Wyoming, you are allowed to use the recurve bow for hunting horn sheep, black bear, deer, goat, mountain lion or gray wolf.
The requirement is to use the bow with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds.
For hunting the elk, grizzly bear, or moose, you are required to use the recurve bow with a minimum draw weight of 50 pounds.
5 Important Recurve Bow Safety Rules:
1: Before every round of practice or Hunting, Make sure to inspect your bow. Your main focus should be to check the string, riser, and limbs of your recurve bow. You can hurt yourself if the bow is damaged.
2: Don’t dry fire your bow for testing or any other purpose. Dry firing can damage the bow and can also hurt you or someone near you.
3: When you are doing practice, never forget marking the area otherwise you can hurt someone. It’s also very important archery safety rule.
4: Never shoot the arrows which have less weight than 200 grams, it can damage your bow.
5: Don’t expose your recurve bow to heat and moisture for a long time. Heat and Moisture can damage the bow badly and suspicious behaviors are expected anytime from such bow.
If you are just starting out in Archery, Make sure to read the basic archery safety rules.
2 Top-Rated Recurve Bows:
Based on the user reviews, experience and value, here are two well-priced recurve bows for hunting if you are looking to buy one for yourself…
Samick Sage Recurve Bow
The Samick Sage is one of the best recurve bows which is not too costly, and still delivers high quality craftsmanship and optionality.
The good quality of the limbs, strings and arrow rest which comes along this bow are perfect in beginner budgets. You also get pre-installed sight and stabilizer in this package.
It’s actually a take-down bow and you can change the limbs whenever you want after learning the basics of recurve bow hunting.
Also, most of the state rules require minimum draw weight of 35 pounds for hunting during the big game and this bow comes with a minimum draw weight of 30 pounds and you have the option to select your desired draw weight for this bow.
Check Current Price and Rating on Amazon
PSE Nighthawk Recurve Bow:
The PSE Nighthawk is another awesome recurve bow for hunting and boasts hundreds of high-rated user reviews.
With a similar look and feel the the Samick Sage, it’s lightweight, has a built-in stabilizer and offers the perfect grip for hunting without the high price tag. It’s ease-of-use even makes it suitable for beginners just starting out with recurve bow hunting.
The take-down style means you can disconnect its parts during travel and you can easily reassemble it in no time. The PSE Nighthawk is also very stable when compared with other similar priced recurve bows.
Amazon offers a 50 pound draw weight option and Bass Pro Shops offers the 40 pound version. Both are sufficient for hunting and it will come down to personal preference, price and stock availability.
Amazon’s 50 Pound Model
Check Current Price and Rating on Amazon
Bass Pro Shops 40 Pound Model
Check Current Price and Reviews at Bass Pro Shops
How to Shoot with Recurve Bow?
1: If you are a beginner, make sure the area where you are shooting is marked and everyone can see from the distance that you are shooting arrows there.
2: First of all, after assembling the recurve bow (if not assembled already) you should pick it up with firm grip (where your fingers are almost touching the thumb).
3: Make your posture and get ready, if you don’t know about stance, check archery for beginners first.
4: Knock your arrow by keeping in mind that one arrow fetch faces the archer creating a flat path for the arrow to leave the bow.
5: Wear the Finger Tab if you are a beginner to archery to ensure safety and now pull the string with one finger at top and two fingers at the bottom of the bowstring.
6: Point the arrow straight to the target and now draw the string back to your face slowly.
7: Draw the string to your point, if you don’t have any I suggest you go with Olympics style which is to touch the jaw with your fingers and the string running up the chin, lips, and tip of the nose.
8: Now focus on your target and shoot!
Final Words:
If you are a beginner at archery, I do not suggest you start learning by using the recurve bow because it’s very difficult for beginners to learn accurate shooting with recurve bows.
But if you still love challenges, you can go with it by purchasing a cheap recurve bow and start shooting following this guide in your practice area.
Also, when you are just getting started, I suggest you wear all the safety equipment and read the area regulations first.
Last but not least, you should practice with the recurve bow having a minimum of 35 pounds draw weight as it’s the requirement of almost every state for hunting with recurve bow, so when buying you should have already made your mind accordingly.
What problems you faced at the beginning of archery and how did you solve them? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.