Trying a recurve

Ive hunted with a compound for about 15 years. 65 lbs, 30" draw. 100 gr heads. I recieved an old 55# recurve from my father in law, and just bought a string and have some gold tip traditional arrows on the way. If I can get good enough, I'm gonna try to take a deer with the recurve. I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to traditional, so any advice would be helpful. Do you still use a release? Or pad? Should I stick with my 100 grain fixed broadhead? Any advice you can think of.

55# might be a little high to start off with. You might pick up a cheap, lighter weight bow to start.
To answer your questions, most folks shooting a recurve don't use a release, but don't let anyone tell you that you can't. Shoot how you want. As far as 100 grain broadheads, that's going to depend on the spine and length of your arrows, and the draw weight of your bow at your particular draw length. With a recurve it varies a lot.

It sounds complicated but don't worry about it. YouTube has a ton of videos on shooting traditional. Just start shooting and iron stuff out one thing at a time.

Have fun!

Just like a compound a recurve the grip and anchor point are key to shooting well. As far as releases go some do shoot with them while most use fingers with a glove or tab.

Start off up close and get good with the fundamentals and arrow placement there and work your way out. Do not be surprised if some days you shoot better than oterh days, I think we all do.

Arrows and broad heads you tune the setup to your bow and you spine and arrow weight are key. If an arrow is too stiff you will know it pretty quick and more weight on the tip will effectively lessen the stiffness of the arrow. I shoot Easton Axis Trad arrows with a 50lb recurve 500 spine with a 150gr head which works out well with the arrow 31 inches and my 29 inch draw.

3 rivers archery is a great source for Trad gear and info. Theere is a spine calculator to help get you in the ball park for correct tip weight for your bow and arrows and they do sell packs of different weight field tips to help find what you need.

There are ways to quiten your bow down some for hunting Beaver Balls on the string and I just use the fuzzy part of stick on velcro on the limbs along the groove where the string hits to reduce noise for hunting.

55 is a good bit of poundage for starting with a recurve like mentioned above but that depends on the shooter to a large extent. Some can handle it while others need to start off lower. had a teaenager want to get into ow hunting on a budget, he could easily hndle a 55lb bow whch I do not shoot that poundage well he got to where he could and less than 2 months after he got his bow he killed a 155 inch buck at 22 yards.

A lot of people over bow themselves when they try traditional archery, and especially when they come from a compound bow backround.
It takes practice, practice, and more practice to be proficient with traditional archery especially if you are going bare bow, and you are used to using sights on your compound.
A lot of folks won't agree with me, but I would start out with a 35# to 45# bow in order to develop your form.
A sharp broadhead will kill from a 35# bow with proper shot placement, as in a double lung at close range.

I would suggest you watch this video when you have time. The guy goes into a lot of detail, but if you can't take just a little something from the video, it might be better to stick with the compound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E1vKkSSoNs

I have 52” Bear Kodicac Mangnum recurve at 57 # hanging on my wall that I have killed 32 Whitetails with. All with old style Bear Razorheads mostly using a 3 finger glove . Practice. 25 yards is a long shot. Enjoy the learning curve.

Get the book. Instinctive Shooting by G.Fred Asbell. It’s the Bible for shooting a recurve now well.

there is a lot to learn about instinctive shooting, it is fun and fulfilling

I got my 125 gr field points the other day ands shot a little bit today. It went MUCH better than it did with 100 gr tips. It is still obvious that I need a LOT more practice. Most of my practice time right now is compound as that is what I am hunting with now. I may try the recurve later this year...depends on how I progress. I do have one stand where 15-25 yard shots will be common.

Just curious. You say that 35# will kill with a proper shot. I totaly agree, however are there laws for a minimum bow poundage to hunt with?

There were at one time in Texas and still are in most states, Texas dropped the min poundage a few years ago. For recurve I like at least 40lbs but know people that have killed deer with 35lb recurves.

With a 35lb bow you need to be close and take only broadside shots.
Most people aren't good enough wing shooters to consistently kill birds with a .410
The .22LR may kill a pig but it isn't a good pig round.
35lbs may be enough but not for everyone. 35lbs at 26" is not the same as 35lbs at 30" in efficiency. For most of us 35lbs boarders on irresponsible.

kind of like saying a .223 is irresponsible

Actually no it isn't. A 35lb traditional bow is measured at 28 inch draw length (standards). Draw that recurve back to 30 inchs and it is in reality closer to 40lb draw weight. Draw it 26 inches and it is more in the 30lb draw weight. Also the arrow the longer the draw length is under pressure for a greater distance with the longer draw, you will see that referred to as power stroke in crossbow terms.

I have customers that hunt with 37lbs and 23 inch draw on their compounds and get most of the time pass through on broad side shots inside 20 yards with a good cut on contact fixed blade head. Those women can shoot very well and do not take the shot unless the right one is presented at a calm animal which increases their chances a lot. Compounds are more efficient at delivering their stored energy to the arrow since they reach peak weight early in the draw cycle and mainain near it for a bit thne start dropping off in poundage but the arrow is under more force with a Compound than a traditional bow, which reaches peak weight for the shot at the max lenght drawn then the sctual pressure declines rather quickly in poundage when shot but still is accelerating until the arrow leaves the string,

Kmon I know how it works. I'm saying 35lb. Not a bow rated at 35@28. 35lbs at a given draw length. For example if I'm drawing 35lbs at my 26.75" the shorter power stroke makes my bow less efficient than a shooter who is shooting 35lbs at a 30" draw length. And comparing compounds to traditional bows for efficiency isn't even close to the same.

It is not the best round of choice for some animals.

Yup, know you know but thought I might add a little more not to take away from your good answer

For many years the min was 40lbs and still is or more than that in quite a few states

Well I can confuse the heck out of anyone. Including me.

I went from a compound bow to a recurved bow. I gave up after a month, just couldn’t get the hang of it.

I use leather fingers over the pad an never tried a release. One Key to the recurve is the position of the draw hand. Moving it still let’s your eyes stay on target for instinct shooting. if you are shooting high, drop the pull fingers lower under the knock. Lots of pulls and you will be good.

People will always argue the ethics. Just like a gun is too easy, and a recurve increases the chances of wounding and losing a animal.

If your argument is the gun is too easy, then try a public land hunt with a gun and no camo, scent control, feeder, tree stand, etc.

I would not say "i couldn't get it right" after a month of recurve shooting. You probably expect to hit a target the size of an orange at 40 yards... well you just gotta temper those expectations.

Most people a recurve is a 15-20 yard proposition maximum. Some people even a compound with a sight dialed in.

I have nothing but respect for those that hunt with a recurve. I will probably get one for next year just for the excuse to be in the deer woods earlier in the year.

End game for most of us is just an extended season right? Don't matter if you kill something or not. Don't matter if you never get to take a shot. Whenver I get the chance to be in the woods, If I gotta have a bow I will get one. I just want to be there. I work too much and it has been too long.

Even if it means I spend the day stump shooting because I don't yet have the confidence. I have not shot a bow in so long. It doesn't matter, I just want to be there, and drag my daughters out there with me.

I think I may be guilty of overtaxing myself. I have a 40# and a 55# and the 40# sends the arrow pretty quick. I use the 40 just for target practice but this guy I know says a 40 will send an arrow right through a small deer. The key is to use a heavy arrow- just the opposite of what I would have thought.
I got into the instinctive shooting. If the range is close (heavy brush, etc.) and a deer pops out. In my opinion I think you can draw and shoot faster with a recurve than a compound. It's a lot of fun.