Archery, as we all know, dates way back to the 1800's. Bowhunting can be traced through many regions around the world, including Asia, Europe, and North America. The true skilled archery men were believed to be the Native Americans. The bows of the Native Americans were very simple and basic. It was their exceptional ability to stalk within very close range of their prey, that helped them overcome their lack of equipment and be successful. It's that ability to get close to our prey that remains the essence of all bow hunting today. Since the 1800's archery bows in general have come a long way. The bows used in the early days are now considered traditional bows. We have since moved into a more mechanical sense of bow hunting with the invention of the Compound Bow and the Crossbow. Between the three bows, the compound bow is by far the most popular bow today for hunting and target shooting. In this article, I'd like to stay traditional, and drill in on the aspects of the bow that has gotten us to where we are today. There are two types of traditional bows on the market, the longbow and the recurve bow, both are considered traditional with very specific difference that set them apart. Let's take them one at a time. The Longbow: The longbow has long, nearly straight limbs that form an arch when the bow is strung. The length of a longbow is usually equal to the height of the user, although, there are some that like them longer. This type of bow is not intended to support equipment of any kind, such as a bow sight or release, this in turn keeps the bow light weight and easy to carry. One thing to keep in mind, a long bow doesn't have a lot of shooting power, which will require the archer to be closer to his or her target. Hence the Native Americans were so good at stalking their prey. The longbow is an excellent choice for those wanting to stay traditional with limited, or no equipment. The Recurve Bow: The recurve bow is also considered traditional, but with a few of today's modern upgrades. This type of bow has shorter limbs then the longbow, and they curve back away from the belly of the bow, when the bow is strung, thus causing it to have more shooting power. The Recurve Bow features a more modern touch with a 'pistol style grip', which adapts well for use with a bow sight or arrow rest. The Recurve is a much smoother, quieter and faster shooting bow then the longbow, which makes it a popular choice among many. For an archer choosing to shoot traditional bows, he or she is also choosing simplicity when it comes to equipment. There is very little one can add to a traditional bow to help aid in accuracy and precision, because of this lack of equipment, shooting a traditional bow will require a great deal of dedication and practice to master. While these challenges may be too great for some, many find that they add to the pleasure of hunting. Bow hunting is a unique emotional experience because you are so close to the game you are hunting. Getting back to basics, helps us to appreciate where we have been and to appreciate as well, how far this industry has come.
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