

Many manufacturers offer different levels of bows, including beginner, midrange and flagship, all of which have different price points.

There are lots of compound bow options, too, which makes it easy to find a bow that feels comfortable to shoot.
Compound crossbow vs recurve full#
At the same time, those cables and cams create “let-off,” which greatly reduces the strength required to hold the bow at full draw, making it easier to take careful aim. Unlike traditional bows, compounds use a series of cables and pulleys (called “cams”) to provide more force than the flex of the limbs alone. Compound BowsĬompound bows are used to hunt a variety of game animals, and their speed, popularity and ease of use appeal to most new bowhunters. And because they don’t require lots of accessories, a traditional bow can be less expensive to shoot than a compound or crossbow. Recurves and longbows are the most challenging style of bow to learn, but it’s a challenge many bowhunters enjoy.

Once you become proficient, though, traditional bows are great for small-game hunting because you can quickly reload and shoot multiple arrows instinctively. Furthermore, traditional bows generally aren’t as powerful as compound bows of the same draw weight. And unlike with compound bows, the traditional bow’s entire draw weight must be pulled and held throughout the shot process. However, traditional bows require lots of practice before a hunter can shoot consistently. Therefore, except for the bowstring, they don’t need much maintenance, which makes them rugged and reliable. They don’t necessarily require a sight, stabilizer or arrow rest. Recurve and longbows are simple compared to other types. Traditional bows don’t require accessories, so they are slightly easier to manage.
