I hope this is the right place to post this.
I used to shoot long/recurve bows many years ago but now I am older.
Assuming I can find a place to shoot one I would like to try one again. I don't think I want a compound bow as in reading the advantage seems to be arrow speed and hold.
I am not sure what strength I need for target practice, I will not hunt with it.
I cannot remember what I used to shoot when I was younger but I am thinking the last bow I had was a Ben Pearson and around 45#.
My only other requirement would be the ability to put a fishing line into trees at the 75' level so I can trail up a wire for my ham radio hobby when camping with the RV.
I see a lot of bows out there in the 50-70# range but I don't want to wear my shoulder out anymore than it already is. Have not tried one so I just don't know.

 

I still have my wooden/fiberglas 45# bow from years gone by. With torn rotator cuffs like I have, you don't want to pull too hard, especially for what you want to do. I'd look for a lighter pull bow at a pawn shop or sporting goods store.

 

Yes I had rotator cuff surgery on the pull side a few years back and it still gives me problems from tiem to time.
How light would you recommend?
The pawn shop is a good idea.
Wal Mart carries nothing here nor does Big 5.
I did not check Target but I suspect they would have much as their sporting goods is not much here.

 

If all you are doing is sending fishing line over a tree limb occasionally (and please, ladies, don't say anything) you may want to consider a lighter woman's bow. The pull is lighter and may even be smaller. You obviously don't need a big honker to do what you want to do. Yeah, I'd check pawn shops around for one. Recurves should be fairly easy on the pocketbook.

I haven't had my surgery yet. Waiting on it to heal itself.....duh....I know, I know. Just a year out on two knee replacements, so I am waiting a while. As long as I can still point and tell my guys where and what to do, I'm OK.

 

I called 4 pawn shops in the area and they had nothing.
So I guess I will just keep an eye on Craig's Listings here.
I looked at one but it was a 50# bow, had no string on it so I could no get a feel for it and he wanted $75 for it. It was a 60s bow too. I passed.
I saw some youth's bows at Big 5 here but they were like 14-20# and I would be afraid that by the time I make up a special tip weighing some 3 oz. to make sure it comes down while tailing a 15# test line behind it that it might be a little light to arc up and over a 65'+ pine.

So far it appears everyone around here uses the compounds but lots of hunting here too.

And get the surgery. I was so bad a few years back that I could hardly move my arm and I was in real pain. They gave me lots of Percocet and got me into surgery quickly. At least the drugs worked until that happened.

 

Off topic, but what was your recovery time. That is until you could do normal things.

 

All I had was a growth from the shoulder at the cuff, rather like something you would see in a cave. It was cutting the ligament as it tried to slide in and out as I raised and lowered my arm to the side.
Pretty easy operation they said just cutting it off.
I threw the sling away after two days and just took it easy and I was fine.

 

I would hunt deer with a #45 pull on a long bow/recurve. My compound is about #55 and I shoot heavy arrrows accurately to 25 yards. When leaving the bow I’m around 190 fps or so. Slow by compound standards but will pass thru a deer at 20 yards. A side benefit of my slow and heavy arrows is accuracy and confidence.

For what you want, keninaz, a #30 or so long bow/recurve will do fine. Keep looking for one. Compound bows can be a hassle maintenance wise.

While you could get a #45 bow and just not pull it all the way, bows are more efficient and accurate when pulled/stretched to their capacity. Hope this helps.

 

Yes it does and it more or less verifies my thoughts on compounds VS. re curves.
Sometimes it's jus better to keep it simple.

 

Off topic again

Ken was lucky. I'm guessing you didn't have an "open repair" (I think that's the term)? If you just have a couple of puncture wounds, and not a 2" long scar, then they did it arthroscopic. They've really made some improvements since I had mine done in 2000. I have a long scar on top and 2 punctures in front, 1 on back.

Mine was a total tear, so bad that sometimes my shoulder would dislocate and I'd have to lean hard against a wall to get it right. That's partially why my surgery, recovery and such was longer, the tendon had shrunk.

I was in surgery for about 3-4 hrs, spent the night, went home with a bottle of meds that would put me out for 6 hrs, arm strapped down in an immobilization sling. Wake up, eat something, pop another pill, repeat for 3-4 days. Slept in a recliner for at least 10 days. Do you know how hard it is to only have your weak hand available? (Think bathroom)

Didn't start the therapy for about 4 weeks which apparently I found out was a mistake. Should have been at it after about 7-10 days as soon as I was off the pain meds. Still have a slightly limited ROM because of scar tissue. I would say that I could use it for very light tasks after about 2 weeks but full recovery was closer to 4-6 months. Even now I can't throw a rock or a ball overhand.

Other shoulder also torn I found out but it's only about 10mm and doesn't really bother me since it's my left arm.

I have pics of the surgery if anyone wants to see...lol. They wouldn't make me a copy of the video.

If you think "worst case" while looking here Rotator cuff repair : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia that was pretty much me.

 

Have you looked online for a bow? I bet you could fund a bunch through Google.

Also, do a search for a local bow shop near you. There isn't a lot of them but they normally have some good new and used stuff. I see you have 2 in Prescott Vally and 2 others within 30 miles.

 

Once is closed and out of business and the other had no recurves.
I will find a recurve eventually locally.

 

Duh! Didn't even realize Ken was in AZ. I agree...there should be plenty of archery shops near you. Heck, I believe there are 2 near me, even up here in Podunk.

Another thought....if you have a shooting range or 2 nearby...they may have an online or physical bulletin board you could post on.

 

The one range that is open to the public is not open until March (we are are 5000' and it was 9° this AM) and then it's limited.
This is what I found:
Granite Mountain Archery Range
Hours of Operation
Public Shooting

March 1 -- March 31

Sundays only, 1p.m. -- 6p.m.


April 1 -- August 31

Thursdays, 4p.m. -- dusk
Sundays, 1p.m. -- 6p.m.

Like I said, pretty limited.

There is also a club at the local aeronautical college and I have sent them an inquiry to see if membership is open to the public.
Other than that there is a short indoor range at the shop I was at but we are pretty much surrounded here by the National Forests I could shoot in if I wanted to drag some targets out to.

 

Well....I was actually talking about a gun range...not just archery specific. Many people do both or know people who do.

Find someone that is big into bows in your area and get a connection to other folks. Bet someone probably has an old bow they would GIVE you.

That would be ideal I would think.

 

I also think watching craigslist is a good option. You can subscribe to the RSS feed and you will get a hit any time anybody lists an item with your keyword like "bow"