Although the website is mostly about climbing, JRB gets a lot of questions about archery equipment and so this page was created as a place just to let you know what gear is used. Check back for updates.
History
I remember when my dad would get home from work when I was a 10 year old kid. I was excited to grab his (recurve) bow and watch him shoot in the backyard. It should be no surprise that I grew up shooting a recurve. Starting at age 12, my first few deer were harvested with firearms, then my first buck in my teens with a recurve, then compounds, then crossbows, but always preferred the simplicity of a traditional recurve. In fact, I gave away my last compound bow in 2023 to a kid who was just starting out. On winter hunts for doe, a crossbow is the preference. If anybody gives you grief about your choice of a legal hunting weapon, it doesn’t speak highly of their maturity. Ask yourself if they are the kind of person you want in your circle of friends. Here is what JRB is using these days:
Recurve Bows
As of 2024, JRB’s new recurve is from Stalker Stickbows, a 62″ Coyote FXT, 54#@28: Coyote FXT. I bought it at the ETAR event in Morris, PA, and fell in love with it when I first touched it. It shoots great.
As of 2023, JRB’s primary recurve was a Samick Sage, 50#@28. It’s a great mix of good performance at a good price: Samick Sage It helped tag some deer, but I struggled to get it tuned and matched with my arrows and was not happy with the groups. Now, its a practice bow.
Arrows
As of July 2024, tired of spending a lot on custom arrow builds, and disappointed with the Gold Tip’s, JRB ordered a set of these, and they are shooting great, out of the box, although 125gr tips are more consistent than the 100’s they came with:
Unfortunately, the practice tips and broadheads in my collection would not fit the narrow ferrule on those arrows, but these generic choices fit fine and get the job done. I would rather spend my money on the bow than the arrows and tips that get consumed in the process of hunting:
Other Products
The Shatterproof Archery stuff is all made in the USA and seems to be excellent quality.
3 Finger Archery Glove: Keshes Archery Glove
Limb Mount, 4-arrow Quiver : Shatterproof Quiver
Leather Arm Guard, made in the USA: Shatterproof Arm Guard
Limb silencer: Shatterproof Limb Silencer
Beaver Fur String Silencer: Shatterproof Silencer
Bowstring Wax from Shatterproof: Perfect String Wax
Field tip test kit: Shatterproof Test Kit