Bear Take Down Recurve Bows (Jeff Phillips photo)
January 11, 2019
By Brian Strickland
As the popularity of bowhunting with traditional tackle has grown in recent years, so has the num-ber of traditional bows from which to choose. Here’s a look at a few can’t-miss models.
Bear Take Down Recurve No recurve bow guide would be complete if we didn't include Papa Bear. Initially developed in 1969 by Fred Bear himself, the legendary Take Down by Bear Archery was the first of its kind and truly is the flagship design in take down traditional bows. With two risers to choose from, as well as two limb configurations, the Take Down’s AMO length ranges from 56-64 inches. The handsome riser is available in African Bubinga with a red accent stripe or Black Maple that feature a crowned, center-cut arrow shelf. The Fascor powered limbs are laminated on both the back and belly with high strength fiberglass. I’ve killed several whitetails with my Bear Take Down, and it's one of my favorite traditional bows to date.
Bearpaw Shadow German engineering and craftsmanship are what set apart Bearpaw ’s new Penthalon Shadow ILF Recurve from many others. With the riser constructed from heavy Micarta and black action wood with a Bubinga accent stripe and limbs featuring maple cores with a black glass finish, the Shadow has the look and feel of a high-end production bow without the price. Truly living up to its name, the added weight of the riser not only reduces hand shock but also makes it a forgiving shooter. The Shadow has an AMO of 60 inches and is available in draw weights ranging from 25-55 pounds.
The first traditional bow with a machined riser I ever used was Hoyt ’s popular Buffalo, and the latest generation to that flagship model is the Satori. With riser lengths available in 17, 19 and 21 inches, as well as three limb configurations that can produce a short 58-inch bow all the way to a smooth drawing 66 inches, the Satori will fit virtually any hunter. Its exclusive shelf module and center shot alignment plates provide off the shelf shooting but can be removed so a flipper rest can be installed. And with its ILF (International Limb Fit) design, the tiller can be easily adjusted to fit the shooter’s style and preference. The standard limbs have a Maple core surrounded by carbon, while the Car-bon X-Tour limbs feature laminated bamboo with high-performance carbon layers.
Striker Bows Sport and Classic Recurves For over 20 years, Rick Ellis has been producing Striker Bows , and this season their production of Classic and Sport Take Down Recurves is now being offered with a new 16-inch riser. “For years customers have been asking for a longer riser,” explained Dusty Ellis, “and it will be one of the smoothest bows we’re ever made.” Still developed with the same craftsmanship and attention to detail as the popular 14-inch model, the 16-inch Classic riser is crafted from Bocote wood with Bocote limb veneers for that custom look, while the 16-inch Sport riser and limb veneers are craft-ed from Charcoal action wood that is equally as eloquent. Both the 14- and 16-inch models incor-porate an interchangeable limb system, making it possible to change out different Striker recurve and reflex/deflex longbow limbs without the need for custom fitting.
