I started out by taking the advice of my buddy Lou, aka Woods Walker and getting a good book on Traditional Archery, and a low poundage bow to learn on.
The book was "Shooting the Stick bow" by Anthony Camera, and the bow was a 30 pounds @ 28" draw length English style longbow. The bow was $59, and came to me 'rough and ready'. A simple application of petroleum jelly rendered the bow 'finished' for at least 6 months, as it provided a watertight seal for the bow.
Anyhow, after getting a good handle on proper form, consistency, and 'feeling' a good shot; I decided to get my 'real' bow.
I was fortunate enough to find a local guy who was trying to rid himself of his longbow, a Thunderhorn Coup Stick custom made by a man named Duane Jessop from Montana. Even better, he was willing to trade it to me for my Remington 700 .270.
The bow bears resemblance to a fine musical instrument.
The riser is made of orange-wood and cocabalo and is inlaid with elk antler, the limb tips are also elk antler, the bow has a fast flight custom string on it, beaver fur string silencers, and shoots like a dream. It draws 55# @ 26", but with my draw length being 28" Mr. Jessop informed me that I am drawing it right around 60#'s.
I warn you, if you decide to pick up the stick bow it is hard to turn back. This sucker weighs a pound or less, and feels like carrying a spoon through the woods vs. my compound bow. I must also add however that if you get into this there are no shortcuts. It is you, the bow, the arrow, and a target. Practice is how you hit the target, and only time and practice gets you there; like throwing darts.
Anyhow, here are some pictures:
