Longbows for bowhunting

A longbow is a straight-stave hunting bow with limbs that bend away from the archer when strung, no reflex or deflex, one continuous curve from tip to tip. Longbows are the traditional hunt bow of the Native American, English yeoman, and the Fred Bear era of modern bowhunting. Slower than a recurve at equal draw weight, quieter, and forgiving of imperfect form.

One-piece vs take-down

Traditional longbows are one-piece. Modern take-down longbows (three-piece: two limbs plus a riser) exist and let you travel disassembled but sacrifice a small amount of quiet-shot performance vs a laminated one-piece. For a first hunt longbow, a one-piece under USD 500 is the standard entry (Hoyt Buffalo, Bear Montana). Take-down longbows fit ILF or manufacturer-specific bolt patterns.

Draw weight and arrow build

50 lb at 28 in draw is the traditional whitetail minimum on a longbow. Longbows store less energy per pound than a recurve, so total arrow weight has to be higher to compensate: 550 to 650 grain finished, 15+ percent FOC, heavy fixed-blade broadhead. Elk hunters running longbows shoot 60 lb up.

Popular hunt longbows

Bear Montana, Hoyt Buffalo (take-down), Martin Savannah, Bob Lee Signature. The Selway Kestrel and Border Archery Bushmen are the premium end. Look at Northern Mist and Big Jim’s Bow Company for handmade one-piece hunt longbows.

Related reading

Compare to recurves, the traditional hunt bow guide. See our bowhunter form guide and arrow tuning.