14 Best Recurve Bows For Hunting

Recurve bows have been in use by humanity for quite some time. In fact, for the longest period, recurve bows were primary weapons used by cultures across the world.

They are quite simple in design, yet pack quite some power in their limbs. With the advancement in technology, recurve bows these days come in more streamlined and aerodynamic designs.

Our manufacturing technology has also enhanced the performance and durability of the bows, while keeping the true spirit of recurves intact.

Still, no matter how easy it is, recurve bow can’t shoot itself. You need to have the right skills, know how, and resources so that you can use it to its maximum potential.

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Here are 14 best recurve bows for hunting in decreasing order of priority.

S. No.

Bow

Name

Pros

Rating

Check prices

1.

KESHES Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow

  • Reliable

  • Long life

  • Durable

2.

Samick SAS Sage Premier 62" Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Stable

  • Reliable

  • Comfortable

3.

SAS Courage Hunting Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Versatile

  • Durable

  • Versatile

4.

Southwest Archery Spyder & XL Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Durable

  • Comfortable

  • Stable

5.

Toparchery Archery 56" Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow

  • Reliable

  • Durable

  • Versatile

6.

Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Consistent

  • Stable

  • Comfortable

7.

Southwest Archery Tigershark Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Comfortable

  • Consistent

  • Durable

8.

SinoArt Falcon 60" Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow

  • Reliable

  • Stable

  • Durable

9.

SinoArt 58" Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Stable

  • Durable

  • Reliable

10.

D&Q Takedown Recurve Bow 57.8"

  • Stable

  • Comfortable

  • Versatile

11.

D&Q Takedown Recurve Bow 56"

  • Stable

  • Comfortable

  • Versatile

12.

JEKOSEN 2019 Eagle Eye Wooden Takedown Archery Recurve Bow

  • Reliable

  • Durable

  • Consistent

13.

Obert Original Black Hunter Archery Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Durable

  • Stable

  • Comfortable

14.

Knight Traditional KTA Sports WASP Takedown Recurve Bow

  • Stable

  • Versatile

  • Consistent

14 Best Recurve Bows For Hunting

1. KESHES Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 62
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 15-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 29
Bow Weight (lbs) 3
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $

Keshes takedown hunting recurve bow is one of the most popular bows out there, and for a good reason.

This beautiful bow is well built and has a flawless finish. The thumbscrews for the limbs make setup and takedown easy, yet the hold the limbs in a rock solid manner. The bow stringer included makes setup easy and uneventful

The bow itself gives an excellent experience. It is light but quite sturdy.  

It draws smoothly and effortlessly. It has a fantastic grip, and shoots very flat and accurate. Despite that, it is quite powerful in its own right.

It is quite durable and can easily absorb the extra strain put on it by overdrawing.

It is made to last.

However, always make sure the contents of your package. Some customers have received a thing or two missing.

2. Samick SAS Sage Premier 62″ Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 62
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 25-55
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 29
Bow Weight (lbs) 3.4
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$

Samick SAS Sage Premier 62″ Takedown Recurve Bow is a good multipurpose and versatile bow.

This gorgeous bow is a high-quality product with solid construction. It is nicely built, smooth, accurate and consistent.

It packs quite a punch with some margin of forgiveness to it.

It can be a great hunting companion for any person.

3. SAS Courage Hunting Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 60
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 35-65
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 28
Bow Weight (lbs) 3
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$

SAS courage hunting takedown recurve bow is made of quality materials and excellent craftsmanship. Assembly is intuitive and quick.

This incredibly beautiful bow is consistently accurate, easy to string or unstring, and comfortable to shoot.

It is very sturdy, shoots flat and quite forgiving.

This is a great hunting weapon with an ability to take down decent sized game.

This is an affordable, quality bow which will serve you well. It is built to last a lifetime.

One thing is quite noticeable in this bow though. It is a bit loud for hunting purposes. But that’s true for almost every recurve bow, and it is generally easily solved with some kind of noise dampener on the string.

4. Southwest Archery Spyder and Spyder XL Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 62, 64
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 20-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 32
Bow Weight (lbs) 2.3
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$$

If you are tall (or with big arms), Spyder from Southwest Archery is going to be ideal match for you.

It is beautiful with solid construction and quality. It’s easy to assemble and shoots wonderfully. It feels great in the hand. It draws and fires smoothly.

The riser is smooth, rounded and feels nice in the hand. The wood work is truly gorgeous.

The bow draws nice and feels good in the hand. It shoots fast and perfectly straight with no wobble.

Spyder shoots very consistently and accurately. It is a powerful and durable bow. All in all, it will leave you quite pleased with its quality and performance.

With Spyder in your hand, feel completely confident while hunting or target shooting.

5. Toparchery Archery 56″ Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 56
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 30-50
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 30
Bow Weight (lbs) 3.3
Riser Material Aluminum Alloy
Limbs Material Fiberglass
Price $

Toparchery Archery 56″ Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow is an excellent bow for its price.

It shoots fantastic, consistently, and accurately. It performs like some of the higher priced ones in that regard.

It is well-designed and durable. It is easy to takedown and assemble. It has an all metal riser with rubber grip. Limbs that come with the bow are generally of good quality.

It shoots quiet and fast. It is built as a survival bow, and it performs as such.

Some of the areas of note:

It is a 56″ bow and stacks pretty hard past 28″. So, if your draw length is more than that, it will be a pretty tough bow to handle.

Arrow rest is not of the best quality.

Some people have complained about getting twisted/warped limbs. But that is true with a lot of recurve bows out there which can be easily remedied by getting in touch with the seller. They have good customer service.

6. Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 62
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 25-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 29
Bow Weight (lbs) 3
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$

Easily the most popular bow out there. It is considered as a beginner bow, but it is actually a multipurpose and versatile bow.

It is a top-notch recurve at a great price. It is beautiful piece of equipment, well-designed with lots of attention to details poured into it. It has great craftsmanship and beautiful wood work.

It is very easy to assemble. Everything fits together very nicely and with perfect balance. It is powerful and sturdy, with very good tolerance and forgiveness.

The pull back is smooth and quiet, the handle disperses the focus of tension to your hand (no discomfort holding the drawn bow) and the second you let go of the string it feels smooth and solid.

All in all, it is a smooth, fast and lightweight bow that can serve you for lifetime.

Area of note:

Because of the popularity of the bow, there are a lot of fake Samick sages out there in the market. Do your research well to know the difference between original and fake one when buying it.

7. Southwest Archery Tigershark Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 62
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 25-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 30
Bow Weight (lbs) 3
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$$

Southwest Archery Tigershark Takedown Recurve Bow is a magnificent bow. The riser is very beautiful and it’s not just looks, this bow offers some great performance.

The bow is very easy to assemble and takedown. The weight of the riser is perfect, the limb attachment is solid, and the quality of the limbs is amazing. The grip is quite comfortable.

Despite the light weight, it is quite durable and fast. Whether it be limbs or the riser, they are all quality products. This bow has reinforced limb tips and can use fast-flight style strings.

It shoots very well and draw smoothly. Even the stacking of draw weight is quite smooth.

There is very little hand shock or vibration. The bow is put together very nicely and shoots extremely well.

Despite it being very quiet, as it is true with every recurve bow, a string silencer makes it even better.

One thing that stands out the most is that Southwest archery’s customer service is top notch. They are prompt to reply, and resolve any problem you may face with your bow or gear proactively.

Overall, Tigershark is built to last and very appropriate for hunting. Build quality and finish makes it a very high-quality bow for its price.

Area of note.

Bowstring could be better. However, a better bowstring is not much more expensive, and can be easily replaced.

8. SinoArt Falcon 60″ Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 60
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 30-70
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 30
Bow Weight (lbs) 2.75
Riser Material Magnesium Alloy
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $

SinoArt Falcon 60″ Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow is a well-designed, quality bow. It has nice finish and feels good in the hand.

It is easy to assemble and takedown. The directions were very helpful, taking you though step by step process in an easily worded language.

The bow is strong, light weight, and very well-balanced.

The bow is quite sturdy and durable. Performance is top notch. It is fast, accurate, shoots flat, and consistently.

Its size and weight make it an ideal hunting companion.

Areas of note:

A lot of people have reported that the limbs got snapped after some use. However, the company is kind enough to replace it promptly, free of cost.

Customer service of Sinoart is superb. The best customer service you can find in the market.

9. SinoArt 58″ Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 58
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 30-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 28
Bow Weight (lbs) 2.2
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$

Another great bow from SinoArt, this 58″ Takedown Recurve Bow is an Excellent bow.

It is a well-designed, quality bow. It has nice finish and feels good in the hand.

It is easy to assemble and takedown. The directions were very helpful, taking you though step by step process in an easily worded language. The stringer included does its job quite well.

It is beautifully constructed with quality material. It is light weight, sleek, and sturdy bow. It feels good in the hand, hits where you want it to, and has a smooth draw.

This bow is fast, smooth, quiet, accurate and comfortable. Very little vibration to speak of, which can be easily removed with some string silencers.

It is a short and light, but powerful bow. Shorter bow means that it stacks pretty steep past its draw length limits. But its compactness gives it certain advantages when it comes to hunting.

All its specs make it an ideal companion for hunters.

10. D&Q Takedown Recurve Bow 57.8″

Size (inches) 57.8
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 30-70
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 28
Bow Weight (lbs) 2.65
Riser Material Aluminum Alloy
Limbs Material Fiberglass
Price $$$

D&Q Takedown Recurve Bow has pretty much everything you need to get started right out of the box.

It is a nice kit for its price, however some of the accessories that come with it are pretty standard.

The bow itself is a sturdy and well-designed.

It has superb performance. It is accurate, fast, and consistent. It feels nice in the hands.

Couple of issues that have been observed:

There are only Chinese instructions. Actually, it is true with every D&Q bow. They don’t give instructions in English. However, Youtube is your friend when it comes to assembling the bow. Assembling itself is quite easy for this bow.

Arrows that come with it are not up to the quality. You would have to find better arrows if you need better experience.

Needs some vibration control on string and handle. There are lot of vibration dampeners easily available in the market that do a good job regarding this.

11. D&Q Takedown Recurve Bow 56″

Size (inches) 56
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 30-50
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 30
Bow Weight (lbs) 2.65
Riser Material Aluminum Alloy
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$$

D&Q Takedown Recurve Bow is of excellent quality that can be used for target shooting, bow fishing, or for hunting larger game.

It is accurate, fast and quite consistent. It is quite sturdy and shoots straight.

It is quite appropriate for taking it to woods because of its size and weight. However, being smaller in size, it stacks quite steeply in case you want to use past its draw length.

D&Q overall makes quite quality products in general, but the same cannot be said about some of the accessories included with the package. Some of it on the cheaper side.

Areas of note:

Instructions are not in English but in Chinese. Though you can easily find instructional videos on youtube on how to assemble and maintain your bow.

Depending on where you buy from, it may get shipped from China. It takes some time to arrive in that case.

12. JEKOSEN 2019 Eagle Eye Wooden Takedown Archery Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 62
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 25-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 28
Bow Weight (lbs) 3
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$

JEKOSEN 2019 Eagle Eye Wooden Takedown Archery Recurve Bow is beautifully made takedown bow.

It is a well-designed, quality bow. It has nice finish and feels good in the hand.

It has an easy setup and takedown. It fits well in the case it comes with, so quite easy to carry it around.

It is well crafted and limbs and all the other accessories go well with the bow, and fit perfectly. It is sturdy and durable bow.

This bow is fast, smooth, quiet, accurate and comfortable. All in all, a good bow to take with you to the woods.

13. Obert Original Black Hunter Archery Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 58
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 30-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 28
Bow Weight (lbs) 2.5
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$

Obert Original Black Hunter Archery Takedown Recurve Bow is of excellent quality that can be used for target shooting, bow fishing, or for hunting larger game.

It is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and very ergonomically correct bow. The workmanship is amazing; rizer comes with very nice contours and does not looks blocky. The bow has a very smooth finish in total.

This absolutely beautiful bow is quite sturdy and durable. It may have a sleek design, however the quality of material used is quite high.

It is accurate, fast and quite consistent.

It is quite appropriate for taking it to woods because of its size and weight. However, being smaller in size, it stacks quite steeply in case you want to use past its draw length.

In the hands of a practiced bowman this bow is an excellent hunting weapon.

Just like SinoArt and Southwest archery, Obert has great customer service too.

14. Knight Traditional KTA Sports WASP Takedown Recurve Bow

Size (inches) 62
Draw Weight Range (lbs) 20-60
Recommended Draw Length (inches) 29
Bow Weight (lbs) 2.5
Riser Material Wooden
Limbs Material Wooden
Price $$

Knight Traditional KTA Sports WASP Takedown Recurve Bow is a well-designed, quality bow. It uses quality wood, and quite sturdy.

It is easy to assemble and takedown. The riser and limbs were well protected, and are quite durable.

The bow is comfortable in the hand, with high quality and nice finish. It is very easy to shoot, and remains steady. It shoots really smoothly.

The bow is strong, light weight, and very well-balanced.

The bow is quite sturdy and durable. Performance is top notch. It is fast, accurate, shoots flat, and consistently.

How To Choose Recurve Bow For Beginners

Purpose of the bow

The purpose stands for what are you going to use the bow for. Whether it is for target practice, or hunting.

If you are a beginner and looking to get into archery, it is advised you first get a good grasp of archery form first before you start going to the woods to hunt some game.

The bows used for both the activities is not that different in functionality per say, but hunting bows are more powerful and more utilitarian compared to bows just for target shooting.

You can very well do target shooting with a hunting bow.

Any beginner or advanced bow will do if you want to go for target practice. However, for hunting, you need to ensure that you are using the right gear for the purpose.

Hunting bow has few requirements. First of all, its size, weight, and material. It should not to be too bulky and heavy, after all you’ll be lugging it around for long hours.

A massive bow can get tangled with the trees and branches, and heavier one will only become a burden in long run.

Material on the other hand should be sturdy and quality. It should not snap while you are in the middle of your hunting session.

The draw weight is a big consideration for a hunting bow. A hunting bow should have a draw weight on the higher side of the spectrum.

Many states and countries have restriction on bows below 40-pounds, some even have over 50-pounds limit. This is to ensure ethical kills and for the hunters’ safety.

Read: How To Choose a Recurve Bow

Bow size

If you are going to use your bow for target practice, buying a bow that corresponds to size of the Olympic bows is your best option.

These bows are quite long. This ensures the best and optimized performance of the bow for your give draw length and draw weight.

A longer bow is also more forgiving and small errors by archer does not hampers their shots.

However, for hunting, it is ideal to choose a shorter bow in general so that you can avoid getting tangled with trees and bushes.

A larger bow is also not very convenient to use in cramped and not-so-ideal positions.

How To Choose The Right Traditional Bow Length

Draw length

It is the length measured from butt of the arrow to the riser of the bow when you are at full draw. Basically, how much do you pull back the string when you are at full draw.

Taller people, or people with longer arms have higher draw length. Shorter people, kids, and people with shorter arm span have lower draw length.

Draw length can be roughly measured by measuring your arm span from tip to tip, and then dividing it by 2.5.

Choosing the right draw length is important if you want to use the maximum potential of your bow. The bow delivers maximum power when your bow is adjusted for your draw length.

Draw weight

In simple terms, draw weight is the power of the bow.

 It is the weight you will feel on your fingers when the bow comes to 28-inch draw.

This 28-inch draw is the industry standard. So, if the draw weight of a bow is, say 45 pounds, you’ll feel your fingers are pulling 45 pounds when the bow will come to 28-inch draw.

When target practicing, you don’t need a very powerful bow. Your arrow only needs to penetrate the foam or cardboard of your bullseye, which doesn’t require much power.

On the other hand, when you’re hunting, your arrow often needs to go through the thick skin, fat tissue, and sometimes even the bone of your pray.

To ensure ethical kills and to protect archers, governments and regulatory bodies around the world have some guidelines regarding draw weight of a hunting bow. At least 40-pounds (or even 50-pounds in some cases) draw weight is required for a bow used for hunting.

Read: How to Choose a Recurve Bow: a Beginner’s Guide

Take-down or One piece

Takedown bows are 3-piece bows. That is, the limbs can come out of the bow (the ‘riser’). Most of the takedown bows do not require any special tool to take them apart. They are easy to disassemble on the fly.

This makes takedown bows quite easy to carry.

Because they can be disassembled, they are more practical in many ways. In case you break a limb, or if you want to change the specifications like length and weight of your bow, you can do it easily on a takedown bow.

A one-piece bow on the other hand comes with a set specification and you will have to replace the entire unit in case of a little damage.

Takedown bows are much more practical in almost all of the scenarios.

Many bow manufacturers have their own proprietary mechanism along with ILF (international limb fitting) for fixing the limbs.

You can choose any, however ILF gives you freedom to mix and match between companies.

Read: How to Choose a Bow

Weight of the bow

Hunting is a game of patience. This means long hours of carrying and holding the bow at full draw.

Weight of the bow may not be a big issue in the archery range, but during hunting, every pound count. Thus, a lighter bow is preferred over a heavier one.

Read: Tips for Choosing a Hunting Recurve Bow

Stealth elements

Hunting requires stealth, so that you do not alert the game in any way. Thus, having a gear that helps you stay stealthy is an important extra requirement.

Some of the elements of stealth that you may need to consider are camouflage gear, compactness, less distraction, and better after-shot management.

Issues like compactness and less distraction depend on your size of your bow, while camouflage is choosing the color scheme that blends with the environment you’ll be using for the hunt.

Better after-shot management depends on two aspects. First is stability of the bow, second is how silent the bow is.

If your bow is not silent enough, the prey will instantly move as soon as you release the arrow. Plus, it will ensure that you are not able to pull another arrow before the prey leaves your vicinity.

Bows for hunting are usually quite silent. However, for extra stealth, you can use silencing aids. These add-ons reduce the after shot vibrations.

Read: Archery 101: How To Buy Your 1st Recurve Bow

Stability

While power is nice; how smooth it is to pull back, release and operate is one of the main criteria for long term shooting.

If you are going to use your bow for hunting, the chances are you’ll have to hold the fully drawn bow for more than a couple of seconds to get the best shot at your target.

stable and easy bow is an essential requirement for any compound bow, especially if you are going to use it for hunting.

Different people may have different preferences when it comes to comfort and handling of the bow. Certain designs and grips may suit some, while not the others.

Accurate

Recurve bows are fairly accurate in general. There is not much difference between bows when it comes to accuracy.

In fact, accuracy is largely independent of price when it comes to recurve bows. If you get a decent bow, it will be accurate to a certain extent.

Doing a bit of research on Google or Youtube in this aspect will guide you well. Very few recurve bows in the market have issues with their accuracy, and just a little bit of research will give you plenty of evidence to stay away from them.

When it comes to accuracy, your best friend is your own practice. If your form is correct, chances are a well-tuned recurve bow won’t betray you.

Read: Choosing a Recurve Bow

Price

Needless to say, price is one of the biggest considerations for any buyer.

Bows are expensive. They can range from $50 to over $2000. But a decent recurve bow will set you back at least $100.

Even if you buy a well-balanced, accurate bow below this price, it may not be of good quality.

There are a lot of cheap and flimsy knockouts in the market. They look exactly the same as the real ones, and will perform at par for a couple of shots.

However, they are not durable enough to serve you long term. They might use plastic instead of all wooden or metal body for some parts to reduce the cost. Even if they won’t break, issues will start cropping up with prolonged use of cheap knockouts.

Choosing Your First Recurve

Conclusion

The most important takeaway while buying a recurve bow for hunting is to buy something that fits you for your particular situation. More often than not, the “BEST” bow may not be the best fit for you.

While gear makes hell lot of a different, but it is only half of the equation to be a good archer. The other half is your form.

So, before you buy your gear, do your research well. Know what you are doing. And always remember your form.

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