Northdraw
Both bows can teach you archery and both can take deer. They feel very different in your hands, and the right first bow depends on what you want to do this year.
How they differ
A recurve bow is a single curved bow with a string. The harder you pull, the harder it pulls back, all the way to full draw. You hold the full weight while you aim. A compound bow uses cams and cables. Near full draw, the weight you hold drops sharply: that's the let-off. With an 80% let-off, you hold only a fifth of the peak weight while you aim. Compound bows also take sights, peeps and release aids that make each shot more repeatable.
Choose a compound bow if
- You want to hunt deer soon: most first-season bowhunters shoot a compound because the let-off lets you hold steady while the deer moves.
- You want consistency quickly: sight pins, a peep sight and a release aid remove many beginner errors.
- You want one bow that grows with you: adjustable bows like our Ridge go from 20 to 70 lb.
Choose a recurve bow if
- You love the simplicity and feel of traditional archery.
- You want to build form from the ground up, or shoot target or traditional events.
- You prefer a lighter, quieter bow with almost nothing to adjust. See our recurve and traditional bows.
What most beginners do
If your goal is a deer this season, start with a compound bow. If your goal is the craft of archery, start with a recurve. Many archers end up owning both.
Next steps
- Find your draw length with the calculator.
- Get a recommendation in four questions with the Bow Finder.
