I built this bow for my Friend, Dax McCaleb's, Son Aidan. He is nearing 11 years old and has been hunting with Dax and I since he was 6 years old. He says all the time how he want's to hunt traditional but, this past year he has hunted with a compound because he understands that he isn't up to drawing the hunting weight of a selfbow, or traditional bow yet. He is getting a little bigger and tougher and Dax thinks he can draw the 35# legal weight @ his 22" draw length. Aidan has been Jonesin' for a recurve in the worst kind of way so I told dax I would make him a Recurve with enough performance at 35# to kill a deer at 10-12 yards with a good 2 blade broadhead. He doesn't know what he is getting quite yet, but Aidan and Dax are coming down this Thursday to go on a hog hunt this weekend with me. He won't be ready to hunt with this one yet, but at least he will get to take it home with him.
What I wanted to accomplish was a stylish recurve that has great performance and enough room to grow into it for a few more years. It is made from a super cool, kinky, Osage stave. 50 inches long and a solid 35# @ 22" (I think he draws 22.5"). It is tillered out to a respectful 41# @ 24 inches. That should give him a couple years of use. Once he reaches the 24" mark, I will instruct him to send it back and I will induce some reflex and sinew back it so it can be drawn to at least 25" and a heavier weight. By then, he should be ready to step up in weight anyhow. I steam bent the curves in my small form and heat treated the belly. The tip overlays are walnut and the grip is deer leather. It really spits an arrow well for 35# at 22" I have shot it several times and feel extra confident that it will kill a deer with a hair poppin' sharp broadhead..not a worry at all, providing he gets a clean hit in the ribs at 10 yards. It shoots 40-45 spine arrows like darts. This youngster should be the coolest kid on the block... for at least a little while.
