6 reasons why the recurve crossbow is the best choice for bowhunting

There’s an old acronym about deer hunting in my neck of the woods that I’ve been hearing since I was a kid. Folks refer to it as the KISS principle—keep it simple, stupid. And that’s exactly why I love recurve crossbows. They just make more sense once you’ve dragged them through the bush enough.

Crossbows in general have come a long way since their inception more than a millennium ago, with today’s latest compound, reverse-draw, high-tech set-ups boasting speeds of 500-plus fps. More speed and power are great, but if your rig has more moving parts than a pocket watch, can you really trust it? When it counts the most in the middle of nowhere, recurve crossbows are still the king.

Recurves are lean, honest machines—there’s less to go wrong, and they’re easier to use and maintain than most other bows. Generations of hunters have filled freezers with them, and that kind of proven legacy means you’re shooting a design you can trust, not just the latest gadget that might be outdated in a couple of seasons. If you want something that will keep shooting straight season after season with minimal fuss, recurve crossbows offer the perfect balance of practicality and performance. Here’s why.

#1  SIMPLICITY

When you’re deep in the bush or perched in a stand, the last thing you want to worry about is your equipment failing. A recurve crossbow is as straightforward as it gets—just the limbs, string, rail and trigger, with no cams to fall out of sync, or pulleys to jam up in the cold. That simplicity is exactly what makes this bow so reliable. If something goes wrong, the chances are good you can figure out how to fix it yourself. Such peace of mind matters more than speed ratings when the shot of the season presents itself.

With compound or reverse-draw crossbows, for example, a broken string basically ends your hunt until you can find a shop with a bow press and someone who knows how to fix it. With a recurve, just keep a stringer and a spare string in your pack, and you’re back in business in minutes if you need to make a change. I’ve done it sitting on a log deep in the woods. That kind of self-sufficiency is priceless.

#2  MANOEUVRABILITY

Weight matters. Recurves tend to run lighter than other bows, especially in the forend, and that’s a huge bonus when you’re climbing in and out of stands or sitting with a bow on your lap for hours. They also balance better in the hand, and they’re easier for new hunters to use and shoot.

#3  DURABIILITY

Bowhunting doesn’t always happen on bluebird days. I’ve headed out in pouring rain, sleet, snow and temperatures so cold my fingers barely worked. A recurve just shrugs it off. It’s far less likely to jam or seize up from mud, ice or moisture because there just aren’t many moving parts to fail. Such ruggedness makes the recurve a trusted partner when the elements test your equipment as hard as they test you.

#4  PREDICTABILITY

Recurves offer a smooth, predictable shot, and the lack of cams means fewer surprises in shot dynamics. Tuning a recurve is also much less finicky. You can easily fine-tune the brace height (by adding or removing twists in the string) without wrestling with cams and timing, for example.

#5  SECRECY

Contrary to popular belief, recurve crossbows are quieter than many compound equivalents because their simple design has fewer moving parts and less mechanical noise when the string releases. With a good string stop and simple dampening, a recurve can become impressively quiet. In my book, silence trumps raw speed, as a louder release increases the odds of a deer jumping the string and ruining the shot.

#6  AFFORDABILITY

A final huge advantage of recurve crossbows that doesn’t get talked about enough is the price. Recurves are almost universally easier on the wallet than fancier tech, which means you can put more of your budget into good glass and other quality hunting gear—and ensure you’re properly equipped when hunting season rolls around again.