Rob is currently hunting with their newest bow model, a one-piece recurve called the Falcon, an anniversary model of a bow produced under the same name during Bob Lee's Wing Archery days. Rob's bow is a 62-inch model drawing 54 pounds at his draw length. His arrows are 55/75 Goldtip Traditional carbon shafts tipped with 125-grain 4-bladed cut-to-the-tip Phantoms from Muzzy. He also equips all of his personal bows with a bow-mount quiver. This allows for quicker arrow nocking with less movement and noise, which he feels makes a big difference in being able to pull off a second shot when, literally, seconds count.

GOING TRADITIONAL FOR THE FIRST TIME
While statistics still show compounds to be the preferred tool of bowhunters, those numbers can be deceiving. Today, there's a growing interest in shooting stick bows. Bob Lee shared some of what he tells a compound shooter considering a stick bow for the first time.

"When I talk to a compound shooter who is interested in traditional equipment, I stress upon them the importance of not overloading themselves with bow weight. The average man can shoot weights between 40 and 55 pounds. What many don't realize is that with a traditional bow, the shooter is required to hold the total weight of that bow at full draw. Over-bowing can spoil the joy of traditional shooting.

"Another recommendation I offer is to form an alliance with an experienced archer who will spend time getting them started with proper size, weights, form, etc. Bad shooting habits are easier to avoid than to break.

"In addition, most compound shooters have used a sight from the time they began, so they may be new to the dynamics of instinctive shooting. This is yet another reason that beginning archers should limit themselves to what they can comfortably control. And the 40- to 55-pound bow range is more than adequate for proper penetration of most game. This poundage can be increased over time, especially through the use of takedown bows (heavier limbs for hunting, lighter limbs for targets.)"

Rob Lee mentioned other things to consider. "For the first-time shooter," he said, "I would suggest that the draw length be 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches shorter with a recurve over that of a compound bow. As for arrows, I suggest aluminum or carbon shafts, with the latter providing better penetration."

In closing, I asked Rob to share any other words of advice that might help archers be more successful with simple recurves and longbows.

"I have three words of advice for bowhunters: Practice, practice, practice!" he said with a grin. "It's also important to mirror your practice setups with that of your hunting situation. For instance, if you're going to be hunting from an elevated position, such as in a tree stand, you should simulate that scenario in your target practice. Likewise, if you're hunting from a sitting position in a ground blind, you can mimic that setup by shooting while sitting atop a five-gallon bucket. Anticipate all elements and prepare for them."

In my mind, Bob and Rob Lee are inspirational to the rest of us common archers. They keep it simple at a time in history when high-tech gadgets run rampant. Some might call them old-fashioned, but their success speaks volumes. I can only hope that I'm still pulling a bow and thumping big old whitetail bucks half as often as 76-year-old living legend Bob Lee continues to do. His testimony alone should be enough to get any Texas bowhunter off the couch and into the woods this fall!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
For more details on Bob Lee Archery, contact: Bob Lee Archery. Bob and Rob Lee, P.O. Box 1215, 425 SE Loop 456, Jacksonville, Texas 75766, (903) 586-1877, Or you can e-mail [email protected], or go to: www.bobleearchery.com.