Calling all archers for advice (regular archery vs instinct/hunt archery)

In My Humble Opinion
1

Warning, I don’t know the technical vocabulary in english, so my post might be unclear or confusing.

I irregularily practiced archery as a leisure (not as a competition sport).
I just can’t decide about practicing it using a hunting bow (long bow? not sure what’s the proper term) or a regular bow.

I just joined a new company, which is really great except that they’re very serious about archery. In particular, the coach very much intend to send me in local competitions rather than having me “waste my time” trying to learn how to use a long bow. Besides, nobody else is practising this kind of archery there.
I’m not interested in actually hunting. I just like a lot wooden bows (a like wood, generally speaking), I find that it has more charm to use a bare bow, I like the instinctive (?) part of it. Also, though secondarily, I’ve some light interest in historical reenactement, so it might (very hypothetically) be useful for it. At the contrary I don’t like much modern materials, hence don’t find regular bows very appealing, and I don’t enjoy all the sophisticated stuff you’ve to use and adjust to the millimeter if you want to practice archery seriously.
On the other hand, I tried a number of times to use a bare bow, and it really gets frustrating. My arrows end up pretty much in random spots, and well…I do like to see them in the yellow from time to time, or to make a good score. Some people tell me that with a lot of practice, I’ll eventually get it, others that I won’t go anywhere. Also, I can’t “compete” (even with people from my own company) and there are really few people using bare bows/long bows/ hunting bows/ whatever it’s called in english (and none in my company)
I intend to keep archery as a leisure, though I’d rather be a little good at it, nevertheless.

Everybody seems to agree that it’s not possible to have it both way and that I must choose one or the other. Also, I don’t intend to buy two bows (actually, my angst began last year, when I entered a shop knowing exactly what I wanted to buy and exited it completely clueless after “falling in love” with their hunting bows).

To sum up, I seem to be completely unable to make my mind. So, I’m asking all archers for comments, opinions, advice, on the regular archery vs “instinct archery” (or whatever it’s called in english) issue.

2

I shoot a compound bow, mainly for hunting, although I’ve decided that I’m not quite strong enough, and should really build up before trying to hunt with it again.

But I can’t imagine why you should restrict yourself to one type of bow. Several of the people on my bowhunting message board use both a long bow and a compound, depending on what they want to do with it. But either one is going to take a huge amount of practice to do on an “instinctual” level - it’s not an instinct at all, but muscle memory that you have to drill into yourself with endless repetition.

So, if you’re going to be spending all that time and a not inconsiderate amount of money, why not choose the type that makes you the happiest (not your company)? I wonder if the people you’re associating with might be a little snobbish about one type over the other; you find that in any sport. Is there an archery range around with some non-judgemental instructors, where you could try several different bows and see what really floats your boat before you get too invested in it?

I don’t believe that there is any sort of rule that says you can’t use a hunting-type bow for target shooting for entertainment, although I can see that competitions restrict like to like in events. We’ve got a local club here that puts on shoots at targets over varied terrain, and all sorts of people shoot all sorts of bows. They mostly go for the fun; I think any trophies are strictly small for a little recognition. Maybe there’s a club like that in your area?

3

Get yourself Windforce. No other bow does as much damage. You have to be a Level 74, with Dex of 162. Look for it on a Pindleskin run. Eaglehorn is another good bow, with the +1 to Amazon skills.

Windforce stats:
+250% Enhanced Damage

  • (3.125 Per Character Level) 3.125-309.375 To Maximum Damage (Based On Character Level)
    20% Increased Attack Speed
    6-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)
    Heal Stamina Plus 30%
    +10 To Strength
    +5 To Dexterity
    Knockback