In the somewhat near future before I retire I'd like to purchase a new bow and I love the looks of the Martin Hunter. Just looking for opinions from those that have experience with them. Thanks

I have two of them. Really love the Hunter. Unfortunately, they are both a bit heavier than I like to pull. They are a great bow.

Can’t speak of current edition but I bought one around 1994 and it still shoots just like it did 26 years ago. Very good speed, smooth,quiet and good looking to.

Mine (1990) was the only bow I had for the first dozen years I was at this. I’m now up to 6 bows, 3 of which are fairly sought after customs.

JMO, the Hunter gives up nothing to any of them, all-around. The T/D is more stable because Mass, but it’s a handful on a mobile ground hunt.... because Mass.

FWIW, I don’t believe in Magic Bows that will fix all of your problems. The Hunter is not miraculous; it’s just (IMO) very, very good. If you buy it expecting a miracle, prepare for disappointment; if you buy it looking for a good bow? All set.

GF summed it up pretty well.

The Hunter was designed for performance not necessarily comfort. If you have a long draw then you may experience stack, which many folks don't mind actually. It's pretty hard to argue with the success that bow has had in literally thousands of archer's hand. It is an icon in it's own right, just as much as the Bear Kodiak, and has a huge following.

As for miraculous bows, there are none, and you can throw money at the sport to your heart's content and still not find a bow as good as the Hunter. Once folks figure that out they tend to alter their outlook a bit....and save themselves some money as well.

Not that there’s anything wrong with pretty wood and fancy overlays ;)

Had a Damon Howatt Hunter ‘64 65# that was as fast as my Big River recurve. Mass weight was substantially more. Widely recognized as the best factory bow. Easy on the eyes and smooth. Martin has continued on.

I got my first Martin Hunter in 1986. It was a 50-pounder and in 1989 I replaced it with a sixty pound Hunter, which I still use today. I have no idea if today's manufacture is of the same quality as my old bows, but my Hunter has shot at least a zillion arrows and been banged around a bit. But it's still going strong. My first one cost $100 and my second one was ordered from an outfit called Bowhunter's Discount Warehouse (anybody remember them?), and I paid $125 for that one. Has the price gone up, or has the purchasing power of the dollar gone down? Hmmmm...

The new Hunter is an excellent and thoughtful re-do of a proven design.

I had two of them. Great bows. I sold them like a dummy. I wish I had them back.

My younger brother has one, I believe a 90's model, 55 lbs. It is a fine shooting bow. I've never heard a negative comment about them.

Murray

Bear addicts hate ‘em. They give those poor guys an inferiority complex.

;)

I own 50+ bows and have owned many more. If I had to pick one it'd be one of my hunters...if that tells you anything.

I bought my first Howatt Hunter in 1980 when I went to buy a compound. I picked up a Martin cougar magnum, drew it and the riser broke under the grip. I layed it down on the counter and told him to hand me the hunter hanging there. It was marked down because it was a 79 that hadn't sold. Bought it and never looked back. Howatts don't stack any worse than most. I have a 63 hunter now that 41 and goes to 53 at 32". My first was 60 and went up 12 lbs also. Hunters are 62" abd all I've tried go up 12 lbs from 28 to 32. My 64" SK's go up 12 lbs as well. And even my 62" widow goes up 11.

Traded my DH ‘64 which I had refinished by Martin to a guy in ID for a High Country longbow. Really wish I had it back.

Other than the Martin/Damon Howatt website, where can you buy a new-production 'Hunter'? Nobody seems to stock them.

3 Rivers sells them.

I had one new in the early 90's. Great looking well built bow that shot fast. I sold it to a friend because, for me, it felt like it "hit the wall" at 28 inches and I needed another inch and a half. He loved the bow, shot it well and killed deer with it. Don't know if he still has it. I know he shoots longbows now.

Nope, sorry, 3Rivers is not a Martin dealer.

I stand corrected. Technically they (3Rivers) are a dealer. But they are not in there catalogs nor website. They have very few in stock. So might be a good time to see if they have what you want.

Yeah, I found this one on Google but as grizz said, may want to call them.

https://www.3riversarchery.com/martin-hunter-recurve-hunting- bow.html

I looked on 3 Rivers and Lancaster, neither stocks them or any Howatt/Martin product. I did a search and could not find any for sale, not even ebay, the only ones I could find was on the Martin website. Did Martin simply go to 'direct marketing' and no longer sell their products through dealers or distributors? In today's market, that might make more sense....

I know it's your retirement gift but I'd look for a Hatfield era Hunter if I was you. It'll be a better price, value and IMO the style can't be beat. You can find them in like new condition and it's not to hard to do.

When was the Hatfield Era?

I had a 42# Howatt hunter I got new in '91 or '92. It was my first bow and the one I learned on. I went through many others since then, but that one was always my favorite and the one I'd end up going back to. Unfortunately it got stolen last year, along with most every other bit of archery gear I own(ed) and I've been trying to replace it with only minimal success. For me it was a sweet shooter and other "factory bows" (I'm talking to you, Bear) feel clunky in comparison. Just MHO....

"Hatfield" era would be 1964 to 2012 I believe... that's a long era! Pre-Hatfield would probably be a good bet too....

I bought this one used, early on in my traditional journey. Too early really because it is 60# @ 28". It took me about eight years and several other bows before I could actually shoot it. But it is super accurate and fast. I shoot Easton Legacy 2117's out of it and they are actually a mite weak, probably should go up to 2216's. I think it may be from the late 80's or early 90's not sure? So my vote is yes, just go lighter!

Hey, mine looks exactly like the one in the photo! I also made the mistake of "overbowing" myself when I bought the #60. I soon developed target panic and all kinds of other bad habits. Unfortunately, I had already sold the #50, and didn't have a lot of money to spend on extra bows, so I was kinda stuck. Taking up stump shooting with Judos eventually saved the day. It's the most fun and relaxing shooting I know of. No pressure and no chance of losing arrows. My form improved and I gradually overcame my target panic.

Yep, it’s a beast, ha ha. I never thought much about it stacking since I draw 28” and it is pretty heavy to begin with, but compared to a 60# longbow I have the Hunter definitely ramps up toward full draw. But I love it. Kind of like driving a drag strip car on the street; fun, but it will hurt you...

I had one like that in longbow1968's picture. Traded a Jerry Hill Longbow for it. Both were 60#@28" so an even trade weight wise. I think I came out better in the deal in the long run. Back then I had been shooting a little over 60# with fingers on the compounds of the time when I switched, so I had no issue with the transition. Actually it was easier on my shoulders with the switch. The weight gradually increased with the Traditional bows to reach full draw. The compounds draw peaking midway in the draw for me was not as comfortable after a while. At that time releases weren't allowed for competition or hunting, so fingers only for shooting. DANNY

Never cared for the one my dad had Damon Howatt back in the 80’s big , blocky and stacked pretty hard at my 30” draw, got rid of it

Never cared for the one my dad had Damon Howatt back in the 80’s big , blocky and stacked pretty hard at my 30” draw, got rid of it

My brother has 3 of the older models all in nice shape 57 to 65 lbs. which is to much for him to pull now, and he can't seem to get them sold. He shot a number of deer with each one. Martin Hunter ,and the Bear Kodiak are the cream of the crop as production bows. Older designs that stood the test of time.

I didnt even know they were still made.

Shot this one that belonged to my fiancé’s father over the holidays. Marked 55# measured 57# at 28” on Tom Clum’s scale at RMS Gear. I liked it a lot despite it being heavier than I’m able to shoot well these days. Seemed to throw a hunting weight arrow with some zing. I have owned a bunch of Howatts over the years, all good shooters. I don’t know where they’re made now, but if you can find a used one in good shape from the original factory you may spend less and get more bang for your buck.

Like George said way up the thread, Hunter has nothing to prove to anybody. And lots of custom bowyers only dream of building a bow as good.

Many of custom bowyers build em just like that, and the difference is very noticeable, in a better way, I understand back in the day there weren’t as many choices, but there are today, everything is much better ..... but , hey if ya like em, good for ya, enjoy

Try one from Tim Finley of Kota Bows and you’ll know what I mean, and he’s just one of the “custom” bowyers building em ....

Adam, I've been doing this over 40 years. I've shot over a ton of custom bows from lots and lots of different bowyers. And I've been impressed with performance of way less than a dozen.

But, that's why they make different flavors. Did you ever pay attention to the number of used custom bows listed for sale here and on other sites compared to others? Everybody buys the magic bow, until someone convinces them there's a magicer one.

Oh trust me I have, 34 years for me and many , many customs , trust me , and none have ever broke or had to be sent back because of “quality” control issues, none,,, I’m a custom bow guy,, always will be,, never had an issue,,, all my customs have been a one man operation,,, from all the BIG boys,, they take pride in their work,, that being said,, I forgot another,, a Wes Wallace one piece,, have a good day

There are a TON of reasons why so many people post so many bows, custom or not , but no one can tell me there isn’t a difference between custom and production , trust me I’ve been there many many many times ....

There isn't. And any custom bow maker who has ever made more than a few bows has had bows break, delaminate, and a myriad of other things.

And to infer otherwise is silly.

Bows ain't that complicated.

Well, I’ve been at this for 50 years. This season will be #50 and the one real truth I’ve learned is “ what floats your boat might sink mine.” Takes all kinds of likes and dislikes to make up a bunch of bowhunter/shooters.

But I will agree, Tim Finley makes one fine bow. And a real nice guy to boot.

It might be fun to see if you guys remember this. Back around 1990-ish I was going to college and my roommate walked in one day with a Black Widow catalog. As I drooled over the MA3 Gray-barks that I had no way to afford, I noticed the back page had a Martin Hunter on it. If I remember correctly it said that if you wanted to try a higher performance bow, but could not afford a Widow, they suggested the Martin Hunter. It only took me another ten years to get one, but I have been happy with it.

Believe what you will , I’ll believe otherwise, like I said, I’ve been there many many times, how many post have ya read where there was something wrong with a Bear bow,,, or a Samik, broke or delaminates, or handle craked or tips were off, I’ve read many, anyway , I’ll stay with my custom bowyers as I’ve talked to just about all of em and have a list of their bows in house a mile long ,,, NEVER a problem but than again I ain’t chasin the 200 fps rule, I know where to brace my bow, I know what strings to use( all low stretch) I know where to put my knockin point, and last but least I shoot HEAVY arrows ,,,, not my first rodeo ,,,, carry on

Believe what you will , I’ll believe otherwise, like I said, I’ve been there many many times, how many post have ya read where there was something wrong with a Bear bow,,, or a Samik, broke or delaminates, or handle craked or tips were off, I’ve read many, anyway , I’ll stay with my custom bowyers as I’ve talked to just about all of em and have a list of their bows in house a mile long ,,, NEVER a problem but than again I ain’t chasin the 200 fps rule, I know where to brace my bow, I know what strings to use( all low stretch) I know where to put my knockin point, and last but least I shoot HEAVY arrows ,,,, not my first rodeo ,,,, carry on

You are exactly right, bows aren’t complicated, but Many try to make it that way, it’s called stick and string for a reason

Unfortunately we lost a great great man Chad Holm, one of the finest gentlemen and custom bowyers around , try one of his stock bows if his wife is selling them ( not sure) truly a fine custom bow with impeccable workmanship and performance at a price cheaper than a new Martin , just sayin

The thread is on opinions by experience on new Martin Hunter bows. Most on here know that have owned, and shot, and providing that bow fits you well that you will never go wrong with the Martin Hunter. The right draw weight ,and fit are of upmost importance. Shoot one, or two if you can before you buy.You will soon know whether that bow is for you ,or not. I had a friend that was hot on a Damon Howatt Bandido that he wanted to buy from me. When he came to the house I let him shoot a dozen different bows. When he left he was the proud owner of a Wing Falcon. He shoots it great, and loves it. That was the bow for him.

I remember when you could buy a Hunter for $90 from the Bowhunter Warehouse back in the 90s, we all bought one. I ordered a Bighorn, got it in and later sent it back to be fitted with some longer limbs. I shot my Hunter in a bunch of tournaments while the Bighorn was gone. Seeing has how I had bought a new custom bow that I really loved I never fessed up to the fact that the Hunter shot better than the Bighorn, but it did.

I sold the 70# Hunter to a burly young guy back in the early 90s, he still has it and offered to sell it back to me the other day. I could handle a 70# bow 27 years ago but couldn't even string it today.

If you have a long draw - be aware of the stack.

Its not a bad thing.

“But, that's why they make different flavors. Did you ever pay attention to the number of used custom bows listed for sale here and on other sites compared to others? Everybody buys the magic bow, until someone convinces them there's a magicer one.“ Well said FDP.

I have one from the mid-70'sthat I find 'stacky' and I don't even have a long draw.

And I must disagree - I *hate* stack.

Disagree if you will, but “Stack” is a relative thing, and not necessarily a bad one, IMHO...

So what does a guy who is 5 foot 4 know about stacking?

Well, I have a bow that was custom built for a 25” DL and it was deliberately built such that it gains quickly after that; you can call it stacking if you like. I have not been able to shoot it nearly as much as I’d like just yet, but what I’ve noticed so far....

When I’m fully expanded, it IS on the VERGE of what I would consider “stack”, so I know that those limbs are working about as hard as they can stand at my DL. This bow also seems to enjoy reminding me when I have REACHED full expansion, which is good for my consistency, and it rewards a dynamic release with an extra little bit of juice.

In some respects, then, I suppose it’s a bit like having a solid back wall on a compound.

None of which really has anything to do with a Hunter, because reports of them stacking are pretty few and far between. I would be very interested, too, in seeing carefully constructed draw-force curves from the bows which have been accused of stacking.... Because I find draw weight to be a highly subjective experience; without data, you never know when it’s the bow, or if it’s just the archer who has reached their limit.

"Hatfield" era would be 1964 to 2012 I believe... that's a long era! Pre-Hatfield would probably be a good bet too....

Agreed...I just consider them more of a collector than shooter.

Wish I had mine back!!!

If you don't draw past 28! They are a nice bow. If you have a longer draw I would look at a different bow.

Mine does fine at 32". And it goes up the same amount as a 64" super k at 32, which is 12 lbs in 4 inches from 28-32. My widow is 1 lb smoother at 32. So not as bad as some would think.

Larry Hatfield was at Howatt's from 1961-2011. He was involved in the redesign of the Hunter that debuted in late 1961. That limb design was unchanged from 1962-2011. That about says it all...

Here's a 1961 Hunter beside a 1986 Hunter.

If it isn't broken, don't fix it.

The 1962 is likely my favourite year due to the knife edge but it shoots the same as the may others I have owned...predictably stable and fast!

I like the way they look. But I never shot one. You will have to let us know what you think. Once you get it tuned in.

The risers were thicker some years than others, but the thinner risers fit me like a glove. Even the 70's Bandido has the nicest factory riser grip compared to my other recurves hanging on my wall except for the risers I have worked on, and they still feel no better than the Bandido. Excellent Bow Co. That 62 Pdiddly shows would be my pick now at 35 lbs. of pull at 26.5 inch draw. Low draw hunter bows are hard to find.

Yes, the one I show in my picture above has a particularly thick grip. I wear a large size glove and my index finger and thumb will hardly meet on that grip.

My mid-70's has a thick grip, not a great fit for my 'medium' hand size.

If you are shopping for a 'used' Hunter, be aware that different years may feel quite different to your hand. I had a newish one in my hand a few years ago that felt _perfect_. Sorry I didn't have the budget at the time! (I console myself by telling myself it was an butt-ugly laminate riser ;-) )

For all you Hunter fans stay tuned for the release of our new Hunter 64. We took into consideration the people with a longer draw length and built a 64"amo Hunter to accommodate them. Our testing has shown 200+fps with a very smooth draw out to 33" length with a very consistent 3# per inch stack over the standard 28"amo draw rating. It has a butter smooth draw to 33" so any of you Hunter fans with long arms will be very happy with this model. The riser design is the Hatfield era design before they got the boxy look to them when the prior owners changed the design for some reason. We brought back the nice classic flowing sculpted lines which the Hunter model is known for. I will be doing the release on the Damon Howatt and Martin Facebook page first then i will get some pics posted here for everyone to check out. As a lot of you know I'm not on here much so please bear with me if you have any questions on the release post. I will also be releasing a shorter Savannah model along with a first for Damon Howatt that i need to keep a secret till it's released. I will just say the nfa and target shooters will be very happy with our new model coming in January. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Mike Bush Staff Manager/Headmaster Damon Howatt Division.

Oh man, Mike, you got my attention! I have one of those longer draws. I'll be watching for that.

I own and have owned two more 62" Howatt Hunters, and at my 30" draw I would not say they 'stack', but they do tighten up slightly, I'd say 30" is probably the max draw for that design. Just my opinion... I do like the Howatt Hunter though. My 58" Howatt Hunter is too short for me though, that much is clear.

Glad to hear a 64" Hunter is in the works, sounds very interesting....

Me thinks GEORGE STOUT is correct again, 3 RIVERS website is showing right hand HUNTERS 40#, and 50# in stock, others including the MAMBA say special order.

Had a 65# Damon Howatt Hunter 1962 for years. Hunted it hard and had fun. Had it refinished by Martin @1996 then got a Big River recurve @same # and thought I didn't need it, big mistake.

I am so happy to see that the Damon Howatt brand is alive and well, and seems to be growing. Always been a fan. Very cool that Mike is on the forum here to keep us updated.

The Martin website advertises then good up to 30” draw.

Have came close to buying one several times it just never worked out.

I was late to the game buying mine. it is a 1965 Howatt Hunter. And as often repeated it gives up nothing to any of the high end bows I’ve owned. It’s very easy for me to shoot that bow well. and I love the grip. Nowi what’s more impressive is it’s in immaculate condition, beautiful rosewood, and I paid $200. You can add $1000 to that figure and not find a bow that will shoot better.

Be aware that the later model year Hunters most likely have reinforced limb tips that permit low stretch strings to be used.

Theres not much bad to say about them except the stacky deal. The working limbs are relatively short. Thats helps performance and make them stack more at longer draws.

Some stackiness isnt a terrible thing - it depends on the shooter.

Purchased a 2020 Howatt Hunter last spring , it was very smooth and quick, unfortunately split the top limb around 1000 arrows later, located 2 1970ish models and really enjoy both, for what it’s worth

Like I already said about the stack. My 64" super k and actually all my longer bows except 1 all go up 12 lbs from 28 to 32". That includes the 2 howatt Hunters I've owned. Most guys talk about stack are overbowed to start with. Almost no bow stacks at 29 or 30 inches. Put it on a scale n see. 54 years shooting all types of stickbows, part of that owning a large shop, tells me thats so.

GLF pretty well nailed the whole "stack" thing. That's exactly what I have found.

Great Falls, when your 2020 Howatt broke, was it repaired/replaced under warranty?

Howatt Hunter recurve has been around for a long time. Mel Johnson used a 72# Hunter to take the famous world record Beanfield Buck over 55 years ago.

Uncle Lijiah...I am glad you mentioned Mel Johnson and the fact he used a Hunter.

I have been debating with a few people who insist it was a Diablo but what I have read does not support that. I think I will ask Larry.

Pdiddly, the 2013 Martin Archery catalog is my source. I collected Martin Howatt catalogs over the years. Clint

Myles Keller also used a Hunter for a number of years as I recall.

The Hunters are a great bow ! As good as any and better than some .

DHMike is very right. The person making the bows now is a great shooter and even a better builder. Each bow is made one at a time and this bowyer is talented. The new ones coming out is a must see and a must shoot. There is magic and love made in the bows being made now.

I've been a longbow guy for years, but the two bows I'll never sell are my Martin Hunter and Bear Kodiak. Every bow rack should have at least one of those, preferably both.

Might be the best 62” bow available. To me, the grip feels better than that of any other bow I’ve held. Ironically, it might be a bit long for hunting in close quarters. I would love to acquire a Mamba (the 58” version of the Hunter).

There is a beautiful Hunter for sale in the classifieds right now. The price is a steal for that caliber of bow in that condition. I agree, I wish all of my bows had my 1965 HH grip.

I have a 94 - 50@28 which I draw a little further. I have owned several custom bows, several of which shot very well. The Hunter is still my favorite and I shoot it the best of any I own.

I had a Hunter that was 65#, way to heavy for me. My son took it when he lived in Montana and gave it to one of his buddies. I hope it's out there still killing Elk and Deer.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here