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2008 Hoyt Dorado & Gamemaster II

By Bill Krenz

As strange as it may seem to older archers, there’s a whole new generation of bowhunters out there that knows absolutely nothing about recurve bows. They grew up with compounds, expandable broadheads and carbon arrows. To them, a recurve is a mystery.

But, to them, a quality recurve is also something they wouldn’t mind trying if only someone would show them how. After all, it does look like fun.

If you’re immersed in the world of best-quality compound bows, you know Hoyt. Their compounds have earned a solid-gold reputation for state-of-the-art technology and performance. But did you know that Hoyt can also show you how to shoot a quality hunting recurve?

Hoyt offers two exceptional hunting recurves––the Dorado and the Gamemaster II. They’re the type of foolproof, performance-oriented recurves that are perfect for either the old recurve veteran or the grew-up-with-compounds neophyte. If you’ve hunted all your life with a compound bow (and many now have), the Dorado and the Gamemaster II represent perfect ways for you to try the traditional side of things.

How They Shoot

Shooting any recurve is different. There’s no letoff, your draw length will be 1 to 2 inches shorter than it is with your compound bow and arrow speed will be more modest. But don’t be fooled into thinking that a quality recurve, like these two, can’t be shot with plenty of bowhunting power and accuracy.

The Hoyt Dorado and the Gamemaster II are very similar bows. In fact, the only difference between the two lies in their risers. The Gamemaster II features a 21-inch Hoyt TEC riser. The Dorado features a 19-inch more conventional riser. Other than that, the limbs are the same, as are the wood-laminated grips. Because of its longer riser, the Gamemaster II has a bow length of 62 inches. The shorter-risered Dorado is 60 inches in length. Typically, a longer recurve draws a bit more smoothly (less stack as you near your full draw), particularly if you have a recurve draw length greater than 28 inches. But these two bows draw very much the same. Both build draw weight gradually and evenly. Both are also capable of excellent recurve-bow arrow speeds and shoot very much the same. See the Arrow Speed chart.

The primary tuning aspect you have with most recurve bows is bowstring length. Both the Dorado and the Gamemaster II come with excellent Flemish-style bowstrings. By adding twists to those strings, you can shorten the string’s length and thereby increase the bow’s brace height (distance from the throat of the grip to the bowstring). A higher brace height yields a quieter but slightly slower bow. A lower brace height delivers a bit more string-on-limb contact and therefore a bit more shot noise, but a faster arrow. I set the brace height on both bows at just over 7 inches, and that seemed to provide a good blend of a quiet shot and a speedy shaft. For even more shot dampening, I would either pad the limbs where the bowstring contacts with felt or leather, or I’d slip tight-fitting rubber tubing over those top-and-bottom portions of the bowstring that hit the limbs.

Both the Dorado and the Gamemaster II feature a crowned arrow shelf that can be quickly equipped with a traditional leather or fur arrow-rest pad. Such off-the-shelf shooting is preferred by a fair number of traditional archers and works well provided you can get perfect arrow flight with this arrow-rest method. On the other hand, for decades I have much preferred to use an elevated arrow rest on all of my best hunting recurves, either a stick-on rest like the Cavalier T-300 Hunter used with a cushion plunger or NAP’s CenterRest Flipper. For me, a quality elevated arrow rest provides better arrow flight and enhanced accuracy. It also allows me to shoot weatherproof vanes on my arrows, should I decide that makes sense.

The Gamemaster II and the Dorado are also drilled and tapped for sights and include a stabilizer stud. If you’ve shot a compound for ages, you know how both can help you. Well, guess what? If your preferences lean in that direction, both can help you just as much with a good, modern recurve. Olympic archers long ago proved that sights and recurves can be a good match. If you want to use a sight, the Hoyt Gamemaster II and the Dorado are ready to go.

It’s easy to get intimidated by today’s hunting recurves. Most are wood because of dusty tradition and easy small-shop manufacturing. Many of the most highly touted are outrageously expensive. The amazing Hoyt Gamemaster II and the Dorado are modern hunting recurves. They features precisely machined aluminum risers, laminated wood grips, computer-designed limbs and such things as rest-, sight-, bowquiver- and stabilizer-mounting holes. They are state-of-today’s-art hunting recurves. If you know a lot about recurve-bow performance, you’ll appreciate all that. If you’re used to compound bows, you’ll find it both familiar and comforting.

Key Features and Benefits

Convenient Take-Down Design

Both the Gamemaster II and Dorado are take-down bows. After unstringing, the limbs can be conveniently removed from the riser with a simple Allen wrench. Each bow comes with a deluxe Hoyt take-down case for safe and convenient transport and storage. The TD feature means you could also have one riser and several sets of different draw-weight limbs.

Full-Cut Sight Window

A huge advantage of a machined-aluminum recurve riser is that the sight window can be cut past center. Most wooden recurves aren’t strong enough for that. That extra horizontal cutout allows for much more precise arrow-rest and arrow-flight tuning, and dramatically improves shaft and fletch clearance.

Sculpted Wood Grip

The beautifully sculpted laminated-wood grips on these bows have been specifically designed to ensure consistent bow-hand placement and therefore enhance accuracy.

Rugged Dependability

Hoyt prides itself on quality, performance-oriented bows that are bowhunter-tough. The Gamemaster II and the Dorado fit that bill perfectly.

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