Bow for my wife...

rackem406 · Aug 19, 2006

I've been wanting to get a compound bow for my wife and I was wondering what any of you would recommend or have experience with. My wife is 5'3" and 105 lbs so she won't be pulling back a lot of weight. With that said though I do want her to have a setup where she could take an elk at close ranges.

Suggestions.....

Rackem

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?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

dslaughter · Aug 19, 2006

My wife used to shoot and hunt with me. I originally bought her a bowtech lady hawk and I was not impressed. I went with it because of the company reputation but it just didn't equate to a good bow for her size and experience. Then we picked up a parker challenger for her and she loves it. It is a very accurate bow and much more forgiving than the bowtech. I think I could kill something with it if I had to.
I'm sure there's lots of other good ones out there but I would definitely give the Parker a close look.
Good luck and good for you for having a wife that wants to hunt!

a3dhunter · Aug 19, 2006

My wife has shot a PSE spyder for three years and I am not impresssed with it. We got that because we didn't know if she would really stick with it and didn't want to sink the big money into it. She just let me know the other day that she isn't going to be sitting around next season, she wants to hunt. With this in mind I have started paying closer attention to this subject. In the October issue of Bow and Arrow hunting magazine they have a special article on short draw bows. They recommend the AR31,AR34,Mathews LX, Hoyt's Selena and Rintec XL, Browning Rage, and Bear's Odyssey.
I will say the AR-35sd is a new model with a 34" axle to axle, but looks a little short on brace height at 6 1/2".
The Hoyt Selena looks to be the best bet with a 31 1/2" ata and 7" brace height along with shooting 287 fps---this bow was specifically designed for women according to Hoyt.
Bowtech has the Equalizer with a 7" brace height available in 23"-27" draw and low draw weight.

I will be looking at the Bowtech Equalizer and Hoyt Selena for my wife, we'll see what she likes.
Good Luck to you.
a3dhunter

rackem406 · Aug 19, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Aug-19-06 AT 08:54PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-19-06 AT 08:30?PM (MST)

Thanks guys. All the info is very helpful. I need to check those bows out and have my wife shoot them and see what she likes. Sounds like there are some impressive bows that will be effective on larger game.

Yeah, my wife likes to hunt, but she hasn't hunted for awhile because she didn't like my idea of me going for trophies and her doing meat hunts. So I only put her in for trophy hunts. I need to kill a monster bull soon so she doesn't have a bigger mount then me. Yeah I'm that prideful....

What kind of draw weights are your wives able to pull? I looked at the Selena and the 287 fps is at 60#. I don't know if that is possible for my wife to be able to shoot and shoot well.

Rackem

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?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

dslaughter · Aug 19, 2006

very close to 50 comfortably and with good form.

a3dhunter · Aug 19, 2006

My wife currently only shoots about once a month and doesn't put any training into building up those muscles needed to draw heavier weight, she is shooting at 48lbs. At thirty years old and being "pear" shaped she is not in the best shape, but matches me well

Boskee · Aug 21, 2006

My wife has killed 3 bulls with a bow. She shoots 50 lbs and every shot she has taken has gone completely through the Elk. She has a 24 1/2 "draw. She currently has a Hoyt Selena and thinks it's one the most accurate bows she has owned. Previously she shot a Sierra Tec and still has it to hunt with. There are quite a few good woman's bows out there today and they were mentioned in one of the above post's. Just make sure you get her a forgiving model because she will be more inclined to shoot something that she can shoot well and is easy for her to handle. Most of the woman's bows today will fit that bill.

ELKMASTER101 · Aug 21, 2006

First check her draw length.
hopping for the same length as yours,
then give her your bow.
Go out and buy your self a new bow.
if she complains tell this is how its done.
it is the law and you have to follow the rules
the same as every one else.
facts are facts.
it listed under code 101 beginner bow hunters rules and regs.

rackem406 · Aug 21, 2006

LOL, good stuff elkmaster. I'll try it but I have two problems. 1 I just got a new bow a couple of months ago, and two I don't know how she would handle a 31" draw. But hey, laws are laws and I don't want to get in trouble.

Thanks to all for the info, it helps a lot.

Rackem

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?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

BBB · Aug 21, 2006

I have a friend that bought the hoyt Trykon for his wife. She has complained about the weight of the bow with Tru-Glo sights, a quiver and drop away rest. Are trykons known for being heavy compared to bowtech and matthews? Any suggestions?

Drake · Aug 21, 2006

My wife shoots a browning micro adrenaline at 55 lbs with a 35/55 gold tip and 75 gr broadhead, she is very fit and can handle shooting it for long periods..it's also my back up bow little sucker is fun to shoot and has held it's timming very well over the past years. she is deadly at 40 yrds.

sagehnter · Aug 21, 2006

I bought my wife a bowtech blackhawk LH for christmas, and I can't keep her in the kitchen any more. I knew she wanted to try archery but was unsure of how she would take to it. never thought that she'd be the one to nag me about going to another 3D shoot on the weekend but I'm not complaining, I'm awful proud. Her bow is only 31" A/A and she shoots only 45#. She shoots beman 500 arrows and does good out to 40 yards but is really only comfortable to 30. If you're going to buy her a bow Just let her shoot it first to make sure she's 100% comfortable with that bow. Good luck

Boskee · Aug 22, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-06 AT 08:45AM (MST)[p]BBB, well here it is again, Size does matter. That trykon your friend bought is a nice bow and it does weigh a little more than most of the woman's models out there but it's still a nice short bow. Depending on how big she is it can make a difference. In comparison the Selena is 31 1/2"ATA and weighs quite a bit less so it's not always just about draw length. She will adapt with time and she still has one great short 33" ATA shooting bow.****** note to guys wishing to buy a bow for your wife, let them pick it up and handle it and if possible shoot it! ****** The issue is most shops don't stock them but if possible spend some time making phone calls and driving around. These bows are engineered for women and the measurements are scaled down. Set them up right and you may just find you'll get to hunt a little more and that's not so bad!

alpinebowman · Aug 22, 2006

Rackem take a look at the hoyt vtec. I got my wife one and she loves it. you can get it down to 23 inches and is definitly a great all around bow. I would get your wife a 40 to 50 lb bow and if she shoots is at all she will have it maxed out in no time. Just be carefull because she will be out shooting you before you know it. I know mine wife is. Just take it slow with her and you will have a great shooting partner for life. my wife got dicouraged easily but she is getting over that and loves to go with me now.

alpinebowman

>>>---shots that are true pass right through--->

rackem406 · Aug 22, 2006

Lots of good information. I appreciate all the tips. I am definitely going to let her shoot the bows first. My local shop has a few and what they don't have I'm sure we can find in Phoenix. Good excuse to stop by Cabela's too....

Rackem

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?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

GooseHunterJr · Aug 23, 2006

We just bought mt step son a Parker BuckShot and he loves and it and so does the wife. Know she wants a bow. I told here to get the same one and just a bit heavier on the draw weight. She has been out shooting me and only after a few weeks of shooting. i created a monster.