I need advice on a good bow?

cpsandman · Sep 1, 2004

Well as you have probably guessed I am new to the bowhunting sport. I have been hunting (or at least brushing) since I can remember but always with a rifle. I still love to hunt but am getting bored with the rifle so I want start bow hunting (mainly deer and elk)! I have wanted to start for the last 13yrs but have never taken the time to get into it, well that's going to change! I'm going to sell my new 300 ultra mag and buy a bow and I just wanted as much input as possible as to what is a good bow to buy in the $500 or lower range (at least to start until I go nuts with it and my wife divorces me---lol). Please send me your advice on a bow (and anything else I "must have" that you can tell me about). My plan is to buy it this fall and dial in my skills over the next year and head out next fall (2005).
Thanks for you help!

CPSANDMAN

berto · Sep 2, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Sep-02-04 AT 08:55AM (MST)[p]cp,

check your inbox.

c3 · Sep 2, 2004

Get to a proper proshop and have them fit you. If you simply buy a package deal, online, you will most likely have all kinds of problems with getting it adjusted to your draw length and tuned, etc.....

Here are the things you will need to get started.

Bow (start with a 50-60 lbs bow if you can)
sight (3 pins to start with)
rest (whisker biscuit or drop away)
quiver (if you need more than 4 arrows your are doing something wrong

)
arrows (carbons to fit your drawlength and draw weight)
release (a $40 cobra or trufire will work fine for starters)

The biggest thing is to forget the macho high draw weight that most folks are trying to shoot. It's nearly impossible to learn proper form when you are overbowed and over drawn (too long).

Start at 50lbs draw weight if you are an able bodied person. Then after 6 months of perfecting your form you can go up 2 lbs a month until the season starts next year. A 28" - 60lbs draw will give you 55 ft/lbs of kinetic energy and is more the enough for any game animal out there.

Feel free to email if you have any questions. If you are here in Salt Lake you could even give me a call and I could show you more of what to look for in a package with out the salesmans hype. LOL!

Cheers,
Pete

Boskee · Sep 2, 2004

C3 gave you some great advise and I would only add a few of other items.
1)Ask for a forgiving bow with decent speed. You don't need a speed bow thats hard to shoot to start with. Get something that feels comfortable to you. Ask them to let you shoot it if you can.
2)Buying a bow is alot like buying a boat. Don't buy the bottom rung on the ladder mid line is good. Sometimes the extra $100.00 is money well spent. If you buy the right bow it will last you 4-7 years and you will save money.
3) There are some nice packages avialable right now for hunting season that are priced right. Example the Hoyt Grizzly package comes with a site , rest , quiver and is around $475.00-$525.00. There are other packages out there by other manufacturers as well that offer extra savings. Try to get a recent model and not a closeout bow. Closeouts are usually old technology but thats not always the case so ask.
4) Try to get a bow with an axle to axle length of 34" -38" to start with. They're normally a little easier to shoot and offer good stability.
Good luck and I hope you get as much enjoyment out of archery as my wife and I have.

cpsandman · Sep 2, 2004

Thx, good info. I was leaning towards a proshop but wanted to know what I need to look for. That is some great info. I'm actually moving to UT next spring. I'm from Riverdale originally and we are moving to Morgan (in the mountains!!) but I'm in PHX right now. Thx again for the help and will send you messages if I have any more questions.

CPSANDMAN
Cory