you live in vancouver, go to archery world off of grand, best pro shop you will find and they are great guys! or call me at 360 823 3525 id be glad to give you a ride, Im there 7 days a week
do what this guy said, first thing i did when i wanted to bow hunt last winter for thie 08 season was...
1) file my taxes asap
2) collect my tax return
3) headed to archery world to be properly fitted and coached on the basics.
awesome guys on staff, and awesome people just lingering around ready to help a newb with questions if your practicing there.
chances are you can probably piece together a bow somewhere else or online for a tad bit cheaper or just have them take care of everything like i did.
also on the whisker biscuit thing, i wouldnt consider them getting wet and freezing a likely problem hunting in the sw washington region. it rarely gets that cold that it would get wet and refreeze. however everywhere here in the sw has substantial brush everywhere all year all the time and if the heat of the moment were to arise while your arrow was set and ready you might knock it off the rest if you had to move quickly or adjust positions and there was brush in the way. just my 2 cents
