getting started

[orcashunt]

I'm looking to get into bowhunting but have no idea where to start. What's a decent beginner bow? And what else do I need to complete the package?

[snarkybull]

hint #1
-don't listen to any of the brand snobs (mathews, hoyt, you know who you are ) who thinks their brand is better than others.

hint #2
-the accessories (sight and rest, at least) are more important than the bow, imo.  don't go cheap.  if you change bows, you can take them with you

[Tbar]

Ask Radsav

[Doc Sauce]

I am interested in this as well...   

[bowpredator]

Biggest tip, leave your wallet at home and go to pro shops and shoot as many different bows as you can, make notes on the ones you like, then go back and shoot them again, find the one that fits you and you feel comfortable shooting regardless of the make. Then pick the best accessories that you can afford because they are just as important as the bow it's self.

[oneshot12]

  got to go along with that   

[baker5150]

I recently took up the bow as well.  I tested probably 6 or 8 bows over a 2 month period.  I ended up buying the Diamond Infinite edge due to its adjustability in both draw length and poundage.  I'm really happy with it, and for $350 ready to shoot (except for the peep sight install) I figured I couldn't go wrong.  And if I ever decide to graduate onto a better bow it should be fairly easy to sell due to the range of adjustability.

[h20hunter]

I'm looking to get into bowhunting but have no idea where to start. What's a decent beginner bow? And what else do I need to complete the package?

Okay..I'm going to say it.

Don't.

You will just end up spending more money than you want, obsess about spine, accessories, cutting diameter, lighted or non lighted nock, biscut or fall away, fixed or single pin....and on and on.

You will get to practicing and enjoy the quiet and peacefull repitition of flinging arrows. When you hunt you will have to get way to close and probably just feel terrible when you let one go at a critter. See, you will be so close that your senses will be firing like you took a meth shooter and you will be able to hear the flight of the arrow and see the hair puff as your arrows hits home. That wet "thwack" that goes along with it will be forever stuck in your head. You will then want to chase other critters and begin to worry about poundage and grip. You will obsess over back tension and which style of release you need. It simply will get worse and worse.

I hope I made that sound as awfull as it is.

[Johnb317]

  
If you must carry on:
Thehuntersfriend.com has some good write ups on bow, arrows etc.

The above advice from all is spot on.