Thinking about gettin started

[testar77]

Like the title says, I am SERIOUSLY thinking about getting into Bowhunting!  I am not a rookie at all when it comes to hunting, but I know Jack crap about Bow hunting gear.  What I am looking for is advice on equipment and such for a beginner!  Of course I don't want to ABSOLUTELY break the bank getting started, but I don't want crap either.  Anyway I now defer to you "bow pro's"  What are you thoughts?

Thanks, Toby

[Todd_ID]

Best advice I've got is to take that same statement into 2 different bow shops.  Tell both the same thing and see how they respond.  You'll be able to tell which one you'd rather do business with by the feeling you get about the conversation.  One may try and upsell you to the latest and greatest while the other will give you a straight scoop on hunting equipment.  There's no such thing as bad equipment, but some stuff is better than others, and you generally get what you pay for.  Generally name brand equipment is worth the extra price.  The extra money that you spend at the local pro shop versus internet shopping will be vastly more worth it in the long run for quality, service and experience.

Welcome to the addiction!  If you think golf is expensive, just wait!

[testar77]

Best advice I've got is to take that same statement into 2 different bow shops.  Tell both the same thing and see how they respond.  You'll be able to tell which one you'd rather do business with by the feeling you get about the conversation.  One may try and upsell you to the latest and greatest while the other will give you a straight scoop on hunting equipment.  There's no such thing as bad equipment, but some stuff is better than others, and you generally get what you pay for.  Generally name brand equipment is worth the extra price.  The extra money that you spend at the local pro shop versus internet shopping will be vastly more worth it in the long run for quality, service and experience.

Welcome to the addiction!  If you think golf is expensive, just wait!

I only know of one "bow shop" in my area, I have known the guy for years, and was going to stop in and talk to him but haven't had time as of yet.  So since I only know one option I figured I would try and solicit some advice from some of the "experts" on here.

[BULLBLASTER]

my best advice is get a bow that you like and are comfortable with and in your budget. then get the very best accessories that you can afford! accessories make the bow. much more important to have a good sight and rest and stuff than a top o line bow with crap for rest and sight. IMO

[Todd_ID]

Yep, he's right on the money!  Shoot five or six of the bows that are recommended to you.  One of them will jump out and say, "Buy ME".  It'll just plain feel better.

[testar77]

Yep, he's right on the money!  Shoot five or six of the bows that are recommended to you.  One of them will jump out and say, "Buy ME".  It'll just plain feel better.

Sounds like what I am going to have to do.  I seen a guy on here that made a set of strings in Boise St colors (not sure if it was xxx archery or not) but I can't wait to have a set of Husky strings made up!!!! 

[rose-n-arrows]

XXX Archery makes the 'Boise State" colors.  And a lot more.  They're great strings.  We have them on our hunting and target bows.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Since you are in Lynden stop by and see Roger at Wilderness Archery in Bow, Wa.  Try out a bunch of bows,  and find the one that fits you and feels best.  Roger has Bowtech, Diamond and Ross.  There are other shops such as the Mathews dealer in MT Vernon... (sorry almost gagged typing that...just kidding mathews guys).  If you are looking for a short ATA bow look at the Admiral and the Iceman.  Ross Carnivore is smooth and nice shooting also.  Don't rule out the Hoyt bows either,  if I was to go Hoyt I'd be looking hard at the Alpha Max 35. 

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Roger also has a Katera for under 500 bucks!!!    he had some issues with the hoyt rep and is trying to get rid of them, you cant touch a better bow for that price

[xXx Archery]

Yep, he's right on the money!  Shoot five or six of the bows that are recommended to you.  One of them will jump out and say, "Buy ME".  It'll just plain feel better.

Sounds like what I am going to have to do.  I seen a guy on here that made a set of strings in Boise St colors (not sure if it was xxx archery or not) but I can't wait to have a set of Husky strings made up!!!! 

LOL we can do that ...but you need a bow first....
there are a lot of good bows out in the Mid range of price...Misson. PSE. and Hoyt ...for about 450-to 650 for the bow....go to your shop and shoot some, as you are shooting them put the things most important to YOU in order, Weight of the bow, Speed ..how smooth the bow draws....all the bows will do the job and there is one with YOUR name on it...

[testar77]

Yep, he's right on the money!  Shoot five or six of the bows that are recommended to you.  One of them will jump out and say, "Buy ME".  It'll just plain feel better.

Sounds like what I am going to have to do.  I seen a guy on here that made a set of strings in Boise St colors (not sure if it was xxx archery or not) but I can't wait to have a set of Husky strings made up!!!! 

LOL we can do that ...but you need a bow first....
there are a lot of good bows out in the Mid range of price...Misson. PSE. and Hoyt ...for about 450-to 650 for the bow....go to your shop and shoot some, as you are shooting them put the things most important to YOU in order, Weight of the bow, Speed ..how smooth the bow draws....all the bows will do the job and there is one with YOUR name on it...

Thats part of the problem, I know so little about Bows that I don't know WHAT should be most important and in what order.  I am a gun guy, I know what I want out of a gun, but the bow thing is foreign to me.  Obviously accuracy is a MUST, but are most all bows accurate? does it strictly depend on the shooter?  Obviously quiet is a huge plus, and I assume also that a smooth draw would be quite handy.  What are some of the other things that I need to consider and think of when looking for one?

Thanks for all the replies so far!

[xXx Archery]

the grip on the bow, I like thin and the way the bow draws.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

agreed grip is number 1 for me, hoyt and PSE have the best out there IMO....... if your not comfortable  with the bow and have proper hand placement you wont shoot that well

[Bean Counter]

Toby, You and I will have to start a new forum on this board--FNG Rookies at Archery.  I took the plunge this spring and am loving it.  Take everything I say worth a grain of salt and listen to the pros like xXx Archery, Todd, and others.

In my humble experience, I would say that if you're decent at making say 50 yard shots with your .30-30, off hand, and without a scope, you'll probably enjoy archery.  I myself am looking forward to getting to hunt the rut for elk and deer.  

The biggest shock I've found since getting started is that it isn't going to save you much money over gun hunting. At least that's my perspective so far into it.  I reasoned that I wouldn't be spending $1+ every time I pulled the trigger.  That's true as long as you don't break or loose arrows    Then there's the plethora of accessories out there that I never knew existed when I lived in the smaller world of gun hunting.

You definitely need to get the bow that feels right for you.  That may mean buying brand new at a pro shop. However, I feel pretty lucky in scoring a 2008 PSE Mach X on Craigslist, along with a full set of high quality accessories, for only $400.  Bows seem to depreciate a lot more than guns.  I probably could have bought all the same new stuff and spent close to $1,000 more.  Some people buy a new bow every year or two and have a lot of used gear for sale.  That's just my  .. if you're not looking to get set up in time to hunt by this fall, being patient may bring in a great deal.  Best wishes.

[Bean Counter]

agreed grip is number 1 for me, hoyt and PSE have the best out there IMO....... if your not comfortable  with the bow and have proper hand placement you wont shoot that well

Grip was important to me, too.. but I think the thing that just raised a red flag on many bows to me was the weight and balance. Does it feel overly top heavy when you hold it? Maybe a little too light overall? etc. Gotta be comfortable there, too.