Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => Archery Gear => Topic started by: MrSmallington on October 31, 2017, 08:53:11 AM
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Contemplating picking up and working on bow hunting for next season. how do i choose a bow? what gear besides a bow is needed or commonly used? I do not have deep pockets but do have a year to collect. Now realize I know no terms and or lingo. treat me like a wicked smart 5th grader. :chuckle: what do you look for when buying a new bow? I'm a bargain shopper and do not need a new waive high tech bow. just comfort and easy pull and hold.
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Go to a good bow shop and let them school you on draw length, weight, sites, anchor points, etc. Be humble and ask lots of questions. Once you have a comfortable set up, and you can find bargain beginner setups, practice, practice, and practice some more. It's all about muscle memory. Get a membership at a range (Tacoma Sportsman's is where I go) and do the walk throughs, and practice some more. You'll find out what works for you. Did I mention practice?
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OK, so "wicked smart" immediately identifies you from the Northeast part of the country, right off the bat! :chuckle:
You're going to need to go to a bow shop and shoot some different bows. Some of the other guys in your area will know where to go. Buy your bow there if possible and develop a relationship with the shop. Believe me, having a relationship with a local shop will reap benefits in the long run. Since you're not Bill Gates, remember that bow season normally is fairly warm on the west side and you don't need to dump a pile of money on expensive hunting clothes, with the exception of good quality raingear. Immediately go to www.camofire.com for good pricing on a wide range of hunting clothes and accessories. To save money, concentrate first on the right bow with the right sight, rest, quiver, and release. Next, get the best quality boots you can afford. Next, get the highest quality glass you can afford - binos or spotter. Everything else can follow along as you can afford or as you need it. Good luck!
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I rifle hunt so I have my rain gear, boots, glass ect. just curious as to some of the main things to look for in bow gear. how to find draw length... weight. in Tacoma only place i know of is bass pro that has bows. my wicked dumb self just bought a new stock for my 30-06 so i don't know why i'm trying to move away from rifle. i guess maybe the season.
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I rifle hunt so I have my rain gear, boots, glass ect. just curious as to some of the main things to look for in bow gear. how to find draw length... weight. in Tacoma only place i know of is bass pro that has bows. my wicked dumb self just bought a new stock for my 30-06 so i don't know why i'm trying to move away from rifle. i guess maybe the season.
SPORTCO will hook ya' up. If I were in your situation I might start w/a package bow and shoot it a bit before changing out the rest and sight.
"What do I need to know?" Slick Trick 100 gr standard broadheads are economical, easy to tune, fly straight and kill deer well.
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nice. sportco isnt too far from me... and ive never been. im a bass pro guy.
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Don't buy a bow from BPS, please.
Hit up the local PRO shops...
Great NW Archery in Puyallup
Rock Creek Archery in Enamclaw (Denton is super nice dude)
Sportco, as mentioned in Fife....there a Mathews dealers tho :bdid: lol
Up north there's Nock point, never been but heardgood things.
As other guys said just go and shoot a few different bows. Now that the 2018s are out you can get a good deal on last year's model.
Try and look online for a bow too once you know what you want. You don't have to buy it brand new. You can save a ton by having it restrung, 130$, and tuned at a local shop.
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SPORTCO has a number of brands. Don't get too hung up on brand names. I used to shoot a 1984 Ben Pearson Spoiler and now I shoot a 2015 Diamond Carbon Cure and both have served me well.
Since you don't know what accessories you want to throw away money in $250 increments on yet, why not buy a decent bow that is on season end sale that comes with a package and learn how to shoot it. After a few months you will not like the rest it comes with or the sight, but you also are not in position today to know what you do want.
By next May or June you will have a good idea of what you want in a rest and sight and why. You could ask fifteen different people here to recommend a sight and rest and get close to 100 different combinations recommended by people who are 100% competent to make a recommendation as well as those who have no business recommending anything to anyone. Get something solid and learn to shoot and become familiar enough that you can figure out what you want.
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You need a mentor. I started as a bow hunter with My Dad at age 10 and continued until 26 then moved on to Modern and learned from My Grandpa and Uncle. Lastly My Dad and I learned Black powder from one of My Dad's work friends.
The learning curve will be much easier with a mentor. Bow hunting is by far the hardest and most frustrating of all of the hunting options. I would say that it is By far My favorite.
Also agree with practice practice then practice more. I wish You the best of luck.
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I've had great service at Lucky Shot Archery in Chehalis WA. Being new to archery last yr they have always been extremely helpful. I don't have a mentor or any archery buddies so it was all a learning experience for me. Like others have said, get into a setup and practice a ton. Extremely important-PRACTICE. Don't worry about all the upgraded accessories and all that until you really have a handle on your technique. John Dudley has some good videos on technique and all sorts of things related to archery. Hope this helps.
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Here's a copy and paste post I made some time ago on a similar thread -
Nothing wrong with buying a used bow. With many peoples insistence on buying a new bow every year (crazy if you ask me), you can pick up a very lightly used recent model for about half the cost of new. Check the classifieds on archery talk. You'll be amazed at how many are listed there. Just make sure the string is in good shape and bow fits you (draw length, draw weight, desired brace height, etc.) Make sure there are no flaws in the limbs (cracks, splinters). A little flaking usually is not a problem depending on the history of the manufacturer. You can probably find a good used bow completely setup too - sight, stab, rest, etc. for a good price.
50-60 lbs is all you need for hunting. Go higher than 60 lbs if you want but your accuracy may suffer and shoulder, elbow, wrist may sustain damage in the long run. You're not going to sacrifice anything in terms of accuracy or consistency with an adjustable bow. Most hunting bows are fully adjustable these days.
When I first got into bow hunting all I wanted was high draw weight and high arrow speed. Boy was I wrong. Now with experience under my belt, all I want out of my bows is consistent accuracy and forgiveness. I'd recommend no shorter than a 7" brace height especially if this is your first bow. Tuning, patience and practice are key. If you can't/don't do your own tuning, find a reputable shop or someone that has the knowledge to do it. I don't recommend Cabelas or any of the other big box stores. It's been my experience that those guys typically know just enough to put a package together and send you out the door. It's then up to you to figure out why your shots are not consistent at distance.
Don't get a bow that is too much draw weight and make sure your draw length is right on. If either are off, bad shooting form will follow.
Arrows will be key also. Make sure you don't go less than 6 grains per pound of draw weight, even though 5gpp is the safe minimum. Make sure your arrows are properly sized and your points are properly sized (dynamic spine) for your setup.
I know it sounds like a lot and it is but I've found that if you want to get proficient at archery you need to dig into the technical details of the equipment and the mechanics of good form. I'm not one to go out and fling a few arrows and call it good. I want near perfection and with time (and money) spent I hope to achieve that.
Good luck. Stick with it. Chances are you'll be hooked. There is nothing quite like seeing an arrow dropping into the 10 ring from long distance, very satisfying.
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SPORTCO will hook ya' up. If I were in your situation I might start w/a package bow and shoot it a bit before changing out the rest and sight.
"What do I need to know?" Slick Trick 100 gr standard broadheads are economical, easy to tune, fly straight and kill deer well.
[/quote] :yeah: The guys at Sportco will treat you right.
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If your going to go the used bow route do some you tube searches to figure out what your draw lengths is. Don't get a heavy bow 60-65 is plenty. On a used bow it's better to buy what fits then buy and need to change draw lengthy as some require cam and or cable changes.
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Hit some of the shops/stores and ask questions, pick-up several different brands of bows, see what fits you, get measured for draw length, maybe shoot a few if possible.
As for pull weight, the State has minimum of 40 lbs draw weight at 28" of draw, so that is where you would start.
Like any activity, it takes time to build the muscles up that you use to draw a bow, so start light and work up to what is comfortable to draw back without having to point the bow towards the moon.
After you have done some hands-on research and settled on one, keep in mind that Black Friday is coming up and all the big sales that come with it.
That is, if you don't mind dealing with some of the people that brings out. Some things are just worth paying a few bucks more to avoid...
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Down the road yu are going to put broadheads on your arrows and want to go hunting. If your vision is good, and you follow through you will probably see your arrows fishtailing before they settle down.
You may not be concerned because most of them still group as well as your field tips. :bdid:
Take the time to either tune the bow yourself by moving the rest slightly (very, very slightly) until your broadheads group where your field tips group or paper tune it before you go hunting. You never know when that once in a lifetime opportunity will come along and the last thing you need is doubt about the arrow going into exactly where your sight pin was when you released it.
If you used a bow square when you set up your rest and knocking point (D-loop) you are probable looking at east-west deviation on target at 20 yards of just a couple inches from where your broadheads group and where your field tips group. once it is tuned both will not fishtail before settling down.
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I’d go to Doug at Great NW Archery in Puyallup. Doug will Help size you, allow you to shoot, give you advice. I bought several bows and accessories there.
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Yes, go to a pro archery shop. If we don't use them, buy stuff, they won't be here anymore
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Im in the same boat as OP but would like to buy a bow that I wont have to replace a few years in because I have out grown it. What are your thoughts on buying new or used bows over the internet on places like Ebay. Is not having the warranty but saving money by going that route worth it?
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I’ve bought three bows via eBay. I was burned on one and now can find better deals locally on OfferUp, HuntWA, or at pro shops on previous year models. The one I was burned on was due to my lack of knowledge at the time. I personally think the warranty isn’t worth the money. There are a lot of sites that are better than eBay though. Take for instance, HuntWA. Several bows for sale, many just like new. Unlike others who might buy a new bow every year, I was buying every few months for kids as they were growing - lefty and righty.
When my son turned 19, he bought a Hoyt Charger, new. At the same time, I bought a PSE Stinger. We both bought new. The speed is comparable. The weight of mine is slightly more. The accuracy, well, I think that depends on the eye and release used, but I can shoot his a bit cleaner and more on target than mine. These bows will last us for a few years, mine probably is the last I’ll buy.
Research, go to a pro shop and handle bows, ask questions, and see if they have any used ones for sale. I also joined an archery range, which gave me access to shoot more often and in different terrain, as well as to people (many who mentored my children, wife and I). After being there for several months, I bought three bows, two recurve (1 new) and a compound. The big box stores seem to rotate staff too often for me. Occasionally there is someone behind the desk with great knowledge and application of the trade.
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Bow technology hasnt changed much in the past 10 years. I would buy a used flagship Hoyt, bowtech, Prime, PSE whatever and go from there. If you are wanting to hunt elk and deer get a 70 lb bow and turn it down to start. I would pickup a used bow off archery talk. Bows lose value crazy fast, devaluing 30% in a year, then 40-50% years 2-4. buy quality targets and arrows. Geek out, I build my own arrows and have learned a lot from NockOn archery. I would shoot a variety of releases, including back tension, tension, thumb and hinge. If you grab a strap you will be punching the trigger in no time and set up for failure long term.