Best bow for first time hunter?

[JasonG]

I want to get into bow hunting but to be honest I don't know much about bows. I plan on going bow hunting next fall. Any advice on a good starter would be great. Thanks Jason

[bow4elk]

one you can get comfortable with and shoot well.  Don't get hung up on all the marketing hype.  Get yourself to a pro shop or find a good mentor to help you make an informed decision.  There are way too many considerations to cover here but you need to decide if you want to shoot traditional (recurve, longbow, selfbow) or modern compound.  That is the first question you'll need to answer.  From there, there are a myriad of choices and options.

Happy to help you out, PM me if interested.

Good Luck!

[Crunchy]

I started off buying a brand new bow after shooting a few different brands.  I knew I was going to be hooked. If you dont want to go that route try to find a bow that is a year or two old from one of the top brands and models.  A lot of people out there have to have the newest bow out and will sell a one or two year old bow at a great discount.  Just be careful who you buy from so you dont get a bow that has been dry fired.

[BLKBEARKLR]

you start out with a bow that you are comfortable with and that fits you. So many people have lets say a 29 inch draw and they see a good deal on a 30.5 inch one and they buy that and never really enjoy it. The best thing is to get yourself to a pro shop shoot some different bows and see what works best for you

[bowtech721]

Those guys know alot more than me but when i first started out i got a package bow from bowtech and love it. You can get an entry level package bow from a good company and upgrade the parts on it if you enjoy it and no matter what you wont be getting junk. Most shops can hook you up with every thing you need and help fit it to you.

[River]

Try the Martin line at a dealer somewhere near you.  The Bengal is a good deal as a starter; and if you can go up to the ProSeries it is really good bang for your buck. Don't mean Bowtech or someone else doesn't has great stuff -- just go and check out various manufacturers at shops near you (even Sportsmans is ok).  When you go just tell them you are new and undecided; most are eager enough for business they will be glad to answer questions and let you try out the gear a bit.  Every place will probably have their own spin (what they would prefer to sell) so you just bop around a bit and see what they have to say.  A good place will help you tune the bow and get you up and going.  Good luck.  Dan

[halflife65]

All good advice above.  If you have a reputable bow shop near you, you might consider buying the bow there.  You can tell them your goals, what you're looking to spend and get some recommendations.  I would try and shoot several different bows if I were you.  Even if you spend a LITTLE (not a lot) more on a bow that you would at a big chain store, it will pay off if you have guys that will talk to you, help you out when you have a few questions, etc.  It pays off for them, too, because you'll end up upgrading parts, buying arrows and broadheads, getting really into it and upgrading all of your other equipment, go shooting if they have a range, etc.

I was a long time rifle hunter and drew that multi-season tag the first year that it came out so decided that I would get a bow and try it out.  After hunting that first year with a bow (I ended up shooting a buck in a later season with a muzzleloader) I was hooked and have archery hunted since.  I have shot a lot of deer with a rifle and this just steps up the game to a new level, in my opinion (not that a lot of rifle hunters don't hunt really hard - they do.)  If it shows the difference in difficulty, I shot a deer every year with a rifle and only have shot one buck with a bow (although, to be fair, I passed up does where they were legal and some small, but legal, bucks that were between 20 and 50 yards because I was hunting a particular whopper last year.)

The interesting thing about bow hunting is that I learn a lot every time that I go out.  I also shut my mouth and listen super carefully to other hunters, even when they are telling me something that I already know, because there is sometimes that one little nugget of info in there that I can add to my knowledge bank.

[seansfire]

I am new to this forum but i already see alot of good info going around. I am in my 2nd year of archery and started with a Mission X3 bow. I went through Kitsap Archery out in belfair. I think i paid around 300.00 for the bow and then all the rest was extra. The best place to start is a pro shop so they can help you find a bow that fits you and your wallet.

Stay clear of Craigslist and Ebay for bows but they are good for arrows and accessories. You just don't know how much damage has been done to a used bow. Good luck and keep us posted.

[rooselk]

Lots of good advice here. The only things I would add is that you might tell us the area where you live so somebody could recommend a good pro shop (or one to avoid). The other thing is that you want to be sure you get your draw length measured correctly so that you know the proper bow to purchase. Also, don't overbow yourself by getting something you're going to have a tough time drawing back. Since you're going to need to practice a lot a bow too heavy to draw will only hinder your progress.

[JasonG]

I live in Issaquah Wa. If anyone has any suggestions on a shop near by that would be great! Thanks for all the great info so far. Jason

[seansfire]

i know it is a long drive but Sportco in fife holds alot of knowledge. Or run down to Cabelas.