Time to expand

[OrangeSpear]

I was waiting until this years rifle season was over before i turned my attention to archery. So now seems like a good time to start learning and once i obtain a bow, start practicing.

So any advice you have on my new venture will be much appreciated. Im still googling and watching videos on YouTube, but first hand knowledge is always the best.

like where to shop for one? what size? what is tuning and how often is it done? what brand to stay away from?

and then there are those questions i cant ask yet because i dont know enough to ask them.

thanks
cory

[mdram]

look for a shop that has many types in stock (possibly bass pro iirc they have tons)
test as many as you can, may take several trips

find a good archery shop and get fitted with the bow you like

[Biggie313]

I just got into bow around Christmas. I bought a used never shot PSE Nova on craigslist for $65. Took it to Macrotech in Brooklyn MD, got it ready to shoot for $40. I wouldnt spend several hundreds until you get hooked. Way too many $500 bows for sale by guys who wanted to enter archery but never fell in love and stopped.

[XFireBowstrings]

I've been in the archery industry for a long time, and the biggest thing I've seen new archers do wrong is buy the first thing they pull back from a big box store..
2 big things to consider....archery and bowhunting is fun when you are accurate....ie good draw length/weight settings... you have to go to an actual pro shop to get that taken care of.... There may be someone at the big box stores who can get you close, but I have a ton of customers who have gone there only to get fitted grossly wrong by untrained, underpaid techs...

The big box stores dictate to the manufacturers what they will pay for an item, so most manufacturers make a "quality" brandX Bow and then they cheapen something down to get into the big box stores... It's sad, but it's like the TV you buy at walmart, it's cheaper, but it won't last you as long....and in the case of a bow/arrows/sights.....it won't be as accurate or fun....

Over half of my string customers the last couple of weeks have been for bows bought in a big box store with cheap strings that the servings came unwound or the string never quit stretching...... and if the strings keep moving, accuracy is impossible... They saved a bunch up front, but paid more for it in the long run....

So.....ProShop first.....someone mentioned Macrotech....he's top notch....

if your down by the beach, Craig at Whitetail outpost is just as skilled... They can fit you with something that is reasonable in cost and something you can enjoy for a long time...

Draw length/weight is the key to accuracy and fun!!

[jkray]

I bought my bow at Christmas from Pro Bow in Union Bridge. He sells Bowtech who I think has great factory strings, he will also get you set up and shooting tight groups before you leave.

[Vandy]

Brand and looks are subjective and completely up to you. So is weight - some like heavier, some lighter. Most, if not all brands will have bows at most price points. I wouldn't go all out for a top of the line model until you are sure you like it and want to keep bow hunting. It is surprisingly easy to spend $1,500 on a full setup with accessories, release, arrows, etc...

You will need to be fitted for your draw length - this is critical. If you plan to use a mechanical release, buy one you like and bring it with you. They have different lengths which will impact your effective draw length (as will use of a string loop which I recommend).

Another important consideration is what is called brace height. Shorter brace heights aid speed but require better form. Longer brace heights (over 7") are more "forgiving" at the expense of some speed. Most new bows today have plenty of speed. Generally the shorter you are, the smaller brace height you can get away with. As height (draw length) increases, brace height becomes more important.

Bows typically come setup for draw weight adjustable in 10 pound increments (i.e. 40-50, 50-60, 60-70). A 50-60 pound bow will be plenty fast enough for deer. I would guess that bows in the 60-70 pound range are the most common for adult males - but that's just a guess. My first bow was a 50-60 and my second and third bows have been 60-70 pound limbs. Start low and work on your form and muscle memory. Personally, if I can't smoothly draw the bow without losing form or reaching for the sky and/or I can't hold it a full draw for at least 30 seconds without shaking, I am shooting too high a draw weight. As you gain strength and skill, you can step up the weight. Each spring I turn my bow down to 60lbs. By the time hunting season rolls around I am up around 67/68 lbs and it feels lighter than the 60lbs did after a few months of not shooting.

I am personally a Mathews fan because they feel so good and are smooth. My brother loves Hoyt bows. That said, I wouldn't worry too much about brand name.

A place like Bass Pro will have a lot of bows but may not carry name brands like Bowtech, Hoyt or Matthews. I would check out your Bass Pro's as well as true archery shops and shoot plenty of differenct models.

Good luck!

[lx1x]

Originally Posted by XFireBowstrings

I've been in the archery industry for a long time, and the biggest thing I've seen new archers do wrong is buy the first thing they pull back from a big box store..
2 big things to consider....archery and bowhunting is fun when you are accurate....ie good draw length/weight settings... you have to go to an actual pro shop to get that taken care of.... There may be someone at the big box stores who can get you close, but I have a ton of customers who have gone there only to get fitted grossly wrong by untrained, underpaid techs...

The big box stores dictate to the manufacturers what they will pay for an item, so most manufacturers make a "quality" brandX Bow and then they cheapen something down to get into the big box stores... It's sad, but it's like the TV you buy at walmart, it's cheaper, but it won't last you as long....and in the case of a bow/arrows/sights.....it won't be as accurate or fun....

Over half of my string customers the last couple of weeks have been for bows bought in a big box store with cheap strings that the servings came unwound or the string never quit stretching...... and if the strings keep moving, accuracy is impossible... They saved a bunch up front, but paid more for it in the long run....

So.....ProShop first.....someone mentioned Macrotech....he's top notch....

if your down by the beach, Craig at Whitetail outpost is just as skilled... They can fit you with something that is reasonable in cost and something you can enjoy for a long time...

Draw length/weight is the key to accuracy and fun!!

this!

[OrangeSpear]

Thank you very much for the replies so far. This is exactly the info I was looking for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Treeguy]

If you got the money go to a proshop shoot lots of bows and buy the best feeling one...have them set it up right. It will pay to get a good rig

All the major brand name bows are nice.

I shoot a Elite bow...love it..bowtech before that..loved it...tons of great bows but is all about the feel

[VNVGUNNER]

Draw length is the key. Find a pro shop that is willing to put in time with you and not just make a sale. A 1/4", can and will make, a big difference in your shooting.

We are lucky here on the Shore to have Whitetail Outpost.

[Sideways]

Originally Posted by XFireBowstrings

I've been in the archery industry for a long time, and the biggest thing I've seen new archers do wrong is buy the first thing they pull back from a big box store..
2 big things to consider....archery and bowhunting is fun when you are accurate....ie good draw length/weight settings... you have to go to an actual pro shop to get that taken care of.... There may be someone at the big box stores who can get you close, but I have a ton of customers who have gone there only to get fitted grossly wrong by untrained, underpaid techs...

The big box stores dictate to the manufacturers what they will pay for an item, so most manufacturers make a "quality" brandX Bow and then they cheapen something down to get into the big box stores... It's sad, but it's like the TV you buy at walmart, it's cheaper, but it won't last you as long....and in the case of a bow/arrows/sights.....it won't be as accurate or fun....

Over half of my string customers the last couple of weeks have been for bows bought in a big box store with cheap strings that the servings came unwound or the string never quit stretching...... and if the strings keep moving, accuracy is impossible... They saved a bunch up front, but paid more for it in the long run....

So.....ProShop first.....someone mentioned Macrotech....he's top notch....

if your down by the beach, Craig at Whitetail outpost is just as skilled... They can fit you with something that is reasonable in cost and something you can enjoy for a long time...

Draw length/weight is the key to accuracy and fun!!

X3
A couple of other sites where you can get great info are
www.Marylandwhitetail.com
www.archeryaddix.com

[Gordon]

archerytalk.com lot of good used bows out there to pick from save yourself alot of money. good luck