I currently have a crossbow, but I really want to get a compound bow. It seems people are very polar on which bow to buy. Some people swear by a certain bow, and the next guy wouldn't give you $1 for the same bow. How can I at least narrow down my search?
I will mainly be hunting Whitetail Deer. Let's assume for this discussion that $$$ is no object.
I suggest just going to several pro shops and shooting different bows, buy what suits you. Don't worry about what everyone else is shooting and don't listen to those that prefer Mathews, Bowtech, Hoyt or the other brands.
It's your money get what you want.
Most brands today have about the same technology, just get one and jump in, there is plenty of room for more bow hunters.
And Welcome to this awesome world of bow hunting, you will love it!
I really agree with what "The Rev" said. If you've got a $ limit, then figure it out and pick out as many bows and pro shops at you can in your area. It's important to me to have a bow that I like the looks of. Maybe silly, but that's what I choose first. Then after picking as many as I like that way, I narrow them down by which ones feel and fit me good. How they hold and then how they shoot and feel at the shot. What the draw feels like and the valley and backwall. I pay a lot of attention to the people that are helping me in the bow shop and how they handle other customers in the shop. If they act like know-it-alls, or just plain a__Holes, I skip that shop and don't go back. If they happened to have the bow I liked the best or had a bow that was close to the best for me, I will then find a shop that carries the same bow or bows, and see if I like that shop and people better. If it takes a few weeks to iron it out as to which bow or bows I end up with, so be it. I know in the end I'll be happy with the choice I made. I don't care about the brand or what my friends are shooting. I want the bow that fits me like a glove and I can shoot very well and all day if that's what I want. Good luck to you and hope you have a great time! That's what it's all about!
__________________
Bowtech and more!
Spot Hogg / Leica / Scott
Leupold / Carbon Express
The Great Open Northwest
Im not one who will shoot a certain a bow til death. I shot a Reflex(Hoyt) for awhile liked it. Now shoot a Mathews Xt and love it. A couple other my buddies shoot hoyts and bowtechs and all really like. Shoot what want and feels best....some bows i dont like are dartons just for the single reason to me the valley is really short....
as far as recommendations whatever it is you do, do whatever you can to silence it....deck it out in limbsaver accessories, stabilizer, string silencer, wraps, and other things can stick on limbs
__________________
Mathews Switchback XT 67 lbs. 27.5"
Gold Tip 5575 Pro Hunter Arrows
G5 Expert II drop away
X-Coil-STS Bar-Ultra Quads-String Leeches
Truball release
Bohning Quiver
get a Mathews cause ya only gotta buy one.... they have lifetime warranty on the limbs and the paint...my buddy got his pecker caught in mine, ill tell ya some other day, and he ended up breakin both limbs gettin it out....i took it to the bow shop and he called Mathews, they said no prob, mailed him replacement limbs($300 + each) and he put em on fer $25!!!i heard none of the other companies even warranty any of the bow fer life!!!!
moral is...ya never know what will happen..get the lifetime warranty
__________________ _ _ _Death Comes Out the End of This Thing _ _ _
I suggest making a bow about bow selection and explaining how one should go about visiting a bow shop and trying out different setups to see which feels best.
__________________
AR-34 ( Archery Research )
Carbon Express
I have a bow that is a 2009 basically new (never taken to the woods or 3D course) in the box that I would sell for a very reasonable price. It is a right hand, 70# Ross Carnivore 34. If you are interested let me know if not that is all right too.
I really agree with what "The Rev" said. If you've got a $ limit, then figure it out and pick out as many bows and pro shops at you can in your area. It's important to me to have a bow that I like the looks of. Maybe silly, but that's what I choose first. Then after picking as many as I like that way, I narrow them down by which ones feel and fit me good. How they hold and then how they shoot and feel at the shot. What the draw feels like and the valley and backwall. I pay a lot of attention to the people that are helping me in the bow shop and how they handle other customers in the shop. If they act like know-it-alls, or just plain a__Holes, I skip that shop and don't go back. If they happened to have the bow I liked the best or had a bow that was close to the best for me, I will then find a shop that carries the same bow or bows, and see if I like that shop and people better. If it takes a few weeks to iron it out as to which bow or bows I end up with, so be it. I know in the end I'll be happy with the choice I made. I don't care about the brand or what my friends are shooting. I want the bow that fits me like a glove and I can shoot very well and all day if that's what I want. Good luck to you and hope you have a great time! That's what it's all about!
That is more or less what I figured. I was hoping there might be a shortcut instead of going and shooting 10,000,000 different bows. Just hoping I could cut out some leg work. Thanks for the advice....
Would you prefer us "telling" you what to shoot? I have this $10,000.00 bow that you have to have, cash only!!!lol I also have some land for sale! Anyway, you might just have fun, if you are going to pratice you will have to shoot, so go shoot a lot of bows, or just go to the shop you like dealing with and shoot only his bows. You will have to have service after the sale, as for warranty and Matthews, I just installed a set of limbs, second hand bow and it only cost, shipping, install and the limbs, $58.00. Most bows are warranted for life with the exception of second hand. Just because so and so doesn't like Darton try one, if you can. They have inproved to the point that I will be shooting one in 2010, the new Pro 3800, fast and smooth.
__________________
Non Typical Archery
Pro dealer for Trophy Blend Deer scent, Target Boy targets, Darton bows/crossbows, Specialty Archery Peeps, Carbomask, AMG, and many other brands.
Some good advice above. The best thing you can do is go to reputable archery dealer that has a decent selection of bows in various price ranges. When I worked in a shop the first question I would ask the customer is "What price range are we talking abou?". That was the determining factor in which bows were recommended. There was no point in recommending a $700 bow if the customer only had $400 to spend.
Shoot several of them and see which you prefer to shoot. Make sure they measure you correctly for draw length and draw weight ofcourse. Having a bow that fits you is a huge factor (if not the most important) along with price.
Want to buy a good bow
_ _ _Death Comes Out the End of This Thing _ _ _
Anyway, you might just have fun, if you are going to pratice you will have to shoot, so go shoot a lot of bows, or just go to the shop you like dealing with and shoot only his bows. You will have to have service after the sale, as for warranty and Matthews, I just installed a set of limbs, second hand bow and it only cost, shipping, install and the limbs, $58.00. Most bows are warranted for life with the exception of second hand. Just because so and so doesn't like Darton try one, if you can. They have inproved to the point that I will be shooting one in 2010, the new Pro 3800, fast and smooth.
