You are right to be concerned on getting the best you can. My suggestion would be to get a nice Mathewes bow this year and concentrate on a gun next year if you can only get one. My reason for this is that with a bow yu will usually get a longer season and be able to be in the woods longer. Plus you said you like to hunt out of state and a lot of states don't allow cross-bows. but back to the bow always to try to get the best quaility gear you can and I don't think anyone here will argue with me Mathewes makes the best. As far as a rifle goes I would rather get a medieoka rifle and a real good scope then the other way around. Mike