DC, just walk around Wal-Mart--it's pitiful. I was in one today, and ran into a friend of mine. While we stood there talking, I noticed we were in the ladies "undergarment" section (right beside sporting goods--go figure). Anyhow, the rack right beside us had spangly, see-through thong underwear that, judging by the size, were not meant for grown women. I worry about raising my son in this, but I am SOOOOOOO thankful I don't have a little girl to raise. My best friend has a daughter, 14 years old, that is an absolute doll--and it's driving him nuts. Good thing is softball is her main concern (she'll get a scholarship easy if she keeps playing) and she killed her first deer when she was 11 or 12--and still hunts.

Slugman, I looked up the Rudder site, and they do offer some glass-backed bows, but they still don't have the material costs or wear-and-tear on machinery that laminated bows with phenolic or micarta have.A bit less time involved ingluing up 2-3 laminations vs.the number used in most laminated bows also. I'd bet that whoever builds those bows has the right equipment, and knows what they are doing too, so they don't have a lot of time spent building each one.

Looking at long-term, if you pay even $1,000 for a bow (and keep it), it's a good investment. Properly cared for, it will last years and years (one thing you generally can't say about wood bows--wood will loose weight, take a set, loose performance, and often either hinge or break eventually). Down side is it's still $1,000 that you have to come up with up front, not knowing for sure if it is going to be THE bow for you.

I don't envy those folks that have a $10,000 worth of bows on the wall (well, maybe I do just a little)--I'm proud for them. I'm REALLY happyfor those of us that aren't as financially endowed to know there's still some great bows out there that don't cost as much, and will win a tournament or kill a critter just as well as any.

Chad