Hey CT! I think I might have you beat on the broken arrow use. Instead of buying a good pair of shooting sticks like the cheap @$$ that I am, I run a bolt through two, put points on the ends (so they would stick in the ground and stay where I put them) and spray painted them brown and grey. As for the other two dozen, I ground them down in a chipper and used them as bedding in my dog's bed. Cedar does wonders to keep fleas away.

PABeardBuster, he gave you some pretty good advice on the alum. to wood. And to be honest, you could probably find some carbons that would shoot good and use them if you like. But you WILL RUIN quite a few arrows before you get good. And make sure you are clear of anything valuable. Even then nothing is safe. I actually shot my roof (the hous was 30ft behind me) when an arrow hit a rock, bounced up and hit my alum. shed, went straight up into the air and fell to its shingle death.

I actually started on wood and now I wish I had began with alum. I do however love wood for the personal involvement. Such as a handloader with rifles, I suppose it has something to do with making it yourself (haven't gotten to the selfbow thing yet). And I just think that wood looks so much better than an alum. or carbon when you add your personal cresting. And you will never think of hunting the same without that busted cedar arrow laying on your dash that passed straight through a deer and smashed on a tree or rock behind it. Do that with an aluminum!
That's all I have to add for now, good luck and try your best to have fun and not get discouraged.

"Clutz by Nature, Hospitalized by Fate..."

Pyral