I used to believe that you only needed one, till I was on a paid hunt and my bow string blew. I was in the middle of nowhere and nobody to build a string or buy one from. Had a buddy that had a limb break on him in the same situation....Since then I have always kept a "back-up bow".....Of course thenI had my 3-d bow too, so I understand how you can start accumulating them. Last month I had 5 bows in my house (no junk either), I decided to sell a couple to friends that have been asking to buy them....I am back down to 3 and this is all I need, 2 hunting bows and a 3-d bow....