Pete; Very first thing to do is go to your bow shop and have them measure you for your draw length----most important thing. Then try out different bows and see what pound pull is easiest for you. Be absolutely sure you don't have to grunt and groan to get it to full draw-----you'll find out this is extreamly important after you see your first buck and you attempt to draw your bow and you have to hold it over your head and are sweating to get it drawn while the buck jumps out of the area!!! You want to be able to draw it while you"re at a sitting position--IMO. Plus you won't end up having to have rotator surgery !!! I have a few buddies that think it's macho to be able to draw 80 lbs but they have to exert so much energy to get it at full draw they're exasted when they get it there and then can't hold it for more than a minute----that does you absolutely no good at all. You want to be able to hold your bow at full draw for quite a while waiting for the deer to get to you. After you get the proper measurements---look on EBAY and there are some amazing deals there. Especially if you're looking at next season to really get serious. The off season sales from guys will save you a ton of money and you can pick up a real quality bow for peanuts compared to your local bow shop---trust me on this. Hope this helps ya out.... In my opinion---bow hunting is one of lifes real pleasures. You extend your hunting season to 5 times what it would have been and putting a deer down with a bow is an adreniline rush that is hard to beat!!!! The deer can't be 200-300 yards away----it has to be 10-40 yards away and you can see their eyes..... Have a great hunting season!!!!