I've been thinking about buying my first bow soon in the next few weeks. I've been trying to keep it in the $400-$600 range (with just about everything) so some of the bows I've considered have been the Diamond Rapture, Bowtech Tomkat, among others including a Reflex and Parker. Anyway, I ran over to a pro shop on my lunch break to peak around a little bit. Since they only really had a bunch of expensive Bowtech's, Mathew's, PSEs, and Hoyts, the guy directs me to a Hoyt UltraSport (they didn't have the Tomkat or the Diamond there). He said it's probably a better bow than the Bowtech or Diamond, mentioning that when you buy a less expensive model you risk the chance of getting parts that aren't the best quality (he used plastic limb pockets and strings/cables as an example). What do you guys think? I was under the impression from doing my research that any of these would be good bows to start with and would last me a few years.

I'll be shooting them all this weekend, so that will be the ultimate test. One other question... if I go shoot them at a proshop and get measured and all, do you think it's a bad idea to order them off of a sight like Hunter's Friend, etc? Seems like you can get a better deal that way, but who knows. I'm thinking too hard.

Did you say: "last a few years"? I am still using the bow I bought new in 1984. Still shoots great. I like the PSE Firestorm Lite. I keep dreaming of getting it and then stick to my old bow. From what I have read, it seems to be a good one, but what do I know anyway? If you keep a bow as long as I do, You'd better be happy with it.

Well it seems like a lot of people turn in their bows after a year or two, and I was saying that isn't my intention with my first one.

Go to www.huntersfriend.com

They have some really good packages and good deals on there. I got everything I need to start hunting in a Reflex Grizzly package for $525 on the dot. Give it a look, they are an amazing company.