as you guys know ill be in a bowshop test shooting bows here soon.....first question....do they generally have to order the bows? or can i go with cash in hand and go home with bow in hand? just wondering so i can go early if it needs to be ordered so when im home for summer break i can start shooting..also..you guys all pointed me to the bowshops...but i dont have the slightest clue as what to look for other than a bow in my price range with 200bucks spared for a few arrows and accessories....but what do i look for in a bow and accessories??...just go with my instincs in what feels right??? should i let the bowshop lean me one way or another?? how good are reflex bows?? i been hearing alot about them...and really like the looks..specs...and most of all PRICE!! good starter bows?? what do i look for in a new bow?? and if you dont mind..maybe the accessories ect that are worth looking at that arent overly expensive and good arrows....and what to look for in accessories, releaseect.....will the bowshop point me in a GOOD direction or are they out to make ALOT of money and sell me garbage and expensive stuff i may not need?? sorry for all the questions...i just dont know what to look for or anything.....getting ready for when the time comes...couple months and its summer break...i want to be shooting!!

Mauser06,

I have only had one bow. There sure are alot more people on here that could steer you in the right direction. I would make sure that you have yourdraw length checked. Then check what your draw weight . Then try to find something in your price range that would compare with those specs. If you never have owned a bow before, I think the whisker biscuit is a good rest. Don't have to worry about arrow falling off the rest. Tru-glow sights seem to work good for me and not to expensive,and a peep sight.
Sometimes you can buy bows w/ all the accessories already on it. I would say if you can shoot a couple diff bows and find one you like. Get on here and let people know what you are looking at. They can probably dial ya in!
good luck!

I think the key is finding a good shop that you can trust. I would look around and shoot as many bows as you can. Don't be in a hurry, it's fun shopping for a new bow! Good luck!

I find it helpful to take a combination of an open and passive-aggressive approach to shopping for a bow. IT's a good idea to browse the web and print out specs on the bows you think you might be interested in, bring the print outs with you if you have a crappy memory like I do.

Most good shops will have a good selection on hand, but may not have one that fits you correctly in every model. They may have to order it, and most shops will not order it unless you put down some money or already have a habit of buying things there already.

It's good that you have an idea of what you like. I'd find a shop that sells Reflexs and has a good selection of them. Go in first and be honest and just say...here's what I have for a budget, what would you recomend? Very likely they'll point you to something they want to sell for one reason or another. Ask them why the recomend this brand or model. THen you can ask them to set up a different bow, perhaps the one you were already interested in.

If they won't set it up for you to shoot it unless you buy it, leave and find another shop.

I'd also recomend shopping without cash in hand. Don't tell them you don't, but a good question to ask is if they have a layaway plan. That way they already know that you want to buy but probably won't be taking it home that day and they may have to do a little selling too.

A good pro-shop will be staffed by hunters who know their product and shooting well. They should also be interested in getting you shooting well with what they sell you.

If you look for deflex riser bows in a compound you will only find a few, All of them high dollar. all the rest are reflex design how good are they? as good as it get's, I guess.

Was that sarcasm?[&:] I'm pretty sure he was asking about the Reflex brand of bows...

thank you guys...ill try to goto a few proshops.....heck maybe ill go next sunday while im up here at school with nothing to do.....get out and SEE whats out there in person....and have a while to SLEEP on it....being at school i have ALOT of bowshops around here...and when im home i have LOTS more......and someone on here recommended one that was close to home that is supposed to be very good.......i looked at alot of bows online...specs and all that stuff....kinda figured out my draw will be around 28ish....i did alot of lifting in my younger days(haha im 18 now) so drawing shouldnt be a problem..i know it will take practice and i dont want to be maxed out struggling...but 60/70lb limbs should do just fine...and still like reflex for the specs and price so far...

yes i was asking about REFLEX brand bows....dont really understand Bees post.....