i've got a high country bow that is goin on 8 years old. i have replaced the strings and cables and plan on using it atleast year. still shoots as good if not better than my buddy's brand new mathews. but how long do most of u use a bow before buying a new one?

I have been hunting for about 5 years now. I started with a used Martin, and I used it for 3 years, and then I bought a new one. My new one was a PSE. The only reason that I got a new one ws that my old matin was probably 15 years old, and I had some extra money, so I thought it was now or never. I would say that if you like your bow that you have now, and it still shoots good, I would keep it, unless you juust want a new one.

I have bought one in 95, an 04 do not plan on buying another one till about 2010 or so,unless something happens to the one I have now.

If you take care of it a bow should last for a long time. Really besides strings and cables the only thing you need to worry about is limbs. If your limbs stay in good shape the bow should be fine. Ive had guys bring bows to me wanting work done to them but I wouldnt dare try to press them because of how brittle the limbs were. Just do your proper maintanance and care and a bow should last for 10+ years.

my bows will last a long time but I usually buy a new one in 1 or 2 years depending on my income[8D]

It depends on my financial situation.

I shot a Martin Prowler (50% let-off, round wheels) for like 10 years. I got a Matthews Q2 several years ago and I am still shooting that. I changed the cables and tore the Prowler completely down, cleaned it up nice and rebuilt it. I use that as my back up bow and I have it set up to shoot with minimal accessories, I have it tuned and sighted in for finger shooting and still use the aluminums I had for it years ago(new fletchings, nocks, and insertsof course). Although it is extremely behind the times technologically speaking I have complete confidence in that setup out to 30-35 yds, so if something goes wrong during the season with my Q2 I still have something to hunt with other than my recurves, which really limit my range. I have a buddy that usually gets a new bow every season (and newsights,release,etc,etc,etc) healways has the latest and greatest and it works for him, I develop a relationship with my equipment and it is hard for me to just replace them, ecspecially when they work great I can't justify spending the money just to have something new that realistically won't outperform my old stuff by a big enough margin to notice.

I buy a new bow every ten shots...with the amount of energy stored in those limbs, that is about how long they are good for
Jk jk
If I got the extra ducats laying around, I am always looking at bows. That said, I am single, have no dependants, and have no car payments, so that really helps.
If your married with kids, you might as well start fashioning thyself a bow out of sinew and ash...[8D]

Ain't that the truth. I got a 12 year old, 5 year old, and a 5 month old so if I drop a grand on a new setup I am definitely going to hear about it.

Ahhh the woes of married life...
I had a serious girlfriend a while back...just THAT was expensive and cut into my hunting budget.
If only I could marry my bow.[8D]