New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

I'm new to the site and new to hunting. I'm 31yrs old and when my wife and I were recently at our local Bass Pro Shop I shot my first compound bow, and quite simply.......I'm hooked! Last bow I shot was in high school and it was a recurve at that......what a world of difference. I have found this new desire to start hunting, and as late in the game as it may be for me, its borderline obsession.

Anyways, I have done alot of research on bow equipment and manufacturers and have taken a genuine interest in Bear Archery's line of bows. They seem to be pretty good quality for the $ if you are looking for a bow in the $300-500 range, and thats about the budget I'm putting myself on at this time. Not really wanting to drop $700+ on a first bow buying a Mathews or Hoyt, although my father-in-law swears by both as he owns both. I have been looking at the Truth, Code, Instinct & Element bows. Does anybody have any experience with these? And is your experience good or bad? I'm leaning towards the Truth or Code at this point and would of course strip it down and upgrade the sight, rest etc. Just wanted to basically hear some opinions and experiences with Bear's products to see if my assessment is correct. Thanks!!

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

First off , welcome(to the site and hunting). I have no personal experience shooting one of the new bears but the seem to look good. There are alot of bows out there in the 300-500 dollar range. If I were you I would take a look at reflex, mission, and diamond bows just to name a few. Reflex is Hoyts 2nd line very nice but affordable, Mission is Mathews' 2nd line bran new this year. These bows are very nice for the money just ordered my brother in-law one for $350 for the bow. Diamond bows are bowtechs 2nd line of bows also very nice bows. What ever you do make sure that you go to a pro shop and get sized and set up right . If you father in-law is really big into archery take him with or a friend of yours that has some experience. Also this is the place to ask any question as everyone here is more than willing to help in any way they can.
www.reflexbow.com
www.missionarchery.com
www.diamondarchery.com

Good Hunting
Jeff

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

Wow it is like I am reading about myself....

I am also 31 yo, just starting out in hunting, handn't shot a bow since high-school, just got my first bow last week, my father-in-law is a Hoyt man...

Anyway, I tried out just about every bow in my price range (same as your) that I could find.Withmy no-experience background I honestly could not tell much difference. I tried the Mission X4, the Reflex
Rampage, the Bear Instinct, the Bear Element and the Diamond Rapture. I went with the Bear Instinct because of the combination of brace height, ATA height, and quietness and most importantly because it felt good when I shot it. The mission was the smoothest on the draw to me followed by the Reflex. I also think the Mission was a little bit quieter. But for my first bow they were also $200 more and I didn't notice enough difference to justify the expense at this time. And that $200 difference got all of my necessary accessories! I also looked at the Bowtech Tomkat but I could not find a dealer in my area that stocked one to try.

My advice is find a dealer near you that stock lots of brands and spend some time shooting each bow. Good luck.

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

my buddy bought a bear out of cableas and he says he hated it. he cant shoot it at all.
reason why??? why buy an expensive bow that you have never shot before.


my advice is go to the nearest bowshop and shoot there bows. find which one fits you the best and purchase it. you pay the $700 on the new 07 bows, they sell older models from other manufactures for far less.


name brands dont matter. what matter is if you can consistantly shoot tight groups with that bow.

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

Thanks for the info guys, I will definately check out those bows next time I'm out. I learn something new everyday.

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

MY advice is a little different. I'd go to a bow shop and get fitted for my proper draw length......and buy a TOP LINE, used bow. There's a SWEET Mathews ovation in our shop, right now, for $300. If it would fit me.....I'd buy it and set it up for birds and to have as a back up.

There's a LARGE contingent that trades up on new bows. They're trading in some DANGED nice bows!

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

HELLO! WELCOME TO THE FORUM AND TO HUNTING!I AM ALSO 31 AND JUST STARTED THIS OBSESSION KNOWN AS BOWHUNTING! I AGREE WITH WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING ABOUT GOING TO A PRO SHOP AND SHOOTING SEVERAL DIFFERENT BOWS TO SEE WHICH ONES WORK FOR YOU! I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BAD ABOUT FRED BEAR BOWS AND HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ALSO ABOUT THE REFLEX LINE AND I PERSONALLY OWN A HOYT. YOU NEVER KNOW, THOUGH, IF THESE BOWS ARE GOING TO FEEL GOOD TO YOU OR FIT YOU RIGHT UNLESS YOU GO AND SHOOT THEM AND SEVERAL OTHERS!!!

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

Welcome!

I'm glad to know there are others like me starting "late" in this hunting obsession! :D

I actually own a Fred Bear Bow...I have the G2 and its a good bow, I purchased a Reflex for my wife and it's also a good bow...I understand it may seem like a lot of money in gear at the begining, but most of it will last a while if you take care of it.

I also second the top of the line used bow; however this may take some time to find...get a decent bow, and get out there and shot...upgrade when you can...after all, all bows are capable of bringing the meat home, its more upto the hunter's skill...

just my 0.02

HAve fun!!

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

I'm with GMMAT. Get out of the discount stores where help and knowlege can be decent or not. Find a reputable proshop that carries bows and has some second hand ones. You can buy new in the lower price ranges but you could also maybe find a great top line bow for the same price. Shoot a few different ones. There is a difference.

RE: New to bowhunting, need your opinions.
 

Welcome to the site and hunting!

I have been hunting for quite some time but have only taken one deer...[:o] Bowhunting is definitely addicting although I do enjoy gun season just about as much. I would suggest going to a bow shop (bass pro is fine) and getting fit. Have them help you get your draw length and figure what weight you will want.

Then let them know what kind of budget you have and shoot as many bows in your price range as possible. Don't forget, accessories will run a lot of money. My accessories totalled about $300+. May sound like a lot but a good rest is about $40+ (I suggest a whisper biscuit...$39.99), stabilizers like a Doinker ($50.00), Quiver ($40), Arrows (shoot the 2" blades if you decide on a whisper biscuit) ($50/6), Broadheads ($50/6), Sights ($25 - 150+) (I went with the Trophy Flatliner at about $50), for a release I recommend a TruBall Short & Sweet ($55) and misc goods like peep sight and so on ($20).

Hope that helps.