Bows are getting way too expensive in my opinion. That being said there are still some deals in the 300 dollar range.

My advice is if you get one, don't go to Bass Pro. Find a decent pro shop and let them know what your budget is.

Archery is expensive though, especially when you are first starting out.

Paul

I agree about the strange lack of correlation between gun and bow prices. Maybe bows will start to hit a ceiling of peak performance and will level off for a while. Just like it's hard to improve a basic Remington or Winchester bolt action rifle, maybe bows will get to that point one day. I kind of have my doubts, but maybe we will soon see a gradual levelling off, where the model year differences start becoming more and more cosmetic, and where an 2008 really doesn't shoot any different than a 2010 model.

I was also surprised at the barebow prices in the BP catalog. If I remember right, there were about 6 bows in it that cost within $50-100 of a new Tribute, Allegiance, or Switchback XT (a few that were more like the Mach X). I couldn't imagine paying about the same for a Bass Pro bow (with worse specs) than these top of the line bows bought from a local shop who would take the time to set it up properly, tune it, and back up the product.

If your price range is $250 - $450, I think that BP might have the right bow to hit the sweet spot (especially with the package deals), but above that, I just don't get it. I think that you can get plenty of bow for any deer in this price range, but I chose not to go that route this time.

Also, am I the only one that didn't think that BP accessory prices were all that great either?

These guys are pretty much right on, so I won't repeat it, but I will answer a question you asked about this year's models vs. next....

The advances in bow technology amaze me every year. I relate it to computers. Every year amazes me at how much better they are than last. I know Hoyt, so that's what I talk about. They Trykon is one AWESOME bow, won honors of bow of the year and all that good stuff......This year the Vectrix was introduced, and I am bein honest when I say it is WAY better than the Trykon....

I often find myself wondering what they will be like in 5 years....I am amazed every year at how much they improve. Are they overpriced? Yep. But is it worth it? IMO, yep.

You need to go to the thread where the kid is looking at an outdated PSE that PSE still sales new and say the same thing there. I'm about ready to sendthe poor kidthe $30 to buy the better PSE or BEAR package.

I remember being in that boat when I was I graduated from college. Didn't have a lot of moeny but wanted a bow so I bought abow. However, there were much better bows for $50 more.I should have suffered that extra $50 or so fora better model.I liked the bow the day I walked out of the shop but startedhating it 6 months later when the limbs started to turn and the accuracy was worse than my Whitetail Legend. Actually stopped shooting for a few years because of that bow.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2111786

Sure, there is nothing wrongwith the older bows but the new ones do things that much better.

ya but i got my bear omni pro on sale for 200 on sale. and i have killed lots of big game with it

As a recent college grad thatjusttook up the sport, Ihave learned quickly that the price of archery isn't limited to a bow. In the two months I have been shooting, I have spent a pretty penny putting together a rig and getting accesories. Although my paltry teacher salary doesn't allow me to splurge on every item I want, a new set of priorities (if I wantnew arrows, I can't go out drinking with the boysfor one month, etc.)has allowed me to enjoy archery with good equipment bought at reasonable prices. I NEVER would have thought it was this expensive, but, just like anything, you get what you put in.

P.S. I have a Bear Instinct. I really like the bow, and think for the price it is worth a serious look.

Bear has really turned a corner in my eyes from the entry level bows in the late 1990's.

The entry level Bear Buckmaster was the bow I refered to in my earlier post. It was the recurved split limb model and the limbs rotated on it. I know they fixed that problem with the plate over the limb bolt.

The Instinct looks like a nice bow.

I would encourage anybody looking for a great bow at a good price to check out Pearson's lineup. The Z-34 is almost identical to a Ross Cardiac and you can pick one up for $499 - and that includes custom strings and cables.

Or you can go over to archerytalk and search for Monofletch's Pearson's. He sells limited run models for around $300-$400 that are literally the same bows that the dealers sell for hundreds of dollars more.

You can also pick up barely used Pearson Stealth's for around $350. The Stealth shoots every bit as good as the Trykon and Vectrix that I shot side by side. The deal with Pearson's is that because they don't say "Hoyt", "Mathews", or "Bowtech" the resale value stinks. But if you are buying used, you can get an unbelievable bow at a great price.

Manufacturers know there is a strong market for $800 + bows and they are more than happy to supply it. As long as that market exists somebody will supply it regardless of what it costs them (the manufacturer) to fill it. Mass production and lowered manufacturing costs often translate into higher margins, not necessarily lower prices.

I agree with all you guys, bow prices and accessory prices like on many of the latest sights are just plain ridiculus! However, all of US are still foolish enough to run out and pay a premium for them and wonder why they continue to rise in price! The only thing that has ever bugged with that much with bows is the fact that an outdated bow rig is worth nothing. Atleast when I put $1,000 into a gun that baby is still worth most of that years from now. Put that same money into a bow rig and you won't get half that in a single year!

Of course buying all the latest and greatestgear and gadjets is a compulsive disorder for me, perhaps there is still hope for others.