mobow - great thread with a lot of great points but there's only one problem with it. Your average HNI user, someone who is a registered and contributing member, is not entirely influenced by what the "pros" use. The guys on this site are not your average Joe hunter who wanders unknowingly into the local sporting goods store a week before the season and picks up a pack of Brand X broadheads because they saw someone using them on TV. The majority of people here make their decisions based upon personal experiences, and for a large part the experiences and recommendations of other hunters just like them.

So in the end your results from this question are going to be just what you want to hear - the people here think that flip-flopping between brands is stupid and degrades the credibility of those that do so, and they don't make decisions based upon what they see people hawking on TV or in a magazine.

Now get inside the head of the other 90% of the hunting population when they're making a purchase decision while standing in the aisle at the retail store and you'll soon find that as withmost thingsin life, perception is everything.

Exactly what I do. I don't care what they use, I just like to see their land and their deer. Sometimes their tactics are interesting but I have gear that already suits me. Actually, I couldn't tell you what kind of bow or camo any of them use.

what i find amazing is that those ads on the hunting shows work on my 7 yr old boy, but not me... funny what age and experience will do for ya... all the shows advertise mathews so of course my son thinks mathews are the best, same goes for fishin tackle and etc... it will be nice once he gets old enough not to be a sheep...

I think HNIJustin makes a good point about a lot of people making their decisions in the retail aisle.

I do the same thing, except my decision is usually influenced by what is on clearance.

I look at hunting shows as entertainment, even though a handful of shows I have learned from. The shows that I classify as entertainment usually start with "Main Sponsers Name" Getting Real Close, or Hunting all over the Country.

When I bought my new bow, it all came down to how they shot (and I shot a lot of them in my price range). That said, IF I had narrowed the field down to a few good choices, AND someone came along and offered to GIVE me said bow, accessories and clothing, I believe I would be compelled to use their bow. ONLY if it were among my top few choices. I mean, a bag of manure doesn't smell any better because you get it free.

I look at this a "bit" differently.....

I see a lot of similarities in golf equipment. People purchase golf equipment based on what the PGA pros are using....and they, too, switch quite regularly (some do). Sometimes it IS for the $$.....and sometimes it's because they feel that strongly about a certain product. The major difference in the analogy is.....I don't think there's a pro hunter out there that is shooting something SUPERIOR to what I take to the woods every hunt. I can't say that about my Mizuno irons I bought off the shelf. There's a WORLD of difference in golf equipment that the pros are using....and what the average golfer takes to the course with him (basically limited to the average golfer's understanding of a proper fitting).

If you're the "elite" in the bowhunting industry (as far as TV celebrities), you can probably shoot (and be sponsored by) any co. you so choose. So.....when Co. "A" comes out with a better mouse trap......why wouldn't you switch?

These guys are right. The "average" HNI hunter isn't your "average" hunter. I give him FAR more credit than that.....and I think he/she is influenced VERY little by what the "Pros" are touting (both in equipment; accessories and incidentals.

Absolutley Justin makes great points, which strangely enough is what I meant originally, I just didn't word it as well ashe did. Hopefully this wasn't taken in any way as demeaning to anyone...It sure wasn't intended to be. I use this site as a TREMENDOUS tool in deciding what I'll use. It seems, based on the answers thus far, that most, if not all, do as well.

I really wasn't looking for a specific answer, or even to be validated in my thinking, or start a controversy. I was just curious is all. Hey, what can I say, I'm sitting at work and bored......[&:]

Not necessarily true. At the end of the day it all boils down to money, budgets, and what they're willing to do for you, your business, your family, etc. Companies all want to stretch their dollar to get the best bang for their buck, and pros all want to get the most money they can, which means more product time on the air, more promotion, more commercials, etc. It's a dog eat dog world out there and getting sponsorships is a lot more difficult that you think it may be.

Think of it this way - if hiring professionals to endorse and promote your products didn't work, there wouldn't be companies out there with 6 and 7figure advertising budgets.

Anybody that says they pay no attention to what the "pros" are using and why is full of BS.

IF you watch hunting shows, then you see new products advertised all the time, there is no avoiding it. None of you can tell me that you see a new product on TV and you just completely disregard it. You see it, you ponder it, you look at the package when your at the store,and maybe it peaked your interest just enough to buy it. Not for every prodcut you see, but for some that peak your interest.

Say a new product comes out, no advertising, its on no tv shows, and there is no one endorsing it.....that product has a very low chance at selling because people that dont have indespensible amounts of money rarely will they buy anything they have not heard or seen anything about . Its the tv and seeing new products in action that sells, and someone had to get suckered by that intitially to post the first review aboutit that perked someone elses interest and on down the chain.Many of the archery products each of us use was endorsed by a pro at some point, not all, but many!

I dont think it hurts their credibility, I for one take what they say with a grain of salt, so they didnt have muych to start with, but I along with each of you that watch pay attention to some of the products they are using.

We all do it, wether its broad heads, bows or CAMO we all jump ship! Its a fact of life! Earlier this year I thought I would be shooting Slick Tricks for some time to come, NOT. I switched mid-season to Rage Broad heads. I did my research for a months and made the switch, killed a deer and found this head to be amazing. Camo, there are plenty of people on here that praised such and such Camo only to praise a different Camo, until the next best thing comes out! Same with Bows. Who cares, I use what I want!!