Well, I had a Bear whitetail II and I remember like it was yesterday going out to the local golf course with a buddy and shooting squinties(ground squirrels) with our bows. I shot fingers and so did my buddy of course, as there was no such thing as a release. I shot 6 in one afternoon...anywhere from 20-40 yds with a brass pin setup. Current bows that I have shot that would rank up there as the best of the best are two I own...
1. the 07 Guardian without a doubt, 1st bow with pivot limb technology and the bow that just accompanied me on the most wonderful and successful season in my life(NO IT'S NOT 4 SALE...EVER)
2. the 82nd Airborne I just bought and have fell in love with, and
#4(yea..I am cheating) old Hoyt Xtec. It was a shooter, and my 1st up to date modrn bow after my Bear Alaskan II..

good replies guys.. brings back some memories! do any of you think Mathews has a bow in there somewhere? I have never owned one and only shot one and that was the the DXT and it was noice, but I don't know how it hunts..what makes the bows you choose for the list what they are??

I didn't. The favorite 3 I owned and based on their timeline when used were:

1. Bowtech Patriot
2. Martin Cougar Magnum
3. Golden Eagle Hunter

Don't HIT THAT HORSE!

Me, my old Damon Howitt recurve was surpreme. My Darton Maverick was like a glove in my hand. My Bowtech Guardian is great. Now look at that. I shot PSE's for 25 years and loved them. Why did I not mention them. I know, they were noisy. LOL

1. Hoyt Vectrix
2. Browning Rage

Haven't owned a 3 yet...most likely my list will just shift down with an Alphamax at the top this Summer....hopefully....hopefully.

Mathews wise, I have heard from alot of guys the Outback was their favorite (04? I think). Bowtech Allegiance probably by far or maybe Tribute..(06 seemed to be the popular year for them)....Hoyt, was probably a bow before I was really familiar with them...since I have had one, the Katera may have been the most popular. The Vectrix was just a bit smoother Trykon, which was very popular as well.

There were/are alot of Mathews MQ 32 lovers out there.That is probably their "best" hunting bow.

It gets talked about alot like the Allegiance,the people that had them loved them.

I had one of each through the "early years (89-92)," Then I upgraded to a Pearson, then a Browning, in 2000, I finally got a NEW MODERN BOW, a Reflex Bighorn Hunter Single Cam, and I shot that bow for 6yrs. before upgrading again to my Reflex Highlander, then to the Trykon XL. I'd call it for me the Trykon XL first, followed by the Bighorn Hunter, and then the Browning. Though I've shot the Highlander a fair bit, I just never developed the attachment to it I had with either of it's two predecessors, and the Trykon, though a rough shooting bow compared to some of this NEW stuff like the Alphamax, Katera, 101st, Black Ice, etc, is still a nice shooter that I've grown quite attached to.

So my list would be

1. Trykon XL
2. Reflex Bighorn Hunter (single cam)
3. Browning X-cellerator Plus

Years ago Bowtech, Mathews wasn't such a thing. I'd have to say the most sold bows dating from way back to the days of now could be- Bear, Hoyt, Martin, PSE, Golden Eagle, Jennings, Browning. Of the ones I listed I'd have to say Martin, Bear, Hoyt.

definetly not the most performance oriented bows, and definetly not the smoothest, noise free bows. They were the bows I've had the most success hunting with, and shot accurately.

#1 PSE Bandit Stage 2 It only went to 25" draw length, and 40 pounds or I'd still be shooting this bow. I shot a robin hood with this bow at 12 years old. I thought My Dad was going to be mad at Me for ruining an arrow. I almost pulled them apart. I went, and got Him so He could see it was an accident. He was so proud of Me. I was shocked.

#2 PSE Nova vector 4 I though I was really at the top when My Dad bought Me this bow. It seemed so high tech to Me. It was pretty accuarte for Me too.

#3 Bowtech Stalker First bow I bought with My own Money. They had it on sale for $200. I killed 3 P&Y's with it in 3 years. I really wish I hadn't sold that bow. Seems like You can't find those anywhere anymore.

I've only had 3 different brands of bows, so this was easy for me.

1) High Country Max Force

2) Pro Line Point Blank

3) Martin Wart Hog Magnum


I'm surprised the Pro Line wasn't mentioned..... they were very popular around here at one time.