A Newbi question about bows?
 

i have been readin a book and they are talkin about stuff i do not know anything about. do i have to worry about arrow rest or nock adjustments? and is there any more tuning i should worry about. plus if i buy my bow at a pro shop will it be tuned for me? or do i have to shoot it quite abit first and then they will tune it? and if i buy it from a store like cabelas or scheels will they do anything in helping me tuning wise? these probley sound stp to you guys but i am new so i dono much. thnks for your help and puttin up with my questions:D

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Question 1 - Yes. Centershot and nock location are the two most critical adjustments on your bow, and the two that don' t require a bow press.

Question 2 - Yes. TONS of tuning. Maintaining your axle to axle length and brace height, proper cam timing (or timing and synchronization on dual cam bows), limb tiller... Most of these adjustments require a bow press.

Question 3 - Depends on the shop. Most places just toss on a quick, generic tune that you have to tweak to fit yourself. I could tune your bow to shoot perfectly, but it would be tuned for shooting MY form, not yours. A very few superb shops will work with you to get your bow tuned before you walk out the door. And yes, there will be some touch-up tuning to do once the string/cables get settled in to their service lengths.

Question 4 - HAHAHAHAAhahhahahaaahaahaa he he... ahem. If you' re talking mail order, No. You get the bow and a box full of accessories and you' re in charge of setting it up. If you' re talking their department stores, then they will help but who knows if the guy behind the counter really knows any more than you do?

I suggest getting the book ' Tuning & Silencing Your Bowhunting Shooting System' by Larry Wise. Excellent resource to have in your archery library. It runs about $12 and worth every penny.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Darn it Arthur....I was gonna get this one...:)...and you are so darn thorough too. :)

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

:D I finally got a word in edgewise, Frank! :D

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

arthur, i have a question, what do you mean when you say maintaining your axle to axle?i didn' t know that was adjustable. thanks

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Ha! I got this one covered Arthur.

Axle to axle length can vary depending on normal string stretch as well as the amount of twists you put into the system to compensate for it.....as well as the set draw weight in any given draw length range.

Taking measurements on things like cam position, brace height, axle to axle length, etc... when the bow comes right out of the box is a very good idea....(side note...not always saying that bows are always properly built right out of the box but you have to start somewhere...:))

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Yep! You got it, Frank. I' ve had axle to axle length on my ProTec increase by as much as 2 1/2" and brace height decrease by 5/8ths inch when I got a little lazy and didn' t check the measurements for a couple of months. It took 12 twists in each cable and 15 twists in the string to get everything back to factory spec and keep my draw weight and draw length on mark.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

You just got a lot of good advice and it probably scares heck out of you, thinking how in the world am I going to learn all that. Don' t worry about it. Get you a good bow from a good pro shop or a good used bow from a trustworthy friend and start learning. Shoot for a couple of months and read all you can about adjusting the bows. If you can' t work it out, get some help. I bow hunted for 15 years with a bow I bought from bass pro that I set up and I didn' t know anything about how to do a set up. I managed to kill alot of deer in those years but I will be the first to admit that I would have done alot better and it would have been alot easier if I had got some help. The main thing is to practice and try to find somebody that can give you pointers. Good luck to you and don' t be intimidated, just get with it.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Abolutely right!

One of the best things you can do is find a good pro shop in your area and build a good relationship with the people behind the counter. When you take your bow in for service, don' t just drop it off and leave, if they can get on it right away. Stand there and watch what the tech does, and how he does it. Ask a few questions along the way, but don' t be barrage the poor guy at every step. He' s a trying to make a living and doesn' t have time to relive the Spanish Inquisition. ;)

In my opinion, the VERY best thing you can do is join an archery club and hang around with experienced shooters. You can learn more by accident just being around those folks than you ever will by reading books.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

I would like to add something.Knowing all the technical mumbo jumbo really isn' t necessary to being a good shot or hunter.It is conveniant and makes it easier from time to time.Or maybe harder if you start doing things you are not comfortable with.

I enjoy the technical side as do alot of people on this site.But there are some pro' s out there that couldn' t tune their own bow if their life depended on it.A friend of mine had a pro in the ASA tell him he doesn' t touch his bow but to shoot.He has a shop do everything.That is hard to believe but true.

I do suggest that a person should be familiar with his eqipment and should learn as much as possible but this comes with time.This really isn' t rocket science and is pretty easy to pick up.Being a master at the craft will take years of experience but you need to just enjoy the sport and learn it as you go along.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Have you been to McGarvey Archery in DL?? He is pretty decent and is very helpful. Both PABowhntr and Arthur P know there stuff when it comes to bows and I have enjoyed and gotten a lot out of their post/replies over the last 4 years. Anything McGarvey couldn' t answer, they probably can and would get you on the right track faster then if you went to Cabelas. It probably would save a lot of headaches for you down the road. Goodluck on what ever you decide.

Tim

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Hey Fishy, did any of those shops I gave you a while back work for ya? I hope so. Nothing like getting started out right with someone that knows what they are doing.

One thing to keep in mind is that when you get a new bow and the shop sets it up for you the string is going to stretch and your bow will go out of tune. Don' t worry about it. It' s going to happen. After you get it shoot it about 300 - 500 times then take it back to the shop so they can twist up your string and cables back to specs. After that you will be good to go. There will be minor stuff here and there but for the most part you are good to go. Like PABowhntr said, take measurements on where your peep is, where your nock is, where your cam or cams line up, ATA length and so on.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

TJF no i have not been there. i am only 30 miles from Devils Lake. i didnt even know there was one in DL until bigbulls looked it up for me and told be about some shops in ND. i talked to a teacher at school that bow hunts and he said thats were he bought most of his bow hunting stuff and it would be a great place to start. bigbulls yes That McGarvey Archery is the one i am going too, and the one that the teacher said would be a great place for me to start. but i havent made a trip up there yet. but i am wanting to real soon. thanks alot bigbulls. my teacher said theres a shooting range downstairs so that will be nice to shoot em before i buy em. thnks agin. and thanks you guys for all the info

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

i just went to devils lake this afternoon after we got done workin cows and haulin them out to the pasture. i found the store. it was closed though. but i am going back somtime soon to check it out:D i cant wait. i am gettin a bow prty soon:D

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Saturdays you have to get there before 2 or 3 PM and I generally call to make sure he is going to be there as it is 30 miles for me too and he has other things going on too. I should have posted that in my first reply, sorry.

Tim

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

Lots of good suggestions. A pro shop or good archery club is definitely the place to go for real hands-on experience. There are alot of knowledgable folks here but there is alot of info that you really need to get in person. :)

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

TJF were you from? what town? But thnks. i am goin there on friday i think. do you know the store hours?

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

mrfishy

Before you purchase a bow and the necessary accessories that you will need, I strongly suggest that you first talk to bowhunters that have well-grounded hunting knowledge and techniques, subscribe and adhere to the KISS rule when it comes to the basic equipment you actually need, and are proficient in the basics of bow and accessory tuning. Here on HNC is a very good start.

Do not allow yourself to be misled by all the manufacturer hype, and shooters who are heavily into " gadgetry," the pursuit of supersonic bow speed, and " flaunting." There are many excellent and knowledgeable bowhunters and techs that are not in magazines, do not have hunting gear with their name on it, are not nationally recognized as an expert bow tech, and do not compete in the field or 3D archery arena. Many are found here on the HNC forum.

Until you know your way around the sport of archery and have a good and basic understanding of what you actually need to begin and know what is best for you... and know what you do not need, beware of any bow shop. The owner is the business to make money and the employees have an interest to make a larger paycheck. You could easily end up paying hundreds of dollars more than you need to for an outfit that is an " overkill" and totally unsuitable and to complex for you as a novice in the archery game.

Also, number of kills, especially number of bucks killed, is not an all-conclusive gauge to use to determine a bowhunter' s actual and overall skills; and, hence, the true reliability, durability, and proficiency of a bow and gear. I know excellent hunters who hunt with older and the most basic compound/recurve gear, and I have been around bad hunters and bad shooters who hunt with the newest and most complicated bow and gear.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

c903 thnks, but i am only buying what i think i need. (Arrows, broad heads, stabalizer, site, release, feild points, and a shooting target plus a bow) every thing else can wait. i want to get one now so i can start shooting and practicing for this fall. i have an old bow so i have shot bow quite abit. And i have a teacher that told me he bought all his bow hunting stuff at this archery store. but i am going to look at a bow first then talk to him on any questions i need to know

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

I live in Brocket, north of Lakota. Weekdays at his store are 9 or 10 Am to 5 PM if I remember right. I think he also takes off for dinner for an hour. If I make a trip to DL just to stop there, I always call as he usually is the only one working there and he has other things going on. Saves a wasted trip.

Tim

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

tjf i was stupid[:@] and did not take your advice. i went up there tuesday after school cuz dad was out in the feild and said i didnt have to work that nite but i didnt call up there and i just went up there and it was closed[:@]. it was 430 when i got up there. well i am going to fargo tonite and am goin to scheels to check things out. but am not buyin anything tel i check out his store.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

just got back from checkin out scheels and they had 2 nice bows. a pse nova and a browing a guy showed me. he showed me a pse predator too but that was too much. the browning had a site and rest on it for 250 and said it was a greate starter bow for 250 and it would be better bow than the nova. i forgot what kind it was other than it was a browning and he said that browning makes it special for scheels. it was a darn nice bow. 65lb, 65% let off. but i still gota check out that pro shop first and see what is up there.

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

It only took me 4 or 5 times when getting off work on a Saturday at 2 and thinking I could make it there before 3. I hate those " Gone to a wedding " notes he puts on the door as I pull in with 15 minutes to spare. LOL Spring' s work or harvest makes it near impossible me to to get there and I rely on the wife for making trips to his shop if I need something.

Hopefully you will get a chance to look soon and find a bow you like.

Tim

RE: A Newbi question about bows?
 

ya me too. i am goin up there today. but i am going to call first:D