ok.....as most of you know my parents shot down the idea of me spening only 600 or so on everything i need to bowhunt....someone recomended ebay...i am finding alot of good deals...most seem to be atleast 100 less then the normal price....i like it so far....i get paid tomarow...friday im setting up a bank account and will tell the parents when i find a bow im buying it.....im not in a caring mood about this bowhunting anymore...im going to do what i want to do even if its not now....i can probally get a bow completly set up for well under 300 easy....arrows a release and a target and im good to go for way cheaper then what i was going to spend....and maybe i will even win on the deal....i wont beable to shoot the bow...thats a bad thing...but i cant win the whole way around i guess....i was wondering if theres anyway i can measure my drawlegnth so i can get an idea so i dont buy one that only goes upto 29 and im a 30 or something..? also are there any major bow manufacterers that you would not buy?? im seeing alot of pearsons and pses..some dartons...hcas..jennings ect....ive heard of them all....but dont know if any are total junk or anything.....i plan to post the bow before i buy it but just seeing if theres any that are expensive boat anchors at best....thanx alot guys...

Mauser, Congrads on becomming a bowhunter!! if I can make a suggestion, I just received my 2003 cabela' s archery catolog, Their selling the High Country Ultra Extreme bow' s for $299.00 and the whole kit for $ 349.00, I have been using the High Country Ultra Force ( the dual cam version of this bow) for 6 years now and I love it, It' s the best shooting bow I have ever owned and its very fast, and I have harvested 10 buck' s with it. All you would need is a release and camo and your ready. I normally suggest that you should shoot any bow before you buy it, but since money is a big factor, stop in at your local bow shop and get fitted properly. What ever bow you choose, I would buy an older model new bow instead of a newer model used bow for the same money. Good Luck and its a great thing everytime I see a young hunter getting involved!! Pike

cabelas also carries reflex or is it bps or talk to the guy at your local pro shop you don' t have to spend 600 top get something good , cause what happen if god forbid you don' t like it ? that assuming ,which i shouldn' t that this would be your first bow if you spend about 450 you should be able to get something good! what ever the case good luck!

mauser,

Do me a favor....before you go off buying a bow off ebay...why don' t you go to a few of the local shops to see if they have leftover models from previous years. They will probably be severly discounted in price so that they shop owner can move them off to make room for 2003 or even 2004 models in the months to come. I know of at least two local shops that have at least two dozen 2002 bows that they have reduced prices on.

Just a thought.

Franks idea is great. Alot of places around here still have 2002 models left. They are selling them for GREAT prices. When I was shopping there were even some places with 2001 models for dirt cheap.

The FIRST thing you need to do is GO TO A LOCAL PRO-SHOP and see what your draw length and your COMFORTABLE draw weight are. Those are the TWO top priorities right now. These are the foundation of buying a bow, and without these, you are left in the cold.

After you get these, if you don' t want to go the route of going to a pro-shop, and you are looking on the internet for a bow. Check this out.....

http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowpkg2.htm

These kits will have you set up with EVERYTHING you need except the target.

The Browning Rage is VERY VERY hard to beat

2003 Browning Rage

Cyclone™2 Fiber Optic Sight

Tough-Man Hunter Arrow Rest

2 Piece 4-Arrow Camo Quiver

Peep Sight and Wrist Sling

4.5" Tapered Stabilizer

6 Custom Built Gold Tip Carbon Arrows

6 Practice Field Points

3 NAP Thunderhead Broadheads

Tru-Fire Patriot Caliper Release

Bow Jack™ String Silencers

Sims Limb Savers

Doskocil Field Locker Hard Case

PLUS

PROFESSIONAL SETUP & INSTALLATION

PAPER AND PERFORMANCE TUNING

CHRONOGRAPH & SYSTEM STATISTICS

SHIPPING AND HANDLING

LIFETIME BOW WARRANTY

100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

$399.00
Setup, Delivered, & Ready to Shoot!!!
Nothing Extra to Buy!

This will mean you have a tuned and sighted in bow (not the best way of getting one but if you aren' t going to a pro-shop and you don' t have the tools or knowledge to do it yourself, this is the best thing for you)

Here are the stats on the bow

Specs:

IBO Speed-292 Feet per Second
Draw Weights-45-55# or 55-65#
Draw Lengths-21-31"
Let-off-70%
Axle To Axle Length-35"
Brace Height-8.0"
Weight-3.9 LBS
Cam Type-Hypermax 10 Twin
Camo Pattern-Mossy Oak Break-Up
Adjustment increments-1" Sliding Module

DEFINETLY GIVE THIS A GLANCE>>>>> I hate to keep popping different bows in and out of your mind and keep telling you about different ways to go about it...

But, I HONESTLY think that this is the BEST thing you could get and do for yourself. This is a MUCH better idea than getting the bow, putting the accessories on, and not having a clue as to how to tune it. This way atleast it is partially tuned (maybe even perfectly tuned for your), and you have everything to go.

As I am sure other guys will agree, it is better to have a bow that is atleast tuned by somebody else than to have one that isn' t tuned at all.

Sorry to keep drilling you on this, but, like I said, in my honest opinion, this is the BEST route for you to go.

lol thanx again pro.....i could make a book with all youve told me and sell it and make money off this info! lol.....i just cant get that browning out of my head! a 700 and some dollar bare bow for 360 or less set up! the bow looks SWEET to me and others shot it and said they liked it....i can then goto the proshop and have it properly fited tuned and get arrows and a release....i dont know what im going to do....i think the ebay way will save me the most money and get me the best bow i can for the time being....we shall see very very soon.....i get paid tonight so possibly tomarow....im in love with that mirage though....ive never shot a good bow or a bad bow in my life....so i really wont be a good jusge on telling if its good...ill never know the diffrence.....i will practice my heart out until my groups are good enough......i dont know i will talk to my parents and see....maybe i iwll end up waiting anyways......thanx alot guys....ill keep you updated....