When I was about 15 years old (about 15 years ago), I got a new PSE for Christmas. I think it's a Fireflight if I'm not mistaken. I never really got into bow hunting, so it has been used very lightly. This year, I plan to get into bow hunting and I would love to buy myself a new bow, knowing how far bows have come since then in terms of accuracy, fps, etc. Problem is, I don't have the funds to spend a big chunk of money on a new bow this year and when I buy a new bow, I want to make sure that I get the one I want and that I'm going to use it as much as I expect to.

I plan to take my bow to the local pro shop and have it tuned up, get a new rest, new arrows, limb adjustment, etc.

My question is this. Do you think if I take it to a shop and get it tuned up, this bow will be suitable for this season? Again, keep in mind that I don't want to spend the money right now for a new one given that we have a new baby and my wife isn't going back to work full time. When I hunted with it years ago, my comfortable shooting distance was 15-20 yards. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks everybody.

I still shoot my 20 yr old PSE wheel bow with a 35% let-off and am still shooting fingers. As a result I keep my shots to within 25 yards but haven't been skunked in a long time.
I'd spend maybe $75 getting your bow "tuned" and checked out......but then after the season shoot some of the other bows in the shop
If you shoot the new bows now you will DEFINITELY want to buy new

YUP, my back up is about that age. Had new strings and cable put on it, tuned it, tuned some arrows.... ready to go. Well, it may only be 12 years old, PSE SR1000. It's still a great bow. Shoots a 525 grain arrow at 252 fps, stays tuned, dual cams, a little heavy.... but it's still a killing machine.

Jimbo,

I think if you go to your pro shop and get it tuned up and maybe get a few minor things replaced, you should be good to go. Sure you may not have the quietest, smoothest, fastest bow out there....but if it allows you to get into the woods to hunt then so be it and it doesn't matter. Some of your distances might be shortened a bit, but that's about it. Good luck.

Jimbo I have to aggree with everyone here. First off that bow is a top of the line bow for its time. Take it and get it tuned, new strings ect. and as long as there is no major problems with the bow, it will be fine to hunt for a few years. The bow I have used the last 4 seasons was a 1985 model Martin firecat. Topp of the line in 1985. I just haad to have it tuned at the proshop once a year, but it still shot great and it is now my back up bow.

Make sure whatever poundage you wind up with that your arrows weigh an absolute MINIMUM of 6 grains per pound of draw weight. 7 would be even better. Bows from the late 80's/early 90's were not intended to handle the ultra light arrow weights most everyone shoots these days.

Jimbo, I agree that a 15 year old bow is still sufficient to hunt with. The only problem I see here is that you got the bow when you were 15. Therefor the draw length is going to be alot shorter then what you would probably require now that you are thirty (I would imagine you have grown). For instance if I bought a bow when I was 35, I could still use it when I was 50 because I would still have the same reach but this is not the case for you. It's not the 15 years that are the issue but what part of your life those 15 years encompass. I would still take it to a pro shop and have them measure your drawlength on a new bow without being biased, then see if your old bow falls in this area. If it does then you should have no problems. Good luck either way.

Jimbo I got my first bow kill 3 years ago with a twenty year old Bear Black Bear bow, so your bow is more than good enough to hunt with, I will confess though I bought a new bow after that first kill.

Thanks to all for your opinions. I feel more confident with it already. Bearklr, that's a good point that you made about the draw length. I'll be sure that the pro shop measures my draw and sees to it that the bow fits me.

I have an old Fire Flight (Extreme or Express I think) in the closet. Great shooting bow. I wouldn't have a problem hunting with it now a days. Its a nock buster. If it fits, shoot it.