I drew a once in a lifetime elk tag in Wyoming and am planning on taking advantage of the early archery season. I have a PSE Mach Flight 4 that I have taken three P&Y animals with but I haven't shot it for ten years. I shoot with a tab, have a four inch overdraw and used to get very good groups with it. The new bows - Matthews Q2 for example - are much lighter, quieter and probably faster than my old PSE. I would rather not spend $800 for a new setup when I will probably only be using it once or twice hunting. What are your thoughts?

For a once in a lfetime hunt I would want the best bow I could get my hands on and the Q2 would be an exellent choice.Don't worry about "wasting" the money,you'll be able to get what you want out of it on E-bay.Of course, you don't really have to get a new bow but man is there a huge difference between that old Mach and a modern day Mathews.

If you can shoot the PSE, and it's safe and sound...I'd stick with it. A new bow won't get you any closer to that bull elk.

GOOD LUCK!

I'd suggest an upgrade, not necessarily new. Most pro shops will have left over or traded in models that you can get at a decent price. They've improved a lot in the last few years and you might like it enough to use it a lot more.

Edited by - tm on 03/04/2002 11:58:41

I think an excuse for a new bow is great, but what is most important is that you get yourself in top shooting form. You say you have not shot in 10 years, so I think a trip to a quality proshop is in order to help you get back into shooting. I think a new bow properly setup may indeed help you shoot better, todays technology is head and shoulders above anything made 10 years ago. I know your old bow, if in good shape will do the job, but for a once in a lifetime hunt I would want the best I could get my hands on!

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

The above comments were right .. But let me add that with the bows out now days you dont have to spend $800 dollars for a good bow. If you like PSE check out some of there models. They have great bows at every price range. So do the other bow companies.

Well, if you haven't shot you Mach 4 in 10 years you're probably looking at sinking $100 bucks in it. If it hasn't been shot it still probably needs new cable, string, limb pocket greasing etc etc. At least if it were mine it would. And since this is the hunt of a lifetime, you'll go through another string before next Sept. You really shouldn't go off on a trip like that without a "BACK UP". So, unless you have another Mach 10 laying around you probably should look into a moderate priced finger bow. Yup, everything today is probably faster and quieter than your Mach 4 that's 10 plus years old. They're definitely lighter.

Evidently you're not a true bow junkie, so I would take that Mach 4 to a good proshop for a good overhaul as a minimum.

Tough call. Though I think the Mach 4 will still probably be serviceable and useful I, personally, would probably get a new bow...not necessarily because it is "better" but rather because a new bow has less of a chance of something wrong occurring with it.

I don't think you need to go with a $500 or $600 bow to get quality though. Even the "low price" bows of today are better than the "high price" bows were 6 or 7 years ago.

I think there are several bow combos out there, including from PSE, that would cost you less than $400 to fully equip and that will suit you as well as an $800 setup...from a practical perspective.

Hope this helps.

My advice is this, as long as your PSE is adequate for Elk (poundage, KE), then I would be stick with it. You have already killed some very quality animals with it, and must have some great confidence with your bow and yourself shooting your bow. Why bother getting something else that you have not killed anything with, especially when going after a hunt in a lifetime? Why second guess yourself or your weapon? Especially considering your situtation. JMHO <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Thanks for your advice guys - it's a tough decision. I also have the option of going back later with a rifle on the same hunt in November, so maybe I will get the old Mach 4 in shape and practice, practice, practice.