i'm a newbie help me out
09-06-2002 | 12:41 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
i'm a newbie help me out
hi guys. i don't usually post in the bowhunting forum cause i know diddly squat about it. i have shot bows before but i don't know much about the hunting aspect. it's deer season for archery right now and i can't wait for rifle season so i gotta go bag something! how much will a good compound bow cost me (not super expensive but not crap either), what kind of gr arrows do i need for deer, bear, elk, and moose? at what range should i practice shooting? 50 yards? 100?
and what the heck does 65% let off mean? i've been wondering about that for a while now.
thanks for some feedback
cheers
and what the heck does 65% let off mean? i've been wondering about that for a while now.
thanks for some feedback
cheers
09-06-2002 | 01:48 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Sheboygan WI USA
RE: i'm a newbie help me out
Wow! jumping in with both feet huh?!?!?! Deer bear elk and moose?
You will get a LOT of good advice here, however...I strongly suggest you find a reputable dealer to help go over the things like draw length and let off.
Start SHORT....I wouldn't have a "newbie" shooting over 20 yards until he/she could shoot 3" groups or better. USUALLY, you will find an average maximum range of 40 yards for archery kills. Many will not shoot over 20-30 yards. Some double that.
For getting started, you should be able to get a quality bow for $300 or less. Arrow grains are going to be determined by length, spine, fletching, and carbon or aluminum. Even then you can have a large range of wirghts of arrows. generally, you don't want to go less than 5 grains per pound of draw weight (70 Lb draw= 350 grain arrow MINIMUM...some will go as high as 10 grains per pound. You'll hear a lot of debate about which way is best)
For tip size, you'll want to keep your front of center balance between 8% and 18%......but that's not what you need to worry about now.
FIRST find a GOOD dealer.
Next, your draw length
next, find a bow that FITS (in caps for a reason!)
next, find how much you can comfortably draw. Here's a test for draw weight...at least for practicing. Sit on the floor with your legs extended. hold bow vertically (aiming horizontally) see if you can draw the bow without pointing the bow at the roof. remember to try to keep your bow arm level.
after that there are lots of things to look at. Fingers or a release, sights or instinctive, peep or no peep, high let off or low, 1 cam or 2 (or none or more than 2)etc etc etc.
I suggest you start spending a lot of time at the range and learn as much as you can from the guys there. NOT ALL information will be good. Steer away from the guys that say "brand "X" is the BEST" or "this is THE way to do it" What works for one might not work for you.
You'll want to find out which is your dominant eye, how to shoot the bow without "torquing it", what stabilizers do. What "Back tension is" and millions of other things.
Now, don't get me wrong, you COULD just get a recurve, and some cedar arrows and shoot that way. You MIGHT prefer it that way. But if you want to know your options, your gonna have to spend some time learning the different methods of bow hunting.
PERSONALLY, I would suggest that you should start learning NOW, and worry about bowhunting NEXT season...AFTER you get good. It's a bit harder than putting the crosshairs on the target. And you WANT to be good. Not much sucks more than wounding and animal because your a poor shot.
Suck up as much info HERE as you can, but DO see a good dealer and work with him. IF he she IS a good dealer, they will get you the right bow in the right size (SUPER IMPORTANT) and hel;p you learn to shoot it.
Good Luck, and good hunting!
(whew)
You will get a LOT of good advice here, however...I strongly suggest you find a reputable dealer to help go over the things like draw length and let off.
Start SHORT....I wouldn't have a "newbie" shooting over 20 yards until he/she could shoot 3" groups or better. USUALLY, you will find an average maximum range of 40 yards for archery kills. Many will not shoot over 20-30 yards. Some double that.
For getting started, you should be able to get a quality bow for $300 or less. Arrow grains are going to be determined by length, spine, fletching, and carbon or aluminum. Even then you can have a large range of wirghts of arrows. generally, you don't want to go less than 5 grains per pound of draw weight (70 Lb draw= 350 grain arrow MINIMUM...some will go as high as 10 grains per pound. You'll hear a lot of debate about which way is best)
For tip size, you'll want to keep your front of center balance between 8% and 18%......but that's not what you need to worry about now.
FIRST find a GOOD dealer.
Next, your draw length
next, find a bow that FITS (in caps for a reason!)
next, find how much you can comfortably draw. Here's a test for draw weight...at least for practicing. Sit on the floor with your legs extended. hold bow vertically (aiming horizontally) see if you can draw the bow without pointing the bow at the roof. remember to try to keep your bow arm level.
after that there are lots of things to look at. Fingers or a release, sights or instinctive, peep or no peep, high let off or low, 1 cam or 2 (or none or more than 2)etc etc etc.
I suggest you start spending a lot of time at the range and learn as much as you can from the guys there. NOT ALL information will be good. Steer away from the guys that say "brand "X" is the BEST" or "this is THE way to do it" What works for one might not work for you.
You'll want to find out which is your dominant eye, how to shoot the bow without "torquing it", what stabilizers do. What "Back tension is" and millions of other things.
Now, don't get me wrong, you COULD just get a recurve, and some cedar arrows and shoot that way. You MIGHT prefer it that way. But if you want to know your options, your gonna have to spend some time learning the different methods of bow hunting.
PERSONALLY, I would suggest that you should start learning NOW, and worry about bowhunting NEXT season...AFTER you get good. It's a bit harder than putting the crosshairs on the target. And you WANT to be good. Not much sucks more than wounding and animal because your a poor shot.
Suck up as much info HERE as you can, but DO see a good dealer and work with him. IF he she IS a good dealer, they will get you the right bow in the right size (SUPER IMPORTANT) and hel;p you learn to shoot it.
Good Luck, and good hunting!
(whew)
09-06-2002 | 06:52 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
From: Onamia,MN.
RE: i'm a newbie help me out
I'm sure you don't want to hear this--you don't have enough time to practice and become consistent enough to go out and harvest any type of animal--if you did i would have to say it was just luck.You owe it to the game you pursue to be able to shoot consistantly accurate--not to mention being ethical in making a clean kill shot to take the animal as humanely as possible!If you buy a new bow now the string will not be shot-in(it will still be stretching)making it impossible for you to know where your arrows are gonna go from shot to shot.practice for next year.JMHO.
09-06-2002 | 07:31 AM
#7
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati oh USA
RE: i'm a newbie help me out
I agree go to a good pro shop & tell them what you would like to hunt and ask for help.
Some good bows that you may want to check are made by Mathews, Parker, PSE, Hoyt, and Reflex. You will also need some good quality equipment such as that made by Golde Key Futura, Copper John, Toxonics, Easton, etc. Good Equipment will go a long way to make your experience that much better. The nice thing is that most companies have some very good equipment that won't break the bank. examples would be the Mathews FX bow, Reflex Denali bow, Buckmaster G2, Golden Key TM Hunter, Easton's new carbon arrows.
I wish you the best of luck and hope you enjoy our sport!
Some good bows that you may want to check are made by Mathews, Parker, PSE, Hoyt, and Reflex. You will also need some good quality equipment such as that made by Golde Key Futura, Copper John, Toxonics, Easton, etc. Good Equipment will go a long way to make your experience that much better. The nice thing is that most companies have some very good equipment that won't break the bank. examples would be the Mathews FX bow, Reflex Denali bow, Buckmaster G2, Golden Key TM Hunter, Easton's new carbon arrows.
I wish you the best of luck and hope you enjoy our sport!
09-06-2002 | 07:35 AM
#8
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Hilliard OH USA
RE: i'm a newbie help me out
Prairie Boy,
Follow Stealth_Force's advice. Very Very Good!
The only thing I'd add is IF you want to bowhunt this year, Do so for Varmits and small game and use this time to scout for Deer/Elk/Bear for rifle season.
Practice your stalking skills and take a blunt or two and stump shoot.
This is unknown range shooting in the field where you pick a leaf, stump, dirtcold or other target, take a shot and then step off the yardage or use your rangefinder to verify what you thought the distance was.
Good Luck and let us know what you arae going to do.
Greg
"Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus."
Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!
Follow Stealth_Force's advice. Very Very Good!
The only thing I'd add is IF you want to bowhunt this year, Do so for Varmits and small game and use this time to scout for Deer/Elk/Bear for rifle season.
Practice your stalking skills and take a blunt or two and stump shoot.
This is unknown range shooting in the field where you pick a leaf, stump, dirtcold or other target, take a shot and then step off the yardage or use your rangefinder to verify what you thought the distance was.
Good Luck and let us know what you arae going to do.
Greg
"Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus."
Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!
09-06-2002 | 09:11 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
RE: i'm a newbie help me out
wow that's what i call alot of advice over night lol! thanks for all the info guys. i wasn't really sure if i could get ready for this year anyways anymore. i might just get the stuff this year and practice for next year. thanks again for the advice and i'll let u guys know what kind of gear i end up with.
cheers
cheers
09-06-2002 | 12:47 PM
#10
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From:
RE: i'm a newbie help me out
The BEST bow in the world is my PSE Thunderbolt!
The BEST sights are the ones like my Trophy Ridge!
The BEST hunting rest is the Whisker Biscuit!
The BEST hunting arrow is Easton XX78 2213!
The BEST broadhead is the Muzzy 3-blade 100 grain!
The BEST camo is Predator!
The BEST climbing treestand is the Ol Man original!
You ONLY need to set your bow to about 60 pounds!
THE ONLY WAY to bowhunt is with a release aide!
THE ONLY WAY to bowhunt is from a treestand!
THE ONLY WAY to practice is by using 3D-targets!
Take that Stealth_Force!!
LOL!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
-Mike
PS: Seriously, Prairie Boy...the advice given is very very good! Also, I bowhunted 2 years before taking a deer with my bow. Some people will hunt many many years before taking a deer with a bow. Don't get discouraged.
The BEST sights are the ones like my Trophy Ridge!
The BEST hunting rest is the Whisker Biscuit!
The BEST hunting arrow is Easton XX78 2213!
The BEST broadhead is the Muzzy 3-blade 100 grain!
The BEST camo is Predator!
The BEST climbing treestand is the Ol Man original!
You ONLY need to set your bow to about 60 pounds!
THE ONLY WAY to bowhunt is with a release aide!
THE ONLY WAY to bowhunt is from a treestand!
THE ONLY WAY to practice is by using 3D-targets!
Take that Stealth_Force!!
LOL!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
-Mike
PS: Seriously, Prairie Boy...the advice given is very very good! Also, I bowhunted 2 years before taking a deer with my bow. Some people will hunt many many years before taking a deer with a bow. Don't get discouraged.