which compond bow to purchase?
 

I would like to make the transition from rifle to compound bow this season. I live in Virginia and will be hunting whitetail and am looking for some suggestions on a bow to buy. Ideally I would like to keep it all under $500, as I just graduated college and am a little on the poor side. Any suggestions would be a great help! Thanks!

by the time you get a good setup that you will like and keep for a long time you are looking at $1200 easy, complete bow arrow's broadheads. I like the Bowtech Gardian or Diamond Iceman, I have a Iceman. I liked the fact of center pivot limbs and no need for a bowpress to work on the bow. I was a diehard Mathews man but when I was in market for new bow it was the Reezen or the Monster, and neither I liked, now I do like the new Z-7 but I like my Iceman better. Bear archery doesnt impress me at all. the rest I don't know

If you are on a budget, don't buy new, buy used. Look around at different shops and see what you can find. I bought a Mathews Ovation all set up with a case for $350. There are deals to be had, just look. Check on craigslist and other local sites. If it is your first time, you don't need anything fancy. Something to get the job done. You don't want to drop a ton of money and find out that bowhunting isn't for you.

i would look around for a used bow like a mathews, hoyt, or pse. I think you should try to look for a used mathews drenalin. they came out in 08, i think, and they are very nice shooting bow. im sure you could look on ebay and find one for around 500 easily.

I'd recommend bowhunter ed for starters. If it is not required in your state, then I would recommend going to an online bowhunter ed site and at least going through the information. Now....

You might could ebay. Got both of my bows off there for around 200-250; bows can decrease in value pretty quickly even though they remain good bows. I would highly recommend having a pro shop help get you and your bow set up to each other once you have all the goodies to put on it. That will save a lot of time for you.

Now, the following is just me. There are tons of opinions and a wider array of good equipment than what I am mentioning, but the following is something to keep in mind.

You might receive a used bow with little string/cable life left in it. If so, start with new string/cable.
If the bow is naked, I'd get a 3 or 4 pin sight (a 35 dollar truglo will work), a peep, caliper/release, get it d-looped - I like whisker biscuit arrow rests and prefer my drop tine model to my original; a quiver; some vibration dampening devices such as limbsavers; I prefer to shoot with a bow sling. Arrows: the choices are vast. I prefer carbon over aluminum, and you might try some cabelas carbon hunters. They're not very expensive and will work well. Vanes: I shoot both 2" and 4" vanes and have compared them to 60 yards with no noticeable difference--then again, I shoot mechanical NAP Spitfire broadheads which fly very well. I imagine fixed blade shooters may say otherwise, but I've never shot fixed blades and have no say there. The 2" blazer vanes and similar copies have received much praise, but for what I shoot, they simply show no difference. You'll need a target, whether a combo field point / broadhead target or separate targets. When you sight in, sight in with the exact equipment you will be hunting with (as you would with a rifle).

If the season's soon, it'll take a lotta practice if this is completely new to you... Get your bow set up, research and ask questions on specifics if you're not sure what to get, have it tuned, and shoot a LOT. Be honest with yourself and your abilities and don't try to go beyond them in the field. I feel that trigger control is the most important part of shooting for both rifles and bows; keep that in mind, as well as follow-through. If you are hunting from a stand, you might pre-mark yardages so there is no guessing.

In a nutshell.. ;)

Bowhunting is a completely different experience from both centerfire rifle hunting and muzzleloading. I will warn you that it can become habit-forming and may cause daydreaming, lack of focus at work, and anxiety. Consult your physician if you have an erection lasting longer than 4 hours.

I would suggest Parker Bows. They have great complete bow packages. They are based in Virginia and have great customer service.
Here is one that shoots 320 fps.
You don't have to pay big money for a good bow.
http://www.basspro.com/Parker-Infern...06737/-1691713

You don't need thousands to get started bow hunting.

First thing you need to get to an archery shop and draw the bow that your going to buy. See how it fits you. Also the guy at the shop will help fit you to the bow draw length is a must if your just starting out.

There are a lot good HUNTING bows out there that are under $500.00 for a package deal. One of my new favorite bows for hunting is my Martin Saber it runs about $360.00 and can be adjusted to any normal draw length. It may not be 3-D quality but it's about as easy as it gets for hunting. Light compact and it don't have that awful break over that some of the high maintenence bows do. And if you have to pick a new spot on your target every time to keep from ruining arrows it's good enough for hunting.

You can spend a lot of money on bow gadgets but you can also pick simplicity for a hunting bow and never have to change a thing about it. In the hunting end of archery whatever bow fits you the best and is functional is better than a trade name. Also starting out I'd opt for the whisker biscuit rest. A prong rest will teach you how to draw and shoot your bow but the whisker will keep you from losing a deer in a tough drawing situation. Bows have all became preference of opinion but I would never buy a bow online that I hadn't had in my hands first. Good Luck.

First and foremost buy the one that fits in your hands the best... Kinda like buying a truck, alot of good makes and models out there. But you know which one suits you the best...

That being said two bows that instantly pop into mind when I read your thread are the Diamond Edge and Hoyt Turbo Hawk. The TurboHawk is one of the best values on the market right now.

i just purchased a mission Ux2 made by mathews. they are very affordable i bought mine fully set up for 325 it was used for one year. you can purchase the same bow for 349 new but it is bare meaning no accessories. just google mission bows and you will pull up there website

You just graduated from College and yet you did not see that there was a whole section dedicated to bow hunting?

I'm sure that there was a couple hundred experts that would help you out, had you posted it in the bow hunting section.:bash:

lots of options
 

as others stated i would consider good used bow over new,
i would try different bows, see if friends will take you out,
maybe if there's a range in the area,
also what do you plan on hunting? mostly turkeys/deer?
for that may not want/need same type of bow as someone who hunts bigger game,
how see how comfortable you are various #'s/let off's,
i paid about $500 for my browning tornado about 10 yrs ago,
still a great bow.

Years ago I was in your situation. I went to my local archery shop and tried out the compound bows. I found that I liked the way Mathews bows fit me nicely and I felt very comfortable with it. Within a week or two somebody traded a Mathews bow in with arrows, broadheads, and quiver. I got the whole outfit for $400.

I'm still hunting with that set-up to this day. Shoots as good as the day I bought it.

Used is a sweet deal on the budget,I paid 250 for my Mathews FX a 2004 model but I love the way it feels and it shoots very well. It is great in tight quarters a tree stand or in the bush on the ground. Shop around because like all things people sell out when they loose intrest and this can save you hundreds of dollars. Good Bow Hunting to ya.

I recently upgraded to a Hoyt, and with the rebate everything totaled about $800. If you want bleeding edge, top of the line, I agree it can be pricey but I don't buy into the argument that you must spend over $1000 to get a decent hunting rig.

Yep...I bought the Turbo Hawk. It's a great bow and a good price IMO. It's not the fastest bow on the market, but it's plenty fast for killing deer (already got one this season with it).

To echo what others have said, the important thing is to shoot a lot of different bows before deciding. What works for me or some others might not feel right to you. Only you know what feels right and works for you.

I've got under $500 total in a Bear, Lights Out model, cabela's brand carbon arrows, cabela's brand broadheads, sights, quiver, etc.

It's not the fanciest thing, but I'm really just a rifle hunter who uses a bow to extend my season in VA. Works well for me, and I'd be more than comfortable shooting a whitetail at 35 yards. Thats all it takes.