Beginner Bow Help

[zatch]

This past weekend, my GF's dad introduced me to using a Crossbow. I had a lot of fun and it really beats spending 50 bucks on ammo every time I want to go out with a handgun/rifle.

I would really like to start looking into a Compound Bow. Problem is, I really don't know anyone who can help me out in getting started, how to operate, etc. I have been seeing a lot of what seems to be good deals on used bows, but I have no clue on what to look for or avoid.

Any advice on how or where to start? Is it worth it to find some sort of club or class before diving into it head first? I'm sure if I really asked around, I could find someone that knows how to use one - however, I'm more or less looking for ideas on what to look for in a used bow, and if it's even worth it to start on my own. I would use it for target shooting and probably deer hunting down the road.

Any ideas/advice for a beginner?

Thanks!

 

[zatch]

I should add, I have checked out a few youtube videos and websites explaining how Bows work and the different parts of a Bow but I feel like I'm still at square one with most of it.

 

[338375]

If you have any archery stores locally, go in to one, and tell them you are just getting started. Any good shop, will take the time to help out someone just getting started. They can explain the various parts and differences in bows, as well as help you get started shooting with correct form, so you don't develope bad habits.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a bow when you are just getting started. All of the major brands offer good bows. The main thing is to get a bow that fits you. Correct draw length (which a shop can measure for you) and the poundage you want to start out at. Most bows have 10-15 pounds of adjustment for poundage.
The draw length can also be changed, but on some you will have to buy a new cam, while others have a lot of built in adjustment.

A few of the basic things to check when buying a used bow are, the condition of the cams (any big nicks or dents), condition of the string and cables, but the big one is to check the limbs for cracks. If you find a used bow you are interested in, ask the local shop if they will inspect it for you, before you buy it. After you gain some experience, you will easily be able to check them out yourself. If you are going to hunt with it, check your states requirements for poundage, to make sure the bow you buy will be legal to hunt with.

A great archery forum you might want to check out is ArcheryTalk. Hang out there for a while, ask lots of questions, and you can learn a lot.

Have fun. Archery is a great hobby

 

[leomitch]

I highly recommend the Mission Craze by Matthews.It is adjustable from 15 to 70 pounds of pull and is easily adjustable up to 29 inch draw for arrows. I bought 2, one for me and one for my 8 year old grandson. It is a very quiet bow and is capable of killing most animals in N America. Cost...about 315 dollars. At the range we shoot beside guys using really expensive bows and they are amazed at how good the Craze is. Ask about it and check it out on You Tube.
It is touted as a beginners and lady's bow but set at 70 pounds of pull with a good hunting arrow coming off the string at 309 fps, one might argue that it is also a man's bow!!

Leo

 

[hung-solo]

]If you have any archery stores locally, go in to one, and tell them you are just getting started. Any good shop, will take the time to help out someone just getting started. They can explain the various parts and differences in bows, as well as help you get started shooting with correct form, so you don't develope bad habits.[/B]

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a bow when you are just getting started. All of the major brands offer good bows. The main thing is to get a bow that fits you. Correct draw length (which a shop can measure for you) and the poundage you want to start out at. Most bows have 10-15 pounds of adjustment for poundage.
The draw length can also be changed, but on some you will have to buy a new cam, while others have a lot of built in adjustment.

A few of the basic things to check when buying a used bow are, the condition of the cams (any big nicks or dents), condition of the string and cables, but the big one is to check the limbs for cracks. If you find a used bow you are interested in, ask the local shop if they will inspect it for you, before you buy it. After you gain some experience, you will easily be able to check them out yourself. If you are going to hunt with it, check your states requirements for poundage, to make sure the bow you buy will be legal to hunt with.

A great archery forum you might want to check out is ArcheryTalk. Hang out there for a while, ask lots of questions, and you can learn a lot.

Have fun. Archery is a great hobby

best first advice anyone can EVER get when starting archery.. go visit your local archery shop. hell ask them if they can set aside 30mins or more to help. they will if they are worth their salt. lots to learn but once you do, you will fall deeply in love with hunting big game with a bow. you develop skills that most gun hunters only dream about. good luck. feel free to ask questions here. lots here that are willing to help. dont get all hyped up on bow brands and etc. most bow brands now will drop a deer in short order. if i were you i would start off with a medium level bow. if you find out that you love bow hunting a few years from now you could drop some major dime on a new one. i used a bow that i got when i was 15 up until i was in my late 20's. OLD browning bow my dad got for 150 bucks. dropped many deer with it.

 

[Planetcat]

I agree with Hung and 338. Archery is something you can't just impulse buy on and hope that it all works out. You don't have to obsess over it, but you need to make sure you buy a bow that (1) fits you well (a good shop will do this for you upon purchase), (2) you shoot comfortably, and (3) you feel confident shooting it and like the looks of it. I know the cosmetic aspect seems shallow, but I've noticed that a lot of guys buy a bow for it's specs but don't really "like" the bow, and end up selling it shortly after. Archerytalk dot com is a great place for information, but don't get fooled into thinking you need to have the fastest, lightest, and quietest bow on the market. Not so long ago, critters were being killed with bows half the speed of today's bows. Also, by trying out bows, you'll see which types of release, sights, rests, quivers, and arrows you like and shoot well with. Once you start pricing this stuff out, you'll soon see that you really don't want to buy something that doesn't work for you. Just my .02.

 

[hung-solo]

bowhuntingtalk.com is a good place too. many guys are there just to help you out. thats the site where i learned a lot of my techniques for archery and hunting. lots to learn but its really not hard. just use common sense and use what you learn in the field and before long you will be a full fledged or (fletched --haha bow joke) bow hunter.

 

[338375]

Archerytalk dot com is a great place for information, but don't get fooled into thinking you need to have the fastest, lightest, and quietest bow on the market. Not so long ago, critters were being killed with bows half the speed of today's bows.

Very true. Most on AT live and breath archery, and buy a new bow every year. I have bought a few bows on AT. They were only a year old, and just like new, and paid about half of the new price. It doesn't matter which bow you buy new, it will be considered by many to be obsolete the next year.

The last bow I bought was a Mathews Switchback. It had only been shot a few times, and I paid 300 dollars for it shipped on AT. I'm still using it... I haven't found anything I like better, and its not slow by any stretch of th eimagination. As long as I do my part, it will take down anything I shoot it at.

Someone mentioned the Mathews Craze. It is an outstanding bow. My 14 year old son outgrew his Mathews Ignition, so we got him a Craze this year. He loves it, and has become an outstanding shot. It is reasonably priced, very quiet and has a very smooth draw curve.

My wife, son and I have been shooting Mathews for quite a few years, and they are great bow, but don't let people tell you that Mathews or Bowtech are the best, and the rest is junk... Its not true. Only personal preference, because every bow is different. A miss with a really fast bow, is still a miss.
Practice as much as you are comfortable with, but don't over do it and burnout. If you are going to hunt, start practicing range guesstimating. Not only is it fun, it will really help when you are hunting. YOu could buy a range finder, but they are electronic devices, and can fail. If you have practiced and the rangefinder stops working, you will be able to continue hunting with confidence

 

[keyser223]

Like a few others have said, you can get many excellent bows on the classifieds of AT for great prices. But don't buy until you have handled some bows and get a good idea of what you like and you are comfortable with in relation to ATA length, draw length, and draw weight. I also ended up with a Mathews Switchback and don't see myself needing anything more, anytime soon, however I need to stop handling the new Elite's because there are a couple of models calling my name. I wouldn't necessarily say you will be saving money over a handgun/rifle though by going to archery equipment.

In looking for a used compound you will want to check the cams for any damage, string/cable wear (if it's well worn you will have to replace it and it may not be cheap), make sure there are no splinters, de-lamination, or cracks in the limbs, and make sure it's for your draw length or you will possibly be changing cams, cables/strings.

 

[hung-solo]

Very true. Most on AT live and breath archery, and buy a new bow every year. I have bought a few bows on AT. They were only a year old, and just like new, and paid about half of the new price. It doesn't matter which bow you buy new, it will be considered by many to be obsolete the next year.

The last bow I bought was a Mathews Switchback. It had only been shot a few times, and I paid 300 dollars for it shipped on AT. I'm still using it... I haven't found anything I like better, and its not slow by any stretch of th eimagination. As long as I do my part, it will take down anything I shoot it at.

Someone mentioned the Mathews Craze. It is an outstanding bow. My 14 year old son outgrew his Mathews Ignition, so we got him a Craze this year. He loves it, and has become an outstanding shot. It is reasonably priced, very quiet and has a very smooth draw curve.

My wife, son and I have been shooting Mathews for quite a few years, and they are great bow, but don't let people tell you that Mathews or Bowtech are the best, and the rest is junk... Its not true. Only personal preference, because every bow is different. A miss with a really fast bow, is still a miss.
Practice as much as you are comfortable with, but don't over do it and burnout. If you are going to hunt, start practicing range guesstimating. Not only is it fun, it will really help when you are hunting. YOu could buy a range finder, but they are electronic devices, and can fail. If you have practiced and the rangefinder stops working, you will be able to continue hunting with confidence

more good advice ^

i have a bowtech tomkat. its their baseline model or entry level if you will. very happy with my bow. you will pay for bowtechs and mathews no doubt. you get what you pay for though. dont be afraid to go to Diamond (made by bowtech) or other "cheaper" brands bc they are good too. as said before the injuns killed many deer with a stick, braid, shaft and an arrow head made of rock. so dont fall for this fast and furious shit.

 

[Planetcat]

more good advice ^

i have a bowtech tomkat. its their baseline model or entry level if you will. very happy with my bow. you will pay for bowtechs and mathews no doubt. you get what you pay for though. dont be afraid to go to Diamond (made by bowtech) or other "cheaper" brands bc they are good too. as said before the injuns killed many deer with a stick, braid, shaft and an arrow head made of rock. so dont fall for this fast and furious shit.

Hey, I shoot a tomkat too! You're the only other person I know that has one. I go to the archery shops every year and look at new Mathews, but I can't part with my tomkat. It's a very good bow, especially for the price, and I can shoot that thing like a sniper. I just can't justify replacing it.

 

[zatch]

best first advice anyone can EVER get when starting archery.. go visit your local archery shop. hell ask them if they can set aside 30mins or more to help. they will if they are worth their salt. lots to learn but once you do, you will fall deeply in love with hunting big game with a bow. you develop skills that most gun hunters only dream about. good luck. feel free to ask questions here. lots here that are willing to help. dont get all hyped up on bow brands and etc. most bow brands now will drop a deer in short order. if i were you i would start off with a medium level bow. if you find out that you love bow hunting a few years from now you could drop some major dime on a new one. i used a bow that i got when i was 15 up until i was in my late 20's. OLD browning bow my dad got for 150 bucks. dropped many deer with it.

I searched around for a bit and found an Archery place that's decently close to where I live. This is probably the best route since I know next to nothing about what I am looking at (though, I have a better idea now!).

The more that I think about it, I would like to try my hand at hunting (My uncle invited me to go bird hunting this fall) and in my area, the only thing I could really hunt with is a Bow or a shotgun. I would really like to try using a Bow. I don't think I'll be ready by the fall - I'll probably need lot's of practice.

Again, thanks for the help on what to look for and where to start. Much appreciated.

 

[keyser223]

zatch, What kind of bird hunting would you be doing?

 

[338375]

I searched around for a bit and found an Archery place that's decently close to where I live. This is probably the best route since I know next to nothing about what I am looking at (though, I have a better idea now!).

The more that I think about it, I would like to try my hand at hunting (My uncle invited me to go bird hunting this fall) and in my area, the only thing I could really hunt with is a Bow or a shotgun. I would really like to try using a Bow. I don't think I'll be ready by the fall - I'll probably need lot's of practice.

Again, thanks for the help on what to look for and where to start. Much appreciated.

You do need to practice a lot before hunting. Some people take to it naturally and others struggle with it. When I started teaching my son, I started him at 10-15 yards, so it was a little easier for him, and he could concentrate more on his form, than the accuracy. As he improved we moved to 20 yards, then 30 and 40 yards.
He is an outstanding shot now...
When you first start hunting, limit your shots to a distance you can shoot well at. If its only 20 yards, keep your shots around 20 yards. Its the only fair and ethical thing to do for the animal. It does take self discipline to pass on shots that are less than ideal, but thats one of the things that makes bow hunting great.
After awhile you will appreciate the fact that you were so close to an animal, and got to watch and listen to them, and they didn't know you were there.
I've been 10-15 yards from elk numerous times, but couldn't get a clean shot, or knew I would get busted if I drew the bow. Very few people will get to experience anything like that in their life, and its nothing at all like watching it on the t.v... Even a season that I don't kill anything is a success, because of the memories and things I was fortunate enough to see in the woods

 

[zatch]

zatch, What kind of bird hunting would you be doing?

If my schedule allows me, Geese (I believe. Haven't talked specifics yet)! My uncle has been going all his life and this would be my first opportunity to tag along (college and work gets in the way).

 

[zatch]

You do need to practice a lot before hunting. Some people take to it naturally and others struggle with it. When I started teaching my son, I started him at 10-15 yards, so it was a little easier for him, and he could concentrate more on his form, than the accuracy. As he improved we moved to 20 yards, then 30 and 40 yards.
He is an outstanding shot now...
When you first start hunting, limit your shots to a distance you can shoot well at. If its only 20 yards, keep your shots around 20 yards. Its the only fair and ethical thing to do for the animal. It does take self discipline to pass on shots that are less than ideal, but thats one of the things that makes bow hunting great.
After awhile you will appreciate the fact that you were so close to an animal, and got to watch and listen to them, and they didn't know you were there.
I've been 10-15 yards from elk numerous times, but couldn't get a clean shot, or knew I would get busted if I drew the bow. Very few people will get to experience anything like that in their life, and its nothing at all like watching it on the t.v... Even a season that I don't kill anything is a success, because of the memories and things I was fortunate enough to see in the woods

I would imagine it will take me a while, as that is how things usually are for me. I have caught myself moving too quickly in other areas (shooting, music, other hobby's) without spending enough time honing on the basics and taking things slow. It's good to challenge yourself...developing bad habits suck.

I will definitely use your advice on starting with short distances. Makes perfect sense and I probably won't be able to hit a barn door a few feet away ....I'll bring the shotgun just in case I get frustrated - I can hit a few things with that!

I don't really know what hunting is going to mean for me, but I would have to imagine that it would go beyond the obvious part. Just getting out of the daily grind and into the woods makes me a happy guy as it is!

 

[JParanee]

Go to a good pro shop

Start out right

 

[338375]

I would imagine it will take me a while, as that is how things usually are for me. I have caught myself moving too quickly in other areas (shooting, music, other hobby's) without spending enough time honing on the basics and taking things slow. It's good to challenge yourself...developing bad habits suck.

I will definitely use your advice on starting with short distances. Makes perfect sense and I probably won't be able to hit a barn door a few feet away ....I'll bring the shotgun just in case I get frustrated - I can hit a few things with that!

I don't really know what hunting is going to mean for me, but I would have to imagine that it would go beyond the obvious part. Just getting out of the daily grind and into the woods makes me a happy guy as it is!

The only way to know if you like hunting is to give it a try. Its not for everybody, and thats fine. I have known people that when it came time to pull the trigger, they just couldn't do it. They still like to go camping though, and are content with that. It can be hard to find time to get out, but it really is important.
I spend 11 months of the year working a lot of hours, waiting for 4 weeks of hunting to get there

 

[coaldigger]

Look around & try to handle & shoot as many different bows as you can before you purchase one, they all feel just a little different on the hand & all have a different draw cycle & hold. Once you've decided on which bow & I'm not going to tell you that my bow(PSE X-Force Vendetta XL) is the "Best" & not to get anything else because all the major bow makers have good stuff, you need to practice & do it ALOT...everyday if possible ! Your form is the most important thing, you must have good / consistant form to shoot accuratly ! Keep your eyes open for left over year models, the 2012 bows are gonna be out in Nov. & the 2011 will drop in price. A few good beginner models to look out for in the 2010~2011 models IMO -
Alpine F1 Fireball
Bear Assault
Bowtech Assassin
Diamond OutLaw
Martin Saber or Onza3
Parker Inferno
PSE BowMadness
Quest Hammer
Mathews Z7
Mission Maniac
I don't know what Brand your local dealer sales but here are a few of the popular "Budget" models from several popular companies. All of these have plenty of speed ! You should be able to pick one of these up as a left over or used for a reasonable price ! I done alot of reading & shooting different bows last year when I was on the hunt for myself a new bow & these were a few on my list. I Ended up with a '10 PSE X-Force Vendetta XL, it was a leftover '10 & I saved $100 getting it like that! Good luck !

 

[sherlockbonez]

I see you have left our hoyt in your list.