Son is interested in picking up bow hunting in addition to rifle to extend the deer hunting season beginning next year. I want to get him a new bow for Christmas. Problem is, my archery knowledge is very weak. For you bow hunters....what is your go-to internet source (Bladeforms equivalent?) for archery knowledge, equipment reviews, etc?
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Compound Bow
- Thread starter wiredge
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dang....just realized archerytalk.org is no longer 'live'...
Dan
Dan
Rifles are different than bows. My rifle experience is limited but bow shooting is good. If I could recommend a bow to start out with, it would be either a long bow or a re-curve bow. Rifles are good for a good shot, a good kill. To really experience hunting at its most primitive, the way you'd need to... to feel the kill, Patience and a good straight wood arrow are what you need. That and good ground stalking!!
Belsavis, I agree. but I already had to talk son out of a crossbow into a compound. He doesn't want to even think about those 'old fashioned' bows. Typical teenager that wants to look 'tacticool' I guess. BTW, he doesn't care for my traditional slipjoints either.
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compounds are great for kids. I have sat in on, taught, and shot with many scouts, aged 12-16 and they generally shoot better with compounds. Personally, I no longer own any compounds...and prefer traditional...including using handmade wooden arrows...(though a Mathews Reezen may just change my mind...
)...so it definitely pains me to say it.
What age/size is your son?
Dan
)...so it definitely pains me to say it.What age/size is your son?
Dan
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I was going to suggest Archery Talk... If its his first year, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a bow, until you know for sure he likes it.
Bows are like anything else, there a people that are loyal to the death for certain manufacturers.
I shoot a Mathews, my wife shoots a Mathews, and we got my twelve year old son a new Mathews for Christmas last year. I started him out with a used Browning to make sure he was interested enough, to warrant the expense of the Mathews.
Sounds like your son would be able to do 50-60 pounds easily. Start off at a lower poundage and work up. Most bows are adjustable 10-15 pounds, depending on the brand.. So if you buy a bow that has a maximum poundage of 60 pounds, it could be lowered to 45-50 pounds.
Mathews, Bowtech, Browning, Martin are all good bows. Martin are the least expensive, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.
Before you buy any bow, go to a reputable shop to have them check his draw length. Making sure the bow you get fits him properly, is very important.
Once you narrow it down, Archery Talk has a great classified section where you can pick up 1-2 year old bows very reasonably priced.
I've bought 4 bows on there in the past and have had no problems.
Bows are like anything else, there a people that are loyal to the death for certain manufacturers.
I shoot a Mathews, my wife shoots a Mathews, and we got my twelve year old son a new Mathews for Christmas last year. I started him out with a used Browning to make sure he was interested enough, to warrant the expense of the Mathews.
Sounds like your son would be able to do 50-60 pounds easily. Start off at a lower poundage and work up. Most bows are adjustable 10-15 pounds, depending on the brand.. So if you buy a bow that has a maximum poundage of 60 pounds, it could be lowered to 45-50 pounds.
Mathews, Bowtech, Browning, Martin are all good bows. Martin are the least expensive, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.
Before you buy any bow, go to a reputable shop to have them check his draw length. Making sure the bow you get fits him properly, is very important.
Once you narrow it down, Archery Talk has a great classified section where you can pick up 1-2 year old bows very reasonably priced.
I've bought 4 bows on there in the past and have had no problems.
zombie_killer
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he should have no probs pulling #70 or maybe even #80 looking at him
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bow-hunting for turkey - also on my To-Do list. :thumbup:
Browning Discovery is a great youth bow!
50-55# is a great starter weight. It's not just about "can he pull it back"....it's about "can he do it while hunting, in the cold, in an adrenaline rush, etc."
You want it to be "easy" in a nice repeatable way...so that you can get in an hour of practice without your youth becoming annoyed/fatigued/etc....and they're still excited come hunting-trip time.
Dan
Browning Discovery is a great youth bow!
50-55# is a great starter weight. It's not just about "can he pull it back"....it's about "can he do it while hunting, in the cold, in an adrenaline rush, etc."
You want it to be "easy" in a nice repeatable way...so that you can get in an hour of practice without your youth becoming annoyed/fatigued/etc....and they're still excited come hunting-trip time.
Dan
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Go to www.archerytalk.com. That's the link that works. Just take the comments with a grain of salt - there are a lot of fanboys on that site that state opinions like facts. There are also some great shop owners who will give sound advice, too.
Also, don't get hung up on the draw weight and IBO speed. Remember, that 20 years ago and longer, people had no problem hunting with bows that are much slower than today's speed demons.
Go to the shop, find a few that he likes (so he's confident shooting it), and tell him to get the one that "feels" the best. He'll know what that means when he starts trying them out. Then get fitted for proper draw length, etc. I shoot bowtech, but any of the mainstream makers will make a decent bow. One of the brands actually dry fires their bows 1000+ times and claims that the bows won't break. I think that one's a Hoyt.
Also, don't get hung up on the draw weight and IBO speed. Remember, that 20 years ago and longer, people had no problem hunting with bows that are much slower than today's speed demons.
Go to the shop, find a few that he likes (so he's confident shooting it), and tell him to get the one that "feels" the best. He'll know what that means when he starts trying them out. Then get fitted for proper draw length, etc. I shoot bowtech, but any of the mainstream makers will make a decent bow. One of the brands actually dry fires their bows 1000+ times and claims that the bows won't break. I think that one's a Hoyt.
flipped when i saw this, the PSE TAC 15 crossbow thingy
www.americanhunter.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1744&cid=0
www.americanhunter.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1744&cid=0
My best advice to a new archer would be get the lightest bow possible. Not draw weight, but physical weight. The new parallel limb bows look totally Batman bad@ss, but they weigh a good pound or two more than the more traditional offerings. You're son is gonna be doing a lot more practice shooting with it than with a rifle; range estimation, proper breathing, proper stance, and any number of other variables (even discounting trying to find shafts, sights, and broadheads he likes) all add up to a hell of a lot of time spent with the bow held out at full arms length, and it can get prett heavy after a while.
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I wouldn't worry to much about the weight. When a person first starts out, they will probably be a little sore, because some of the muscles that get used for drawing and holding a bow, don't normally get used for much of anything else.
It won't take long though and it will start getting better. It is something that requires dedication though.
Its not like a rifle. It requires ongoing practice and becoming good at judging yardage. A lot of people use range finders and that is o.k. Sometimes you don't have the time or can't move because you will get busted. In those cases, that is when you really need to be able to judge distance without using one...
Using a bow, you have to be willing to pass on shots that are less than ideal. With a rifle, its not nearly as critical...
Archery is a very rewarding way to hunt. For me, there is a lot more personal satisfaction and challenge than sending bullets at 100 yards or more.
The best part of it is being able to get so close to the animals. Watching them at 20-30 yards with them not knowing you are there, is a great feeling. This season I had Elk around me every day. Sometimes as close as 20-25 yards and they had no idea I was there. The bad part is that I never had a clear shot
It won't take long though and it will start getting better. It is something that requires dedication though.
Its not like a rifle. It requires ongoing practice and becoming good at judging yardage. A lot of people use range finders and that is o.k. Sometimes you don't have the time or can't move because you will get busted. In those cases, that is when you really need to be able to judge distance without using one...
Using a bow, you have to be willing to pass on shots that are less than ideal. With a rifle, its not nearly as critical...
Archery is a very rewarding way to hunt. For me, there is a lot more personal satisfaction and challenge than sending bullets at 100 yards or more.
The best part of it is being able to get so close to the animals. Watching them at 20-30 yards with them not knowing you are there, is a great feeling. This season I had Elk around me every day. Sometimes as close as 20-25 yards and they had no idea I was there. The bad part is that I never had a clear shot