What bow?

[Sweet 6.5]

 

I know this is wide open but with what do I start if I want to bow hunt?
(Deer and elk size)

Do I go for a second hand Mathews or Hoyt? Do I buy new but something like
a Diamond or Mission X3 ?

Sweet

[huntswithdogs]

Have ya got a bow shop somewhere near ya? This would be my first stop. Not only do they have(usually) second hand bows, but they can advise ya on drawlength, rests, sites, arrows and such. For a starter bow some of the package deals are best for us beginners. I'd not run out and drop $1000 just to find out I couldn't get it down right. Oh, don't go with some extreme draw weight either. 50-60# is a better choice to begin with.

Hope this helps some...

HWD

[ttank0789]

I got my first bow a few years ago and I settled for a new but low priced package deal Hoyt Lazertech, they do not make it anymore as it was their 75th anniversary bow. I left the store with everything I needed but broadheads and spent just under $700. The majority of bow manufacturers make good starter bows that won't break the bank.

Here are some bows that are reasonably priced that would probably be good for a first time bow hunter.
Bear Lights Out
Martin Cheetah
Diamond The Rock (Diamond bows are made by Bowtech)
Hoyt Avenger
Reflex Growler (Reflex bows are made by Hoyt)

Like huntswithdogs said you don't need a huge draw weight, mine is set at 55# and that's enough to bring down a deer. If you go to a good pro shop and tell them what you need you should leave a happy hunter. Hope I was some help.

[billy_56081]

Find a pro shop near you and go shoot a bnch of bows. I think most Cabelas have an indoor range where you can test fire many different bows.  Most of the products out there are very good. I bought the PSE fireflight package 4 or 5 years ago at Cabelas and it is still going strong. Thousands of shots later, hogs, bear, and several deer have fallen to this bow including one P&Y buck. and I see it being used for a few more years. Still aint been restrung, but I think after this fall it will be.

[Empty Quiver]

You will likely find a mid price new bow with equal performance to a three year old top line wonder bow. The used may well be set up though, no small cost. Do your homework, realize a full service bow shop with knowledgable staff can save you a lot of headaches and even money in the long run.

Now up on my soapbox, get a nice mainstream < #50 recurve, learn to shoot it. Practice often, enjoy the simplicity, go out hunting and kill stuff with it.  Get a stringer, a quiver, an extra set up string and you are done, leave the toolbox in the shop. So simple even a cave man did it.

[STUMPJMPR]

I bought the lights out and was out the door for a little less than 600 with almost everything I needed to go hunting....

[GRIMJIM]

If you buy a used bow,anything three years or older (I'm sure some will say less) probably needs to be restrung to the tune of a little over a hundred bucks. Just something to think about.

While you may find a good deal on a combo package at cabelas or one of the big hunting stores, I have not heard good things about their shops so look for a good pro shop. It's worth the few extra bucks to me.

[STUMPJMPR]

I agree with Grim... I went the route of buying at a big box store and thought I was getting set up... He was doing alot of things to the bow... It all looked good to me... I still ended up having to visit the local guy and do some tuning myself... The local guy was nice enough to help me out for a fee... Although, he wasn't as much help as if you would have bought the bow directly from him.... I wish I would have dealt with him from the start....

[okieshooter]

fit and feel means a lot more than brand name. Regardless of price,name, or looks you need a bow that feels right. If it feels right it will shoot right and you will be happier with a bow that feels right than one that looks good. Maybe you can get one that fits both. I had a Hoyt and later got rid of it to buy a Mathews where I could have the best there was. After owning Mathews I would not trade a Hoyt for it again. I have killed deer with Mathews but like Hoyt better. Any bow today is better than what I started with 20 years ago so you do not have to break the bank.

[Sweet 6.5]

 

I stiil have to shoot them but at this stage I am looking at a new PSE Striker
and second hand Apex. Any thoughs on these?

Thanks

[hogwire]

I recently shot a lot of the new bows at my pro shop. I shot the new PSE speed bow with the twin cams but can't for the life of me remember what it was called. It was the second fastest in their line I think. There was a PSE rep there and I couldn't rest until I shot it. It was a very fast, fairly quiet bow and was very shore A to A. I was fairly satisfied with it except for one thing, I have bursitis and was looking for a little easier shootin bow and those PSE cams are tough, but in all fairness I picked up an arrow about 30" long and it shot over 300 fps through the chrono! Of course you don't get that speed without nothing. So what I'm sayin is see if the guy at the shop waitin on you is a rep for someone, he will be biased! I shot Mathews DFT or something like that and didn't like it at all, a lot of twisty torque upon release of the arrow. I shot the new Hoyts which I had previously owned 3 of. Nice bows but I was looking for something a little different. I'm not real fond of the "tech" style risers. I like a bow I can shoot with either hand if the need arises. I shot the new Bowtechs and even last years 82nd Airborne. They were all very good shootin bows and I finally walked out with a new BT Admiral a week later. I know this thread wasn't about high end bows but it usually follows that you can get a med price bow by the one you like or a used one for a good price and have a good bow. The Diamonds look good and are owned by Bowtech but I think they were all 1 cam bows which I don't care for. Shoot a lot of bows and see what you keep coming back to, which one draws you back. That's why I wound up with the Bowtech Admiral. I had to go home and sell something but it is the sweeetest shootin bow I ever drew. The 82nd was awesome too and very easy to shoot for a speed bow. I think it is rated for 350 IBO. The only thing I didn't like about it was the A to A length was longer than I was looking for. Still, I was very surprised how well behaved it was. There should be some good deals on last year's bows still in stock at this time, might find a good deal on a package but it's more important to get something you're comfortable shooting, you know, buy what you fall in love with. HTH         

[Cottonwood]

Buy new, as on a used bow you do not get any warrenty for service at all.  I don't own a PSE but I do know they are good bows, so you got to decide on what fits you.  When you buy new, you know your getting quality on your bow... and if you buy used, you run the risk of not having the proper draw length as well as damage to limbs, cables and or cams you can not see or even begin to know where they are.

My first bow I did purchase used as I alreayd knew my draw length and got a great deal or so I thought at the time..... then found out the hard way my bow needed to be restrung, as I was on a draw and all of a sudden the string started to let go..... I was lucky.  It was at that point I decided never used again, but I had it all fixed up and serviced on my dime which turned into $$$$ out of my pocket.  And I made sure my son who I was giving this bow to, was getting a fully inspected and re-conditioned bow - A Mathews Black Max that would last him for years to come.

Now my current bow a Mathews Drenalin is backed by a warrenty as long as I own it.

Now because I like Mathews doesn't mean I hate all the rest of the other bow companies out there.  There is simply too many on the market and most if not all of our modern bows maded today are great bows, and will serve you well.  But on a used bow, unless you know the previous owner or a Pro-Shop that is selling the used bow has inspected and can verify that it is sound and safe, I just would pass the used stuff on by.