Author Topic: Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the experts.  (Read 964 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline New Hampshire

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 996
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the experts.
« on: November 30, 2003, 03:09:02 AM »
Ive been tossing around the Idea of trying my hand at bowhunting someday.  My biggest problem right now is the bow itself.  Namely deciding my draw length.  The nearest archy shop is a good drive away (at least the ones that dont simply sell them right out of a box and who dont look at you like your growing worms out your ear because you interupted their phone call to a girlfriend or such.)  I was reading a book by Sports Afield that said to stick your arm straight out in front of you and measure from your middle finger tip to the center of your chest.  I did so and came up with 29 1/2 inches.  Im 6'4', does this sound about right?  We measured my friend, who is a short 5' 6" and came up with 26" inches.  Now I see this place that is selling Fred Bear compounds for $85 (Im assuming the stripped down, just bow and string.)  They list draw weights of 29" or 30".  If my draw weight really is 29 1/2 inch should I go with the 29"?  Or is it supposed to be the 30"?  
My father used to own an old Bear recurve that he loved.  Ive also heard good things about the Bear company.  Is this a quality bow at $85?  Its alright if it is a bare bow, I dont mind adding the features I want as I go.  Are there any suggestions on additional features?
Im sure Ill have a few more eventually, but these will do for now.
Thanks,
Brian M.
NRA Life Member
Member Londonderry Fish and Game Club
Member North American Fishing Club
Member North American Hunting Club
Member New Hampshire Historical Society
Member International Blackpowder Hunting Association

Offline Myk

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 91
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2003, 02:55:12 AM »
You're always best to go shorter. Too long makes it hard to pull and hold, sometimes impossible (although too short can make it hard to shoot).

Your best bet is to drive the long haul to the pro-shop and get measured. It will save you many problems in the long run. Short of that buy a cheap fiberglass bow and put a measuring stick on it. Or make a loose fist and draw a yard stick over it to the corner of your mouth. Or find a friend with an old bow they wouldn't mind adjusting and try it at different lengths.
Another thing about the pro-shop is that they probably have somewhere you can shoot the bows in order to try them before you buy them. And a pro-shop will save you in figuring out which arrows you need.
 
29" seems to be the average draw length. I just measured myself your way and was real close to my draw length. But it seems that long/short fingers would mess with that way.

$85 for a compound is probably not quality. It may have been good back in its day but it's probably so out of date that it isn't now. Figure about $200 for a good starter level hunting compound. The $85 one would get you started but judging from the <$100 bows I've seen (and the one I started with) it wouldn't be suitable for hunting.
I'm desperately trying to talk a friend into buying a better bow. His is the same quality as my $90 bow (in fact I think his is a Bear). He can't hit the broadside of a barn with it and it doesn't have the energy to go through the broadside of a deer. My old bow has the same problems.

Any bow you buy is stripped down. They may have a "kit" but that's on top of the price of the bare bow. Things I'd get, release, sight, rest, string loop, stabilizer, string silencers, teflon cable slide, arm guard. The list could go on and on. Even if the "kit" gives you some quality items at a good price you'll still need to add some other things.
What you get depends on how you shoot and the arrows you decide on.

Welcome to the world of nickle and diming yourself to death. :)

Offline Dutch/AL

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 148
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2003, 05:56:04 AM »
Hey New Hampshire, maybe I can add something to Myk's good advice. As he stated, if you want to go with a compound, best bet is to get set up at a good pro shop even if you have to drive a ways. You will be much better off in the long run.

If you don't want to come off several hundred bucks for a compound, consider checking around for a used recurve or longbow. They can be very economical to shoot compared to compounds, and are just as deadly when tuned properly with correctly spined arrows and sufficient arrow weight. Plus, you don't have to be really concerned with exact draw length on a stickbow. Most can be drawn 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 inches without a problem. The biggest concern with a stickbow is the overall bow length in order to prevent finger pinch. Too short a bow can cause finger pinch at full draw. The only thing you sacrifice with a bow that's longer than you need is performance, which will only amount to a few feet per second of arrow speed.

Also, if you choose to go with a compound, there are models available with adjustable draw length so you can change the draw length down the road if you feel the need to. Some shooters find that their draw length increases after they have been shooting awhile, and get all the "archery" muscles conditioned.

Good luck learning bows and bowhunting. There is much to learn, and it is a LOT of fun, so just take your time and enjoy the journey.
Sportsman 700 Twin

The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on. He took a face from the ancient gallery and he walked on down the hall.

Offline Tony D

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 120
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2003, 09:43:15 AM »
Another option is to look at used bows.  Some guys feel they can't shoot a deer unless they've got the latest/fastest hi tech bow to hit the market.  Most bow shops will have a selection of these and they should work with you to find a bow that fits you.  This will get you started without a lot of up front cost, but you'll have the best start you can get.  Not only will they fit you, set the bow up for you, but also give you basic shooting lessons.  A good bow show will do this.

Why would they do this?  You are a potential long term customer and may be buying all the other things you'll need to get started and down the road, you may be looking at a new bow and remember the great customer service you received.
Tony D ><>

Offline New Hampshire

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 996
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2003, 11:44:25 AM »
Well my buddy is going to sell me his Pearson compound.  It is an adjustable 28-30 inch draw, but it is still too long for him (he is the short one I mentioned above.)  He got it from a guy at work who decided to try bow hunting once and decided it wasnt for him (he is one of the "if it aint easy I dont want to do it" kind of guys.)  Im payin $80 for it and he paid $100 from the guy at work.  Ill take it to a pro shop and have it adjusted.  Ill see if it is any good and add what I think is necessary.  At the very least it will give me something to prctice with.  Im planning for the year after, not this year, to start Bow Hunting.  I need to take my states required bow course and then get practicing.  Add to that Im going to try my first muzzel loading season next fall.  So I have plenty of time to tinker.  Thanks for all the great advice.
Brian M.
NRA Life Member
Member Londonderry Fish and Game Club
Member North American Fishing Club
Member North American Hunting Club
Member New Hampshire Historical Society
Member International Blackpowder Hunting Association

Offline CWG

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 43
    • http://www.claudegatewood.com
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2003, 03:21:43 PM »
here, these sites get tons of traffic, this is a good one to start at.
http://www.archerytalk.com
I have a PSE nova and LOVE it! started with crossbow and went compound. Cant wait for gun season to be over so I can be back in woods with my bow
http://forums.pse-archery.com/
http://domino.htcomp.net/ragsdale.nsf

Offline dakotashooter2

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 952
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2003, 09:31:18 AM »
A little of my opinion for what it is worth. I think you are on the right track.You do not need the fastest most technologically advanced bow to start with. As a matter of fact I advise against it. KISS. Keep It Simple. Don't know for sure but the pearson sounds like one of the round wheel bows. Ideal to learn on. Cam bows are not real forgiving for the begining shooter. It all depends how deep you want to get into the sport. Cam bows are essentially designed for use with sights, releases and all the other high tech gear available. If you do not use that gear with them you may have difficulty achieving any real accuracy. I use a stripped down Golden Eagle Evolution, meaning no sights or releases. It has very little cam and shoots very well barebow. Everyone I shoot with says it is one of the quietest bows they have heard but that may be due to the fact that I don't have a lot of junk hanging on it. I have used 6-8 bows and the one I shot best with was my very first, a round wheeled Bear Blacktail with only 35% letoff. It wasn't fast but it was sure smooth and lite.  It is hard to find a starter bow on the rack any more. Even the used ones you find are 65-70# draw. Anything lighter is almost special order. Don't overload yourself. Even if you are a big guy start with 50-55# and work your way up. Being able to draw 70# and being able to handle 70# are two different matters. I know a lot of guys who started out at 65# and now suffer with physical problems as a result and who could be much better shooters if they backed off the weight a bit. I shoot 53-54# all year round. Most of the time I could probably handle 60# but one it starts getting cold it gets too difficult.   Regarding draw length ,on the older bows the 1/2" can be achieved but setting for the longer length then giving the bowstring a few twists to shorten it. The downside is that it may not allow you to use a peep on the string without effecting alignment. I personally would love to go back to shooting the recurve but the big A won't allow it.
Just another worthless opinion!!

Offline New Hampshire

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 996
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2003, 02:03:29 AM »
Yes the Pearson is a wheel compound.  No cams or such.  I was loking at the faded tag the factory put on and, assuming it was not adjusted before (and knowing where it came from I know it probably was not adjusted), it came from the factory with a 30" draw and a 75 lb pull.  I want to have it adjusted, ironically, to 50 or 55 lbs (our state says a minimum of 40 at 28" so I figure 50-55 should be plenty.)  I dont like the peep thats on there, the sights are gold pins, not fiber optic, so those will get changed.  I may look at a quieter rest, or at least putting something on the forks of the current rest (which also needs ajusting because my buddy just slapped it on and I can see the arrow is not level when sitting in it.)  Your right that it is no super bow.  Its black,  and shows a few years age, but for what I currently need I think its just the ticket.  Besides, I want to try bowhunting, but in case I try it and dont reeally want to continue with it, I dont want to spend huge amounts of money for nothing.  Thanks for the advice, folks, its appreciated.
Brian M.
NRA Life Member
Member Londonderry Fish and Game Club
Member North American Fishing Club
Member North American Hunting Club
Member New Hampshire Historical Society
Member International Blackpowder Hunting Association

Offline Myk

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 91
Thinking of trying Bow Hunting. Q's for the
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2003, 05:54:49 PM »
I doubt if you can get a 75lb down to 50-55lb. Most have 15lbs of adjustment.

I'm not a big buy and 60lbs is no problem. I pulled 70lbs for years with no problems but it did wear down my shoulder after a lot of target shooting so I went down to around 65lbs.

You should be able to get fiber optic pins and use the hardware from the old ones, Walmart has them around here. Go to Radio Shack and get some shrink tube for the prong rest, better would be to buy teflon replacement prongs, but the shrink tube works.

Arrows won't always sit level.

I can't imagine any deer hunter not liking bowhunting unless they are the type who has to kill to enjoy the hunt, but I'm addicted :)
The rush when the deer start coming in lasts a lot longer than it does with firearm.