Thinking about getting into bow hunting

Hawk · 05-23-2008, 08:51 PM

Okay you bow hunters, I'm thinking about joining your ranks.

What's a decent entry level set-up to get me started? Remember now, I know nothing about bow hunting so keep it REAL simple.

Joe · 05-23-2008, 09:24 PM

Best advice I can give you is to make the drive to Kutch Archery and explain your situation to Kenny and Ruth. They understand and can help.

Are you sure you want to start down this trail? It can be an overwhelming obsession before you know what hit you....

whtelk · 05-24-2008, 05:42 AM

Fishnpox on the classified ads has a PSE "the beast" bow all sat up for $100.00 0r offer. I owned 2 of these bows and that is an excellent deal.

Rustyoar · 05-24-2008, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

Best advice I can give you is to make the drive to Kutch Archery and explain your situation to Kenny and Ruth. They understand and can help.

Well worth the drive, you won't leave the same person. I'm glad your thinking about it now rather than one of those people that show up in the shop August 27th and want to be a bow hunter, it happens alot. We try and shoot once twice a week starting in February.

Dave Smith · 05-24-2008, 07:26 AM

HAWK- get the idea out of your head NOW! Take a shower and scrub yourself and pray for forgiveness- turn and RUN LIKE THE WIND before you get seduced by the evil bowhunting passion!!
Consider my story: I was once a respected goose hunter- people looked up to me and even sought my advice- I WAS somebody. I was on Pro-staffs, made a few videos and TV shows, won a few calling contests and had a very successful instructional calling CD. Now, I am back at the BOTTOM of the heap with bowhunting. I am a complete rookie. It's both tough and good for me to be scrounging down here for a little crum of advice here and there. During the Springtime I used to catch giant bass and again, was respected for it. Now my spring days are spent looking for rubs and sheds, learning the lay of the land, and just walking all the time.
I never thought this would happen to me- it can happen to you and don't say you haven't been warned. Just the act of shooting a bow will grow on you- you will get in a bad mood on the days that you don't get to shoot. When you're shooting well, everyone will ask you why you're in such a good mood, when you're shooting poorly, no one will want to be around you. When the day comes that you release an arrow and watch it slip into a spot as perfect as if you pushed it there by hand, you will be almost to tears thinking about how many years you waisted that you could've been bowhunting.

kilchisfisher · 05-24-2008, 07:40 AM

My suggestion is to either go to a reputable shop and have a long talk with them when they aren't busy, or get with someone who really knows. It really is worth the money to go to a reputable shop and have them outfit you. An important point: a good setup for one person is not necessarily the best for another. For example, I have a 31" drawlength. My hunting partner has a 27" drawlength. We need to set up differently.

You'll need to shoot different bows to see which ones work with you. My first bow would change point of impact by several feet just by making very slight changes in my grip. Not good for hunting. My current bow fits me and I don't have that problem. Shot quite a few bows to make that choice.

Don't get hung up on brand name. The only important issue is if the bow shoots well for you. Also, avoid "top of the line." They are expensive, and don't usually offer that much advantage for bow hunting over the mid line bows, especially for the beginner. Avoid the "faster is better" craze, too. Traditional bows get a lot of game every year so while speed is helpful, it isn't everything.

There is a very good chance that you will decide after a few years of experience just what features you really want and then you may look for a new bow anyway.

Remember, what kills game is blades on the broadhead slicing through a vital area. Almost any legal bow can do that well enough when it is matched with the proper arrow.

Wheels · 05-24-2008, 08:10 AM

I would start out with a simple set up. Go to a reputable shop with a friend who knows bows! I also see pretty good starter bows (all set up) in cabelas, etc. for well under $500.

comfortable draw weight.
use a release (if you like it)
3 pin sight (20,30, and 40 yard pins)
choose a good rest (whisker biscuit or a fall away) seems like the whisker bisuit would be good for starters.

Keep it simple and get really good with your equipment. The high dollar bows and accessories do make bow hunting easier however, just in case you don't stick with it, you won't have a bunch of $ socked into it. Practice, practice, Practice. Good Luck. Wheels.

handoff · 05-24-2008, 08:23 AM

no doubt this first bow you buy will soon be a back up bow, and you'll have to get the new technology, so why not spend the money now instead of 3 bows from now. Kuthch archery hands down best people around

Catch 22 · 05-24-2008, 11:41 AM

GET SIZED AT A REPUTABLE SHOP!

The last thing you should do is go buy a used bow and try to make it work. You need a bow that fits you. You need to know your draw length before anything. Try a few different bows and see what you like.

Spend as much as you can. Quality is important in bowhunting. Try for yourself though. Shoot some bows of all different price points and see if you can tell the difference. You will, even if you're new at it.

If you do buy used, make sure you know what you want first.

Broken Arrow in Milwaukie is super low pressure and Ryan is incredible at getting people going in the right direction.

buckhunter · 05-24-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

Best advice I can give you is to make the drive to Kutch Archery and explain your situation to Kenny and Ruth. They understand and can help.

Are you sure you want to start down this trail? It can be an overwhelming obsession before you know what hit you....

They will take care of you for sure!

Dave Smith,,,,thats down-right funny! BH

micah · 05-24-2008, 02:11 PM

If you buy an entry level bow most of the time you will end up buying a new one within a year or so. Get a good bow that you can grow with. Buy the best bow that fits your budget.

hunter97051 · 05-24-2008, 02:16 PM

pm sent

DukAddict · 05-24-2008, 04:55 PM

All I can say is, I just got into bow hunting as well. I first bought a used set up and was going to spend more money on a used one to get it fitted, the new things I wanted on it, and everything perfect for my feel, and that would have ended up costing me just as much as getting a brand new one right off the bat just a blank bow that fit me, then I could have added things one at a time that I wanted.

Get a brand new bow that feels comfortable to you, fits you, and you can put on what you want and can afford. Dont use something that worked for someone else, because it wont always work for you

Brett Neffendorf

deadelk · 05-24-2008, 08:01 PM

kutch is the place they will get you set up without the normal @#! and good prices im sure there are other good shopes around but this is the only one I have found in my 25 years with a bow!

Matthewc · 05-25-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

HAWK- get the idea out of your head NOW! Take a shower and scrub yourself and pray for forgiveness- turn and RUN LIKE THE WIND before you get seduced by the evil bowhunting passion!!
Consider my story: I was once a respected goose hunter- people looked up to me and even sought my advice- I WAS somebody. I was on Pro-staffs, made a few videos and TV shows, won a few calling contests and had a very successful instructional calling CD. Now, I am back at the BOTTOM of the heap with bowhunting. I am a complete rookie. It's both tough and good for me to be scrounging down here for a little crum of advice here and there. During the Springtime I used to catch giant bass and again, was respected for it. Now my spring days are spent looking for rubs and sheds, learning the lay of the land, and just walking all the time.
I never thought this would happen to me- it can happen to you and don't say you haven't been warned. Just the act of shooting a bow will grow on you- you will get in a bad mood on the days that you don't get to shoot. When you're shooting well, everyone will ask you why you're in such a good mood, when you're shooting poorly, no one will want to be around you. When the day comes that you release an arrow and watch it slip into a spot as perfect as if you pushed it there by hand, you will be almost to tears thinking about how many years you waisted that you could've been bowhunting.

That about somes it up BUT you forgot a few..

Will now spend WAY to mutch time watching box sets of fred bear theater classics and Ted Nugents SPirit of the wild from the "good" early years.....

You will fall deeply into bowhunting game management concepts and always know what is right and ethical causing you to blow many good possibles...waiting for him to turn a perfect frikkin quarter.

You will suddenly need more, better and more advanced camo that costs more then the USA made bow your going to want to buy.

You will need a full time ninjitsu class [or an indian guide] so you can learn to walk like a feather in the dryest of August conditions.

Last but not least.......You will still wonder if you should be seeing more animals then when your riffle hunting or not....But you just know thy are out there!