Any bow hunters here?

[S.W.A.T.]

Looking to test the waters with a bow. Any advice or info. Not wanting top of the line and defiantly not bottom of the barrel either. What should a guy pay for a decent new/used set up.

Will be for bigger game. Moose/elk/deer (hopefully)

 

[young-gun]

PSE, bowtech/diamond are decent middle line bows. I love my APA, but it's definitely not a reasonably priced, but Canadian manufactured.

 

[snochuk]

Looking to test the waters with a bow. Any advice or info. Not wanting top of the line and defiantly not bottom of the barrel either. What should a guy pay for a decent new/used set up.

Will be for bigger game. Moose/elk/deer (hopefully)

There are a lot of good bows on the market.
PSE, Mathews Hoyt, Elite, Bear.
Before you lay any cash down go to your local bow shop that has a range.
They will have some bows to shoot and ton of good advice - may have a line on a used bow package.
Go on to club night or a tournament will also expose you to a lot of experienced shooters.

By the time you get a bow set up with peep, stabilizer, silencers, sights, trigger release, rest and bow case you will be in the 1000-1200 range for a mid grade package.
High end packages will bein the 1800-2200 range or more depending on you accessories.
Decent arrows are 150 (up to 220) a dozen and good broad heads are $50 for 3, so that is at least $400 if you stay away from the lighted nocks.

If this I your first bow you will want a 70# max draw weight (this is where the test shots at bow shop come in)and something in the 6.5-7" brace height with a solid wall when you draw which both make the bow more forgiving if you are not the steadiest of hands.


If you are serious about bow hunting do not buy to cheap you will just spend way more upgrading.
I have never bought the cheap packages for myself, just one for my kids to learn on - there is a world of difference to quality package.
My present setup was one of PSE's top line bow (GX-6 at 354fps)with top shelf accessories.
All in with arrows was $1,950(wife flipped out) - that was 10 years ago and there is still no need for a new bow or accessories unless I wanted something different.

The $500 ready to shoot kits will not be the best experience .......IMO.
And they still are not "complete" at $500.

 

[gibsons]

Think I'm into my wife's Bowtech Eva Shockey for around 1400.00 all said and done. I play with an APA which are made in Biggar Sask. (great company)
Hoyte,PSE, Bowtech all make great equipment but what works best for one person may not be right for you, so go to a bow shop, talk to them and they will get you set up with something that fits you, and should be able to try a few different models out as well.

 

[S.W.A.T.]

Thanks guys. Bow shop isn't really a option around here so I'm doing my research until I can get to a bigger center and put one in my hands. Was hoping to stay under $750 but you know how shopping goes.

 

[young-gun]

There are a lot of good bows on the market.
PSE, Mathews Hoyt, Elite, Bear.
Before you lay any cash down go to your local bow shop that has a range.
They will have some bows to shoot and ton of good advice - may have a line on a used bow package.
Go on to club night or a tournament will also expose you to a lot of experienced shooters.

By the time you get a bow set up with peep, stabilizer, silencers, sights, trigger release, rest and bow case you will be in the 1000-1200 range for a mid grade package.
High end packages will bein the 1800-2200 range or more depending on you accessories.
Decent arrows are 150 (up to 220) a dozen and good broad heads are $50 for 3, so that is at least $400 if you stay away from the lighted nocks.

If this I your first bow you will want a 70# max draw weight (this is where the test shots at bow shop come in)and something in the 6.5-7" brace height with a solid wall when you draw which both make the bow more forgiving if you are not the steadiest of hands.


If you are serious about bow hunting do not buy to cheap you will just spend way more upgrading.
I have never bought the cheap packages for myself, just one for my kids to learn on - there is a world of difference to quality package.
My present setup was one of PSE's top line bow (GX-6 at 354fps)with top shelf accessories.
All in with arrows was $1,950(wife flipped out) - that was 10 years ago and there is still no need for a new bow or accessories unless I wanted something different.

The $500 ready to shoot kits will not be the best experience .......IMO.
And they still are not "complete" at $500.

I wish mine was 1950. I won't tell wife what's into mine, She would want after she divorced me!

 

[snochuk]

I wish mine was 1950. I won't tell wife what's into mine, She would want after she divorced me!

That is a 10 year old price I posted.....APA King bare bow about 1500, 2300ish fully set up?

 

[UkrainianMudKing]

IMO do not get a big box store RTH package, you really need to get to a few bow shops, you need to shoot different bows. Mathews, Hoyt, Bow Tech, PSE, all great bows but they might not be great for you. I had a Hoyt for 10 years, went to get a new bow and now I shoot a Mathews. You really need to find a bow that you like.

 

[young-gun]

That is a 10 year old price I posted.....APA King bare bow about 1500, 2300ish fully set up?

2500, without arrows.

 

[snochuk]

2500, without arrows.

Yowzers!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[S.W.A.T.]

IMO do not get a big box store RTH package, you really need to get to a few bow shops, you need to shoot different bows. Mathews, Hoyt, Bow Tech, PSE, all great bows but they might not be great for you. I had a Hoyt for 10 years, went to get a new bow and now I shoot a Mathews. You really need to find a bow that you like.

Ya was going to try and avoid them, but really whole sale sports might be my only option unless I get to Edmonton in October

 

[young-gun]

Yowzers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ya, HHA king pin sight well worth it. Dial out to 100yds (target, would never shoot animal that far).

 

[09 arctic cat m8]

I just bought a quest off shoot of prime bows from cabelas, come with quiver sight rest pretty much full package and it's been an awesome bow very quiet and very accurate

 

[iceman5689]

My advice would be head to a local bow shop, shoot various bows and whatever feels good order it online. I've always bee faithful to PSE. Ordered mine through these guys.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/compound-bows-professionally-prepared-package-deals-best-service.html

 

[Trashy]

I bought my "Bear Showdown" used from a member on this site, it was a great deal and made a new friend. He used the bow on a sheep hunt (I believe). I took an hour lesson at Jim Bow's archery here in Calgary, to get the bow set up for me and to learn how to properly fire it. Bought some extra arrows and tips and went back to the lanes lots.

I'm not a hunter, but I am going to try bow fishing next summer. I was at Cabelas and they let you fire, any bow you are thinking about purchasing.
There seems to be a lot of good advice here, so maybe take a weekend and go into a bigger city that has some options for you.

 

[sirkdev]

Unfortunately mom and pops need your business to survive.. paying a little more may have great rewards when you need support later on.


QUOTE=iceman5689;2424461]My advice would be head to a local bow shop, shoot various bows and whatever feels good order it online. I've always bee faithful to PSE. Ordered mine through these guys.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/compound-bows-professionally-prepared-package-deals-best-service.html[/QUOTE]

 

[snochuk]

I bought my "Bear Showdown" used from a member on this site, it was a great deal and made a new friend. He used the bow on a sheep hunt (I believe). I took an hour lesson at Jim Bow's archery here in Calgary, to get the bow set up for me and to learn how to properly fire it. Bought some extra arrows and tips and went back to the lanes lots.

I'm not a hunter, but I am going to try bow fishing next summer. I was at Cabelas and they let you fire, any bow you are thinking about purchasing.
There seems to be a lot of good advice here, so maybe take a weekend and go into a bigger city that has some options for you.

You can bow fish in Alberta??????
Or are you travelling g.

 

[iceman5689]

Unfortunately mom and pops need your business to survive.. paying a little more may have great rewards when you need support later on.


QUOTE=iceman5689;2424461]My advice would be head to a local bow shop, shoot various bows and whatever feels good order it online. I've always bee faithful to PSE. Ordered mine through these guys.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/compound-bows-professionally-prepared-package-deals-best-service.html

[/QUOTE]

It's called doing business, not many PSE dealers here carry Pro series bows. I paid almost half the price for a complete package, for what they wanted for bare bow here. And besides if you are serious in archery you take your bow for repairs to a Pro shop or have a bow press of your own. I would never think about having taking or buying a bow from cabelas. Cebelas can't work on any Pro series PSE, why they don't sell any. Looks like he lives in smithers, they deliver right to your door.

 

[Trashy]

You can bow fish in Alberta??????
Or are you travelling g.

I honestly don't know if we can bow fish in Alberta?
I'm recovering right now from shoulder surgery and hoping to shoot my bow by May 2018.

 

[iceman5689]

I honestly don't know if we can bow fish in Alberta?
I'm recovering right now from shoulder surgery and hoping to shoot my bow by May 2018.

Don't think you can bow fish in Alberta, itleast I know you can't spearfish with a speargun. Besides what are you planning of bow fishing in our waters? We don't have Asian carp here..