[Cutbait7]

Hi! I've always wanted to learn to hunt with a bow. I'd like some recommendations on the best bow equipment for a beginner. BTW, I am serious. Everyone has to begin somewhere..lol Thanks!

 

[TheTargetArcher]

i like my bowtech tomkat i started about a year ago. i dryfired it tonight it still shoot as good as the day i got it. it's a solid fast, and quiet bow. hope this helps it also comes as a package bow with the rest sight, bow sling.

 

[inline]

Find a good Pro Shop

Everyone has their own opinion of what it the best set up and which bow is going to work better. What it boils down to is buy a quality bow from one of the top company's and you can't go wrong. Most importantly make sure you get in with a good bow shop in your area that can fit you properly. To many people start out with ill fitting bows and it just goes down hill from their.

Being female is to your advantage guys are always willing to try and impress women with there knowledge. Hell, I am replying to this that says something.

 

[OD_Crew]

I shoot a bowtech tomkat too(dont dryfire it) LOL there are tons of bows out there. I would get one that comes in a package deal, with sights/quiver and rest already on it. Get good quality arrows so you wont have to by half a dozen every month or so, I have had my carbon expresses for 3 years now and finally had one robin hooded(by a friend) go to your local shop and shoot a few to see which one feels better to you. Everyone has an opinion on which is the best bow, go find out for yourself.

 

[Archersteve]

I want to second the idea of going to a "pro shop" instead of a general store to get "fitted" for a bow. To get you started, stand next to a wall and place your back against it, arms outstreatched straight to the sides. Now, have someone measure from tip of your fingers to tip of your fingers. Take that measurement and devide it by 2.5. That number is about what your draw length should be (about - the formula tells me I should shoot 28.4" but I shoot 29" and have never been accused of having too long of a draw length).

You do not need an 'expensive' bow to start out, but neither should you go with a cheep bow either. A Reflex Grizzley would be an excellent choice. A Martin Couger III would be excellent as well. The Easton web site has charts for determining the stiffness of the arrows you will need (you can find the same charts from other companies as well).

We could go on and on, but the trick is to link up with people that know what they are doing. Archers love helping archers (male or female - shame on you inline ). Go to a local range and see who is shooting the best, than strike up a conversation.

Let us know what city you are in and I'll bet that someone on AT will be able to tell you a reliable pro shop to go to in your area.



PS Welcome and just have fun.

 

[RJG]

I will go along with the advice given about going to a shop that carries the equipment you are intrested in be it compound, recurve, or longbow and getting properly matched equipment that fits you well. Learn to shoot it well within your self chosen effective range. Then I would highly recommend that you learn everything possible about the species of game you are wanting to pursue through the excellent wealth of information available through books, magazines, videos, etc. I would also recommend getting a book on basic woodsmanship skills. Get out there in the area you are going to hunt and learn everything you can about the animals there and practice sound woodamanship while doing this. When you feel you are ready, go out there and get'em. Woodsmanship and hunting knowledge will fill your tags, NOT your equipment choices.


RJG

 

[Kstigall]

I bet there is someone that is willing to get you started.
If you're in my area I have some gear to get you started.

 

[Fletch Helical]

A good pro shop is the best start with the emphasis on GOOD. Just because a store sells archery equipment it doesn't mean they're a pro shop. That said there is some trial and error with archery for everyone, thats why there's so many different types of equipment and what 1 person likes another might hate. Reason being is eveybody has different shooting styles (the way they grip the bow, where they anchor, how they release, etc.) But there's a few things to consider The type of bow (I'm assuming a compound) any big name manufacturer is good like Hoyt, PSE, Bowtech, Martin, Mathews. The two most important things to consider are the proper draw length, and proper draw weight. That's where a good shop comes into play so they can try to fit you with a bow. As far as the length you want to be standing up straight when at full draw, not leaning back, you don't want to have the arm holding the bow over extended, and you dont want the hand holdng the string back behind your head. (In fact if you do a search on "hows my form" you'll find alot of pics of people shooting a bow with a bunch of suggestions very useful). As far as the weight you want domething you can get back fairly easily, you shouldn't have to struggle or point the bow towards the sky to draw it and again no leaning back. Compounds are usually adjustable by 10 lbs. (30-40, 40-50, etc.) As you shoot more often you'll get stronger and be able to increase the poundage I would say look for something that's moderately easy to draw at the lightest poundage and you can increase the weight as needed. Also you can go into the womens forum and maybe get some women's perspectives in there and you might even be able to find someone looking to unload one of their bows for a good price.

 

[Cutbait7]

Aspiring Huntress says thank you!

I'm not sure if there is a "live" chat here, or not. I live between Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama, so should be able to find a good pro shop in one or the other. I will go first to a shop in my home town and see if they measure me or appear to have any of the knowledge needed to truly help me choose the correct bow package. If not, I'll keep looking until I find a shop which appears to know what they are doing. I'd love to find a teacher. What sort of practice target is needed for a beginner? I'm picturing one with a bullseye...lol Thanks so much for the advice.

 

[Archersteve]

For a beginner, or for that matter an old timer like myself, a "bag" type target is tough to beat. You can only shoot target points into it, but it last and last and last. Oh and did I tell you that Wall*Mart had them on sale for $29.00 for Christmas. I made a couple by stuffing a burlap bag with shrink wrap plastic I got at a boat shop - Cheap!

 

[ex-wolverine]

Good Pro Shop In ALABAMA

Bennets Archery in Wetumpka. He will fix you up. He has a lot of women that go to his place for help. Sells mathews , Mcpherson and I cant remember what else.

Im in the military while I was at a school in Montgomery I bought an outback from him. Just so you know, I live in Idaho, and I dont have anything to gain by telling you this


Good luck

 

[mac38special]

best set up

i found that the best bow for you would be the bow/manufacture that you feel the most comfortable with. i have ahd some really cheaper costing boxs and some expensive bows and found i enjoyed shooting both for hunting but if you are going to shot more often than hunting season i would invest in a mathews, hoyte, bowtech, ect. a premier bow for the fact of vibration or rather lack there of. the new bowtech are a nice shooting bow but the mathew ovation is an easier drawing bow which means you can draw more pounds and not realize it so quickly. well long and the short is that you need to find the bow for you by drawing different bows and shooting them ... test them out find what you like the best no one person can tell you what you need all we can do is give you tid bits of info you can use to find the set up for you. good luck

 

[Daniel Boone]

Pro Shop

You will save time and money if you go to a couple of pro shops and find one your comfortable with.

Good Pro shop is priceless.

 

[e-msolutions]

Ditto to all the above. Do not "overbow." If you can shoot, a 45# bow is all you need for whitetail; if you can't shoot, a 100# bow won't help you.

Now, away from bow hunting (emphasis on bow), and on to bow hunting (emphasis on hunting). Learn to hunt. Get a camera and go to your nearest state park during the off season. Teach yourself to spot deer - motion, not deer, is what you see first. Learn to anticipate their movements. Teach yourself to stalk. Then, when you can approach within 20 yards of a deer, shoot him....as many times as you want.

If your archery season starts in October, begin practicing daily, no later than the first of July each year.

I've been hunting with a bow since 1958. I guarantee these things will pay off. I've taken trophy deer with both the bow and my camera. One is as satistying as the other. Enjoy your hunts.

 

[Daniel Boone]

Best thing I ever did was find a archery club

I garantee archers will help and if you was to find a club in your area or indoor range that would be a bonus.

You could post your location and Im sure some could inform you of clubs in your area. Most likely some are members here.