To all of you Bow hunters

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

For the average shooter, a compound bow that costs more than $400-$500 new is a complete waste of money. And the best deals are found this time of year, in pawn shops. I've seen guys pick up $800 rigs, figuring all the attachments, for $300.

Further, if you're going to hunt, you'll notice the guys who are actually killing deer, in the woods, not on guided hunts on television, are shooting those same $400 to $500 bows.

A deer doesn't know you didn't pay $1000    for your bow when you shoot him, just like a fish doesn't know you don't have a $300 rod and reel and aren't sitting in a $50K 90MPH bass boat.

I used to work for the wildlife agency. I can tell you, the guys killing deer are not shooting $1000 bows, $1200 rifles, and $800 muzzle loaders. Just like the guys catching fish aren't using $300 rods and reels from $50K boats.

Mega dollar equipment does not make you a good outdoorsman, hunter, or fisherman. It just plain doesn't.

[Penguin]

Nope, it just makes you look funnier if you're not 

-Penguin

[Flench]

For the average shooter, a compound bow that costs more than $400-$500 new is a complete waste of money. And the best deals are found this time of year, in pawn shops. I've seen guys pick up $800 rigs, figuring all the attachments, for $300.

Further, if you're going to hunt, you'll notice the guys who are actually killing deer, in the woods, not on guided hunts on television, are shooting those same $400 to $500 bows.

A deer doesn't know you didn't pay $1000    for your bow when you shoot him, just like a fish doesn't know you don't have a $300 rod and reel and aren't sitting in a $50K 90MPH bass boat.

I used to work for the wildlife agency. I can tell you, the guys killing deer are not shooting $1000 bows, $1200 rifles, and $800 muzzle loaders. Just like the guys catching fish aren't using $300 rods and reels from $50K boats.

Mega dollar equipment does not make you a good outdoorsman, hunter, or fisherman. It just plain doesn't.

[Reschke]

For the average shooter, a compound bow that costs more than $400-$500 new is a complete waste of money. And the best deals are found this time of year, in pawn shops. I've seen guys pick up $800 rigs, figuring all the attachments, for $300.

Further, if you're going to hunt, you'll notice the guys who are actually killing deer, in the woods, not on guided hunts on television, are shooting those same $400 to $500 bows.

A deer doesn't know you didn't pay $1000    for your bow when you shoot him, just like a fish doesn't know you don't have a $300 rod and reel and aren't sitting in a $50K 90MPH bass boat.

I used to work for the wildlife agency. I can tell you, the guys killing deer are not shooting $1000 bows, $1200 rifles, and $800 muzzle loaders. Just like the guys catching fish aren't using $300 rods and reels from $50K boats.

Mega dollar equipment does not make you a good outdoorsman, hunter, or fisherman. It just plain doesn't.

QFFT Brother!

I only have mossy oak camo shirts and pants from Academy because it was A) CHEAP (off season) and B) My FREE US Army Woodland Camo supplies and possible suppliers retired about 12 years ago. Kinda makes it hard to get woodland camo patterns now without breaking the bank or finding some junky stuff at the local milsurplus store.

I will never forget the guys going out in the woods in my dads old hunting club wrapped up in Browning, Weatherby, Realtree etc... and only killing 1-2 deer a year. Then we would go out in jeans, short sleeve camo t-shirts or old OD Green Army cold weather jackets and each one of the family (me, my dad, my granddad and my uncle) would come back with 1 each and we (the whole club) were all hunting in the same areas, every day, every season.

Now I have a 4-5 year old PSE that I use but would like to get one of the new Matthews Solocams and my dad shoots an older Hoyt. I don't get a chance to use my bow that much now but it has been very good to me.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

There's nothing wrong with the high end bows. But they absolutely will not make a new shooter instantly successful. What they'll do is make him instantly broke. Spend $800+ on just a bow, and then you don't have money for a good rest, a good sight, a good release, a good quiver, a dozen or more good arrows, or field points, broadheads, and targets. Buy a $400-$500 PSE package, and you have a rock solid bow you can start with, and money left to buy plenty of arrows, field points, and targets. To kill a deer within 40 yards or so, you don't need a $1K bow. But you do need to be able to accurately estimate distance, and shoot a 4" or so 5 shot group consistently. It requires practice, lots of practice, and then lots more practice.

[CAP1]

QFFT Brother!

I only have mossy oak camo shirts and pants from Academy because it was A) CHEAP (off season) and B) My FREE US Army Woodland Camo supplies and possible suppliers retired about 12 years ago. Kinda makes it hard to get woodland camo patterns now without breaking the bank or finding some junky stuff at the local milsurplus store.

I will never forget the guys going out in the woods in my dads old hunting club wrapped up in Browning, Weatherby, Realtree etc... and only killing 1-2 deer a year. Then we would go out in jeans, short sleeve camo t-shirts or old OD Green Army cold weather jackets and each one of the family (me, my dad, my granddad and my uncle) would come back with 1 each and we (the whole club) were all hunting in the same areas, every day, every season.

Now I have a 4-5 year old PSE that I use but would like to get one of the new Matthews Solocams and my dad shoots an older Hoyt. I don't get a chance to use my bow that much now but it has been very good to me.

woodland camo can be had pretty cheap at pretty much any army/navy store. i get most of mine for free, being in CAP.

 i had a pse for a bit....i forget what model it was. it was older, and shot nice.....i just wasn't comfortable with the feel of it though. it didn't feel like it "fit" me right....if that makes any sense?

[CAP1]

There's nothing wrong with the high end bows. But they absolutely will not make a new shooter instantly successful. What they'll do is make him instantly broke. Spend $800+ on just a bow, and then you don't have money for a good rest, a good sight, a good release, a good quiver, a dozen or more good arrows, or field points, broadheads, and targets. Buy a $400-$500 PSE package, and you have a rock solid bow you can start with, and money left to buy plenty of arrows, field points, and targets. To kill a deer within 40 yards or so, you don't need a $1K bow. But you do need to be able to accurately estimate distance, and shoot a 4" or so 5 shot group consistently. It requires practice, lots of practice, and then lots more practice.

if you go back, and look at the pic i posted of my bows......i paid $300 for the camo one.....as it's shown in the picture. i got lucky though. it had been dropped off for some work, and the person that dropped it, seemed to dissappear. he stopped returning calls to the shop, and was just pretty much totally unreachable.
 so understandably, they sold it to get their money back. i also shoot lefty, which makes it harder for me to find nice used bows.

 the other bow, cost me $450 as it's shown in the picture. you can look at them, and very easily tell, that had i bought them new, threy've each have run clost to 1k if not more. i can't afford that much.

 now, the really funny thing is this. the indoor league i was shooting in, i was using first the camo bow, then i switched to the flamed one. with either one, i was shooting within 10 points of the top scorers. most used matthews, they had the 4' long balance thingies on em, the 4X scopes, fancy releases, etc. and here i was with a basic hunting bow, runnin with them.

 when my friends and i would do the outdoor 3d shoots, they all had better equipment than me....but the same thing. within 10 to 20 points. we eventually stopped scoring on them....it was more fun to shoot those super dangerous foam animals.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I shoot left handed as well. It isn't easy for me to find a bow either. I own two PSE bows. A Phaser and a Fireflight.

I understand you not getting the "feel" you want with a PSE. Feel is a subjective thing. "Feel" with a bow is no different than it is with a long gun or a handgun.

When bringing people in to bow hunting, I find the most success comes with a good solid basic affordable rig, where the new shooter can afford to get the accessories he needs, along with enough supplies, and be able to afford to change some of the accessories (because often what feels right at first, doesn't always work). They don't seem to have problems with overly high expectations, or excessive pressure that comes from spending a lot.

People that spend a lot tend to depend too much on their equipment, and expect to shoot well because they spent a lot of money. And of course, other people see the high dollar rigs and expect super results. When the new shooter isn't an instant success, he's mad because he "spent a lot of money and still can't shoot like Robin Hood" and because "other people are snickering because I can't "shaft" arrows with this expensive rig".

[Getback]

Pawn shop, now there's an idea.

[Bradman]

Pawn shop, now there's an idea.

Unless you know what you are looking at stay away from pawn shops. The bow could have cracked limbs, bad cams or is just a piece of junk and without the knowledge you could be buying a lemon. My advice goes along with others here that you don't need a $1K plus bow to hunt with. Attend a local 3D shoot and talk to the shooters. Like others has said to be a good bow hunter takes practice practice and more practice. It's not like rifle hunting where you can take out your gun before season and shoot it a few times.

[kamori]

It's not like rifle hunting where you can take out your gun before season and shoot it a few times.

There are bow hunters and rifle hunters that do this. It not limited to rifle hunters. I personal shoot year around. Thats why i hit my elk on dead runs 75 yards in the trees without wounding them. I wish they could stop the behavior of those who don't keep the practice up.

Bow and rifle hunters wound way to many animals out there. I personally have killed 4 different elk that were wounded by other hunters. I found a Broad head in beaded in the upper region of the shoulder of a bull i took 3 years ago, it must have been there from the previous season.

KAM

[Banshee7]

It's not like rifle hunting where you can take out your gun before season and shoot it a few times.

You make it sound as if any idiot can pick up a rifle and shoot it accurately...

[mtnman]

You make it sound as if any idiot can pick up a rifle and shoot it accurately...

Well, I've actually SEEN that, and more than once...

FACT- An idiot can pick up a rifle and shoot it accurately. 

[Flench]

I cheated ,Killed this one today with my single shot rifle and a one eye dog ..

[Bradman]

You make it sound as if any idiot can pick up a rifle and shoot it accurately...

Not what I meant but yes, any idiot can shoot a rifle accurately. My point was that more skill is required for a bow hunter and to hone and keep that skill takes practice. I've hunted with a bow, black powder, and rifle and the most difficult was with the bow.