Selecting a Bow the Right Way

So you want to become a bow hunter and purchase your first bow, but where do you start?  There are many different types of bows to choose from which include long, recurve, and compound bows.  If you're just getting into bow hunting I would recommend going with a compound bow.  These are much easier to use and set up, whereas the other types are more for the traditionalist bowhunter.  There are also many options out there for purchasing a bow which include big box sporting goods stores, mom and pop archery shops, online stores, classifieds, etc.  From my experience I would recommend purchasing a bow from a local archery shop, not only are you supporting a local business, but also you are more likely to get one-on-one personal service. This also allows you to meet with fellow bow hunters that are more than willing to give you advice. The local archery shop I went to was very welcoming and accommodating. Not only did they let me try out anything on their shelves, they also gave me lessons on proper form and how to use the different components of the bow.


Avoid This:

• Rushing to get a bow - make sure you try out several bows before purchasing one, you want to have a bow that is comfortable and enjoyable to shoot.
• Buying a second-hand bow - even though this may be a cheaper option, it's difficult to tell how the previous owner handled the bow and more than likely it's not correctly sized for you.
• Buying from a big box store - even though some of the big box sporting good stores have knowledgeable sales staff, they typically offer less of the one on one service that you would get from a mom and pop archery shop.

Be Aware of This:

• Expect to pay at least a $1000.00 for a complete QUALITY bow set-up.  The bow that I purchased is an economic model from a high quality bow manufacturer and my total set-up was around $1200.00.
• The bow should be sized for you - make sure that your bow is sized for your draw length and that the draw weight is not too difficult for you to pull back.
• The bow should be tuned - at the archery shop the staff should have you shoot through paper to make sure arrows fly straight from the bow (when properly tuned the hole in the paper should be as close to a bullet hole as possible).
• Understand the different components of the bow - make sure the archery shop staff explains how to use and adjust ancillary equipment such as the bow site, arrow rest, stabilizer, and the release.