Need advice on a Bow

[Jes]

I have hunted rifle, shotgun, and crossbow but I want to get some more time in the field and I am looking to get my first real bow. In my teens I found a broken compound bow, "fixed" it and lost a bunch of arrows. I don't have much bow experience at all, but I have scoured the interweb to learn as much as I can. Right now I am debating either getting a older bow off ebay and fixing it up or just getting one of the "ready to shoot" packages from Bass Pro and letting them set it up right. It would be about $200 more for the new bow. The 3 new bows I am looking at are the Martin Sabre, Redhead Kronik, and the Bear Lights out. All are about $380 including sights, quiver, rest, and silencers.

I have seen some used Jennings bows for around $100-200 on ebay usually with accessories.

Need some input. Just hate to drop 4 bills on a bow and then suck.

[Glock Fan]

PSE, Matthews and Martin are brands I'm familiar with. You could check out a store that has an indoor range with bows that they'll let you try before you buy. I stay away from used bows unless I know the seller and trust that it hasn't been dry fired. If the bow has limbs that were damaged due to dry firing, serious injury could result.



gf

[THEYARDDOG]

Get a starter BOW you can hunt with & a mess of arrows TUNE your bow & shoot it often . When you hunt with the bow YOU owe it to the animal too make a GOOD shot and QUICK KILL GOOD LUCK & ONLY SHOT WITHIN THE RANGE YOU ARE COMFTABLE WITH ; ) T/Y/D

[festus]

Originally Posted by Jes

I have hunted rifle, shotgun, and crossbow but I want to get some more time in the field and I am looking to get my first real bow. In my teens I found a broken compound bow, "fixed" it and lost a bunch of arrows. I don't have much bow experience at all, but I have scoured the interweb to learn as much as I can. Right now I am debating either getting a older bow off ebay and fixing it up or just getting one of the "ready to shoot" packages from Bass Pro and letting them set it up right. It would be about $200 more for the new bow. The 3 new bows I am looking at are the Martin Sabre, Redhead Kronik, and the Bear Lights out. All are about $380 including sights, quiver, rest, and silencers.

I have seen some used Jennings bows for around $100-200 on ebay usually with accessories.

Need some input. Just hate to drop 4 bills on a bow and then suck.

Used bows are bad juju. I have seen a lot of dudes snookered into get a bow that had cracked arms and the like. DO NOT BUY A USED BOW UNLESS YOU CAN INSPECT IT AND SHOOT IT IN THE PRESENCE OF A BOW HUNTING PROFESSIONAL!

[Jes]

Thanks guys, I was just really tempted to get a used bow.
Looks like some of my christmas bonus(fingers crossed) will get used on a new bow.

[Onlinedad]

Definately try and find a place that will let you shoot before you buy. I went to our local scheels sporting goods and the salesman there had me shoot like 4 different bows (all about the same price range), to find which one I felt the most comfortable with. Then when I found one I liked, he fine tuned it just for me, (draw length, and pull weight), and helped me sight it in for 10 yds (the length of their range).

The guy also spent a whole lot of time answering my questions, and showing me the ins and outs of the bow. Overall I would recomend this as the way to go, esp for a new shooter.

[ricbak]

Soryy about being a little slow to answer, I'm a tad behind in my reading.
I shoot a Parker. A little less money but as good as a Mathews. Hoyt, Bear, Diamond, and Bowtech are also excellent.

The Web site called Hunters Friend
Hunter's Friend, the Bowhunter's Pro-Shop ... Discount Compound Bows and Archery Supplies
have good prices for packages. Under their Tech help link are some very good tutorials on eye dominance and draw length questions.

Jes, The big box Toy Stores like Cabelas or Bass Pro, have indoor ranges and a pro shop. They may let you try out a variety of manufactures, including their brand name line of bows which are in most cases good...

Good luck

[Scarecrow]

I bought a bear in 1997 and liked it a lot. sold it a few years back though. but if I decide to get another one I wouldn't mind getting another bear. good luck.