need help with buying a bow

there are always good deals to be had on used bows. new bows just came out recently so check the archerytalk.com classifieds for people that are upgrading.

how much are you looking to spend?

Buy used. You can buy rigs for half price after a year or two of use. There is nothing that depreciates faster than a compound bow.

I'd recommend a Bear or PSE ready to hunt package. They can be had in the $375-$500 range and, unlike a most used bows, will have a warranty.

If you want a higher end bow and are willing to spend $700+ I'd check out Archery Talk and look at a used Obsession or Elite since they have transferable warranties.

Under $500 would be fine I suppose. I don't really collect weapons so it'd most likely be my only one until my son gets older. I prefer to "know" my hunting weapons and use the same one. I've had the same 30.06 for about 15 years and I bought it used for under $400.

Is there a solid brand or type I should be looking for?

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I'm guessing its fine buying one used? This may be a dumb question but like I said Im new to this, but do they "wear out", and lose velocity?

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Used is fine. The bow itself isn't going to wear out, but the strings and cables do. Once they are worn and/or stretched yes, you will lose velocity. A new set of string and cables will run you $100-$125. Their lifespan will depend on how much you shoot.

As long as you buy a bow that is less than 3-4 years old, you'll be getting the latest technology. If I could do it all over again, I would get a single cam bow so that it would be more shootable. I love my bow (PSE Omen Max) but it prlly wasnt the best bow choice for a beginner. Now, I am very comfortable with it. If you buy a quality used bow that is fairly new (from someone that hunts alot and upgrades often for example) then you will have a good bow for a long time. Good used price would be in the 300-500 range for a upper tier used bow from PSE, Mathews, Hoyt, Bowtech, Elite & Bear.

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Is there a solid brand or type I should be looking for?

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I personally think that PSE has incredible value/price ratio on their mid-tier stuff considering the quality of bow youre getting for the price. Then if you find a used model and pay 60% for it, thats a deal you cant beat. If I were in the market for a brand new bow right now and wanted a dual cam bow for value and performance (less shootable, more velocity) I would pick up a PSE X-Force Drive LT. If I were looking for a single cam (more shootable and accurate, less velocity) and sticking to around your $500 range, I would look at a PSE Surge. The two bows linked are Ready To Hunt packages and are considerably more expensive than buying a bow alone, but the advantage is that you get a bow ready to go all in one box shipped to your door that is specifically fit to you. Your draw length and weight are set, your bow is sighted, arrows set up and cut, quiver, stabilizer, case, release, broadheads, peep installed, sling, field points, basically everything. Go to a local bow shop and figure out what you like to shoot, single cam, dual cam, hybrid, long axle/axle spacing, short, etc. It will narrow it down for you after actually getting bows in your hand and shooting.

I really like huntersfriend.com. They are professional and courteous. Here is a link to a Compound Bow Selection Guide that is a full on intro to compound bows. I strongly suggest you read this. You will be much more comfortable with the bow world after you know a little more about it. It really helped me out. It's awesome that you guys are considering getting into bowhunting. Shooting a nice quality bow is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on if you ask me, and you cant beat the adrenaline rush when a deer actually comes into bow range.

One other thing is dont get too caught up in draw weight and try to be macho. I personally draw 62 lbs and Im shooting at 327 fps. That is blazing and is a very manageable draw. Some people may say you need to draw 70+ lbs (like my FIL) in order to get the right velocity, but anything over 300 fps is smoking and head and shoulders above what even the best bows were 7-10 years ago. It's not a dick measuring contest. Shot placement is overwhelmingly more important and if it's too hard to draw and rest comfortably at full draw thus making it difficult to shoot accurate, what's the point of having more velocity? Just something to keep in mind.

as noted above, if you buy a used Elite bow, it will have a lifetime transferrable warranty.

here's an example of a bow currently FS on Archery Talk. Ready to shoot , just buy arrows

2010 Elite GT500 , 28" and 28.5" cams, 60 lb. draw weight (would probably peak at 62-63 lbs.) , limb driver drop away rest, spot Hogg sight 5 pin with wrap kit, limb saver short stabilizer, and a black detachable quiver. Black riser, snow limbs, great condition ... $450 TYD

See pic below... not exact bow, but will resemble this color. Sell the extra set of cams for $40 and you'll be into the bow for roughly $400 . Elite's are known for being extremely smooooooth and have the best back wall in the business. You can hold forever and when letting down the bow won't rip your shoulder out of socket like many speed bows with aggressive cams

my advice, go to a pro shop and shoot all the bows and decide what's most comfortable and best for you.

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Prime

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Their cam system is really interesting. Would probably be my second choice right now.