Looking to start bow hunting - need bow recommendations

Find the most reputable bow shop or two in your area. Shoot everything you can in your price range. A good shop should be able to help you find a good one.

I’m an Obsession guy. But everybody will have their own thoughts on brands. Nobody local seems to to specialize in Obsession so I sent mine off to be worked on. Which is a pain so…

All of the "entry" level bows marketed as RTH (Ready to Hunt) are miles better than any bows from the last 10 years. If you are wanting to find out if bow hunting or just archery is something you would like to pursue, I recommend that route. Its budget friendly, allows you to upgrade if you want, but still a great platform to hand down or resell if you want.

Go search around Pro shops and get what’s most comfortable for you to shoot. Also see about getting a few lessons as well. It’s so much easier to start correctly than it is to shoot and create bad habits that you have to unlearn at a later date. Be ready bow hunting has ruined gun hunting for me. It’s addicting and an expensive hobby, but it is worth it.

I just started bow hunting this year and went to a local pro shop and tried out several. I went with an elite remedy. I highly suggest working with a pro shop and getting some pointers from the staff. Do some research and watch YouTube videos

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I just started bow hunting this year and went to a local pro shop and tried out several.

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Mind me asking what your budget was and what you ended up spending OTD ready to hunt?

I'm in the same boat as OP. Researching and planning for a spring 2022 purchase of my first bow of my life.

I'm probably the opposite of most people, but I would buy a used bow. 2 or 3 years old. You can get a flagship bow that is a couple years old for the price of something "mid" tier.
First though I would go to a bow shop get measured and shoot several. I'm an elite fan boy. The elite ritual line is legit.

You are in Hoover..


Got to Mark's Outdoors in Vestavia. They are the number one Mathew's dealer in Alabama. They also have the best prices. I am a big Mathew's fan, however all good archers will tell you to go and shoot several different bows and manufacturers. Everyone is different and what is good for one isn't good for another.

Bows are like Computers/Cell phones. New ones come out every year and a lot of people flock to get the latest and greatest. I just bought a new bow for the first time in 18 years. My old bow still worked and killed a lot of deer. Just wanted to upgrade and figure at my age, this will be the last bow I ever buy.

Marks is closest to you, and Nichols outdoors in Pelham has a bunch you can shoot too.

The used bow is certainly a good route to go, as stated earlier Archery talk is a good option. You have to have something like 20 posts before they allow you to view/shop the classified section of archery talk.

Look at a LH psa stinger max rth model

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Athletic enough for any lb pull

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Athletic build and strength have nothing to do with archery or deciding on bow pull weight. I've seen muscle dudes that look like Mr. Olympia have difficulties properly drawing back a 65 lb bow. It's not about strength, it's about muscle memory, form and technique.

Legal draw weight limit is 35-40 lbs., which allows women and youth hunters the ability to bow hunt deer and elk. Shot placement and broadhead sharpness is more important than draw weight. That being said, a bow ranging from 50 to 65 pound draw weight bow is ideal for a beginner and more than enough to kill deer or elk. Draw weight can be adjusted approximately 10 lbs. by tightening or loosening the limb bolts. Bows are more efficient if you have a 65 lbs bow pulling 65 lbs., versus a 65 lb bow set at 55 lbs.

Bows also have a % of let-off once you draw back into the "wall". If a 60 pound bow has 70% let-off, that means you will only be holding 18 lbs at full draw. Cam engineering and design effect the draw cycle and how smooth a bow is. Aggressive "speed cams" are harder to draw; whereas round smooth cams are easier to draw yet may be 5-10 fps slower.

Don't get caught up in speed as Indians killed buffalo with bows barely achieving 150 fps. Here is one of my favorite elk hunting videos killed by a young kid pulling a 45 lbs bow ... enjoy. YT may ask you to confirm if you want to watch since it has blood in the video

Elk kill @ 10 yards in 14 seconds



I prefer to shoot smooth drawing bows that I can hold all day long. This is why I shoot an Elite 35

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Find the most reputable bow shop or two in your area. Shoot everything you can in your price range. A good shop should be able to help you find a good one.

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don't shoot the one you're not willing to pay for, b/c I promise you will like it