Beginner Bow Hunter

Buying a used bow online is probably the way to go.


You'll need to get your proper draw length measured. Go run to a local bow shop and talk with them.

I would go to a bow shop and shoot a few bows. You can buy a bow that shoots well and his fitted out for under 500 nowadays. Bear, bowtech, mission, PSE, etc all have affordable entry level bows that shoot well. Just need to see what you like shooting the most.

I started with a Bear package bow too. They are plenty good. If you’re in North LA go to Michael’s Men’s Store in Homer. Joe Ellis will teach you how to shoot while fitting you with for a bow.

All bows are really good these days. I started with a Hoyt Charger, an entry level bow at the time. I figured I would use it 2 or 3 years to make sure I liked bowhunting and then upgrade. 8 years later I finally decided I was ready for an upgrade.

My point is even if its a beginner bow, if you like shooting it and it hits bullseye, that's all you need really. I was set on a PSE Brute, but when I shot the Charger immediately after the Brute, I couldn't possibly buy the PSE, I hated it.

I just purchased a used Hoyt Carbon RX3 on Archery Talk classifieds. It's 1.5 years old, looks immaculate, and I paid about 50% of what I would have paid new.

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Recommendations on a bow for a beginner?

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As others have said, you can frequently pick one up used that's ready to hunt. Bow hunters are, on average, gear freaks and they upgrade a lot. I bought one that way, learned to shoot it (which was half the reason for getting it) and never hunted with it more than a few times. But that was fine because it wasn't a big investment.

Once you get your bow practice, practice and practice some more. My rule of thumb is not setting foot in a stand until you can hold a fist-sized grouping at 40 yards. Once you’re there, make sure you get it broadhead tuned as well. Then, you guessed it, practice some more as most bows are going to shoot a little different once you’ve dialed it in for lighted nocks or fixed blades.

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Flats, why should he take advice from one who didn’t get into bowhunting?

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Because he might be like me, and try it and just never get bit by the bowhunting bug. I'd never try to give advice to someone who said they'd bowhunted for years and wanted to upgrade, but buying used to dip your toe into a sport is hardly radical advice.

Or, just dont take shots outside of what you are comfortable with. Have to know your skill limit.

I didn't start hunting until I was 27 and it was with a bow.
I have never even killed and animal with a rifle to this day. Its all been with a bow.

With that said I would go to a shop and get fitted for one with your draw length.
I really like PSE brand bows. You can't go wrong with Hoyt, Matthews, PSE.

Any decent bow shop will set you up with all the right parts. I believe I spent around 2K for my setup and ive killed about 10 deer with it.

Im absolutely ate up with it now.

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Or, just dont take shots outside of what you are comfortable with. Have to know your skill limit.

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I agree, but how do you figure out what your comfort zone is without practice? The unfortunate truth is, when a wall-hanger walks by at 50, a lot of folks are going to play mental gymnastics to justify loosing an arrow. Hell, in the last two years I’ve killed two deer whose meat was spoiled by a previous hunter’s poor arrow placement.

A lot can happen while an arrow’s in flight, it’s our ethical responsibility to ensure we minimize the Hunter error portion of the equation.