Hey all,
I have been wanting to get a compound bow and see if I can get into bow hunting. However I don't really want to drop several hundred bucks on the equipment for it to never be used or for me to not like it so I would like to get used equipment.

What are the good brands? How do I get the right size and draw weight? Any other tips would be great!

 

Matthews!!!

Go hit up a bow shop. Those guys will get you all dialed in. They have a test bow and when you draw it will tell them your bow size. I'm a bigger guy and I shoot a 32" draw. Mine is cranked up as far as it goes. I shoot mine just about every day...

I had friends that were heavy into it and they hooked me up. Find a place to shoot and talk to some of the peeps there. There are a million different accessories to put on these things...

 

I am hoping this is going to work out for me. My dad enjoys going deer hunting which I find rather boring just sitting in a stand and waiting for something to come along. However the father son bonding thing gets more and more important as we both get older so I go to spend time with him, but the hunting doesn't excite me that much. I think bow hunting would be a bigger challenge and more exciting so I want to give it a try.

 

Martin is the bow brand i have always shot(a firecat) and am very happy with it. PSE is another good one that i have had experience with. those are the two brands that i know are great shooting and very reliable.

 

One thing you might want to take into consideration, when deciding if you are going to like bow hunting or not, is if you may like shooting a longbow or recurve better.
I always loved the idea of mastering instinctive shooting techniques rather than relying on the level of technology which accompanies the compound bow....ie. the elaborate bow sites. I found that other than the distance factor, todays compound bows are really nothing more than shooting a scoped rifle. They are precision intruments, and along with that comes many variables....again, ie things that can, and do break, or get knocked out of whack. When this happenes, many times, unless the hunter is prepared for it, you are down for the count and your hunt can be over before it started.
A long, or recurve bow is so simple, and yet every bit as lethal as a compound....in the hands of a competent shooter of course, it just adds another element of relaxation that I find real enjoyable.
What it all comes down to is....how much of a challenge do you want? The time that it takes to become proficient with a long or recuve bow takes tons more than with a compound. But once you have mastered instinctive shooting, it is a VERY rewarding accomplishment. And believe it or not, many bow hunters like the fact of instictive shooting so much, that they too use a compund, but have instead taken the bow sites off of them and use them like a long or recurve bow. Which is something else you might consider.
The simplicity of a long or recurve bow is something to think about........as well as the level of "challenge" that comes with it, over using a compound. That is something that you yourself did mention in your original post. Again......it's just, how much of a challenge do you want?
Either way, I hope you do get into it. Bow hunting is a very rewarding sport......even if only for the "in close" element that it brings to hunting.
Have Fun!!!
PS......And for you compound shooters, I am in no way implying that it doesn't take anything to become good with a compound bow. It ALL takes time. But at the same time, I believe that you do know exactly what I'm talking about when relating to a simple stick and string.
Good Hunting...!!!

 

Are you still looking? Did you buy?

 

I have just a bit info as a level 1 archery coach and a compound bow designer, I build strings and owned a Pro shop for 12 years.

Your first thought is a good one to look for used in good condition equipment that fits you.

You should find out two things before you go looking;

How much weight can you draw without injury or sky drawing? Go to a shop and start with a low weight around 40 pounds..........the test is can you pull it straight back level to a target, 3 times easily. If you can move up 5 pounds until you can not do the test without sky drawing or stressing yourself.

What is my draw length? Most shops give you a device that has an arrow marked in inches and they have you draw it in a stick bow. The wrong part of this is are you going to shoot fingers, trigger release. There are high anchor, middle anchor and low anchor points to use at the side of your face. Are you gripping the bow the right way. All this has an effect on draw length. I size archers using a method that gives you the archers True Draw. Then you look at the AMO size of the bow which is True draw plus 1 3/4 inches. So if your TD is 28 inches you need between a 29 to 30 inch AMO bow. Also it is better to go a little short on draw as opposed to buying a bow with too long of a draw.

Using a yard stick put the end of it lightly into the v part in your neck (the spot they would open you up to put in a breathing tube) then with it level to the floor reach out on both sides with your arms keeping your hads flat to each other and your middle fingers on both sides of the yard stick. Do not over reach. Shoulders shoud be square and not rounded. Take the measurement at the point where your middle fingers touch.

My true draw is 29 and I shoot a 30.5 inch draw.

My advice on all of this is to look for a club or a shop with a range and good certified coaches that will help you to learn archery for target or hunting. Look over the different bows people are shooting and ask lots of questions.

Good Luck

 

Mathews like others have said, If you want to get in it gotta have good equipment and if for some reason you dont like you can get most of your money out of it. Buy used if you can. I am in it big time i shoot the mathews DXT and the reezen 6.5 Brand new they run close to a thousand just for the bow each, I have seen them used for around $500 or so. and if that is too much goto ebay and search fred bear truth its a great entry midlevel bow. Seen them go for a few hundred new.

 

I have a PSE x-force. I like it. Killed 5 with it this year. The best thing to do would be go to a bow shop with a range and shoot. Shoot everything the place sells. Buy whichever feels the best and meets your price range. Alot of good bows out there now. Have fun.

 

I've been bow hunting for about 10 years, and hunting in general for about 25. I have hunted a lot of different places including Red Stag in Argentina. There are so many great memories, but none is anywhere near the satisfaction of my first bow kill... A decent 4x5 Bull Elk. I grew up hunting in AZ, but I lived and hunted in TX for about 6 years. The hunting is COMPLETELY different. IMO, most people in TX dont "hunt" but wait and shoot. There is little to no scouting, tracking, patterning, stalking... I hate stands, and prefer to still hunt. One with the animal, on their home turf, them having the advantages in their superior senses... It is incredible. I think you will really like all of the new aspects of bow hunting over rifle hunting from a stand over a feeder type of a setup.

That said, I have never dumped HUGE amounts of money into my setup. I have always gone with PSE and have been very happy. Yes, Matthews and Hoyt are sweet... But I dont think you need the best of the best to be successful. I think the Fred Bear is a good suggestion, as is PSE. It still is not a cheap sport, and it takes a lot of practice. The actual "shooting" is much more precise and critical than a rifle. There are way more variables to consider and control... and you think buck fever can set in at 100 yards behind a rifle?? Try 7 yards where you can smell their breathe and hear their breathing! Man, you cant beat it!!!!

The other side of it is that you owe it to the animals to shoot in a humane and ethical manner. Practice and know your limits. If you arent accurate at 60 yards and the wind is blowing and its downhill/sidehill quite a bit, you might just have to let that monster walk on by... In my opinion, archery is a completely different sport than rifle hunting. Good luck and have fun!

ps.
I was always cautioned against buying used as you dont know how well it was taken care of, dry fired, etc... I also think there are some good bows out there on a budget that you dont need to risk buying used. Obviously, everybody that posted before me doesnt agree, so maybe its nothing to worry about...