Advice for Beginner at bows?
KrazyK17 asked:
I have been hunting since i was 10, now 21. While in iraq my friend told me how fun bowhunting is. What kinda bow would i need, and arrows, an what is "cable tune". I mean i've watched it, but i dont know what i need to know to Shoot bows, or what to look for in purchasing a bow. Thanks for you advice!!!
Later days and good hunting.
Sporting Goods
I have been hunting since i was 10, now 21. While in iraq my friend told me how fun bowhunting is. What kinda bow would i need, and arrows, an what is "cable tune". I mean i've watched it, but i dont know what i need to know to Shoot bows, or what to look for in purchasing a bow. Thanks for you advice!!!
Later days and good hunting.
Sporting Goods
Archery
wow lots of questions in one.well lets start with weight . Assuming you are hunting deer you need a bow with at least 45 lbs of pull. then there are lots of other considerations. are you wanting a long, recurve or compound bow. i think i will just go with compound being that is what i shoot. i shoot a matthews switchback xt. ran about 700 just for the bare bow so you may not want to start there. there are lots of companies that make good bows today and most are affordable probably in the 3-400 range. you need to find your draw lenght and a poundage that is comfortable for you . any local bowshop can help you with this and will allow you to draw them and possibly even shoot them to see is they fit you.. after you find a draw weight and lenght. a bow shop can help you with arrow selection. the arrows should be matched in spine to the weight of your bow. you will probably want sights mostly a matter of preferance, but for starting out i would recomend fixed pin sights where you have 4 pins for 20 30 40 and 50 yards. truglo, copper john, lots of good brands of sights on the market, most fiber optic are real nice.
you will prob want a peep sight it will keep your eyes in line with the pins every shot for accuracy. arrow rests are also important, some start with fixed rests like tm hunters, others prefer wisker bisquits. i myself like fall away rests such as trophy taker shakey hunter. after adjustment, they have zero effect on arrow flight. other than that you are pretty much left with weither to shoot with your fingers or release. fingers would need a finger tab, most people shoot 1 above nock and 2 below the nock. personaly i like release. they allow for crisper releases of the string since they do not drag coming off the string like fingers. You have a lot to consider but once you get it figured out what you need you will have to shoot and practice alot. the more you shoot the better hunter you will be. most of all have fun with it. ive bowhunted since i was 13 years old. im 32 now and prefer it to rifle hunting.. mostly just have fun with it even practice can be fun. we air up water balloons. just with air and put 9 of them on our target and play tic tac toe. good way for friends and family to have fun with the bows. my 8 year old daughter and my wife love to play this game with me. have fun and safe hunting
Bowhunting Equipment
practice
Sporting Goods
Just starting out go with any of the new compounds on the market today that have a let off of 70% and draw weight range of at least 45 to 55 lb’s.The arrows I would say go with would be carbon arrows for the fact that they are stronger and last!
Go to a pro shop and check many types of bows and have them set you up properly so your bow will be tuned right from the start.Also if your shop has a range they will sometimes let you shoot a bow or two and if you do buy one they normally give you some free range time.With that you can buy some time from the tech for instructional training also.
Dont get all caught up in what the other guys shoot buy the bow that feels good to you!When you hold a bow you will understand what I mean by the feel!! Comfort-weight-length-the grip-brace height!
Sporting Goods
If you truly wish to be an effective Bowhunter, you need to educate yourself first on your “OPTIONS.
Find a local Archery Pro Shop and take some time and go there and ask questions. Most of these shops have qualified staff that will talk to you and help you choose the equipment that is right for you. Keep an open mind. Don’t get talked into high priced options like bow sights, launcher rests, bow stabilizers,releases etc,etc..All this stuff is instant ,money bought garbage that you can get into later. The true sport of Archery & Bowhunting is to learn to shoot “Instinctively” without all of the other options that only give you something to malfunction or go wrong and spoil your shots.
I have been shooting since I was 4 and I’m in my mid-fifties now. My Father sold Archery equipment for 56 years until he died in 2003. My Father was not only in the business, but was one of the top NFAA field archers on the east coast. He successfully hunted all over the world and did it all without the benefit of adjustable sights,or fancy “gimmicks” that every body has today.It was a “learned” talent, based on skill and practice.,not on the cost of his equipment or how many crutches he needed to make a great shot.
I would just suggest before you allow yourself to become a “Pin-Head” defined as a person who’s total abilities are in direct perportion to the number of gadgets he has on his $350-$600 Bow.Start out with the basic’s and learn to shoot as I said earlier “Instinctively”. You will be proud and amazed at what you will be capable of. Watch a few Hunting shows on cable and see how many Bowhunters you see with sights and gadgets compared to those you see that do not have all of the junk. Sight shooters are totally dependant on their sight pins, knowing the exact yardage to the Deer or game. They couldn’t even make an attempt at a shot with a laser range finder…I laugh to myself when their equipment breaks down and they have to quit fior the day rather than stay out in the woods. The point I’m trying to make to you as a beginner is simply this. Learn to shoot well without the “crutches” and while the other guy has given up because of equipment breakdowns…You’ll still be in the woods hunting..Sometimes technology is the no skill, easy way out. I would hope that you have a chance to see and experience great Bowhunting with your own skill and accomplishments…You have nothing to lose by trying this as I suggested.
Sporting Goods
There is not too much that goes into buying a bow, at leas there shouldn’t be. When buying a bow, shoot every single bow you can get your hands on that is in your price range. Shot side by side if you can, that way you have an immediate response to the other bows you are looking at.
I shoot a compound bow, they are more fun to me than the traditional archery gear. A Hoyt Vectrix to be exact and I absolutely love it. But others **** it, bows are one of the most individualistic things in hunting. Buy what you fell comfortable with and enjoy shooting.
As far as arrows, I shoot Carbon Express Maxima 350 shafts with AAE Maw Hunter Vanes. I love them too. The 3 big names out there for arrows are Easton, Gold Tip, and Carbon Express. I personally shoot best with Carbon Express, but used to shoot Gold Tip an liked them too. All three brands make great arrows, but make sure you get the top of the line shaft. As far as vanes go, I ike my AAE’s, but I also love Blazer vanes by Bohning, and the Quickspins by NAP are pretty popular as well. I shoot Muzzy broadheads and there are so many options out there when it comes to those that you really need to shoot a few to see which fly best for you.
As far as cable tune goes, get a bow with a high quality string on it otherwise it will stretch on you are will fray really fast and not last that long. I always have my bow tuned by a professional and that way I know it was done right and if it wasn’t I take it back and he’ll make it right. My Hoyt has a Fuse string on it that has been prestretched by 700 lbs of force. It has no twist in it when I pull it back too. The cams are slaved together so they will never operate out of sync as well. It does have split limbs which makes it tougher to tune though. But once it is tuned it stays tuned and shoots arrows better than anything I have shot before.
Well, practice is fine and dandy but if you are not practicing right, then you are wasting your time. Practice as follows:
1. Make sure your bow is tuned by someone that knows what they are doing.
2. Determine if you will shoot fingers or a release.
3. Figure out a comfortable steady stance in which to shoot, later on you will want to practice from a ton of different positions to simulate real shooting conditions.
4. Determine a comfortable draw weight for you to be able draw back consistently and silently.
5. Find anchor point on which you will hold at full draw and make sure you draw back to it every single time you draw your bow.
6. Do not grip the bow with the bow hand when shooting. You hand should be loose and free at full draw. Otherwise you will torque the bow.
7. Start at 20 yards and go back farther and farther until you cannot accurately shoot groups inside the size of a paper plate, which is roughly the size of an animals kill zone.
8. Breath steadily until the shot. I hold my breath and then let a little out right before I shoot, like rifle hunters do.
9. Follow through. Keep aiming at the target even after you release the arrow. This will stabilize you bow and will keep you from adding any torque to the shot.
10. When using a release, you will want to use back tension to pull the trigger. Meaning, keep full draw and then by squeezing your shoulder blades together you will pull your finger into the release trigger. You do not want to pinch or hit the trigger.
11. Confidence is huge in archery. Envision hitting the bullseye. If you believe you will drill it, then you are much more likely to do so!
12. Have patience! Bow hunting and shooting can take a long while, possibly even seasons to hone your skills.
13. HAVE FUN!!!!!-If you aren’t having fun, they why do it?
Good luck yo you and thanks for serving our country over in Iraq!!! We need all the help we can get!!!
Bowhunting
Bow Tech & Mathews are marketing the very best in compounds right here in the USA. A friend of mine who shot Professionally for PSE (NOT any more) has switched to Bow Tech about 5 years ago and, gave me a lot of tips for my 1st compound. G.B. told me no less then a 7 1/4″ brace height, axel to axel..no less then 32″ (at almost 6′ tall) with a 29/30″ draw.
Archery
go to a knowledgeable dealer get fitted for a bow there are a multitude of quality bows out there dint let price or name be your main factors comfort and good fit are essential.
from there practice often, my opinion is there’s nothing more satisfying than taking game with bow good luck and have fun.