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Posted: 11/22/2011 2:45:31 PM EDT
[Last Edit: EdwardAvila]
By DrFrige & IIRC First of all, Welcome aboard!! Many of our “brothers in arms” aren’t into archery because they either aren’t interested or they are hesitant to get into something new. Like most new people, they are looking for a place to start. Hopefully, this is where we can help. THE MOST important point is to locate your nearest “Pro Shop” This is the first and most logical place to start. DO NOT use a place like Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops to get your first bow. I am borrowing the following tips for “The Archer’s Bible” 2005 reference guide. 1. EDUCATE YOURSELF. Decide which kind of bow you are interested in starting out with. There are 3 basic bows. Longbow, Recurve and Compound. 2. BUY AS MUCH QUALITY AS YOUR BUDGET ALLOWS: Buy the best quality bow you can afford. Don’t skimp on quality but don’t bankrupt yourself either. Buy a bow that fits. You are better off shooting a low-end bow that fits you, than a high-end bow that doesn't. 3. MATCH THE BOW TO YOU: It is commonplace for new bowhunters to try and pull more bow weight than they should. Get a proshop to measure you properly for the correct weight pull and draw length. I have seen guys push bows that didn't fit someone because they had it there and could make a quick sale. If a shop doesn't want to get you a bow that fits, go elsewhere. A good starting point is to take your wingspan from fingertip to fingertip, then divide by 2.5. For example a 72.5" wingspan would take a 29" draw, give or take. That will at least get you close. 4. FINGERS OR RELEASE: This here is a matter of personal preference. What would you rather use to release your bowstring? Many love the quick, uniform reaction of the mechanical release yet others (like my daughter) rather use fingers for comfort of feel and control. 5. TEST DRIVE A BOW BEFORE YOU BUY IT: My daughter and I went through a ½ dozen bows before she found the right one for her. I on the other hand was too impulsive on my first purchase and had months of tweaking and tuning until I got it the way I wanted it. 6. KEEP IT SIMPLE: I have seen this phenomenon at the range too many times. New archers come in and want the best bow with all the “fixin’s” There are so many to choose from that I am SURE one of my fellow archers will IM me with “Hey, you forgot one” I mean once you get your bow, you then have to decide on Sights, peeps, quiver or no quiver, arrow rests, Whisker Biscuits, limbsavers and stabilizers. Like firearms, there is someone at the range willing to work with you to help you out. If your proshop has a range and instruction, take advantage of it! A lot has to do with proper stance, breathing, draw and release. Once you get into bad habits, it is very hard to untrain yourself. It is not a matter of what is better, Archery or Firearms. It is like comparing apples to oranges. With the rising prices of ammo as of late, one of the best reasons to get into archery? The ammo…. Is REUSABLE!!!
In whatever brand of bow you decide to buy, get it because it fits you, you shoot it well, and you like it. No matter what you buy, someone will say it is no good because (fill in with stupid reason). That is just something you have to get used to, it is like the Ford/ Chevy debate. When just starting out, watch places like ebay and classifieds for good deals on equipment. There are a lot of guys who change stuff without great reason, just to try something different. I have been guilty of this myself. I see a lot of threads on other sites about home ranges. Quite often someone says "If I stand in my garage and shoot out through the door, I can get 35 yards to my target" or some variartion of that. A few extra yards just aren't worth sticking the UPS guy or your neighbor you didn't see coming. One of those dime or quarter size round orange stickers can greatly help your target shooting. Having something small to aim at helps tremendously. We hope this helps and gives you enough information HOWEVER, we do know that people have questions that were not or should be covered here. If so, please feel free to ask. |
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YES... when it comes to ammo, seeing a pic of dpmmn's collection is like seeing Ron Jeremy in the shower... you will never again feel adequate
"I LOVE THE PROSTATE EXAM" ~Skammy 6-6-07 |
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my striped compound has been sitting in its case for 8 years without use what do i do to tune it up . i just found a box of 48 arrows i lost in the move and i ordered a 6 ft roll of hay for the backyard one of those from the feed store..i gots a sheet ,never adjusted it or replaced string and lost book that came with it ,also buying /bought one of thosr wrist triger thingys how dou get used to one of those after 50 yrs of fingers only?
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You'll need someone to show you how to properly use a release. You don't want to use the trigger like you would on a rifle. Do you have anyone around that is a good shot that can help?
After seeing how you're supposed to do it, it just takes time, practice, and patience, like everything else with archery. |
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Originally Posted By IIRC:
You don't want to use the trigger like you would on a rifle. Yep, don't punch the trigger, pull through it... |
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"The first rule of a gun fight, of course, is to have a gun" -Ted Nugent
"Life's tough......It's even tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne |
Originally Posted By DrFrige: Great idea, and Great job to both of you.So you want to get into Archery & Bowhunting?</center id=center> By DrFrige & IIRC First of all, Welcome aboard!! Many of our “brothers in arms” aren’t into archery because they either aren’t interested or they are hesitant to get into something new. Like most new people, they are looking for a place to start. Hopefully, this is where we can help. |
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great, this is exactly what i was looking for!
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کبير
SYSTEM MESSAGE: iq of post missed minimum requirements. -The_Beer_Slayer |
How are PSE bows for a starter bow? Im looking at one for my first bow. Why not goto bass pro or cabelas?
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off!!
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Originally Posted By Sig223:
How are PSE bows for a starter bow? Im looking at one for my first bow. Why not goto bass pro or cabelas? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile PSE makes bows that are very good starter bows, as do most all of the other manufacturers out there. The best thing to do is to try out a few brands and see what one you like best, regardless of marketing or hype. If you like PSE the best, Bear, Mathews, Bowtech, or whatever, then that is the best brand for you. Speaking in very general terms here, you often find a higher quality of help and knowledge at a pro-shop where they specialize in archery equipment. Many of the bigger box stores are less selective about who works in the archery department. It takes a good amount of knowledge and skill to fit a person to a bow properly. A shop owner who makes his living at it will often put that extra effort in to help you and to keep you coming back. Good luck if you decide to get into archery. |
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Originally Posted By Sig223:
How are PSE bows for a starter bow? Im looking at one for my first bow. Why not goto bass pro or cabelas? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile PSE was my first, 2nd and 3rd bow. One thing I really like about some of the PSE bows, that really began probably around 1996 or 97ish is their positive draw stop. I think that's a great feature for a beginner to eliminate creep and help you focus on your form. The last few that I shot (which has been several years ago) had an absolute rock solid draw stop. |
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Thanks for the info. I like the pse brute.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off!!
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Well I'm gonna try too. I bought a Fred Bear TRX new in 04, shot it a few times, but have never hunted with it. I have deer tracks all around my house and have jumped a few going to work at 4am....I have put a few bags of corn out and stepped off the distance to my elevated back deck where i will hopefully take a shot here soon. I've got the game camera set up about 15 feet from the corn pile, to give me an idea when they are coming around. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!!!!
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"Bring The Rain" Hahn AFB 50 & 650 SPS 87-89 Hanau American High School 83-85
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thank this is what i need, just got my first bow, a hoyt trykon xl 75th anniversary.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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Thanks guys this is a big help!
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A good online course for bowhunter safety
http://www.bowhunter-ed.com/ny/course/index.htm Also, as we all know there are inherent dangers associated with hunting. Unfamiliar land or terrain can easily get you turned around and lost in no time. Here are a few links that may be of assitance to fellow hunters, whether you hunt long island or anywhere upstate. Yes GPS systems are great and powerful tool, however they are a bunch of electronics and can fail. The first is the New York State Geographic Information Systems (GIS) other Topo Maps may be available for your state or area through the USGS http://www.nysgis.state.ny.us/gisdata/quads/drg24/index.htm http://topomaps.usgs.gov/ You can download supper accurate topographic maps, ariel photos of the areas you plan to hunt and print them out. They use the 1:24,000 scale standard which is what the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinate system is a grid-based method of specifying locations. This is used as a standard by Search and rescue teams. Here is a link on how to use the UTM in conjunction with a 1:24,000 map from maptools.com http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/UTMgridoverlay.html Here is a good link, simple and straight forward on compass reading and orienteering from the US Search and Rescue Task Force http://www.ussartf.org/compass_basics.htm As with anything it will require practice to become more confident and proficient. I would suggest a orienteering compass as it is less expensive and designed to be used with this system. A lensatic compass is a little more difficult for beginners to use with this system. In addition to a simple survival/first aid kit (whistle, mirror, firestarter space blanket etc), understanding topo maps and being able to give a grid location by radio - even if you can not egress from that location - can be the difference between freezing to death in the woods and coming home to your loved ones. Hope this helps. Stay Safe and God Bless Perimedik - NEREMT-P, CIC, SAR Tech III |
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I can't wait to go bow hunting with my good buddy. He's been bitching about how if I can spend so much money on guns, why won't the SO let me get a bow. Fucker just had to put it like that. Today I finished getting in my first 50 shots on my brand new bow, a Matthews Mission BX1, and I can't get enough of it!
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taggage
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Originally Posted By LA_Backwoods:
I don't care if your a super duper Delta Marine Seal Ranger. |
Is there a stigma against using a selfbow for deer hunting? I make my own bows from Osage normally and they are all within legal weight range, but I only hear of compound bows being used...
Or is it not legal to use a self bow in hunting? I am almost finished working on a short bow for a possible deer hunt later this month. |
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The biggest roadblock I hear from Folks who say they would get into bow hunting is... they already have enough hunting hobbies.
Folks say they want to get into it, but they just bring themselves to manufacture the time needed for yet another hobby. I get that and I have said that stuff myself. I thought I was doing my family a favor by not getting into the bow hunting world. Well guess what I discovered? My state, like most, gives the bow hunter the ability to hunt Pre-Rut, Rut, and Post Rut oportunities. For me, that means I'm not corn holed into hunting a limited days with my firearm methods. And because life happens and plans change, I don't have to tell my wife to suck it up and deal with the kids and the life WE created, on her own, because the prime gun season window is short and I'm leaving anyway. The bow hunter can easily postpone his trip to the next best time to be in the woods if his life's current situation says he really should live up to his responsibilities. When duty calls... Duty calls, and I answer it. I know I'm not alone with this perspective, and as a hunter who MUST be in the woods to keep life in its PROPER perspective, the bow opens the necessary windows. I know this deviates from the normal beginer bow hunter 'advice' but it has been a saving grace for me and my need to be in the woods. |
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Originally Posted By Flatulence: Well guess what I discovered? My state, like most, gives the bow hunter the ability to hunt Pre-Rut, Rut, and Post Rut oportunities. For me, that means I'm not corn holed into hunting a limited days with my firearm methods This is exactly why I want to get back into archery (after 20 years. Haven't shot since I was 14). Here in KS, I have 12 days of hunting post-rut and that is all. Of that, I am only able to hunt 5 of those days. I have a wife and 7 kids to feed, and 5 days is not enough time to get 4-5 deer, hang each one in the garage, quarter it, and cool it for later processing. Having from mid-Oct to mid-Jan gives me a lot more opportunity to fill the freezer. The problem is not having the money to get a bow. I'm trying to sell some stuff to afford it, but I don't think I have $600+ worth of stuff that I'll need to afford all the archery stuff. Heck, I'm trying to sell some new IMG brass for less than new Winchester, Remington, Federal, or LC brass and no one is biting! At least I have until next spring to get it all sold. |
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Tempus fugit. Frater, memento mori.
This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. ~ 1 Tim. 1:15 |
WOW.
Raising 7 kids!!! Sounds like you're well aware of challenges. You won't regret getting a bow and being out there. |
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Damn you all. Was at my buddy's place enjoying a cold one when he busted out his new bow, now I've found this thread, now I'm scouring shops and craigslist.
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"Throw some candy to the children..."
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So i have a question. Where would I go to find GOOD information on repairing, fixing, upkeep, and general keeping a bow in working order for years to come?
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Originally Posted By unknlogar:
So i have a question. Where would I go to find GOOD information on repairing, fixing, upkeep, and general keeping a bow in working order for years to come? You are in the right spot. Start a new thread with any and all questions you may have. |
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Glad I found this and the resources in the links.
I'm looking to start hunting and want to use a bow versus a rifle due largely to me not wanting to buy another rifle and ammo. Also, I've admired bow hunters for a long time because it seems more difficult to get close to your prey and take it down. So beginner questions are: How do I determine how much poundage I can draw? How do I determine my draw length? Aside from the bow, arrows, broadheads, what other equipment do I absolutely need in order to be successful hunting on public land? I'm 30 and would like to teach my children the same after I learn enough to teach them. I'm not likely going to make it for this years hunt but when I return from another deployment I'll be looking to set everything up and ready for it. |
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ibreakthings
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Hey, I been shooting bows for a about two years now, started off with a Bearpaw longbow 68" long, 35lbs @ 28", which sort of got me into it. I was at a bow shop in Munich and saw a Browning micro midas 3 (used) going cheap, so I went home and googled it, and saw that I could change the draw length without needing a press and went back for it . Managed to haggle the price down 35% and bought it and three arrows . As it didn't have any sights and I'd been shooting barebow already I decided to go that way, with a glove instead of a release, it came with a quicktune 3000 micro arrow rest, so did the adjustments, and it works a treat. I'm more than happy, and am looking at getting another bow in the near future, them SKB 50lb Horse bows look to cool not to have had one .
As Bow hunting is forbidden here in Germany I don't need a 50lb+ bow, and there are enough 3d shoots here in Bavaria and just over the border in Austria to keep me busy for a while . Personally I have used You-Tube for information gathering, there is a lot of info hidden in all of them hunting and archery clips on there, having said that I learned how to weld and a few other new skills off of you-tube to . Tony |
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A Vote less person of no consequence, whose vote isn't worth a fig in yesterday's dictatorship.
Fear Naught |
So I'm interested in maybe starting bowfishing I did it with one of my step brothers and had a blast are there good starter bows for that?
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I'm so glad I found this sub-forum. The wife and I have wanted to try out archery for a while, and the new Hunger Games has given us more encouragement
Hopefully I can make it to the shop this week to try out some bows!
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