I’ve been rifle hunting for alittle over 10 years and I’m thinking about trying out bow hunting. What brand bow would you recommend? I will like to be around 750 up to 1k total for bow, release, and sight. I plan to use on whitetail, hogs and possibly a black bear. Is this price range feasible?
Also I live in Baytown which is east of Houston, are there any shops that you reccomend they may offer a beginners course to archery? I’m not sure if that is a thing or not.

Thank you

Bow choice is all about how you shoot it…there is a hat for every head.

I would start with shooting mid to upper end ( not flagship ) offerings from Elite ( my personal favorite ) Mathews, Hoyt and Bowtech. See which ones you like or don’t like. Personally I would stay away from the package type bows sold at basspro and cabelas.

Spend the money on bow technology and rests. Don’t overspend on sights or release. I’ve been bowhunting for 13 years and shoot a cheap true fire caliber release that costs about $25. A 3 or 5 pin sight from Trophy ridge or spot hogg is fine…at this stage no need to have anything more.

Buy some good arrows from Gold tip or Black Eagle

I started with a bear vapor 3000 around the year 2000. A few years ago, I upgraded to a diamond edge. Both were package bows. I have shot both bows both hunting and in competition, and have done well in both. Don't be afraid of the package bows. And don't be afraid of the whisker Biscuit style rest either. I've out shot guys with much better bows and rests. And for hunting purposes, a whisker Biscuit style rest is perfect IMO. As for instruction, I have no clue where to go in Houston area. If you're ever up north, I'd be happy to meet with you and show you what I know.

I was moving a lot,short on free time, sold my matthews z7 10 or 12 years ago, but still continued hunting. Decided to get back in the bow game a couple months ago. Bought a diamond by bow tech deploy package. 700 and some odd dollars I think. Very impressed with the bow for the price point! Easy to adjust draw length(no press or different cams needed), good enough sight, and whisker biscuit style rest. Out of the cardboard box, quick tuned, and a pin at 25, 35, and 45 in about an hour. And was pretty dang close per a paper tune later.Is it the best out there? absolutely not, is it good enough for a decent deer hunting bow? Yes. Already stuck a couple hogs with it. All the bow I need to hunt with the few weeks before the traditional first Saturday in November! Any past experience with archery equipment?

Thank you guys I really appreciate the help, glad to hear also it seems like a reasonable budget. I’ll be a beginner so I don’t need the Lamborghini of bows lol.

I used to use a comparison when I was in construction sales; my Kia and Cadillac spiel

They are both vehicles, and they will both get you from point A to point B, but they pretty much run out of things in common after that.

You don’t need a Lamborghini. But buy at least an equivalent of a well appointed half ton truck. It will last longer, you will enjoy shooting it more and ultimately will shoot it better due to increased practice.


You can get a good mid level bow, a trophy ridge sight and a QAD drop away rest, be at or slightly under budget and have a rig you will enjoy shooting for many years.

Here is an example of a package I’ll recommend:

https://elitearchery.com/collections/hunting/products/terrain

https://www.beararchery.com/products/trophy-ridge-fix-bow-sight

https://www.scheels.com/p/quality-a...D_BwE&pgid=psearch&src=hardlines

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/bee-stinger-sport-hunter-xtreme-stabilizer-1913438-1?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CPMax%7CHunting%7CHunting%7CNAud%7CTopPerf%7CNMT&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4ZmGiP7AhgMVxjfUAR2_KQ2rEAQYCSABEgLThPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.scheels.com/p/trufire-s...D_BwE&pgid=psearch&src=hardlines


https://www.scheels.com/p/g5-head-l...D_BwE&pgid=psearch&src=hardlines


You are right around $1k for a bow that you can hunt anything in North America with and will enjoy shooting for many years.

I’d recommend a darton consequence. It’s not the fastest or nicest bow, but it has a very smooth draw and a decent speed and a nicer cable guard. Some good accessories if you buy a bare bow are QAD Ultrarest and I’d get a 5 pin fixed sight. If you don’t want to pick out your own accessories the bear adapt rth + package is another option.

as a beginner, get a good recurve in 65# draw and practice with it.

develop the muscle to draw, learn to hold draw, learn to aim with the shakes goin on.

this also lets you see if you like it enough to keep after it, practice, practice, practice with archery.


https://www.beararchery.com/collections/traditional-bows?page=2


get good on a recurve and you will love a compound, the letoff makes the difference.

It took me a few bows to really learn what I like and shoot best. I wouldn't rule out a flagship used bow. Lots of folks get new bows every year and sell them for close to half price. Bows don't hold their value long at all.

I would go to the bow shop ask the tech what he currently shoots and if he wants to sale it. most the techs pay wholesale and upgrade every year

Last decade two I’ve shot elite, bowtech, xpedition, Mathew’s

all are great bows

NO WAY I would suggest to a beginner, and probably not to an advanced hunter, a 65 pound recurve bow. I've been bowhunting since the early 70's and the most on a recurve I've ever shot was 55 pounds, and it was a butt whipping to shoot it. I have a vintage Bear recurve that is about 45 pounds and all I would need to hunt anything in Texas. As for compounds, technology is way more advanced these days and I've seen people getting it done with 45 pounds, and they are fast. But, this is just my opinion.....

Go to pro shop and tell them what you said here. They will let you shoot several bows. Its all in the feel of the bow in hand and at the shot. Bows can be like boots and packs....different ones will fit everyone different.

I see you are in the Houston area, check out these folks. They offer lessons and have a pro shop on site.
https://saddleriverrange.com/archery/
This will allow you a chance to handle some stuff, and even take a lesson or 3, if you are so inclined. They are also good folks, who wont sell you what you don't need just to make a buck!

My thoughts exactly. I shoot a recurve a few times a week and my heaviest bow is 57#. I have trouble with anything over 60#being consistently accurate. I shoot an 80# compound and have shot 75-80# my entire adult life. Nowhere close to being the same


a recurve is like a .410. often recommended for beginners but best left in the hands of the experienced.

Seena lot of Mathews bow down @ OSBWMA archery hunts.
They are short length. For hunting in trees

i used a PSE little longer in length. Very good bows.

Some sporting good stores have indoor shooting range.
Let ya try different bows.

Enjoy me archery hunts.
Best wish's

Thank you I just looked at their website and it looks exactly like what I’m looking for, I saw they even have rentals you can use for the lessons!
I appreciate everyone’s help, I wanted to be alittle prepared before I go in! So many places will just try and push a big sale when someone doesn’t have a clue what they want or need.

Worst advice ever! Don’t do this

Buy a top brand that’s already mentioned and used may save you a lot. Release is personal, like a trigger

Visit Outlaw Archery in The Woodlands. Richard and Raymond are top notch and will take care of you. Kay is a great instructor.

why is it bad advice to suggest someone get the muscles tuned to shooting a bow, my last recurve was a 65# (okay, maybe too much for starter) then I got a pse compound when they first came out, 1970s I think. back then I was swinging a 28 oz. hammer for a living so the pull was a bit easier but I still sucked at it.

my point is, get good on a recurve, get the muscles trained to pull and hold then a compound let off will make it seem easy. learning how to avoid the shakes while on full draw makes a difference imo.

Hop,

When was the last time you bowhunted?

There used to be (45-50 years ago) a carry-over from a recurve to a compound, these days, comparing a compound to a recurve is about like comparing a Gunwerks Bolt action with a 5x26 Swarovski on top to an H&R topper break action shotgun.

The technique used to shoot a compound bow is completely different from shooting a recurve.

I bow hunted from the mid 70's throughout the 90's. My pop got me a Bear 76er 40lb take down recurve in '74. I hunted and shot that bow a ton until '79ish when I bought a Jennings T-Star compound bow. For the next twenty years I kept graduating to newer better bows and setups. The bow technologies of the 70's through 90's was OK, nothing like the last ten years. Today, computers help develop deadly accurate and very light bows. I start to wonder where AI will take the bow & arrow technologies?? Then a series of rotator cuff surgeries and age and bow hunting was no longer for me. About ten years ago I picked up a nice Excalibur recurve crossbow. Just deadly accurate and fun to shoot to 60 yards. Easy to learn and sight in. Last year I found a Bear 76er like the one I grew up with on eBay with straight limbs and excellent condition for $100.00. I had it cerakoted back to it's almost original colors. It's been fun practicing with it for this upcoming fall season. Shoulder muscles are developing nicely as I continue to shoot it. I'm getting ,more accurate as I go and it's been super fun to shoot. I'll have a max range of 25 yards when hunting.

My advice, a nice intermediate used compound bow with sights in 50 pounds range. You don't need a lot and you need to build those muscles to shoot it accurately. A nice crossbow works well too! Start small, try it out and graduated to better equipment if you decide you like it.

Good luck!

No. Just no. That’s not how to go about any of it.


And this is coming from a guy that’s pretty good at traditional archery, hunts with a compound, and has taken animals with both.


OP, with that kind of budget, I’d look at a late model used bow from one of the major brands (Mathews, elite, Hoyt, PSE) in the 60-70lb range. Take it to the shop and get the draw length set appropriately and buy some arrows that are the correct length and spine. Get to shooting and have fun!


IF you decide you want to do the traditional thing….. well, that’s a whole different can of worms.

I think 'ol Hop was using the age old technique of sarcasm.

Could be.

Either way, it was a good troll. I bit and ran with it