what was your first "real " bow

I got a Martin Jaguar when i was 13. IIRC they did not have modules back then for draw length so it maxed out at 41 lbs with shorter string to accommodate my draw length. took every ounce of energy i had to draw that thing back and in a hunting situation i don't think i could have gotten it back....only thing i shot with it was a squirrel.

Shot Aluminum Easton 1816 Arrows, and 100 grain Thunderhead broadheads.


I sold it when i was 16 after not having a place to bowhunt and stayed out of the Archery world until I was about 23 when me and a buddy decided to pick it up again.

Ben Pearson 45lb recurve, when 16 I think. I wound up shooting at 3 deer with it, one miss and got a doe, spike and a few rabbits.

Shot Cedar arrows with Bear heads then switched to Aluminum arrows and bear heads again.

I bought a Martin Cougar Magnum back in the day (around 1980). The limbs were laminated and made from maple wood. Shot Easton Game Getter and XX75 arrows. 125g Wasp broadheads.

Couldn't tell you what the first bow was but I do know it was a 25 lb fiberglass. My second was a Laminated 35 lb Ben Pearson, I bought that one myself using my paper boy income. I believe I was about 8 or 9 when I got that one. Target point Cedar shaft arrow were 25 cents apiece at Gibsons or 5 for a dollar, Cedar shaft Broadheads were 35 cents apiece of 4 for a dollar. We lived right below Scenic Mountain and next to Webb Air force Base. I would hunt around the flats at the base of the mountain and on the Base. Took a lot of rabbits with that old bow and even took a goat that was up on the mountain over on the Base side, There was a bunch of wild goats running lose over there and I hunted them for quite a while before I ever stuck one. I eased out over a ledge and it was right below me at about 10 yards. Drug that thing all the way back to the house, pop helped me gut it and we ended up barbequing it on the grill.

Just so happens i have a picture of the first bow, the Big Spring Herald did a piece on my Pop and wanted a picture of him with me shooting my bow. My older sister is watching. Never thought to much about the fiberglass bow but I'd love to find that old 35 lb Ben Pearson, that one holds some memories. I was about 7 or 8 in the picture. Some where I've got a picture of me holding a bronze medal I won in a summer time archery class put on by the Youth Center on the base using that bow, kid that beat me was 12 years old.

Bear Whitetail Hunter II, I couldn't tell you what arrows other than they were Easton and aluminum, with copperhead rippers broadheads.

I had a Bear Kodiak Compound bow that I bow in 1979.

Great picture from your younger days.
Where are the wheels on the end of the limbs? Why is this photo in black & white? They had cameras back then? Just kidding

My very first "real" bow was a Bear whitetail II with small eccentric wheels. I had it set at 55lbs. I had purchased it at Service Merchandise on Walzem Rd in San Antonio back in the 80's. I believe it was around $99. I used 100 grain satellite broadheads. I finally sold that bow at a garage sale for $30.

Great pic and memories

My first bows were from hickory and shot them a lot. Then we got a 25lb fiberglass bow with S&H green stamps Shot it enough there was about a 1/4 inch groove in the rest. Moved from that to the 45lb Been Pearson that I bought used with hay hauling $.

If I'm correct that's a 55 Chevrolet in the background.

I had a PSE nova for my first.

I had a Ben Pearson Javelina recurve in 1965. #42 lb pull. Shot cedar arrows with 4blade Super Hilbre broadheads.

I started my compound career with a youth model Hoyt MagnaTech.

Mine was a Ben Pearson 440 one. Loved that bow.

Great picture HWY

My first bow was a Bear Grizzly recurve. My first compound bow after that was a PSE Pacer.

I had hand-me-down recurves as a kid, but my first “real” bow I bought myself was an XI Flatliner back in ‘94.
Put an overdraw on it to eeek out every bit of speed. Was a fast bow for its time but still under 255fps IIRC. Was also loud.

The first one I bought at age 16 was a Damon Howatt Super Diablo. 60" bow at 60 lbs.

I still have some of those broadheads.

I've killed many deer with this (first bow) setup.

Bear Whitetail Hunter II
Easton 2117 aluminum arrows
NAP Thunderhead 125gn fixed blades

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Back then most people used Super Hilbres or Bear Razor heads.

I am enjoying reading all replies from you all , some good uns . My first real bow was a Martin,L.H. My bud talked me into getting a bow& we went diy bowhunting in Co. Was tough finding a lh bow. Shooting 2117s It was slooow. Then another bowhunter/ new friend gave me a real bow in like 1990. What luck he was same draw length, and a lefty. My first kill with bow was with that old Martin, it was a nice gobbler taken 2nd weekend of bow season. Been hooked for 33yrs.

Mine was a Ben Pearson Predator that was ordered as a 45 pound pull and said so on the riser but in reality it took 57 pounds to get it all the way back. Being 14 this took some getting used to. Took my first deer and first buck with it. Later on the upper limb developed a twist and I sold it. I wish I had gotten it fixed and kept it.

Hah same bow I started with. I shot cedar arrows and the early Bear heads with the bleeder on them also. I switched to fiberglass shafts, talk about some heavy arrows. I used the same broadheads for years.

Bear Minuteman

Still have it

I didn't start bow hunting until I was an adult. My first bow was a standard Browning Model and then I quickly switched to a Mathews Switchback. Still using the Switchback!

PSE Polaris Express - It was my first and a fun bow to learn with. I loved learning and hunting with that bow.