I'm Jeff, live in central Minnesota and am getting back into bow hunting after being away since high school (more than 15 years). I used to shoot a browning, but unfortunately someone decided they needed it more than I and helped themselves to it right out of my garage. As such, I'm going to be picking up a new bow relatively soon and am considering a Bear Motive 7. Every thing I've read about them is very positive. I haven't had the time to go to a shop to try one yet (that will be happening in the relatively near future), I'm sure there are folks on here who have tried them and have more experience than I. Just thought I'd post something to get some feedback on the many options there are these days. I'm planning on spending somewhere around $1000 for the whole package and obviously would consider other options, I've simply been impressed with what Bear has to offer. Consider me a rookie, but with some experience. I'm sure buying a new bow is similar to getting a new set of golf clubs, more about fit and feel than anything else so advice will be taken and considered. The other question I would like some info on is the rests, I used to shoot a drop away, and now nearly everything I see are the whisker biscuits. What's the benefit of either one compared to the other. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Tinker
In concerns to drop-away containment rests I only have experience with one... The APA Twister. I love the thing! Fairly quiet, and it's never let me down.
Welcome back. I have not shot the newer Bear bows but would recommend you shoot as many bows as possible before making your decision. I don't have a recommendation on an arrow rest but both of my bows have drop aways on them and work great. I have not had a problem with my arrow not being contained but generally shoot my bow in the upright position. I have friends who use the Whisker Biscuit and have heard them complain that on a very quiet morning they have been busted by deer hearing the arrow being drawn through the Biscuit. Others say that has never been a problem. I know it is worse with aluminum arrows.
You're right about choosing a bow, it has a lot to do with the fit and feel. Shoot as many as you can and then make a decision. Bows, and archery equipment have changed a lot in the 15yrs you've been away so you might be surprised at what's available now. As far as rests, the top two right now are probably the QAD or the Ripcord, at least they seem to be the most popular. Good luck and welcome back to the addiction. Blessings.........Pastorjim
You should be well outfitted with a thousand dollar budget. On my Bowtech Assassin I have the Octane Hostage rest and never had trouble with deer hearing the arrow. On my Carbon Knight I have a QAD HDX and I love it. I just bought a PSE Vision and the whole thing with sight, rest and peep is coming in at about 300. I have seen the Ready To Shoot Vision package on E-bay for as low as 349. Other than being a tad heavy I really like the Vision and am setting it up to shoot spots. Find one that feels good to you, and it doesn't have to be over 600 bare bow to be good quality.
Thanks for the advice/knowledge fellas. As for the online options, I'm going to be visiting a local shop to try things out, and given that I'll be getting advice from some pros there, I'd feel horrible going online after that. It's good to hear that I might not have to spend my entire available budget to get something good. And JGD, the info about the child weather and the biscuits is exactly the type of info that I was hoping for, I would never have even thought about that. Keep the info coming and again, thanks!
Tink, if at all possible spend the extra $ and at least buy your bow from the local bowshop, the local service on a bow you purchased from the store is well worth the extra $ it costs.
Welcome to the site and Welcome Back to Bowhunting! I like the QAD rests. The HDX to be specific. I have one on both of my bows. Like Sota said, visit a bow shop and see what they have to offer. They can show you a lot of different setups and you can shoot bows with different rests to see what you like best.
Tink: If you aren't making a living with a bow, I would suggest you go get properly fitted and then buy a bow that is 2-3 years old. There are guys that buy new bows every year looking for that extra edge. The bow that they bought 3 years ago for $1500 can be had for $500- $600. And still has thousands of shots left. Save the extra money for a tree stand or targets etc. JMO
There's another thing, since I'm returning to the sport, the only stuff I need is the bow with a RTH type package (not necessarily a full package as put together), a release and some arrows. I was going to get the bow last winter but then some unavoidable circumstances came up and I wasn't able to get the bow last year. I've already got a tree stand, a target and many of the things that I will need to get started again... thankfully. Keep the advice coming guys. Everything is welcome and appreciated!
I think that once you visit your bow dealer and shoot some bows you'll have more questions. Things have definitely changed in the last 15 years since you've been out of hunting but you are about to be pleasantly surprised with the new technology in bows. Good luck, keep posting and let us know what you come up with.
Buying a used bow is going to save you major $$$.. I picked up my backup bow, a Mathews monster MR6 on craigslist with a quiver and QAD HDX dropaway rest for 400 bucks. Bought a HHA sight on ebay, a wrist sling from HuntMaine on here, new mods for my DL and I was all set for about 600. I sold my Helim with some basic accessories (sight, quiver, case, arrows) for 650 in order to get a Mathews Monster ChillR for the same price on AT.. Between craigslist and the hunting bow classifieds here or over on archery talk, you could get a premium bow for a major bargain. I will never buy a bow brand new again.. Why pay a grand for a new bow when you can pay 60% of that for a bow that is 1-2 years old?
Thanks for the advice bgusty, I'll definitely look into what the shop up in St Cloud has. I've gotten a lot of tips from local guys in my area that Archery Country is the place to go locally here. I'm guessing they have both new and used equipment. Again keep the tips coming. It's going to be a couple weeks yet till I'm able to get away from work to go shopping. Thanks everyone.
I've been watching some back episodes of bow hunt or die and noticed from time to time there are illuminated nocks, the benefits are obvious as i have been watching, are there any downsides?
I don't see any negatives to them. They hit the same spot as regular nocks and being able to see exactly where you hit is fantastic. Plus it makes finding your arrow easier!
Well, The only negative experience that I have had with lumenoks (the brand I had was called nockturnal) was that every once in a while, the light would turn on while I put the arrow on the string, in order to turn it off, you needed something that was thin such as a small allen wrench, and you had to stick it in a small hole in the nock to deactivate it. Well one morning in the stand, I nocked an arrow and the light turned on, I didnt have an allen wrench and I had left my knife in my vehicle, so I just left it on. An hour or so later a doe and her fawn started to approach, almost immediatly she started staring up at me, I figured she saw the light since If she had seen me she would have taken off. She stared up at me for a few minutes, but her fawn was completely oblivious, and walked right past my tree. The doe was reluctant to come so close, but she wanted to stay with her fawn. So she slowly walked by, with an eye on me the whole time, I waited until her head was behind a tree, drew and then shot her as she stepped out. So while it is a success story, I would make sure you have something in the woods such as a pen that you can turn the light off with, if that had been a buck I doubt I would have got him. Other then that they are great!
I'm also starting to think about camo, I've always considered getting a ghillie suit for the added invisibility of clothing that shifts like the leaves I'll be sitting amongst. Does anyone use them regularly and are there any down sides? What is every ones thoughts?
A gillie suit bar non provides the best camouflage... for bow hunting I've always been a little hesitant because it seems like it's just one more thing to caught or snagged on. If it was me I'd probably just do gillie paints and a regular camo jacket.
Again, thanks for your thoughts Honky. I was hoping someone would have a positive or negative response. I was thinking that could be an issue. Perhaps one could secure the areas that could happen and be good. If anyone has any experience I would greatly appreciate their thoughts. Thanks in advance!
