Every year when the new bows come out I go to my local pro shop and shoot them, one because I love to shoot bows and two I've been kind of in the market for a new bow for a while now, I've upgraded all my hardware on my starter bow and have just waiting for the bow that I shot and just couldn't live without. With that being said I've learned a lot about Bowhunting since I started 4 years ago but not so much about actual bows and archery equipment itself, infact I was schooled not that long ago by a guy on this forum for not realizing the number on the shaft of the arrow isn't how much it weighs, rather the stiffness of the spine of the arrow haha! With that being said other then shooting a bow and liking the way it shoots and feels what should I be looking for? I know the market is constantly advertising speed, which to me was never a big deal until I realized I wanted to start shooting heavier arrows, and the faster the bow the faster it can shoot a heavier arrow which results in higher KE, which results in more pass throughs right? Haha like I said I could use all the info anyone is willing to give me, I feel very confident in my skills as a hunter and putting myself in position to get the job done but as far as knowledge of my equipment and why I'm shooting what I'm shooting I'm still a noob and I do know that becoming a better archer and using a more efficient setup can only improve my odds in the field. Thanks in advance! Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
In a similar situation to you. Looking into possibly upgrading my bow in the next 6 months to a year. I know I am going to be looking more at comfort than speed. They all shoot fast enough. I want the bow that I am happy to shoot and practice with frequently. If I don't practice, I won't be accurate. If I'm not accurate, who cares about speed. I will also be paying attention to noise.
I agree with looking for a bow that fits and feels good to you rather than one that's just simply "fast". Almost all flagship bow models are within 10 or 20 fps of each other which is plenty fast enough even when shooting heavier arrows. IMO when you start looking at bows in the 350+ fps range they become less enjoyable to shoot due to either shorter brace heights or more aggressive cams. I think 330-345 fps is pretty much perfect for a modern hunting bow. Also keep in mind that those numbers are taken at 30" draw length, 70 lbs and a 350 grain arrow. The vast majority of bowhunters don't meet those specs or hunt with that light of an arrow. So in all reality you'll probably be shooting 275-300 fps out of your hunting setup. When it comes to what to look for keep in mind when, where and how you'll be hunting. Do a lot of ground blind hunting? Probably want to look at a shorter axle-to-axle bow. Planning on a long back-country elk hunt? Probably want to look at something that's lighter weight. Do a lot of late season cold weather hunting? A smooth draw cycle comes in handy on those frigid days. Shoot a couple different models and really try to get a feel of what you enjoy shooting the most. For me, shooting a bow is an enjoyable experience. I like doing it. Shooting a bow that I'm comfortable with and that I shoot well is simply more enjoyable, and thus I want to do it more. And on top of that I'm more comfortable and confident in it which is huge when it comes to hunting.
Couldn't agree more, thanks for the tips, congrats on an awesome public land buck. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
