The business of thinking, I got to have a faster or newer bow is bunk plain and simple. The following 2 pictures will show you something, that backs this up. The man in the picture is Larry Robinson I believe is his last name. I met Larry this last week at the MT Youth Bowhunter Camp, and Larry brought along his mount to show the kids. We also watched the video that was shot of the hunt by Larry's son from a blind, where Larry arrowed this trophy Mule deer State of Montana record of a mule deer, the largest ever taken by a bow. The bow that Larry is holding in the picture was a pawn shop find for just $35.00, and it has a small wheel at the top, and a single cam at the bottom. Larry configured his own range finding clear panel, to work with his brass pin sights. Larry shot this bow during the week and it is noisy taboot. Larry by the way was 70 yrs young when he shot this mule deer trophy which when green scored without deductions was 199", and after shrinkage was 191" with no deductions. When it was scored for Pope and Young it measured 187 1/8th. Boone and Crockett scored it much differantly. But the record has not been beaten to this date. Mule Deer Typical B&C 207 7/8 P&Y 187 1/8
I think the Indians proved you don't need what we use to kill and shoot targets with today, but I'll take either of my 2010 bows if asked to compete with a bow from the past. VS last year's model, ok I get your point, against 1985 model? You're silly not to see, feel, and know the difference. It was likely his choice to use that weapon and that's cool with me.
I don't care what kind of bow Larry shoots...don't care what anyone else shoots either...has nothing to do with me and my choice of bow has nothing to do with you, Larry, or anyone else. People don't think they "have" to buy a newer faster bow....they just "want" to buy a newer bow....what is wrong with that....it's their money isn't it? That said..I have only shot two different bows over the past 14 years.
I had a late 1990ish model hand-me-down Clearwater Powermag. At the time, a mere 14, I thought it was the best, fastest bow out there. Fast forward now, I have a 08 General and a 06 Tribute. No comparison. Off the charts in every aspect....and I still can't kill a BUCK!!! I've passed on my share of bucks. The bow has nothing to do with it! Good for Larry, I'm glad he is still out there huntin'. Maybe he doesn't like the hype of the new bows...but I sure do!
I don't think that anyone actually thinks that they NEED a new bow to kill a deer. I have a newish bow to hunt with cause it's what I feel I want to hunt with. I think that I somewhat owe it to the animals I'm hunting to use the best or close to the best equipment out there just to help put the odds in my favor for making a clean fast kill. The faster the bow shoots the more forgiving it is for slight distance errors. Also the newer bows are more forgiving for those little things that we all do caused by nerves while hunting.
A compound bow is a compound bow, no matter what year of manufacture. IMHO it doesn't make it any harder hunting with a 1990 bow or a new 2010 bow. Not until you get into trad. equipment. However, I will always try to shoot the newest I can afford. The newer bows are undeniably(sp?) faster, more efficent, and more accurate. To me there is no more "nostalgia" and skill when hunting with an early compound vs. bows of today, still just a compound in the end. A real challenge is taking a recurve or longbow. On a side note, that is an incredible buck. IIRC it was shot last year, opening weekend, in the Bitterroot Valley of MT. That same week a govenors tag buck was kiled that was something like 226'' NT
That may be so, but if you look at from the gun hunter perspective, you don't need a magnum to kill a deer either but many do own them. It's a matter of preference. Did I need to upgrade my old PSE to a new Diamond, no, I wanted to.
For me the problem with a new bow (unlike guns), is that every year the new model is claimed to be "improved" (sometimes drastically) over the prior year's model. This is mostly advertising, but it is off-putting to me how quickly the companies (and forums) treat an 8 month old bow, which was the "best ever" like a forgotten relic. Ironically, it actually delays my going- on-2 years imminent purchase, because in 6-12 months there is a promise of some gotta-have improvements. It may be controversial, but is true, that compound bows are a very poor investment when compared to guns (think Rem model 700s and 7s, or Win Model 70s, etc.). Other than a trigger or stock change every 5-10 years, you invest in that gun and you feel like you are done with it. In fact, some of the new (manufactured wood) stocks are so crappy that older guns of the same model may be worth more. So while a 10 year old compound may still be plenty good for killing deer, re-sell is very low (and likely more about the value of any arrows, accessories, case, etc. that might be thrown in on the deal). Please spare me criticism of I should be able to spend my money however I want - that has nothing to do with this post. I've been wanting to get a new bow for the last 2 years, and there is always next year. It's too late this year, or that's what I keep telling myself. :D
Nothing wrong with your point of view, I had been shooting a 10 year old PSE right up until a month ago.
