I would recommend quitting hunting altogether. To be honest, all the rest of us would probably prefer that you just hang up the bow forever, and maybe take up a wholesome activity - like golf or exotic dancing. Leave more deer for us, and you'll be happier.
One thing I love about archery is that I don't have to buy ammo. If I take care of my arrows the cost per shot is much much less than pounding off $1-$2 per shot with my rifles.
Like everyone else has said it all about what you want, If you buy top of the line bows and top of the line shotguns your spending some crazy money. Archery in general is cheaper then shooting guns since your ammo is reusble until you mess up and break an arrow. The price of ammo is horrific and I'd die if I wanted to shoot a 30-06 as much as my bow I'd be working for ammo just my 2 cents
Something I've discovered is I don't have to have the latest and greatest or try and keep up with the Jones'. This year I was seriously considering a new Destroyer. But I honestly don't need one. My '08 Marquis is still getting it done. My money will be better spent on the Colorado trip. On the forums I see folks getting a new bow, (or two), every year. I have to remember I'm not them and I have my own budget considerations to keep in mind. If I get a new bow every 5 years then I'm doing good. If I never get a new bow again I still have my Marquis and my Kanga longbow. I don't really ever "need" a new bow. Its all about want.
I agree! It is more about wants than needs in most of our archery equipment. There is very little you really need to Bowhunt except a functioning bow, a few arrows, & some sharp broadheads. I have friends that are still shooting their Allegiances and Tributes. A couple of them went and shot the Destroyer though and they now have one on order. If you don't want to buy best to not go shoot any new bows. That new Bow fever is hard to cure short of a purchase. I have owned way too many Bows, No doubt, but I don't really have any other hobbies other than Archery, I don't have any costly habits (smoking or drinking to excess) so I have always bought at least one new bow a year and most years more. I want a New set of Camo this year, but it is a want and not a need or have to have. I'll see how it goes. New Toys are Fun!! and if you have the budget for them great, but you are right it is want and not need, but then so are most things in life. Dan
Remember one thing when comparing gun prices to bow prices... A high quality top of the line gun, if taken care of, will be a high quality top of the line gun for generations of users. Can you realistically say that about a bow? How many people are buying bows to pass down to their grandchildren? It simply is what it is.
Are the top of the line bows and accessories ridiculously expensive? Yes. Does that mean I'll stop buying what I want for the sport that I love? Hell no. It's a personal choice. Nobody is yanking the cash out of your pocket. Spend what you want on what makes you happy and then go kill some deer and post up some pictures here for us to see.
When you consider how much more time you can spend in Wisconsin, Iowa or Minnesotta bow hunting vs gun hunting. It seems reasonable that a top of the line bow is expensive. I know I shoot my bow ten to one in the summer compared to a rifle. The money sucks but it is worth it.
Look into the secondary market, craiglist, e-bay, pawn shop ,friends. You can get a top line bow, maybe last year model or even older. I still shoot a 2005 Bowtech, that is as good as anything else made today. You can pick one of those up well worth the money. But, thats just my opinion. The deer don't know what your shooting untill it's to late.
Me too brother, my bows I bought this year will still be killin deer in 10 , 20 or 30 years and longer! They will kill the same way they kill today! Best part about it is when my son said, "Dad, I can't wait to kill a deer with your Bow!" I said in reply "I can't wait for your son to kill deer with my bow." He just smiled and said "Yeah!"
Are bows to expensive? Hell yes they are!! Some Traditional bows are crazy off the wall expensive but allot of these bows are hand crafted and custom built for that person. But yes their still over priced In my opinion. Top of the line compounds on the other hand, way over priced. Either way you look at It neither (some custom built traditional bows and all top of the line compounds) Is going to get any cheaper In the coming years. Anything to do with hunting Is getting way over priced, look at the trail cams.
Are new bows too expensive? Naw....this is totally worth $1600. http://www.hoyt.com/compound_bows/hoyt_carbon_matrix_compound_bow.php
Hope so. I'm going to be travelling that week for work, but I'll be out there one of the weekends. And this year I actually get to enjoy the show because we won't have a booth there this year.:D
