In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Thinking About Bowhunting Again - Getting Restarted?

Discussion in 'The Game Room' started by lukem, Nov 17, 2016.

  1. swags

    swags Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    4,455
    Likes Received:
    13,235
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    I'm not trying to argue but the distance is actually greater with a compound based on the bow only and not human factor. If you compare two new bows, a crossbow and compound at similar speeds the compound will have a more stable shot long range. this is because an arrow is a lot longer then a bolt and is more stable. I used to work at Tenpoint (they own Horton and Wicked ridge as well). That was a big part of their education and training they did.

    On simply picking it up and shooting well a crossbow is easier at first. But with practice you can be just as good with a compound, and have added stability at longer ranges. Long range shooting with a compound is a a lot of fun and practice a long range makes most bow hunting shots that are closer a little easier.
     
  2. swags

    swags Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    4,455
    Likes Received:
    13,235
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Like others said here, there are lots of good bows out there. Pretty much all the big companies have great bows. I shoot a Mathews (after years of saying I never would) and my wife shoots a Hoyt. You can def get a bow for a $1,000 budget set up. My first look would be on Archerytalk.com there are tons of guys that buy the latest and greatest bows every year and sell year old bows every year.

    Another option is looking at last years bows at a dealer. My brother just bought a new bow this week. He got last years Hoyt Defiant 34, great bow. It retails for about $1,050 right now. He went to a few shops and found a "demo" bow". Its the bow that Hoyt sends shops for people to try at the shop. He was able to buy that bow new for $600.
     
  3. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    Bought a bow today. It is a new 2015 Hoyt Nitrum Turbo. Got a helluva deal on it. Shoots stupid fast....Too cold out to get much time with it...
     
  4. reprod

    reprod

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    299
    Location:
    Pacific NW
    You are going to have fun getting back into archery hunting. Hoyt make some great bows!
     
    gboutdoors likes this.
  5. Boogeyman

    Boogeyman

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Messages:
    389
    Likes Received:
    2,736
    Location:
    Central Indiana
    Go shoot several different bows and go with what feels the most comfortable to you, all manufacturers are making good bows nowadays in that price range.

    Finding the 1 yr old used bows is a good route also as someone mentioned earlier.

    Test out different styles of release aids also. I love shooting a hand held release, but got taught a lesson by a mature buck a few years ago when I thought I could hunt with one. There are many kinds of release aids out there, go with what you feel comfortable with and like. Think about what scenario you will be hunting in also. I can't stand a release with a solid connection between the wrist strap and release head because I always bang it up against the climbing sticks in the dark, so I find that a strap or rope connection is far better for me.

    Happy hunting! Archery sure can be addicting, and you can use arrows over and over and over again unlike bullets so practicing is basically free once you have the equipment!
     
  6. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    Did some shooting today. Man am I rusty...But the bow does the job if I point it straight. Hits pretty hard too.

    20170205_145244.jpg
     
    Flatlander Pete, swags and Boogeyman like this.
  7. Boogeyman

    Boogeyman

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Messages:
    389
    Likes Received:
    2,736
    Location:
    Central Indiana
    Well leave it up to me to skip the post that said you already bought one!

    Hoyt makes good bows, I'm sure you will be happy with that one!
     
    Flatlander Pete and swags like this.
  8. schoondog

    schoondog

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    Messages:
    784
    Likes Received:
    4,641
    Location:
    Dutchess County N.Y.
    I see plenty of venison in your future. Have fun !

    Schoondog
     
    Flatlander Pete likes this.
  9. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    I hope so. Deer season is only 7 3/4 months away...
     
  10. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    The weather has been great here lately and I've been getting 15 - 20 arrows downrange in the evenings. Today I was getting 4" - 6" groups at 40 yards.

    It's pretty well dialed in. Just need to keep shooting so good form goes from something I have to really think about to muscle memory.
     
    Boogeyman likes this.
  11. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    Shot this group at 40 today. Not bad for only a few weeks of practice....But still some work to do.

    20170303_122102.jpg
     
    J1m, Boogeyman and OhioStihl like this.
  12. Boogeyman

    Boogeyman

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Messages:
    389
    Likes Received:
    2,736
    Location:
    Central Indiana
    That's not at all a bad group from 40yds!
     
  13. chris

    chris

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    3,051
    Likes Received:
    10,553
    Location:
    SE WI
    pretty much dinner on the table :stirpot:
     
  14. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    Lookin good! Gonna be shooting 5 spot or learning to fletch real soon!
     
  15. chris

    chris

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    3,051
    Likes Received:
    10,553
    Location:
    SE WI
    Hard to fletch when you start splitting shafts.
     
  16. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    I have an old Bitz jig for fletching.

    I am still getting this thing dialed in so still shooting groups at long distances.

    Finally got my draw weight up to 70 today. Can still pull it seated and pointing down. 70lbs, 30" draw, and a 350 rating makes for a some fast shooting.
     
    Boogeyman likes this.
  17. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    What's your total arrow weight? You know.....science and stuff. Then we can figure some ke.
     
  18. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    440.

    Should be around 315 FPS and 97 KE.

    Had to switch to a bag because I was punching through the black hole target.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2017
    bocefus78 likes this.
  19. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,501
    Location:
    IN
    Shot this 4 arrow group at 40 tonight. Time to get the sights dialed in now.

    20170316_200847.jpg
     
    schoondog likes this.
  20. clay shooter

    clay shooter

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2017
    Messages:
    1,364
    Likes Received:
    6,968
    Location:
    ENGLAND
    over here in england we can not kill any thing with a bow,that came in 1980 when a swan was found with a arrow in his neck.so nothing at all with a bow,only target shooting.