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After not getting drawn again for rifle big game this year I am seriously considering getting a bow. Any input on a good beginner bow? Brand, accessories, etc.? Any way I can test the waters without having to drop a grand with a decent/affordable bow?

You could get a very good Mathews ready to hunt on eBay for about $350-$500. Look for an Outback or Switchback. Most Bowhunters are like golfers, and feel a constant need to upgrade to the latest greatest, despite only having a season or three on their stuff. And a used Mathews is better than a new anything.

Go to a bow shop and shoot a few bows. Get a feel for what you like before doing as assa said

No, just do what I said.

assateague wrote:No, just do what I said.

assateague wrote:No, just do what I said.

Nobody listens to Jim.

Matthews is a good smooth bow. My dad has the switchback. He had some shoulder problems for a year and I used it for a season. Really smooth, fast, and quiet. But it was heavy. The newer bows are quite a bit lighter. Do you have a general price range? These things can be anywhere from $150-$1500. You'll get what you pay for. I'd have no problem talking a 60 yard shot on an elk with my dad's bow at a 55# draw. With my older Mathews I wouldn't feel comfortable past 40 at 60#. Bow technology has come along ways in 10 years.

NuffDaddy wrote:Matthews is a good smooth bow. My dad has the switchback. He had some shoulder problems for a year and I used it for a season. Really smooth, fast, and quiet. But it was heavy. The newer bows are quite a bit lighter. Do you have a general price range? These things can be anywhere from $150-$1500. You'll get what you pay for. I'd have no problem talking a 60 yard shot on an elk with my dad's bow at a 55# draw. With my older Mathews I wouldn't feel comfortable past 40 at 60#. Bow technology has come along ways in 10 years.

If anything I would say the innovation has plateaued in the last ten years, and ol' teauge is spot on. The brand spanking new full page ad bows of today don't perform much better than the bows of a few years ago. If anything I would say they are just trying to make them more goofy looking to catch the eye.

Like anything, the best ones were made when the technology was new and companies needed to fight to stay ahead of the curve. Now that everyone has caught up and established their market share, the quality is actually going to go down.

Just look at trail cameras. The old cuddebacks, the ones that they built their reputation on, were hot spit. The new ones are garbage.

And Gila, do it.

I know its the 1000th time I've said it, but I would throw all of my waterfowling stuff, shotgun included, in a fire, right now, if it meant I could go bowhunting elk this fall.

Check into elite archery.awesome bows with the best warranty on the market

Look into mission bows as well. It's Matthews' older models, still being made and slapped with "mission by Matthews" on for a name. Got mine all loaded up for under 300.

Elite are awesome but you'll pay for it. Another one I'd look at is Strothers, good stuff for the money. You can find some real good deals on used bows and a decent archery tech can make them like new again.

Or you could just go on eBay, get a Switchback ready to hunt for $400