Finding and Keeping a good bow

hunterbow

New Member
With the many options out in the market, and with many people suggesting different things, listening and reading on all these choices may actually be more confusing than helping one be more enlightened about what bow to get. Many bows are built for the long run, with good maintenance, so it really may not be necessary to be buying a new bow after 3 years of usage. So, you do not have to be envious and always look to get the newest one in the market. In fact, it may also be a good idea to keep the bow you have, and further customize it to your liking with accessories that you can purchase independently. With good maintenance, a bow can be used for even over 10 years, with only needing to change some parts like the string. Otherwise, it can still perform the same way it did when you first purchased it. My search result https://hunthacks.com/best-compound-bow/
 
I have been bow hunting for fifty years. I started with a Herter's recurve. I now shoot a four year old Hoyt Spyder Turbo - the sixth bow I have ever owned. I went to the bow shop the other day with my son in law while he was purchasing a new bow. While there, I shot two different Mathews, one Hoyt, one Elite, and two PSE's - and none felt better or provided a significant performance increase over my existing bow. I am 62 and my current bow may be the last bow I ever buy.
 
I average a new bow about once every 10yrs. No issues with maintenance, just take it to a good shop once a yr or so and let them do what needs done.
This reminds me of an old saying; "beware the man who only has one gun (bow in this case)... he probably knows how to use it".
 
With the many options out in the market, and with many people suggesting different things, listening and reading on all these choices may actually be more confusing than helping one be more enlightened about what bow to get. Many bows are built for the long run, with good maintenance, so it really may not be necessary to be buying a new bow after 3 years of usage. So, you do not have to be envious and always look to get the newest one in the market. In fact, it may also be a good idea to keep the bow you have, and further customize it to your liking with accessories that you can purchase independently. With good maintenance, a bow can be used for even over 10 years, with only needing to change some parts like the string. Otherwise, it can still perform the same way it did when you first purchased it. My search result https://hunthacks.com/best-compound-bow/
You say it's probably not necessary to buy a new bow [be a good idea to keep the bow you have if you have a good one] but you are a new member with one post promoting a website that promotes new bows? Anyone see a mixed message here?
 
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I'm not in need of a new bow at moment but Just curious whats the chance of me getting the young lady in the ad to be my hunting partner?? My current hunting buddies are all ugly wrinkled old men and I was just looking to improve my game.
 
I hunted with a Mathews Outback for many years, 70 lb. pull. Shoulder problems forced me to get something easier to pull and also to drop my pull weight. I wound up with an Elite E35 and still later an Elite Synergy and couldn't be happier with my choice. I'll probably sell the E35 now that I have the Synergy. My days of needing a backup bow are about over. I'm certain the Synergy will be my last bow.
 
I hunted with a Mathews Outback for many years, 70 lb. pull. Shoulder problems forced me to get something easier to pull and also to drop my pull weight. I wound up with an Elite E35 and still later an Elite Synergy and couldn't be happier with my choice. I'll probably sell the E35 now that I have the Synergy. My days of needing a backup bow are about over. I'm certain the Synergy will be my last bow.
I'm two months into rehab after major shoulder surgery on my dominant shoulder, and I expect my days of shooting my 70lb Matthews Z7 are over. I will keep the Elite Synergy in mind.
 
I'm two months into rehab after major shoulder surgery on my dominant shoulder, and I expect my days of shooting my 70lb Matthews Z7 are over. I will keep the Elite Synergy in mind.
Sorry to hear about your shoulder problems. I tore both my rotator cuffs pulling myself into a climbing stand on a cold day 4 years ago. Left shoulder did fine with rehab. Right shoulder finally went in for surgery Jan 11th of this year. Best choice I ever made. Long recovery but I can throw a football again and pull my bow without pain!
During the painful years I went to an Elite also for the sole reason of a smooth draw. Real happy with it. I don't pull the same weight as I used to but I'm ok with that. Speed doesn't kill, accuracy does!
 
Sorry to hear about your shoulder problems. I tore both my rotator cuffs pulling myself into a climbing stand on a cold day 4 years ago. Left shoulder did fine with rehab. Right shoulder finally went in for surgery Jan 11th of this year. Best choice I ever made. Long recovery but I can throw a football again and pull my bow without pain!
During the painful years I went to an Elite also for the sole reason of a smooth draw. Real happy with it. I don't pull the same weight as I used to but I'm ok with that. Speed doesn't kill, accuracy does!
I'm glad to hear that you got your shoulders straightened out. I'd suggest giving up on the football. Throwing is hard on rotator cuffs. If I could do things over I'd definitely take better care of my shoulders. Shoulders are slow and painful to rehab, and I've been told that thirty percent of repaired rotator cuffs fail again. Fifty years old is time to shift down a gear, the alternatives are too painful.
 
I'm glad to hear that you got your shoulders straightened out. I'd suggest giving up on the football. Throwing is hard on rotator cuffs. If I could do things over I'd definitely take better care of my shoulders. Shoulders are slow and painful to rehab, and I've been told that thirty percent of repaired rotator cuffs fail again. Fifty years old is time to shift down a gear, the alternatives are too painful.
I know it's a hard recovery but I'm not planning on slowing down any. I'm planning on paddling 340 miles of the Missouri River next year!
 
I hunted with a Mathews Outback for many years, 70 lb. pull. Shoulder problems forced me to get something easier to pull and also to drop my pull weight. I wound up with an Elite E35 and still later an Elite Synergy and couldn't be happier with my choice. I'll probably sell the E35 now that I have the Synergy. My days of needing a backup bow are about over. I'm certain the Synergy will be my last bow.
I changed from my Outback for the same reason you did. Went with a 50-60# Creed XS
 
If you just shoot your bow like most archers do, which is some in the summer months and early fall leading up to archery season, then your bow should last at least 6 years with the proper maintenance. If you shoot in indoor leagues, and 3D in the spring, then your stick and string might have a little bit shorter lifespan.

I typically go 2 to 3 years between new bow purchases, but I shoot quite a bit and enjoy the new bow technology and building and setting up my own equipment. Although; my current setup which is a Hoyt Carbon Defiant 34, I can see myself sticking with for a bunch of years.
 
I know it's a hard recovery but I'm not planning on slowing down any. I'm planning on paddling 340 miles of the Missouri River next year!
It's the overhead stuff that's hard on shoulders. Paddling should not be an issue if you're in shape. I'm envious, I've paddled the Susquehanna river, camping on islands overnight. That's a great adventure. Whereabouts do you plan to start? My Missouri cousin says the Missouri river is too thick to drink, but too thin to plow.
 
I agree an old bow is like an old friend. I still hunt with my MQ32 Matthews - its about 20 years old now!
I like that its simple and small and I'm comfortable with it. 95% of the deer I've ever taken with any bow have been less than 20 yds, and most 1/2 that - this bow is great for how I bow hunt.

I have shot a deer with a Crossbow - and I liked that too - but it was a whole different hunt and I enjoyed it differently.
 
It's the overhead stuff that's hard on shoulders. Paddling should not be an issue if you're in shape. I'm envious, I've paddled the Susquehanna river, camping on islands overnight. That's a great adventure. Whereabouts do you plan to start? My Missouri cousin says the Missouri river is too thick to drink, but too thin to plow.
You're right about the overhead movements. I got frustrated with the slow recovery but my PT was very good and she encouraged me to stick with it. I did and feel great!
I should be one that's envious. I love those Northern waters! The Quetico is a bucket list item for me. I don't know anything about the Susquehanna but sounds wonderful. I did the Buffalo River in Arkansas last year. 135 miles in 7 days. That was an adventure. The Missouri River is a race. Kansas City to St louis(St Charles actually ). 340 miles in 88 hours or less. I've never done anything like it. It'll be grueling.
 
I agree an old bow is like an old friend. I still hunt with my MQ32 Matthews - its about 20 years old now!
I like that its simple and small and I'm comfortable with it. 95% of the deer I've ever taken with any bow have been less than 20 yds, and most 1/2 that - this bow is great for how I bow hunt.

I have shot a deer with a Crossbow - and I liked that too - but it was a whole different hunt and I enjoyed it differently.


My second brand new bow was an MQ 32. I was good out to fifty and fair out to seventy with it. Looking back, I never should have traded "up". The Outback served me well though. My first new bow was a Bear Whitetail II. I'm telling my age now......:)
 
My second brand new bow was an MQ 32. I was good out to fifty and fair out to seventy with it. Looking back, I never should have traded "up". The Outback served me well though. My first new bow was a Bear Whitetail II. I'm telling my age now......:)
The Bear Whitetail bow was my first as well. I still have that bow, but I never did kill a deer with it.
 
I killed two with mine, then it burned in a house fire. Then I went out of state to work and left bowhunting for a few years, and got back in with a used PSE just to see if I would stick with it. Then came the MQ 32 and I stuck !
 
I bet a lot of us hunted with Bear bows back in the day, I don't remember a lot of choices!- I started with a Browning recurve - never killed a deer with that. Then came a Bear Whitetail for me as well - then an Eagle Phantom for a long time - and then the MQ-32.
 
Still shooting a Bear Whitetail Supreme. 30” 65#. Here in Colorado in the high country not much for shot opportunities above the 20-30 yard range that are decent so this bow has worked wonders and still shoots a dream. Don’t look to change it til gives up the ghost. It works when I work then when I’m off it’s off. Practice and shot placement is what it’s all about. Not distance for braggin’ rights.


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