Best Beginner Bow for Elk

[Backcountry Renegade]

Hello im looking at getting into bow hunting and wanting to invest in a good bow that will be sufficient for elk, but not so basic that is going to limit me as I grow in my skills. What is you recommendations on bows to look for? Also is getting something used okay?

 

[dtrkyman]

With no experience used is a crap shoot! Go to a quality pro shop and get professional help!!!!

Bear, PSE, Diamond and Mission are great companies that offer quality bows in the mid range price wise.

Equipment is rarely a limit even lower end, the limits come from the user.

Let us know where you live and maybe someone can recommned a good shop.

 

[Backcountry Renegade]

Thanks, ill look into those. Im in Port Angeles, WA

 

[Fogalo]

Used is just fine - the catch is you need to know what you’re doing somewhat to not get ripped off. Do you know anyone with experience to go look at a used one. Don’t be to afraid to fail. If you’ve got questions use the search function.

 

[Rwfleming13]

A bow that fits you the best in your budget. Then practice. A lot.

 

[Backcountry Renegade]

Used is just fine - the catch is you need to know what you’re doing somewhat to not get ripped off. Do you know anyone with experience to go look at a used one. Don’t be to afraid to fail. If you’ve got questions use the search function.

Thanks, I dont know anyone locally right now but im sure there are people i can get to know. Anyway, that's what lead me here to try to learn and get advise.. I live in a great area to bow hunt so want to get into it.

 

[dtrkyman]

With no experience or good help do not buy used!

 

[SuspiciousFish]

I would go with any of the basic offerings from a reputable brand like Matthews, Hoyt, Bowtech or PSE. As others mentioned, dont buy a used bow unless you really know what you are doing. That and you typically need to add $200 to a used bow for new strings and a tune anyway. When you budget dont forget the bow is a small part of the total cost. You still need to get: Arrows, stabilizers, rest, release, quiver, broadheads, bow case etc.

On a side note, dont think of bow hunting as an event in itself. If you really want to do this, you need to love archery and enjoy shooting all year then the hunt is just a way to prove your skills in the field. If you are only shooting for the hunt you will spend a bunch of money, practice all year, get in the field with your tag, not see an elk then get burned out pretty fast. Also, look to see if there is a archery shop with an indoor range or an outdoor range nearby. If you have a place to shoot that is 10 min away you can go all the time, if you have to drive an hour its much harder to keep it up and stay motivated.

 

[Backcountry Renegade]

I would go with any of the basic offerings from a reputable brand like Matthews, Hoyt, Bowtech or PSE. As others mentioned, dont buy a used bow unless you really know what you are doing. That and you typically need to add $200 to a used bow for new strings and a tune anyway. When you budget dont forget the bow is a small part of the total cost. You still need to get: Arrows, stabilizers, rest, release, quiver, broadheads, bow case etc.

On a side note, dont think of bow hunting as an event in itself. If you really want to do this, you need to love archery and enjoy shooting all year then the hunt is just a way to prove your skills in the field. If you are only shooting for the hunt you will spend a bunch of money, practice all year, get in the field with your tag, not see an elk then get burned out pretty fast. Also, look to see if there is a archery shop with an indoor range or an outdoor range nearby. If you have a place to shoot that is 10 min away you can go all the time, if you have to drive an hour its much harder to keep it up and stay motivated.

thanks! great advice.

 

[JPeters218]

I’d take a look at mission. I Had a Mathews for years and loved it. The last 4 or 5 years I’ve been shooting a mission Zone. It is every bit as accurate as I am. And the draw cycle is so smooth on it. Much better than last years Mathews V3, and I personally feel it’s smoother than the new V3X. (I was going to upgrade this year, but my bow just felt so much better to me than the new ones (the v3x was pretty good) that it didn’t make sense for me to spend $1200 on a new one.

 

[Wapiti1]

Other have covered the basics. Any mid-level bow of today will work well.

If you think you want to get into tuning it yourself, just go with an Elite with SET or Bowtech with Deadlock. They are very easy to tune. These have been out a while, so new or used is available. Note the comments on used and string/cable set.

That said, fit and feel matter. Shoot a few and see what you like and don't. DO NOT go in once, shoot a few and just buy. Go in a couple of times, and shoot.

The truth that we don't talk about is every archer on this site could do just as well with a lower end bow as they do with their flagship bow (much the same with optics). My groups were just as tight 10 years ago, and my arrows were flying the same speed. There is no bow that makes the difference. YOU learning to shoot consistently makes the difference. Gotta put in the practice time through the summer.

Jeremy

 

[bnsafe]

If you possibly can go to a good archery shop and see what they have. even if you have to spend more for the bow it will pay when you have a million questions and somewhere to go ask. buy a quality bow you enjoy pulling and shooting, or you will hate archery and be done with it. it doesnt have to be this years newest latest greatest. buy a year or two older model and save some money.
you can save money on the accessories. for example i dont use a stabilizer. I have one, but choose not to use it. i bought a 120 dollar tight spot quiver, you can buy a trophy ridge etc for a fraction of that that works just fine. go to a place like archerytalk.com and buy a good used sight like a spot hogg, black gold, etc etc. you can buy used ones for a fraction of the cost of new and they are usually great. good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Kleos]

I did a poll one year ago and here were the top four.

Bow Votes

1. Bear Cruzer (68)
2. Diamond Infinite Edge (64)
3. PSE Stinger (52)
4. (Mission) (44)

In the end you should really go to a bow shop and try a bunch of different bow's. You might like a bow thats longer cam to cam. You might like it shorter. Remember to cater the way you want to hunt elk to what kind of bow you want. If you plan on hunting from a stand you want a longer cam to cam bow. Or are you going to be stalking and beating through some nasty brush. Or will you be in open country.

Don't forget to try different types of releases. When you want to upgrade, upgrade the sights first!

Good luck!

 

[Backcountry Renegade]

If you possibly can go to a good archery shop and see what they have. even if you have to spend more for the bow it will pay when you have a million questions and somewhere to go ask. buy a quality bow you enjoy pulling and shooting, or you will hate archery and be done with it. it doesnt have to be this years newest latest greatest. buy a year or two older model and save some money.
you can save money on the accessories. for example i dont use a stabilizer. I have one, but choose not to use it. i bought a 120 dollar tight spot quiver, you can buy a trophy ridge etc for a fraction of that that works just fine. go to a place like archerytalk.com and buy a good used sight like a spot hogg, black gold, etc etc. you can buy used ones for a fraction of the cost of new and they are usually great. good luck and let us know how it turns out.

great info thanks. I live in a smaller town and not a ton of archery shops near by, but may have some options about 1.5 hrs away, but may be worth the trip to for this, thanks

 

[Backcountry Renegade]

I did a poll one year ago and here were the top four.

Bow Votes

1. Bear Cruzer (68)
2. Diamond Infinite Edge (64)
3. PSE Stinger (52)
4. (Mission) (44)

In the end you should really go to a bow shop and try a bunch of different bow's. You might like a bow thats longer cam to cam. You might like it shorter. Remember to cater the way you want to hunt elk to what kind of bow you want. If you plan on hunting from a stand you want a longer cam to cam bow. Or are you going to be stalking and beating through some nasty brush. Or will you be in open country.

Don't forget to try different types of releases. When you want to upgrade, upgrade the sights first!

Good luck!

thanks that list is helpful. ill look into those. im going to be more in stalking and going through some brush and bush wacking

 

[SuspiciousFish]

Don't forget to try different types of releases. When you want to upgrade, upgrade the sights first!

Good luck!

I will say right now that if you are buying sights, the micro-click adjust ones as worth every penny and then some. Being able to shoot a group, check the arrows and make a few clicks in a certain direction makes sighting in your bow so much easier. Without that you need to get your allen wrench, loosen the screws, nudge the sight over and hope for the best, then shoot another group then repeat.

 

[Backcountry Renegade]

I will say right now that if you are buying sights, the micro-click adjust ones as worth every penny and then some. Being able to shoot a group, check the arrows and make a few clicks in a certain direction makes sighting in your bow so much easier. Without that you need to get your allen wrench, loosen the screws, nudge the sight over and hope for the best, then shoot another group then repeat.

Thank you good to know. Defiantly sounds like the way to go.

 

[Next Ridge]

If you don’t want to be limited and grow buy as much as you can afford. Mathew’s, Hoyt, pse. Don’t buy used. It’s cheaper in the end. Used bows are hard to unload, especially mid to lower end bows

 

[TheHammer]

The best advice I can give you is go to an archery specific shop or a place that has a well known archery shop in it. Get as much information with hands on experience as possible so you know what fits your hand best.. have them measure your draw and see if they have any in that length to test out, hold them all, ask if you can draw them all. Some are similar some are not. Then you should have a decent baseline. Just because I like the 2021 pse’s or love the old solid limb elites. Doesn’t mean that those will work for you. Good luck and let us know what you get.

 

[Backcountry Renegade]

I’d take a look at mission. I Had a Mathews for years and loved it. The last 4 or 5 years I’ve been shooting a mission Zone. It is every bit as accurate as I am. And the draw cycle is so smooth on it. Much better than last years Mathews V3, and I personally feel it’s smoother than the new V3X. (I was going to upgrade this year, but my bow just felt so much better to me than the new ones (the v3x was pretty good) that it didn’t make sense for me to spend $1200 on a new

Thanks yes Ill look into those for sure.

The best advice I can give you is go to an archery specific shop or a place that has a well known archery shop in it. Get as much information with hands on experience as possible so you know what fits your hand best.. have them measure your draw and see if they have any in that length to test out, hold them all, ask if you can draw them all. Some are similar some are not. Then you should have a decent baseline. Just because I like the 2021 pse’s or love the old solid limb elites. Doesn’t mean that those will work for you. Good luck and let us know what you get.

Yes seems that's the way to go. Now i just have to find a archery specific shop near by. Any suggestions? i live in Port Angeles WA, the nearest one may be a few hrs away