Best resources for a complete bowhunting noob?

[Ben.Hunting]

I won a certificate for a Mathews Lift bow at an RMEF dinner and have no clue what else I even need to start practicing and eventually go hunting with it.

What are your guys' favorite resources for someone looking to get into bow hunting?

There is an archery shop about an hour away from me, so I will have them as a resource, but I figured you guys had some good suggestions for online resources.

 

[mtmontgo]

The most I've learned about archery is from a Facebook group called: "The Bow Tuning Group" they are super active and can answer any question you have. I had a problem with my form and posed a question, some guy answered within the hour and solved my issue. Tons of experience and well worth your time from solid individuals.

 

[Maxhunter]

John Dudley videos also does a good job. Maybe you can have your local shop give you some lessons if there a good shop.

 

[CMF]

Local shop is probably the best to start out for the basics. Then as you progress, do you're own research on things. Rokslide is pretty good all around for hunting, shooting, etc. Try youtube, podcast while driving or exercising, books. I do a little bit of all.
Post your location, finding someone experienced near you just to shoot and chat with would cut the learning curve the fastest.

 

[Hunterscamera]

As a new archer myself I found my local bow shop to be by far the best resource. See if they have any lessons. Start with a good base (rather then developing bad habits you'd eventually have to break) hands on help with a local bow shop is the best way I've found to develop good habits. John dudley and Joel turner are great online resources too.

 

[Bump79]

Local shop and The Bow Tuning Group on FB. YouTube can be such a hot mess. Dudley is pretty good on 90% of it. Inside Out Precision is great.

Avoiding taking bow or arrow advice from channels like The Hunting Public. They are great for actual bowhunting info, not so much on the archery side.

 

[mtmontgo]

Local shop and The Bow Tuning Group on FB. YouTube can be such a hot mess. Dudley is pretty good on 90% of it. Inside Out Precision is great.

Avoiding taking bow or arrow advice from channels like The Hunting Public. They are great for actual bowhunting info, not so much on the archery side.

When I was first starting out I watched thp videos including: "why we switched from mechanicals". I showed up to my local pro shop and asked to purchase a bow with a fixed broadhead with an arrow weight of close to 600. They laughed and gave me a box of mechanicals and a 400 grain arrow setup. I was initially furious because they didn't do what I asked, but sure enough, the local pro shop was right. When someone is first getting started, it is much more important to worry about form than it is to get specific about arrow weight and broadheads. A tighter pin gap and a solid mechanical is nothing to sneeze at. Failure usually is the best teacher.

 

[CMF]

Just know every bowshop doesn't have the most expert archers or pursuit of accuracy that you might have, especially in the east where guys are predominantly hunting whitetails at less than 50yds. I told one guy I needed help getting my broadheads to group with my fp better. You couldn't even tell at 50, but at 60-70 it was very apparent. He said "that's good enough". It wasn't good enough for me and I never could get my old DXT fp/bh groups perfect, but not an issue now with V3X. I think they deal with a lot of average guys that pick up a bow a month before the season, use the same vendors, so they only have a small selection of arrows, fletching setups, etc.

 

[Bump79]

When I was first starting out I watched thp videos including: "why we switched from mechanicals". I showed up to my local pro shop and asked to purchase a bow with a fixed broadhead with an arrow weight of close to 600. They laughed and gave me a box of mechanicals and a 400 grain arrow setup. I was initially furious because they didn't do what I asked, but sure enough, the local pro shop was right. When someone is first getting started, it is much more important to worry about form than it is to get specific about arrow weight and broadheads. A tighter pin gap and a solid mechanical is nothing to sneeze at. Failure usually is the best teacher.

I'm a huge fan of moderation, I've tried both sides of the spectrum and everything is a tradeoff.

 

[MHB]

Find a local shop that can get you started. I recommend staying away from the big box stores. While you may get lucky and find an associate that is knowledgeable it is rare.

Local bow shops will also be able to introduce you to clubs, and groups in the area that can also help.

 

[BigE]

Archerytalk.com is a good forum as well.

 

[8mille]

I won a certificate for a Mathews Lift bow at an RMEF dinner and have no clue what else I even need to start practicing and eventually go hunting with it.

What are your guys' favorite resources for someone looking to get into bow hunting?

There is an archery shop about an hour away from me, so I will have them as a resource, but I figured you guys had some good suggestions for online resources.

You are the best resource. Meaning practice,practice,practice! Keep it simple, get arrows, studs ,a target, finger tabs , forearm guard and shoot the hell out of it. Start close and walk back to 35 yards. Occasionally,When you consistently hit at 35 go to 55 once in a while to build more confidence. If the bow doesn’t have silencers and stabilizers you can get to that. I assume there are sight pins already. Getting proficient with a bow is a great feeling. It’s quite easy to get good from 55 yards on every shot with a little practice. And hunting you’ll likely shoot from 35yards

 

[Ben.Hunting]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions, everyone! I figured Rokslide would be a gold mine for information. It's good to know what to look for as well as what to avoid!

 

[Beendare]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions, everyone! I figured Rokslide would be a gold mine for information. It's good to know what to look for as well as what to avoid!

It's tough when you don't know what you don't know.

It's critical to get setup right, that is; The correct alignment and the perfect draw length setting.

3/4" too long or short and you are fighting the bow. If the shop short changes that or wants to rush through it- they aren't a very good shop. Pay them to do it if you have to.

It's worth paying someone to teach you how to shoot as it can save you years in fixes. Watch the tournament guys shoot on YouTube...thats what its supposed to look like.

The bow and accessories are secondary to technique.....a guy that can shoot...can do it with any bow.

 

[Tilzbow]

Good advice so far regarding picking a bow shop, Dudley videos, bow fit and form. Be cautious of forums like this one, Archery Talk, etc. The vast majority of members are competent and give good/great advice but there’s occasionally bad advice given and you can easily get led into trouble if you’re just starting out.

The great news is there’s so much more information available now than when many of us started out 30 to 40+ years ago. I remember we really had one shop and that owner really had a big influence on the way we shot, tuned and set up bows. Thankfully he was competent and had a couple of pretty knowledgeable guys working for him.

 

[TX_Diver]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions, everyone! I figured Rokslide would be a gold mine for information. It's good to know what to look for as well as what to avoid!

Where do you live?

School of nock was a huge help to me years ago, but if you’re near a good shop you can get good help in person. Local shops vary WIDELY in terms of quality though.

 

[fatbacks]

Do a one hour lesson online with Lancaster archery academy or George Ryals. They’ll help you get your form sorted out and give some concrete things to work on before you develop any bad habits.

I did it last winter and it was well worth the $$


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[Ben.Hunting]

Good advice so far regarding picking a bow shop, Dudley videos, bow fit and form. Be cautious of forums like this one, Archery Talk, etc. The vast majority of members are competent and give good/great advice but there’s occasionally bad advice given and you can easily get led into trouble if you’re just starting out.

The great news is there’s so much more information available now than when many of us started out 30 to 40+ years ago. I remember we really had one shop and that owner really had a big influence on the way we shot, tuned and set up bows. Thankfully he was competent and had a couple of pretty knowledgeable guys working for him.

Where do you live?

School of nock was a huge help to me years ago, but if you’re near a good shop you can get good help in person. Local shops vary WIDELY in terms of quality though.

Do a one hour lesson online with Lancaster archery academy or George Ryals. They’ll help you get your form sorted out and give some concrete things to work on before you develop any bad habits.

I did it last winter and it was well worth the $$

Thanks, guys! I stopped by Archery World in Lacey, WA on Saturday and it seems like a great shop. They guys are knowledgeable and they have a range and lessons. I know some other hunters that have used that shop and are very happy with it.

 

[DKSOutdoorsman]

I tried to teach myself when I first started and I’m still fixing bad habits. Whatever you do, at least take an initial lesson somewhere in a professional setting.