The state of Bowhunting

[Beendare]

I've heard some scuttlebutt lately that PSE is up for sale- Again. That their profits are down something like 60%. Same for Bowtech.

Personally I'm not surprised. The costs for a new bow and setup have skyrocketed.

 

[LostArra]

Bow hunting enlightenment:
- compound bow performance does not make quantum leaps every year
- even a 10 year old compound will kill animals
- the overwhelming reason for inaccuracy is not the bow
and of course:
- crossbows

 

[Elkhntr08]

I remember the PSE Mach 4 was $365 when it came out and I thought people were crazy. That bow had a lot of new technology. Now people are standing in line to pay $1,500 plus for a little tweak over last year’s model.
I don’t know where it’ll end, if it ever will. With social media driving pretty much everything that people do, I’m sure it won’t end soon.
I remember watching guys on the 3D course that had every gadget and couldn’t shoot for crap. Same with hunting. A guy starting out, watching YouTube tell him what to buy, ends up dropping 5k to get started.
Personally, I’ll keep buying last year’s model or used.

 

[RC_]

There is more competition in the bow market right now than there seems to have been in years (decades). Mathews continues to dominate and take share thanks to their marketing. Darton's recent rapid growth means they are taking share from others - and it probably isn't Mathews or Hoyt - so PSE, Bowtech, Elite, Prime have probably all felt some new pressure. PSE mainly focusing on carbon hunting bows that are ~$2K also can't be a sustainable long-term strategy.

I think there's also an element where the average person that is into archery and bowhunts is more "into it" than previous generations. If archery / bowhunting is someone's primary hobby, the cost of upgrading every couple years really isn't that bad compared to say buying golf clubs, paying greens fees, range time, etc. or spending money on aftermarket car mods, etc.

I don't disagree with what everyone else said previously, the average guy is better served by buying a lessons not a new bow, cost of archery gear has outpaced inflation (although not by as much as people think), a new bow doesn't kill a deer any more dead, technology definitely plateauing, etc.

 

[Taco John]

Yeah the manufacturers have turned it into a rape fest. Kinda like yeti, kuiu, sitka, et al.

 

[Donjuan]

I have a Mathews vxr I thought of upgrading but for $1400 what am I really gaining? And yeah for the guy starting out they could sink 2k in a hurry

 

[Blockcaver]

Still killing 'em with a 10 year old Prime Rival (solid limbs and twin track cams) that I get new string sets free for every couple years. Good stable bow that weighs about what some of the new "lighter" 35" A/A models weigh.

Rather spend my money on hunting than a new bow (or new truck). YMMV

 

[Taudisio]

I’ve decided my bow is too big, and wanted to replace it for a newer, smaller, lighter bow. I called the shop to see about consignment. His consignment rack is full, offered me 1/3rd of what I payed for a flagship bow in 2023, and tried to sell me on a $1700 bow. My big heavy bow isn’t THAT inconvenient and shoots extremely well. Even the car market isn’t that bad. I got offered 3/4 my purchasing price for my 12 year old truck.

 

[Elkhntr08]

I did buy a new F350 last year and a Rubicon this year, but they hold value. Why would I pay $1,500 for a new Hoyt when I can buy it 6 months later for $800? A friend of mine bought a Carbon Express when they first came out and paid the same as what I gave for a Kimber 84L. My Kimber is worth double and the bow is worth nothing.
It’s your money, but it won’t be if you don’t spend it wisely!

 

[5MilesBack]

My 2006 Bowtech still slings 500gr arrows at 285fps just like my newer Mathews. The only difference is how it feels and what it sounds like.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Social media is for entertainment nothing more. Listening to influencers for your decisions is on you. I choose a bow by sight and feel. Test shooting and research. I shoot what I like and really don't give a poop what others think. I've shot Bear,Hoyt, Parker,and now Bowtech all mid-range not flagship. The bow I shoot now is 7+ years old and chosen in large part due to weight. Makes carrying all day a lot better. Any missed or wounded animal is totally on me has never been the bows fault. Stop worrying about others opinions and trying to keep up by buying new/upgraded models each year or two. Shoot it till the wheels fall off then start looking for the next one.

 

[Billy Goat]

I tell everyone it's still cheaper than hooker's and blow, and my wife puts up with it.

 

[Trial153]

replace "bowhunting" with just about anything. It is what it is

 

[Skerhunter]

I wonder how much influence the BNPL has had on hunting gear sales and prices in the past few years.

 

[nighthawkf-117]

Where did you hear PSE is up for sale?

 

[Dirtbag]

Sad to hear it could be up for sale again. Have some friends there I’ll have to ask them about it. A lot of great folks working there. The Mach 33 has been one of the best shooting bows I’ve ever had.

 

[roadrunner]

Hopefully little Johnny Morris doesn't buy them out and chepify the bow by making the riser out of welded and riveted aluminum with fiberglass limbs...

 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Compound bow performance from an energy standpoint basically peaked 20ish years ago. Improved materials and production processes have allowed that performance to be overall more pleasant to shoot and easier to control.

PSE has had a few bumpy years, there is likely a variety of reasons, fluctuations in ownership being a big one. I think another is a failure to recognize that the tech that carried them in the past is no longer relevant. PSE has a long history of pushing the performance envelope. But it seems that bubble is burst. You can manipulate the specs to achieve more speed, but its at the expense of what the consumer has accepted as the standard for shootability. The Sicario may pave the way for an industry shift towards a 5 inch brace, similar to the 6 inch BH and more aggressive cycles move that began a decade ago. But those changes dont happen overnight.

The past few years the trends that have had the most traction are integration and tuning features. All the major players are in an arms race to bring their products influence to market. More consumers are selecting bows based on the ability to tune their bow on the fly to get FT and BH to have the same POI, Or even more often a specific accessory they prefer, than they are speed increases.

Very few products see significant design changes annually. Vehicles for example usually small changes to looks or identified issues, with a major overhaul every few years or so. Then the same folks saying how bow changes are so small there is no nedd to upgrade, somehow when the new one comes out it sucks and never buy the first year a new model is released.

As someone who enjoys archery for archers sake, I have ran the gamut. From selling a quad to fund a consignment bow purchase as a freshly minted bowhunter, to rarely upgrading good equipment and putting the money into tags, gas, other gear or family needs. To currently upgrading annually. Its true my level of success would remain unchanged if I was using a decade+ old bow. But the level of fun and amount of arrows shot is much higher for me driving new models often.

 

[Joshk358]

I will ALWAYS buy a used bow. I'd never drop 2K plus on a bow, that's a lot of $$ towards a hunting trip. I have a new set of limbs for my Hoyt RX1 so I'm good for awhile. I picked that up for $700 about 6 years ago and thought that was a ton of money. That being said, I do get sucked into looking at some of these newer bows and they are pretty sharp looking for sure. But when a new bow cost as much as going on a hunting trip/adventure...naw bruh, I'm good.