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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Bowhunting + Bows, Spears & Knives
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NitroXAdministrator
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What's the minimum gear needed to start?
      #5847 - 18/12/03 11:03 AM

If a hunter wanted to start bow hunting, what's the minimum set of gear to get started?

Basically the answer is for me. With so many different interests they start to compete so resources becomes an issue .

Is it advisable for a beginner to make their own arrows, put on fletching etc or leave than for the future?

Advice appreciated.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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AspenHill
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Re: What's the minimum gear needed to start? [Re: NitroX]
      #5860 - 18/12/03 11:29 PM

Have you decided if you want to shoot traditional gear or modern?

Once you do that then you'll need an appropriate bow.

Let's say your answer is a compound bow. It will need a sight and an arrow rest, add a stabilizer and some string dampeners. I like the old fashion rubber whiskers.

Leave the arrow construction to the experts for now. I'd go with carbon composite arrows if I were you.

I'd also recommend a mechanical release and a wrist sling. For an arrow rest, well, everyone has an opinion and mine is the Whisker Biscuit. I have never had a problem with it and shoot thousands of arrows a year. It is idiot proof and accurate.

Remember with anything, you dop get what you pay for. Buy a cheap bow and you'll get cheap results. I do recoomend you start with a moderately priced bow and see how you like it. In my experience I found I grew out of my first bow. As one develops shooting muscles and gets stronger, that bow gets too light. There are many you can buy with adjustable modules and or limbs. I just pass my older bows on. My first one went to Africa. Be prepared for this to happen to you and budget for it.

I am about to go on to a third bow as I want to shoot a heavy weight for DBG. I will keep the present bow I have for local deer hunting but it is "maxed out" and so I need to get something different. I have not decided what to buy yet but will try many brands out to see which one chooses me.

Buying a bow is like buying a puppy, it will pick you out. You'll know, it draws the nicest, feels the nicest, etc.....

Good luck, John, I hope there is a good selection of bows available in Oz. You need to try as many out as you can.

It will also be helpful to get instruction on shooting techniques and have an experienced person watch you shoot and evaluate you as you go. Learn how to adjust your sight and rest. "Follow" the arrow when shooting and you'll be zero'd before you know it.

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: What's the minimum gear needed to start? [Re: AspenHill]
      #5881 - 19/12/03 12:40 PM

Ann

Thanks for the reply.

Yes a compound is what I would look for. My weak and spindly arms wouldn't handle a long bow.

I would probably try a manual release first as that is what I have always used. Don't like gadgets. But get the point of using a mechanical release so would probably try one.

"It is idiot proof" - This sounds good for me.

What sort of minumum weight should the compound be at - for pigs and deer sized game? I will leave the DG for you with a bow and stick to something that produces smoke to hide behind if necessary.

"have an experienced person watch you shoot and evaluate you as you go. Learn how to adjust your sight and rest. "Follow" the arrow when shooting and you'll be zero'd before you know it. "

Good advice. My brother-in-law shoots competition so it may be worth going along there. I wonder if my gut will get in the way!

Sorry about the jokes, I am serious about shooting a sharp twig with string and a piece of flexible wood!

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--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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AspenHill
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Re: What's the minimum gear needed to start? [Re: NitroX]
      #5901 - 20/12/03 12:20 AM

Draw weight is a biggie. I started out at 35 pounds, but I am female and do not have the muscle mass of a male. I now shoot 65 pounds easily which blows holes quite nicely through tough old warthog boars.

I've killed plenty of white tail deer at 50 through 60 pounds. Deet inmy are average 180 pounds or more. They are corn and soybean fed monsters.

When you actually get in to shop for bows try pulling on a variety of weights. You will get much stronger as you go, as long as you practice a lot. Do not get into archery if you cannot or don't want to spend time shooting. You need to do this, repetition is key. I would not worry about spindly arms, hell, if I can shoot 65 pounds then you will be able to do that at minimum too.

I don't recommend fingers on a compound bow for release. Go with a mechanical. It's just like shooting a rifle trigger and it will feel very natural to you.

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: What's the minimum gear needed to start? [Re: AspenHill]
      #5904 - 20/12/03 01:31 AM

"spindly arms". I was only joking!

I think I will visit my brother-in-law and try out his target bows for weight. And use that as a guide to see what sort of weight to start with.

Just checked my High School target recurve. It is 40 lbs and I don't have any trouble with that at all.

So are you recommending to start with a compound around 65 lbs and just work at it and practice?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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AspenHill
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Reged: 08/01/03
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Re: What's the minimum gear needed to start? [Re: NitroX]
      #5908 - 20/12/03 02:18 AM

Start at what ever you can pull comfortably and can adjust up for the future. Most bows are only good for 10 pounds.

Pulling a trad bow is much different than a compound, there is no let-off on a trad bow. They are harder, or feel that way, because they are ment to be snap shot and not held drawn like a compound.

Try your brother-in-laws bows and see what your spindly arms think. Or more correctly, your shoulders and back, that is where the power comes from on drawing a bow.

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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IronBuck
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Reged: 11/01/03
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Loc: Pittsburgh PA, USA
Re: What's the minimum gear needed to start? [Re: AspenHill]
      #6130 - 25/12/03 08:46 AM


I was asleep at the wheel...........This post has slipped past me LOL.

As usual Ann has given sound advice. A few more things to add. Most compounds are adjustable over a certain draw weight range. Usually 10 pounds with new bows. With let off...which is commonly 50,65 or 80% holding weights can go down quite a bit. Any bow in the 50-pound range should feel easy for an adult male. 60 and even 70 pounds would be manageable to easy with practice. A 50-60 pound bow will easily drop a bull elk with a well-placed double lung shot. Heck....with sharp broadheads even a 40-45 pound bow would work.

I would also avoid the "speed bow" craze. Fast bows are great if you can shoot them, but to a beginner it would just be frustrating. I'd look for a brace height (distance from where the arrow sits on the knock to the bow string on a bow that is at rest) of at least 7".....the higher it is the more forgiving the bow is to shoot. It will still be accurate even with less than perfect form. Shot placement is what archery is all about. Even with the fastest bows on the market I'd bet most shooters would be hard pressed to take any animal at distances over 30 yards. With an average "slow" bow shooting hunting arrows at 210 fps or so you could easily kill deer/elk to 30 yards.

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