Buying a bow for first time advice?

Hey gentlemen some of you may recognize me from the Fishing side of IDO where I spend most of my time reading and posting. However this year at the ripe old age of 23 I’ve gotten the itch to get into the bow hunting game. Probably won’t start hunting this year, just looking to buy a solid bow, new or used for a reasonable price. I would like to buy it sometime in the off-season to hopefully get a little better deal. Having said all of that are there any brands accessories which you guys think are musts? My cousins and my friends all shoot Mathews bows so I happen to be leaning that way as of now based on their positive experiences. Just looking for any helpful pointers you can offer me for the first time bow purchase.

I was in the same spot in August. My best advice is to go to a local archery shop and start shooting what they have and decide from there. That way you can shoot multiple bows side by side and see what you like and don’t like. After shooting 3+ times a week since I picked it up the only thing I plan on replacing soon is the 4 pin sight to a 7 pin or 3 pin adjustable sight. The 4 pin is more then adequate for hunting but shooting at the range 50+ yards is a lot of fun.

I agree 100%, don’t go get a Mathews because your buddies have them. Mathews makes great bow, but so do a lot of other bow makers. The most important thing with a bow it that it fits YOU! The hand grips are all different and so is everyone hand. The weights are different, the balance is different on every bow. The point I am trying to make is make sure the bow fits you and you are comfortable with it. Narrow the bows down by that first, then look at makes, models within that group.

3 years ago I went to the archery shop with full intention of buying a PSE. I walked out with a Hoyt Charger because that’s the bow that fit me the best.

Don’t go overboard buying a bow for $1200. I am an avid bowhunter and I shoot a bow that is 10 years old. I have shot several nice deer. Trust me they don’t care what is killing them. Save that money for more stands/cameras.

Thanks guys, I was fully planning on heading to the local archery shop to shoot a few and get a feel for them. I’ve already shot a bunch of the mathews bows and they feel pretty good to me but I will go in keeping an open mind for sure.