Rookie Bow-Hunter:Bow set-up & gear questions

Folks- One of my buddies recently gave me one of his bows because he bought a new one. All I have is the bow itself. He lives in AZ so he’s not here to walk me through what I need to do to the bow to set it up for myself. My plan was to take it to Gander Mountain and ask them to set me up but I don’t want to get screwed. So what’s the basics I’ll need to get set-up so I can start shooting at targets and what should I look out for.

My buddy wants/expects me to be ready to hunt javelina with him early ’07 in AZ so I need to get started.

Thanks.

My advice is dont take it to gander, there has to be a bow shop somewere around you that can help you get set up.

they will set it up for you, most of the time for free if you buy their gear. and then they should help you get your 20 yard pin set up and give you a few pointers on shooting.

I would agree on the Bow shop and not Gander. The bow shop specializes in this stuff and they will give you better one on one advice. They will probably let you shoot there for free if they have a range.

Might want to post this in the deer hunting forum there is a lot of bow hunters in there right now!

I also agree with the Archery shop. No offense, but the guy at Gander, needs to know how the Poop buckets work too !!!

big g

What the hells with the ganderbashing??? I went to Gander last year (my first year bowhunting) and bought a new sight, carbons, and release. They were MORE than helpful setting it up and customizing for me. Also let me use the range for free.
P.S. Got my first deer 3 weeks into the season, my first shot ever in the field

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What the hells with the ganderbashing??? I went to Gander last year (my first year bowhunting) and bought a new sight, carbons, and release. They were MORE than helpful setting it up and customizing for me. Also let me use the range for free.
P.S. Got my first deer 3 weeks into the season, my first shot ever in the field

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You obviously got a good tech person at the Gander you went to. They are not all that knowledgeable.

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What the hells with the ganderbashing??? I went to Gander last year (my first year bowhunting) and bought a new sight, carbons, and release. They were MORE than helpful setting it up and customizing for me. Also let me use the range for free.
P.S. Got my first deer 3 weeks into the season, my first shot ever in the field

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Most ganders are people who have been bowhunting for years, not saying they dont know any less then the guys at the proshop but the guys at the proshop set up WAY more bows then gander mountain does. they have more experience in setting them up. There are some ganders that do have excelent guys in their archery department but most dont

You might also post the question in the Hunting Forum .

Guys, he was asking for a general list of items he needs to get started… “So what’s the basics I’ll need to get set-up so I can start shooting at targets and what should I look out for.”

I think we’ve covered whether he should or should not go to Gander. It sounds like if he goes to Gander he should ask the salesperson about their level of expertise, and if he goes to an archery shop he can expect they may have more expertise in this area. Does anyone have any suggestions as far as WHAT to get rather than where he should go?

I remember I when I got started Bow hunting. I had no experience with the equip. I went to a local shop (Mikes here in Saint Cloud) and I got a priceless education of Bow Basics. I was introduced to the different types of equipment and acquired tips and techniques to go with it including shooting tips. All very valuable information. It was all just at much more personal level. I wish I could offer exactly what it is you want. But budget and preference is big factor therefore you should save your questions for a Bow expert. You’ve already acquired the Bow. Now you just need all the gizmos and a string.

If you are in need of arrows go with the carbons they are not that much more expensive and are morth the money. Need to find out if you are going to go with finger shooting or with a release, releases give better results time and time again for a beginner( my opinion). Will need a rest for the arrows and you will need sites. these two things all depend on how much $$$ you want to spend.

Thanks to everyone who offered their suggestions. There are a few archery pro-shops near me to check out. My first thought was that the pro-shop would steer me towards spending more $$ than a retail store like a Gander Mtn. would but the point of knowledge and expertise makes a lot of sense. Just don’t want to spend more $$ than I have to getting started. Once I get started and start reading some bow-hunting posts and magazines I’ll be a more knowledgeable buyer. That’s my theory anyhow.

Thanks again for taking the time, guys.

P.S. Will also take your advice and post this in the hunting forum.

I recommend going to talk to the individuals at the “store,” whether it is Gander, a local shop, or anywhere else. There may be knowledgable individuals or idiots at either place. Talk to them.

I received great information from an individual at a Scheel’s. I won’t say every sales person at Scheel’s knows what they’re talking about, but Brian did. This individual knew the equipment, talked about positives and negatives about each product, features, accessories, etc. His number one concern was getting a bow that fit right and felt right to me. There is such a wide range you can spend on the setup, so it’s probably best to come up with a dollar amount and then make the best decisions you can within your budget.

JD

My $.02.

A archery pro shop will have more options, both cheaper and more expensive, then your typical Gander Mtn, Sheels, etc. You can make the ultimate decision on how much to spend. I think the sky is the limit on many things. As has been said before, go in with a budget, and verify you like it before spending $500 on accessories that you may not like.

Good luck, and don’t leave the shop until you have shot every item you intend to buy. They can problably also help you with your form, as many beginners have a tendency to form bad habits without it. I know I did

I wasn’t bashing, just saying at the Archery shop (I use Mike’s in St Cloud too) all they work with is Bow’s and set-ups. The fellow at Gander, (who might be an expert as well) has to deal with an array of products and knowledge. I guess to me it’s like asking, do you want the Heart surgeon to perform the heart surgery, or the Family Practicioner. Granted, they are both MD’s, but one has far more heart surgery experience than the other, generally speaking. I go to Gander all the time, just not for bow set-up and advice.

big g

Good point big G!

Bantam, take your bow and have a bowsmith set it up for you, have him set it to your draw length and have him match your arrows to your draw length, this is an absolute so you can draw your bow back with the propper clearances for you the shooter and the right arrow length. Have the bowsmith at the archery shop show you an overdraw, this is a platform that the arrow rest is mounted on and reduces your arrow length and weight a little, they fly a little faster. Have him show you the diffrence in the diffrent arrow rests and get one for your overdraw. Look at all the diffrent sights that are available for the diffrent shooting conditions and choose a decent one if you can afford it right away. Have him show you a release, buy a good one for around $50 bucks or a little less and learn to shoot with a good release, im sure they have 1/2 a dozen you can try once your bows fitted to you. Buying a set of limb savers isn’t a thing you have to do right away but its good to have a set to reduce the shock and vibration in the limbs, if you can get a set right away do that too. Look at the diffrent string sliencers and buy a set of those, they take alot of the noise out of the bow string when its shot. Look at the stabelizers that attach to the front of your bow to keep the riser drift to a minimum when its shot. If your going hunting get a bow quiver that mounts to your bow and practice with it on the bow. You can choose any arrow you want to practice and hunt with. Carbons are super fast but they can explode in the bow once thier hit a few times practicing at targets. Aluminums can be hit a few times and they will hold up when shooting in the field and theres far less chance they will break or explode when shot in the field, any arrow that breaks when you release it when shooting and has a broadhead on it is very dangerous, ask the bowsmith at the store about nicked arrows. The last thing to buy is a book of targets and practice as much as you can for hunting at diffrent yardages, it helps to be able to hit what your aiming at. Have fun with your new bow, i did as many others did too.

Thank you, mossydan!! That’s a lot of info but it’s exactly what I needed. Sounds like there’s a lot to learn here and I can’t wait to get started!

Thanks again, everyone.