Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting So green it's scary...

I ventured into my local bow shop today - something I've wanted to do for a few years now, actually. It wasn't busy, so the owner took a good 30 minutes to introduce me to the subjects of archery and bowhunting. I will be going back next week to actually assess some bows with him and set up a package that suits my needs. As an added bonus he includes a number of free lessons/sessions at the on-site indoor range for all purchasers.

Compared to the treatment I got at Dick's Sporting Goods when I tried to ask the guys behind the desk some basic bow questions, this shop knocked it out of the park.

Suffice to say I'm willing to spend a little more on my first bow package in order to get the support I need as a new archer/bowhunter. I cannot wait to start!

I've been hunting with a firearm for about 15 years now and I really think that if more of us took the time to introduce newbies to our favorite types of hunting as this shop owner did with me today hunting's future would be secure.

Can't wait to join you all in the woods next fall.

Geoff

bass,

It sounds like you picked the right shop. It's a shame the personalized service is gone with the influx of sporting super stores. I hope you enjoy your season lengthening hobby as much as I do. After a broken wrist a year and a half ago I hunt a bunch with firearms now, but my first love is the bow. I learned more about whitetail deer from the seasons I bow hunted than I ever will with a rifle.

Good Luck,

Mike

P.S. Welcome to the campfire!

I had the good fortune of having an experienced mentor for my first bow. He set me up and after 3 weeks I took third place in a 3-d shoot. The lesson there is you can leapfrog forward in skills when set up properly from the beginning. Since then I have always told beginners to go to a knowledgable shop for the first set up. You can get good with Walmart equipment but it will take a few years to iron out the bugs.

hey bass, welcome to the bow-woods! makes it alot easier if he will set your bow up & tune it. tuning is very important so that your bow will shoot tailored to you. he sounds like a professional & this is the way to go with the tuning process. yes, you can do it on your own, but alot easier, and cheaper, if he throws this service in with the purchase of your bow & equipment.
good luck.

-ken

Hey bass,
you're on the right track. I've been exposed to Galyan's and now Dick's since they bought Galyan's out last year - my local pro shop, the Outdoorsman, beats anyone in Indy hands down when it comes to archery. I've bought four bows (with the works) from them and they will always help me set up the new one, give me free range time, throw in free field points, refletch a few arrows for free, etc... because they know I'll always buy my archery stuff there.
Good luck and shoot straight!

There's a bow shop called "Town Hall Archery" near Belleville Illinois. The owner saw me browsing long bows and took me into his back office where there were probably 300 bows of every kind from antique self bows to very valuable historical pieces. He would have spent as much time as I wanted back there, helping me appreciate the sport. We need to find places like this and support them.

Dan

Haven't bow hunted in 15 years myself. I do still own a few old compounds though. Was totally blowed away when I stepped into a archery shop recently. Lots of new items out on the market. And boy did them prices jump <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />