I bet you never thought you could buy a great rifle for what you would buy a bow for did you? I would seriously look into a used bow. Many people upgrade every year or so just because they want the latest and greatest. You can save money and typically used bows will come with all the essentials sight, rest, maybe even arrows, etc. at no extra cost. That stuff adds up quick. Modern bows are awesome! You won't believe the differance since you were a kid. Compounds with let off and paralell limbs have hardly any jump. Personally I don't think you need anything over 50lb. draw weight to kill a deer. Accuracy and shot placement is most important. Longer axle to axle length is best left for finger shooters. I don't think any company builds junk. A lot is personal preferance. Research a specific model and see what problems people have had with them. You certainly want to find your draw length and many bows now can adjust length. A great feature for kids that are still growing.
