Archery for dummies

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You should visit a couple full service archery shops. You will learn much and it will mean more to you than all the advice we could give you here.
I like the compund bows. they can be managed pretty well by new shooters with less time invested to proficiency vs a recurve or longbow.
But I plan to also hunt with a longbow I made myself a few weeks ago.
 
I'm a newbie to archery myself but love my compound bow. My wife got it for me a while back and I just never got around to shooting it. I finally got it out and went to the range, since a buddie got a new bow, and had a blast.
While I was there vet shooters quickly noticed that I hadn't a clue to what I was doing and coached me along. Now after just three trips to the range I can easily keep groups under softball size (20 yds).
I know that's not to whoopie, but I'm happy, and thats a dead deer. I'm hooked now and can't wait to try it out in the field next month.

jojo
 
I'll second what Kingcreek said -- visit your local archery dealer and stay away from the mass merchants when buying your first bow. Your local archery dealer will be able to set you up with equipment that properly fits you and you'll walk out of their store with properly tuned equipment capable of shooting consistent groups. The rest is up to you.
 
I have an old Fred Bear compound bow and I like to shoot it. I just don't like buying arrows. Mine always seem to end up bent or with torn fletching.
 
I am partial to traditional archery, and I think that one should learn that before moving on to compound bows. It's a walk before you run thing, YMMV.

I am "self- taught" when it comes to archery. I picked up a used 45lb recurve, a dozen arrows, and started shooting. I can hit the vitals of a large animal (deer) out to 25-30 yards. I don't plan on hunting with it, but It's nice to know I could if I wanted to.

The advice to go get pro advice at a shop is the best idea. Had I to do it over again, this is what I would do.
 
Not that any body else has said it,

BUT GO TO A PRO SHOP!!!!!!!!!

Archery requires custom fitting, and the amount of free advice far outweighs what extra cost the bow might be.

I am talking as a guy who bought a pawn shop bow that didn't fit, just wasted money.

Then I went to a pro shop and got it right. Also met a lifelong hunting shooting buddy. Not a bad deal.
 
A lot of archery shops have attached ranges with rental bows and volunteer instructors who love to talk archery (sounds like a good gun shop, doesn't it?) If you just go in there and tell them you don't know anything and want to learn, they'll be happy to get you started. I go to Olympic Archery in Olympia, but there's probably one closer to you.

Ebay is a good source for used bows- there's a lot of recurves out there from the days when they were state of the art that you can now get for a lot less than a new compound. A new compound will cost at least 4-5 hundred for a good setup, so it makes sense to dip your toes in the water first.
 
go to a GOOD shop

I have an old Fred Bear compound bow and I like to shoot it. I just don't like buying arrows. Mine always seem to end up bent or with torn fletching.
Click to expand...

Carbon arrows don't bend, and refletching is easy to do at home.

I am partial to traditional archery, and I think that one should learn that before moving on to compound bows. It's a walk before you run thing, YMMV.
Click to expand...

I'm partial to TA myself, but I think one should learn on compounds before moving on to traditional. It's a walk before you run thing.;)
 
Again, go to a GOOD shop. My dad went to a shop with a good reputation in Springfield and at one point was being measured. Dad has long arms for his height, and so do I. This guy simply would not believe dad's measurements (which are not by any means hard to believe, just a little longer draw than you'd expect) and actually told dad to stop "faking it." He measured several times, then told dad in an exasperated tone that he would make the arrows to the length indicated, but they'd be non-returnable.

I don't know why dad didn't just walk out at that point, but there weren't as many local choices then. He bought the arrows.


When he picked them up, he could tell by looking at them that they were too short. Nope, said the maker, they were perfect. Dad would be grateful once he shot them, because he'd learn that you didn't have to exaggerate the length of your draw to shoot well. There would be no refund.

Dad tried to shoot those arrows, but they just didn't fit his draw. He saved them, though, and I shot them as a kid. They weren't my first arrows (they weren't THAT short) but they sure were fancier than what most of my friends were using for target practice.
 
I picked up a used Fred Bear kodiak recurve from 1952 for $100 at Sig Borstad's archery shop in Mt. Vernon, NJ. Best deal I ever had. I love the bow, it shoots well, and I got to test it out in the store :)
Find a local shop, it should only take a few minutes on yahoo or google, you won't regret it.
 
Starting out in modern archery, you need a system that is easy to use and conducive to success. I think the best system to start out with is the Matthews Genesis bow.

Coupled with a good dealer to set you up with the right peep sights and arrows, and a practical target, should fit the bill. Well that is the way I started and I am a dead eye with the Genesis bow.

http://whitetail.com/genesis/
 
"...and thats a dead deer..." Yep, I'm guessing your upper body tone is good. Shooting a bow of any kind requires upper body tone. You use muscles shooting a bow that get used for nothing else.
tarrigoni, do you want to hunt or just shoot for fun? Your choice of bow is determined by this. Although, it's not a hard and fast rule.
Don's right, if the shop doesn't fit you with whatever type of bow according to the type of shooting you want to do, walk. No range. Walk. Bows are not cheap. Any bow. You really need to decide what kind of shooting you want to do.
 
I was just looking at a bow for fun. I don't think I'd really get into hunting, just something I could do in the backyard.

Now I just need to find a shop around here.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.
 
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