If your going to hunt with it get a nice light recurve (ala barnnet recruit recurve, Panzerv etc). Easy to service your self with out needing a pro shop. Also, don't expect a crossbow to shoot like a rifle. Arrows are not projectiles they are infact flying machines. The only benefit they have is in the first shot, after that good luck reloading one, and not spooking your game. Also they are LOUD, pretty much elimanting the chance for a second shot anyway. I sort of view them as hunting with an incredibly weak, really short range, muzzle loader. Once that trigger is pulled for better or worse it's pretty much all over. I hunt whitetail in NJ with a Barnett PanzerV(I highly recommend) and have for a few years. I also love it. I feel a real connection to history, hunting with a weapon that has been with us for thousands of year.