Average Cost

[ramon]

Hello,
I've become interested in bow hunting but the overall cost seems a bit high for my taste. I still plan to buy a bow but it might be used strictly for target shooting. I am new to the sport and I'd like to get an idea of the average cost of bowhunting using a compound bow. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Gator eye]

Like anything else...you can spend two hundred or you can spend two grand.

a cheap bow will kill a deer just as fast as a high dollar bow, how deep do you want to get?

I'll tell you what I got wrapped up in my bows but I don't want to scare you off.

[Ohansolo]

Got my bow 4 years ago new for $202 at cabelas marked on sale from $275. It was a package deal, all i needed to buy was arrows, points and a release. Spent $300 total and had every thing I needed. Have taken deer out to 35 yards with it. No need to break the bank to get into the sport. I know that both Parker and Martin have bow packages in the $250 to $400 range and they will all kill deer.

[KDarcher75]

I just wrapped up my first year ever bow hunting. Starting from stratch I probably spent around $1500 for (bow,case,tree stand, harness, arrows, broadheads, back pack, binos, range finder, hunting clothes and boots, license& tags, and other things) all my hunting gear. It that figure probably would have been a lot higher. I'll have to say I was blessed to be able to get a lot of my gear on sale. That helped out a lot

[elkslayer4x5]

There is also the used bow market, you can get a completely set up bow a few years old for a small percentage of new. Lots of good bows made a couple years ago.

[archeryassasin]

craigslist and ebay always have nice bows for way less than you would find brand new.

[red44]

Originally Posted by ramon

Hello,
I've become interested in bow hunting but the overall cost seems a bit high for my taste. I still plan to buy a bow but it might be used strictly for target shooting. I am new to the sport and I'd like to get an idea of the average cost of bowhunting using a compound bow. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

If you can afford to shoot at targets then bowhunting is just adding the broadheads and the license. Once you get "into" it, you'll probably go down the fiscal toilet like the rest of us but it really isn't necessary just to hunt.

[09Dreamseason]

I like the advice for getting fitted for draw length and weight first! Then find a "Ready To Shoot" combination within your budget. PSE Stinger, PSE Brute, Diamond Razor Edge, Parker Blazer, Martin Elite, Bear Charge........all can be purchased for around $400 or less as a Ready To Shoot package from Cabelas and Bass Pro! Buy arrows, fieldpoints, broadheads, release and go hunting........probably around $600 or less for the total package.

You're going to buy camo gear and such whether you're gun hunting or archery hunting and the tree stand and extras are pretty much in the same category. You don't have to have them.......we don't use treestands here in Colorado!

By the time you purchase a rifle, scope, sling, ammo, targets, etc.........you'll have the same amount of money invested! You will have to replace your strings every couple of years though or when they fray or stretch, etc. But those can cost anywhere from $50 from the small companies that are good for the most part and up to about $140 from companies like Winner's Choice who have an impeccable reputation for being some of the best......you get what you pay for in this department no matter what type of bow you shoot!

[WickedKilla]

Originally Posted by 09Dreamseason

I like the advice for getting fitted for draw length and weight first! Then find a "Ready To Shoot" combination within your budget. PSE Stinger, PSE Brute, Diamond Razor Edge, Parker Blazer, Martin Elite, Bear Charge........all can be purchased for around $400 or less as a Ready To Shoot package from Cabelas and Bass Pro! Buy arrows, fieldpoints, broadheads, release and go hunting........probably around $600 or less for the total package.

You're going to buy camo gear and such whether you're gun hunting or archery hunting and the tree stand and extras are pretty much in the same category. You don't have to have them.......we don't use treestands here in Colorado!

By the time you purchase a rifle, scope, sling, ammo, targets, etc.........you'll have the same amount of money invested! You will have to replace your strings every couple of years though or when they fray or stretch, etc. But those can cost anywhere from $50 from the small companies that are good for the most part and up to about $140 from companies like Winner's Choice who have an impeccable reputation for being some of the best......you get what you pay for in this department no matter what type of bow you shoot!

Great advice right here!
Keep an eye open on the classifieds here as well.

[stubby'smom]

As far as bows go, you can go as cheap as you like or spend an unlimited amount of money between bows and accessories. When I started out, my hubby spent around $200 for my bow, case, arrows, release, sight, rest, peep, exc. I target shoot only and we won't even talk about what I now have invested in the 2 bows I currently shoot lol! Don't want to scare you so soon!

I suggest you go to a archery shop and tell them the price range you want to spend and have them measure you for draw length and lbs. You should shoot some bows to see what you like. If they don't have anything in your price range then at least you will have an idea what you need and like. From there you could purchase a used bow online or as mentioned find a club and maybe one of the members would have a bow to sell you.

My first 2 bows were bought used, both at archery shops. My hubby has bought several used bows and all but one were bought at archery shops. One he bought new off the shelf but it was previous years model (actually a couple years old) and got it for a very good price. It is a Diamond Rock and came with all the accessories he needed. It's his current hunting bow.