If you were going to pick one of these bows from Cabelas for someone new to bowhunting, which one would you pick and why?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...ry&parentId=cat21424

I know there are better bows out there than those listed, but the bow needs to be from Cabelas because of bonus CC points.

Looking forward to your opinions and enlightenment.

I should add the bow will be used mainly for deer with the possibility of Elk down the road. I am 6'4" with a draw length of 31" but think I will probably go with a 30" draw because that is the max for most of the bows.

Bear lights out

Not the fastest, but the most forgiving and accurate bow on the page.

almost 9" of brace height.

the one that fits you the best.
martin, diamond, bear, parker, pse, they all make good ones.

personally i have shot the diamond black ice and really liked it. but i haven't shot the others, so i can't give you a comparison type opinion.

if you shoot a 31" draw, get a bow that goes to 31" . it will pay off in the long run to be comfortable, and shoot with proper form. if a draw is too short or too long it will affect your form and comfort, as well as accuracy. jmho. enjoy whatever you choose!

If you have a local bow supplier you should go with them. Compounds do need periodical maintenance and most guys can't do it themselves. You'll get far better service by buying from the local guy.

the chef

While I do understand the intent of purchasing from Cabelas, I would also suggest that you look for something in your proper draw length.

Another consideration is to look in the Classifieds on some of the archery boards like Archery Talk. There are great deals to be had on used bows which folks are simply looking to swap out for something newer. For somewhere in the same price range you could get one that will fit you, plus it might be a tad better than some of the ones listed on that page.

That said, I have shot several of the Diamonds in the past few months, and they are great bows for the price. You might also look for something in last years model if they have any on hand and you might save a few bucks as well. IF you can find one to shoot I would suggest the '08 Justice. It has a 31" draw length and even though the brace height is only 7" it is a VERY easy to shoot bow.

Good luck on your purchase, and try and shoot as many as you can before buying. There are subtle differences in each that may or may not fit your personal preferences. I began shooting different ones late last year making a list of things I like and disliked. After many bows from several companies I finally settled on the new Bowtech Admiral for several reasons. It took me months to decide shooting one against the other and comparing the small things like noise, drawing and let off, adjustments, and such. I wanted something that was as versatile as I could get.

The best advice I can give is the best advice that was given to me......


Go shoot as many bows as you possible can!!!

I shot Mathews, PSE, Martin, Diamond, Hoyt, Browning, Bowtech, Parker.....
They all have there cons and pros....
You can get some in a 31" draw....go to the manufacturer's website and do a little reading.

Another bit of suggestion, join Archery Talk and surf the threads and see what bows are out there and if these folks are seeing any problems....i.e. Bowtech 'General' when they were first released.

My choice came between a Diamond 'Black Ice' and a Bowtech 'Tribute' until I shot the 'Guardian!'

+1 on going to the local shops/trying as many as you can.A bow is not something you should buy without trying beforehand.

I am going to go along with the others that advocate buying your bow from a qualified archery pro-shop.

In order to shoot a bow accurately, it HAS TO FIT YOU!! All bows have differences in handle, riser, limb design, draw cycle, shock and vibration. All of these differences mean what feels comfortable to me might not feel comfortable to you. The only way to know for certain which bow fits you well is to go to a pro-shop and try them out. And I don't mean just pick one up and pull it back, I mean take it and actually shoot arrows at a target. Only then will you know if you REALLY like the bow. If a pro-shop won't let you do that, move on to one that will.

When you buy a bow from Cabela's, you'll need to have the rest installed and properly adjusted for centershot. It's unlikely that a bow setup purchased mail-order will come properly adjusted. You'll probably need some assistance too with picking out the proper sighting system and also with a release. These are all things that you can most likely try before you buy. These are services that a pro-shop offer that are worth their weight in gold. And many pro-shops will NOT install/align accessories purchased outside their shop! And if they do install them, it's usually at a premium price.

My suggestion would be to buy your bow, a half dozen arrows, a rest and sight from the pro-shop and have them help you set up the bow. Then use your Cabela's Bucks to buy the accessories that you can easily install yourself.

These accessories can be more arrows, quiver, release, stabilizer, field tips, broadheads, target, etc.

This way, you can be assured of getting a properly set up bow that fits YOU!