Anyone here who's been on pro-staff of some sort?

[Turkeygirl]

Last fall the archery shop I use quite frequently asked me to join their pro-staff. I have a shooter shirt and essentially have to wear that at archery shoots and shoot my one bow, which they sell, when at shoots or at the shop. So I'm looking at selling my Mathews, picking up a new bow for hunting, maybe 3D. I was leaning towards Hoyt (which they also sell) or recently shot a Bowtech Reign at another shop I'm shooting a league at. My pro-staff shop does not sell Bowtech so of course, I guess I couldn't shoot it at shoots as it not being one of their products. Just wondering, if you were on pro-staff, would that hinder you at all deciding between a bow you love but can't represent the shop with, or choose a bow that you only like but are representing the shop with? I'm waiting to shoot another Hoyt but this was a dilemma that came to mind.

[Tim Andrus]

Go with your gut feeling    If you like a certain bow stick with it  no matter what bow shop carries it .   Shoot it well ,promote them if you like or pursue shooting for them  and they will tell you what bow shop that carries their bow.    Too many people get caught up in this     go with your heart and good things will follow    hope that helps   Tim

[Turkeygirl]

Thanks Tim. You are right, it's something that should be fun and enjoyable, not something to get to caught up in to the point the fun is gone.

[hammerforged]

My Browning 425 in 12 gauge will always be my go to for hunting Pheasant and Dove but when I was shooting for CZ-USA always had to use one of theirs for sponsored shooting events, I do have one of theirs in 28 gauge that is my go to for Quail.  I was sponsored by Horton Crossbows back when they were still a quality product and still hunt with a Horton 175 and have a Horton Hunter Express 175 as backup. 

[dbHunterNY]

i've gone to different shops over the years and being loyal enough they'd give me stuff like logo'd fleece jackets and stuff.  i knew the shop owner but then he had many gun and bow shops.  staff would get rotated and shipped out, then you'd lose those formed relationships.  sometimes the service would suffer when you got someone new that supposedly knew what they were doing.  I shot with one shop manager at an outdoor 3D event and he wanted to put me in some Bear Archery shooting staff program.  I could basically get any Bear product i wanted far cheaper than he could.  i just ordered it through him and then would promote the product saying you could get it there.  I had a horrible start that shoot and still managed a 308/330.  Problem was he was too far away from me to allow me to help promote his shop.  I never knew what kind of service they provided or had been in the shop either.  I passed because it didn't feel right.  Certain equipment might not be that one piece you're fond of but it'll work more than well enough.  You still have to go with your gut for the situation and terms.  same applies to other products and companies too outside of bow mfg and archery shops.

[stevebeilgard]

if i didn't love r.t. camo i would never have been on their pro staff. go with what you believe in and want to use. if you don't like what you represent, you will do a poor job which will openly reflect on you. like time says, go with your heart. good luck

[Turkeygirl]

Thanks guys for the input. I'm headed up to my pro-staff shop today for 5-spot league and they have a pro-defiant I'm hoping to try out tonight. Tomorrow going to go up to where I shoot 3D indoor league and they have the Bowtech.