Questions from an Amature that has not hunted in years???

[brendonp]

Hello everyone;

First just wanted to say good luck to all that are doing what I cannot (because of grad school and work) tag some deer for me.

I have been out of bow hunting for about 3 solid years now. When I first started I saved up the money and bought a Mathews Ovation 31" 60-70# with 60 or 80% let off (2004 I believe). Bought the Trophy Ridge top of the line 5 pin Guide series sight, and a Bo-doodle drop away (spring loaded rest), and a Mathews attached 5 arrow quiver. Purchased some standard arrows to get going and was fairly successful in the field (I practiced a lot).

Now it looks like there are going to be some narrow windows of opportunity for me to hunt in the years to come. Deer is the primary target (unless a coyote gets to close), elk (have been applying for points in CO for about 8 years now), and hogs. Okay now here are the questions:

What should I do for a bow? The Ovation is big and long in the tree stand/makeshift blinds or stalking. I love the Ovation and how smooth and quite it is. What is out there in smaller length and lighter bows?

For equipment what is the best thing on the market for rests and quivers? I ground stalk sometimes and really want good equipment I can trust (I take care of my stuff). I prefer hunting about 12-13’ up in the air, or getting set into some cedar trees at trails.

Arrows - What is there now? I know technology has changed a lot of things and I am sure arrows have not escaped. Are small diameter shafts a necessity for penetration, how do they fly, what about making contact with a shoulder blade (things happen)?

And the ultimate question eternally debated: Broadheades. I love Muzzy's 3-blade 100g strength and ability to cut through bone (blasted clean through ribs on each side of a 3.5y buck at 35yds). I also know Rage heads are all the "rage" (pun intended), how do mechanical heads differ? What about failure to deploy blades?

Sorry for the long post not being about a big buck down, just trying to make financial plans for the monetary investment into new hunting equipment. Thank you and once again GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE in the blinds, tree stands or stalking.:clap::rockon:!!!!!!!!

[92xj]

Sounds like you already have what you need.

No need to buy the latest and greatest to hunt. Nobody gets 'cool' points in the field because of what they use to hunt with. Stick with your equipment that you already know, get some practice shots in and get out there and hunt while saving money in grad school by not buying the latest and greatest. A 31" bow is plenty small for any hunting. Your broadheads are the best out there. I have seen Rage's not open which is why I would never shoot them. I have yet to see a fixed broadhead not open. But again, you already have great equipment that you "take care of", so no need for new stuff. If your money is burning a hole in your pocket, I could use some new duck decoys.

[brendonp]

Clarification....

Sorry about this the drawlength is 31" and axle-to-axle the bow is 40" and weighs 8lbs (without anything on it).

I dont have any spare money right now...just enough for beer (haha)

[arrow32]

Inless your just really wanting a new bow like alot of us seem to do around here.LOL What you have sounds like it'll work awesome.

The axle to axle on my primary bow is 38 inches I think so not much difference.

So your drawlength is 31 inches? I'm right there with you. Sometimes its hard to get the shorter axle to axle with that draw length but over the last year Hoyt has really put out some bows that help us out lol and still shoot awesome.

Myself I'm looking into the new Hoyt CRX 35 its 35" axle to axle and with the fuel cam LD you can get on it it will go from 31.5" to 32". The fuel cam maxes out at 31"

If your DL is 31" the Maxis 35 is a sweet bow and the DL is 31"

Anyway there are all kinds of awesome bows out there now and you really just need to get out there and shoot them.

As far as accessories tons of them. Just look into and read about all.

http://www.qadinc.com/shop/index.php?cPath=21

That right there is one sweet rest.

I could as well as anyone else sit here and make a 15 page long post on the things we like now. We can advise on what we like and what we would get but when it comes down to it just get out and do research:D

[arrow32]

Posted that before I was done.lol If you have any questions feel free to ask I'm sure someone on here with no life will answer:D:D jk lol

[dbHunterNY]

as stated, if your equipment has been maintained well then it should still be reliable. it worked before and will work now just the same. however, if you really have the money and want new stuff then just shop around and test shoot every bow you see. they all shoot great these days, but every bow fits different and maybe cost different than the next. If you can get Muzzy's to fly well with the new setup then use them, because you trust in them. You can go get the new 2011 Mathews Z7 Xtreme, with a 28" axle-to-axle length, sending Carbon Express Mayhem arrows tipped with Rage heads at 300+ feet per second and blow a 3" diameter hole through the rib cage on both sides and you'll be hooked on bowhunting! I will warn you though, if you wound the first deer you shoot with it, you may have a $1500 or so paper weight and may want to run back to your old Ovation quicker than you'd think.

Confidence in your equipment is still everything, no matter what ya got!

[dbHunterNY]

shopping around for hunting stuff is the fun part! go do some and come back with lots of questions, unless you've got more specific ones now.

[redkneck]

Welcome to the forums! Sounds like you already have what you need to kill deer, but if you really want to get excited, go check out some new equipment at your pro shop. Shoot lots of different bows, dont get caught up on the names, and dont be afraid to buy a trade in that may have a couple of years on it.

Or...

Stick with what you have. Muzzy's are still putting meat on the table as good as any head out there.