Bow Hunting: Things to Focus On When Shopping for Compound Bow

 Rifle hunting is a thrilling experience that lets you get a taste of what ancestors went through to capture an animal for food. It further lets you in on wildlife management, and boosts your connection to nature - something we could all do with nowadays with the digitalized lifestyles we lead. 

But, what if there was a way to get even more of the thrill and connection? Move over rifles, it’s bow hunting time. While it’s certainly a more challenging way of hunting, even for experienced hunters, the way it gets you closer to the wildlife allows you to immerse in the eco-system and learn more about it. 

It’s also a type of hunting that requires a more elevated level of precision and skill, beneficial altogether in providing you with a unique experience you aren’t going to forget. For more precision and efficiency, this is where performance compound bow USA hunting stores provide comes in handy. It’s light, it’s compact, making it into a must-have.

What Do You Need to Know When Buying a Compound Bow?

When choosing from a range of options, it’s essential to consider some of the basics regarding a bow, including: 

The Draw Length 

source: lawrencebay.com

This is directly related to your own measurements, specifically the size of your arms stretched out, called the wingspan, covering the length from the tip of one hand’s middle finger to the tip of the other hand’s middle finger. Once you know the number, divide it by 2.5. 

Getting this number is an indicator of the bow’s draw length - imperative for when shopping for compound bow USA wide as it’s connected to your comfort when you draw the bow before firing. It’s also useful for making the most of precision, proper posture and hunting efficiency. 

The Draw Weight

This is related to the weight needed to pull back the draw before firing the bow. As a beginner, you’ll want to get compound bows with a draw weight that’s on the lower side, as you don’t want to have to go with a pretty heavy one that badly impacts your posture and firing, and ultimately your efficiency. As you progress, then you can upgrade to something heavier. 

The proper way to choose is to determine what’s comfortable for you by trying out to draw a bow and staying in the position for half a minute. If it’s making you feel uncomfortable, tired or shaky, then you know you need something on the lower weight side. 

The Bow Length 

Measured from axle to axle, you get the bow’s length. Choosing the ideal length again is something individual, something that you find to be better for you could either be a longer or shorter bow. Although the longer is the more forgiving option of the two for beginners, try out what you find to be more comfortable when shopping to count on a successful purchase and hunting experience. 

The Bow Weight 

The weight of the bow is another important aspect to consider as it has a say in how easy it is for you to handle it. For a beginner, it’s always best to start off with something more lightweight. The lightweight option is also better for those doing a lot of walking to get to the desired hunting place, and those hunting through the treestands. Again, to be on the safe side, test out what feels comfortable for you to make a better decision. 

The Brace Height

This is the distance between the bowstring and handle. It may seem insignificant, but it’s a detail that’s decisive for the stability and how easy it is for you to draw. For beginners, it’s better off to start with a compound bow with a longer brace height, then progress to the shorter alternative as you become better at drawing and holding with stability and shooting with precision.

Speed

This is an aspect that’s closely related to noise and draw weight. For the right balance, you should look for a fast bow that makes the least noise and has a heavy weight. If it’s too heavy for you as a beginner, then balance out speed and noise to see how they work for you. Just keep in mind, some animals are more in tune with their surroundings, and the slightest noise could scare them off. Be sure to weigh this in too when you’re shopping. If you need something more tailored, look for customization with accessories and fine-tuning.

Bare or Ready-to-Shoot

Speaking of accessories, this is also where you have to make your choice, picking from bare bows that come with nothing and ready-to-shoot that come with all the accessories you require, like arm guards, arrow quivers, arrow rests, bow cases, cams, sight pins, and adjustment features among others. Often, it’s all down to the budget and how much you’re willing to spend on the gadgets that can sort out the shopping for you.