Starting back into archery

[DaveInOroValley]

Used to have standard bow, and believe it or not a Crosman wooden stock crossbow so it's been a long while since I have even picked one up.

Thinking about getting back into the archery end of things since it will be a good fallback if needed.

Any suggestions on where to start or what to start with equipment wise?

Thanks!

[RobG]

Find a good shop and start handling and shooting different equipment. Lots of good gear available for every budget. Target vs hunting; compound vs longbow/recurve, will determine what gear to look for. Archerytalk.com has tons of info to search through.

[MJB]

Archery shop is a good start then look into a clubs at different ranges near you

[ElvenSoul]

Stay away from Bass Pros of the world!

[Hairball]

Many years ago I did the same thing. Started out in the early 70s with a recurve then went on to a Bear Whitetail Hunter and then a Browning Deluxe Nomad II. When I finally got back into it, the gear had changed so much that I basically had to start all over. Aluminum shafts were the big thing when I stopped and when I came back to it carbon was the rage. The last bow I purchased was a Bowtech Invasion in 2011 and it has been great and I still don't feel the need to upgrade to a newer model. As already posted, find a good shop and spend a day in there trying out different bows and get a feel for how much equipment has changed. One thing you will notice right off is that gear prices have gone crazy since you last shot.

[mossy]

are you interested in recurve or compound?

[DaveInOroValley]

are you interested in recurve or compound?

Truthfully I am not sure. I guess the advice given to go and try out various bows will be my next step. I actually have always been fond of crossbows but that I am guessing is a whole other topic when compared.

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions and advice it really helps.

[mossy]

Yeah, crossbows are totally different. Most ranges in know won't let you fire them and I think cities have codes against them. I don't really like compound bows so I can't help you with them. If you are interested in recurve you can spend a bit more and get a decent ILF riser. With it you will have a ton of limb options to choose from. Or you could do what a ton of people do and get a Samick sage.

[wjc]

OP, are you interested in hunting or recreation?

Although all three types of bows can be used for recreation, many people who hunt prefer compounds.

BTW, my range does not allow crossbows for a couple of reasons, i.e. they blow out the bales quickly, are considered firearms due to the trigger, and are not allowed on county park property.

[diverwcw]

I bought a compound bow awhile back and shot it quite a bit then my interest started to fade, but I'm wanting to get back out there and put some arrows downrange.

[DaveInOroValley]

OP, are you interested in hunting or recreation?

Although all three types of bows can be used for recreation, many people who hunt prefer compounds.

BTW, my range does not allow crossbows for a couple of reasons, i.e. they blow out the bales quickly, are considered firearms due to the trigger, and are not allowed on county park property.

I'm leaning for the most part to recreation and an "alternative" if and when my ammo runs out.

[RobG]

Hey, are you in Yolo co Woodland? There is a new shop in Dixon that recently opened. I haven't stopped by yet but it is close so worth a look. They have another shop in Napa or nearby according to their FB page.

[wjc]

I'm leaning for the most part to recreation and an "alternative" if and when my ammo runs out.

Any kind of bow can be lethal....

The disadvantage for compounds is they utilize special tools and equipment like releases, sights, bow vise, etc.

All I need for my trad bows is string material....and that I can make from plant fibers or sinew.

[mtndragon]

As asked above, the question to answer for yourself is hunting or recreation. It seems like you're leaning toward recreation with possible a SHTF hunting application.
As mentioned above, Archerytalk is a great rabbit hole to wander down.

In addition to a hunting bow (compound), I have a Hoyt Excel riser and TT blackmax limbs:

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/hoyt-excel-recurve-riser.html

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/tradtech-black-max-glass-wood-recurve-limbs.html

This is a pretty basic setup with a ton of flexibility, as you can just swap out the limbs for more power as you improve. I started with 30lb, and now shoot with 45's and 60's.

This bow is ridiculously flexible in terms of options (shoot off the shelf, sights, no sights, bow fishing, rest, etc) and limbs can be swapped out. Got my GF into archery with this set-up and she is totally hooked. This is the bow I shoot daily for fun and relaxation, only switching over to my compound a couple of months before the season to get ready.

Good luck, and get back into it; archery is a great way to relax.

[DaveInOroValley]

Hey, are you in Yolo co Woodland? There is a new shop in Dixon that recently opened. I haven't stopped by yet but it is close so worth a look. They have another shop in Napa or nearby according to their FB page.

I'll check that out! Thanks for the tip.