Bow hunting, they say is more art than science. Just as each archer must adapt a shooting style to fit his or her personality and abilities, the selection of bow and accessories will be a highly personal and subjective choice. (Bow hunting Equipment and Skills, 9). As a general rule, it is best to buy the bow you can afford that can match your interest in the sport. Archery shop employees are often trained to choose bows. Request them to allow you to practice shooting before buying a bow.

When choosing a bow, look for a bow that is center shot. A center-shot bow has a bow window cut into the handle which allows the draw arrow to sit a point close to or at the centerline of the limbs. Center-shot bows must be wooden bows that are laminated or must be bows with metal handle risers. A simple wooden bow would not be strong enough if a bow window were cut in the handle. Take a closer look at the draw weight and the draw length of the bow. The draw weight is the amount of force needed to draw back the bow. A reduced draw weight allows the archer to stay at full draw longer. Draw length is the distance from the bowstring at full draw to the front of the bow handle. The most common mistake archers do is choosing a bow with a draw length that is too long which results in poor aim.

The type of bow you choose depends upon your preference. There are three basic types of bows; the long bows, the recurve bow, and the compound bow. The long bows is the most traditional type, it is long, straight bow with a handle in the middle. The recurve bow is similar to the long bow, but the limbs are curved rather than straight. The curve allows more energy to flow through the bow which causes the arrow to travel faster. Most shooters like to begin with a compound bow because the traditional bows require much more time, effort, and practice while compound bows use a system of wheels and cables that work together to reduce the draw weight of the bow. The good thing with compound bow is that it shoots a faster arrow than a traditional bow. If you want to have the feel of hunting just like the way of our early ancestors you can always choose bow hunting using the traditional bows.

Sources:

Archery: Steps to Success by Kathleen Haywood and Catherine Lewis

Bow hunting for Fun by Jessica Gunderson