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If you or your child is considering taking up archery, it's important to consider the archery equipment you select. With compound, long and recurve bows ranging from around $10 to $5,000 or even more, it may be difficult to choose the right one for you. Besides all the necessary measurements, such as draw length and weight, you need to consider how much you are willing to invest.
The Beginning Archer
If you are a complete beginner and you just want to find out if you enjoy the sport, a cheaper bow may be the right way to go. You may want to try a compound bow set complete with arrows and some of the necessary accessories. These tend to cost under $100 and they will at least get you started. If you decide you don't enjoy archery, at least you didn't spend your life savings.
In addition, if you decide you enjoy the sport, and you want better equipment, you will have some feel for what you like. It's much easier to upgrade to a new bow and new accessories, once you gain a feel for archery, than right from the beginning.
The Intermediate Archer
If you've been shooting for a while and you really enjoy archery, you may want to invest a little more. With around $200 - $300, you can get a durable compound or recurve bow perfect for target shooting. If you allow a few hundred dollars for accessories, such as a stabilizer, pin sights and a good arrow rest, you can really arm yourself with a great tool for the sport.
The Advanced Archer
Those with a love for archery and quite a bit of experience probably don't need help choosing equipment. They expect to spend $1,000 or more for new equipment and will probably get a custom bow fit to their specifications built.
The Youth Archer
Getting your child started in archery is a bit more difficult, especially if you're not experienced. It can be hard to choose the right bow for them and if your child isn't very strong, you need to take that into consideration. Some kits work perfect for youth shooters and others just are not that great.
If your child is under 12, you probably want something like the Barnett Outdoor Junior Archery set, but if they are 12 or older, they may be able to handle something more sophisticated, yet for beginners. The Genesis Original Compound Bow is a good choice for beginners able to handle a bit more and it's fully adjustable.
The Hunter
Hunting deer and other animals with a bow and arrow is much different from shooting for target practice. If you plan to use your new bow for hunting, you need to consider the durability, accuracy, power and overall package. Many accessories can make a bow much easier to use for hunting and it's best to get professional advice when choosing a bow for hunting.
Beginning hunters can use a bow much like the Martin Compound Threshold Bow, but the more experienced hunter will already know they want something more sophisticated. By dressing up a compound bow from a company, such as Martin Archery, you can put together a great hunting tool for under $500. Of course, you can also spend several thousand to get the best choices on the market custom made to your liking.
Final Notes
Whenever practicing archery, make sure to practice and teach safety. It can be a very dangerous sport, if specific safety guidelines are not followed. Keeping safety in mind and choosing the right archery equipment can lead to quite a bit of fun shooting for practice, sport or competition.
