New to Archery - Where to start?

Yes go to your local archery shop and have them measure you and get you setup. Practice practice and practice some more. Shoot from elevated positions as well. Also don't go to much on your draw weight. Things get a little harder to pull back in the cold.

If you are going to be passing through Gainesville you can try stopping by the Bear Archery pro shop. I would call ahead and make sure they are open. They have been good to me in the past for warranty replacements/work and you can buy blemished bows for a handsome discount at times. They have bows that you could shoot and will spend time getting you set up. I’m still shooting a bow I bought in 2009 that developed a splinter lifting on a limb a couple years ago. They slapped new limbs on for no charge. I asked about the bow limbs becoming out of stock or obsolete and they said they would just make a new set for me if it ever got to that point. So far I’ve never had a reason not to be happy with this situation, living 20 minutes away from where it’s made has benefits.

My time is split between Palm Harbor and Old Town. Pretty much any place in between is viable. I do have a small archery shop about 2 miles away in Tarpon but don't know anything about them personally. I appreciate the feedback so far guys.

If you were willing to travel to Palm Beach I could point you to Stu and big nut Billy at Wicked Archery. They are personal friends and Stu has been in the archery business in Vermont for 40 plus years before he transplanted here. A few years ago I went to them to shoot in the back yard and found I badly needed a new string, at risk of injury. Stu was headed back to Vermont that evening and said he would take my bow back and make a new string, then send it back. The problem was that I had a bow hunt the next day at a distant wma... No problem, his son had just traded in a bow here so Stu tweaked it to fit me and loaned it to me for the weekend.
The next morning I was sending him and big nut Billy a pic of a dead deer with the loaner bow. A week later my bow was returned with a sweet custom string that I'm still shooting. Anyone who I've sent to them have been more than satisfied. Stu knows his stuff when it comes to archery and he is good people, but it's a bit of a drive for you.

All of what you've been told so far is dead on. In most cases you can easily buy a great used bow from a highly reputable manufacturer for a fantastic price. These modern bows will also have you busting bulls eyes at 25 yards in about 2 or 3 shots, fyi, but practice from a elevated platform and bend at your waist to shoot down. It's not the same as shooting at ground level and you're most likely going to miss if you drop your arms to shoot. Also, keep your head down on the sight. If you raise your head to watch the arrow you WILL miss... in other words, follow through with the shot, rock steady. One last thing, practice shooting while sitting. That's where a lighter, more comfortable draw weight comes in. Years ago I had the buck of a lifetime bust me in Iowa while trying to get situated from seat to feet in a ladder. I shoot 70lb draw and I can shoot that comfortably while seated, but I couldn't get turned to my right to make that shot. So, make sure you practice for any circumstance. It's not nearly as easy to get off a awkward shot with a bow as it is with a rifle.

Great advise from the clothing to the body positioning. Things I would have only learned from experience had they not been mentioned.

Loose clothing will screw up your day. That's a great point. I had a little 6 point of front of me at Corbett one time and rolled up the bottom corner of my unzipped bug tamer in a cam when I drew back on him. I'm not sure what would have happened if I hadn't noticed and let fly but I wasn't about to risk it. Yep, that deer busted me too, and lived another day. So did I!

There has never been any truer words written than OMG's last sentence. Lol

I’ve been out of Ocala for years. If Shane still runs Jerry’s Archery, I can’t recommend them enough. I’ve shot the same bow for over 25 years. If I decide to upgrade, I’ll be going to see Shane.

Practice, practice, practice.

Don’t skimp on changing out your bow string from year to year. Have your pro shop do it. Want to see what happens when you let your string get worn out and you get cheap? Watch me screw up this spring turkey season years ago:



The string was stretched. Didn’t figure it out until after this video was over and I shot a buck in Gainesville high and to the right as the arrows all flew in these shots.

"TINK,ta,tink,tink"....

"$#$@ this $#$@ing arrow rest!"

Some very good advise from everyone in this thread.

Ocala is probably the most practical.

What are some differences between some of the mid level manufacturers? Any reason to look at a bear over a mathews or pse. Quality, longevity, customer service?

Those were listed in no specific order I should mention.

In my humble opinion shoot what feels good, and don't trick it out with a bunch of doo-dads. Keep it basic. I believe in a peep sight and a good arrow release to accompany other basic things like silencers and dampers that should come with the bow so you get consistent shooting. I would pass on the levels, and crazy odd balancing bars, for example.

Invest in some string wax and a set of Allen wrenches, maybe a broadhead wrench, and a hard bow case for starters. Over the years I've added serving string, nocks, crimp tool, etc to maintain my bow and make basic repairs in the field or at my truck. I also have dabbled with vanes and other things over the years but not so much anymore. All of my bow equipment stays in the bow case. Ready to roll in a farts breath.

I'll mention one other thing here. Once you've mastered hitting a pie plate at 30yd, take the bow and shoot it in the rain with a wet string and wet arrows. See what happens. It's eye opening. During bow season in my area of the state you WILL be hunting in rain. My son missed a ground level, chip shot on his first bow attempt a couple years ago in the rain because the arrow "died" in flight on its way to the deer.

I'm sure there will be more to add as this thread progresses so keep asking.

Wicked archery is great. They have my business. You really gotta respect the owner.

First one was a 50# Black Bear recurve, still hangs on the wall.
First time I used it drew back so hard that the arrow came off the string.
15 feet up a pine, full draw, no arrow, doe staring at me.
If you bow hunt, you will have plenty of stories.