The 20 Best Hunting Bows Under $500
Bowhunting editor Todd Kuhn rounds up the 20 best bows that cost less than $500. The gallery includes compounds for kids, women and men.
Unless you’ve recently struck it rich in the lottery ― you’re broke like the rest of us. Hey, nobody has to tell you times are tough and getting tougher. As archers tighten their bowhunting belts, manufacturers have designed and produced some great bows that won’t tap into your kids' college fund. Here's 20 of the best on the market today. At the end of the gallery I explain the difference between a $1,000 bow and a $500 bow.
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Comments (12)
why are all bows nowadays so short? I'm 6'4 wiht a 80" wingspan (32"DL) and there's no way i could shoot aome of these bows.
i guess i'll just have to stick with my '89 oneida, it's plenty fast enough (305fps@70lbs 32"draw) and quiet. just watch out for that lower limb been there done that ONCE :D
I just got a Mission Craze and absolutely love it. It is an awesome bow and reccomend it to anyone. Absolutely ready for deer season!
I bought the Mission Craze and shot my first deer with a bow, a 3-point with 13" antlers. It's a great bow, easy to use in a tree stand. I highly recommend it.
Just looked at a Mission Craze at my local archery shop. I was drooling! I'm probably going to spring for it. This is an incredible bow, smooth draw. Certainly worth the 299.00.
I'm with 6phunter!! I used to work in a sporting goods store in Montana, and had a gentleman ask how much to bore-sight his rifle. When I told him it was a convenience we supplied for our customers, he went out and returned with a Weatherby rifle that had a Swarovsky scope mounted on it. I would venture to guess he had what amounted to about a month's salary (for me) tied up in that setup. I'd almost be willing to bet he DIDN'T take it out and FINISH the sighting-in process, and I could most likely shoot just as straight (if not BETTER!!) using my military-surplus .06 and 4 power Leupold!!
MR.DEIOMA,you certaintly hit the bulls eye.I once watched a fairly decent skeet shooter but a not very likeable man rush his shots and failed to score.Afterwards he blamed the mediocre 1100 remmington for his misses.The next shoot he was carrying a KRIEGOFF a very expensive gun at the time,and still rushed his shots ,posting another score similar to his original.In my hunting experience I'VE learned that a quiet shooting bow is far more deadly.BTW I bought that mediocre 1100 remmington that day at a very resonable price under his frustraded condition,and shot several straight strings and filled my game bag on more than one occasion.
@bkmorgan50 - If your bringing home 2-3 deer a year that's not the bow sir, that's the hunter. Well done. And of course when you have something that works for you, stick with it. Heck I need a hunting mentor. lol.
@mformica - You're right, That can be a great way to find a great bow since a lot of guys who "Must have" the newest best thing out there trade in often, but sometimes you end up buying someone else's nightmare. I personally prefer being the first owner of my shooting equipment, bow, rifle, pistol etc.
A number of comments: OL - Can we get this info in a nice chart so we can make easier comparisons? That would be cool. And Just curious why these rigs didn't get the same field testing and star ratings as the expensive bows? I would love to get that feedback as well.
Isn't the best $500 bow, a fully outfitted 2 year old $1000 bow that someone traded in?
i can't believe they didn't mention the bear apprentice.bought one for the wife , her first bow nad only shelled out about 300.00 at bass pro, and it has sights, quiver,d-loop,and rest. and it is pink camo. maybe someone should have researched a little deeper.
Wow - I'm still getting 2-3 deer a year with my old Darton that I bought for $135 back in 1985...
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Wow - I'm still getting 2-3 deer a year with my old Darton that I bought for $135 back in 1985...
I'm with 6phunter!! I used to work in a sporting goods store in Montana, and had a gentleman ask how much to bore-sight his rifle. When I told him it was a convenience we supplied for our customers, he went out and returned with a Weatherby rifle that had a Swarovsky scope mounted on it. I would venture to guess he had what amounted to about a month's salary (for me) tied up in that setup. I'd almost be willing to bet he DIDN'T take it out and FINISH the sighting-in process, and I could most likely shoot just as straight (if not BETTER!!) using my military-surplus .06 and 4 power Leupold!!
Just looked at a Mission Craze at my local archery shop. I was drooling! I'm probably going to spring for it. This is an incredible bow, smooth draw. Certainly worth the 299.00.
MR.DEIOMA,you certaintly hit the bulls eye.I once watched a fairly decent skeet shooter but a not very likeable man rush his shots and failed to score.Afterwards he blamed the mediocre 1100 remmington for his misses.The next shoot he was carrying a KRIEGOFF a very expensive gun at the time,and still rushed his shots ,posting another score similar to his original.In my hunting experience I'VE learned that a quiet shooting bow is far more deadly.BTW I bought that mediocre 1100 remmington that day at a very resonable price under his frustraded condition,and shot several straight strings and filled my game bag on more than one occasion.
i can't believe they didn't mention the bear apprentice.bought one for the wife , her first bow nad only shelled out about 300.00 at bass pro, and it has sights, quiver,d-loop,and rest. and it is pink camo. maybe someone should have researched a little deeper.
A number of comments: OL - Can we get this info in a nice chart so we can make easier comparisons? That would be cool. And Just curious why these rigs didn't get the same field testing and star ratings as the expensive bows? I would love to get that feedback as well.
why are all bows nowadays so short? I'm 6'4 wiht a 80" wingspan (32"DL) and there's no way i could shoot aome of these bows.
i guess i'll just have to stick with my '89 oneida, it's plenty fast enough (305fps@70lbs 32"draw) and quiet. just watch out for that lower limb been there done that ONCE :D
I bought the Mission Craze and shot my first deer with a bow, a 3-point with 13" antlers. It's a great bow, easy to use in a tree stand. I highly recommend it.
I just got a Mission Craze and absolutely love it. It is an awesome bow and reccomend it to anyone. Absolutely ready for deer season!
@mformica - You're right, That can be a great way to find a great bow since a lot of guys who "Must have" the newest best thing out there trade in often, but sometimes you end up buying someone else's nightmare. I personally prefer being the first owner of my shooting equipment, bow, rifle, pistol etc.
@bkmorgan50 - If your bringing home 2-3 deer a year that's not the bow sir, that's the hunter. Well done. And of course when you have something that works for you, stick with it. Heck I need a hunting mentor. lol.
Isn't the best $500 bow, a fully outfitted 2 year old $1000 bow that someone traded in?
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)