Archery for a beginner, what to buy?

[Justice]

"...forked out $1000 + on a bow..." That's another thing. Decide on a budget first. Friggin' archery kit can be really, really expensive. I thought the $350 I spent on my compound 30 plus years ago was a lot until I looked at current prices. Especially arrows.
I wouldn't think 'used' compound myself. You have no idea what the previous owner has done with it. For example, dry firing one can damage it.
"...Recurve or compound?..." It takes more upper body tone to shoot a recurve well vs a compound. However, a recurve is easier to draw than a long bow. The poundage matters too. Last time I looked, Ontario requires a minimum of 40 pounds for deer. 48 pounds for moose. Dunno about birds. Either way, if you can't lift a 48 pound box easily, you won't be able to shoot a bow of that weight without hurting yourself either.

[Camo tung]

The people that complain about the per round cost of premium rifle ammo should talk to a bow hunter. Try losing a carbon arrow with a quality broadhead...much more at stake than $2.50 per round.

[kennymo]

The people that complain about the per round cost of premium rifle ammo should talk to a bow hunter. Try losing a carbon arrow with a quality broadhead...much more at stake than $2.50 per round.

The neighbourhood range puts on a weekly 3-D shoot over the winter. He puts out some logs and tree limbs for the tougher shots, it’s good for arrow sales. I’ve lost a couple shooting over the log at a small target. Amazing how carbon fibre can just explode like that....

[Brad]

The neighbourhood range puts on a weekly 3-D shoot over the winter. He puts out some logs and tree limbs for the tougher shots, it’s good for arrow sales. I’ve lost a couple shooting over the log at a small target. Amazing how carbon fibre can just explode like that....

Ain't that the truth. I like to rabbit hunt with a bow but there can't be any snow. An arrow can disappear under three snowflakes. When I use my recurve with blunts I don't break half the arrows.

[Candychikita]

Like Teach said, see if you can get into a lesson. We had a range of bows to try with tips and tricks to each.

Compound has to be fitted to your arm length to make it comfortable for you, as if the cams turn over too late you get fatigue. With compound, each time you change the weight you have to set everything up again, so going target practice at 20# to hunting weight at 40#+ is a big deal (also a bit of a shock, so I dialed it up slowly to get to my desired poundage - practically gave myself a hernia cranking it up too fast). I did however very much like being able to change the weight to suit my needs. I would NOT buy a used compound unless it's been through a shop to look it over for safety but that's just me. I give my shops a lot of business bahahaha.

If you're wanting to have fun and bomb around on targets I picked up a Kassai bow (https://www.horsebows.com/bows.php) These puppies are fantastic and lightweight. Been having a blast with this doing horseback archery. It is what it is, no bells and whistles. I fell in love with the shape. Note on these you're shooting off the hand, so you'll need a glove on your bow hand.

I got a regular recurve that shoots left and right that I keep for company. No bells, no whistles. As long as you're anchoring your string properly and practice consistency you can get good. I found recurve boring after you get to know your bow. Recurve has a lot of guesswork in it and I suck at guesstimating distances, so me hunting with a recurve is out of the question. Compound I am able to draw and wait and aim like a gun with sights, and I set up my pegs to certain distances so I could practice gauging distance better.

With your string hand, consider that you will fatigue your fingers and can cause nerve damage like Grizz said. I shoot in specific archery gloves these days because of the horsebow, or my compound I use a trigger/loop set up so I'm pulling with my wrist not my little fingers.

Enjoy your hunt for your bow!

[Justice]

An arrow(that must be the right length for you) can disappear in thin grass too. And Al arrows can jam the insert into the shaft hitting a 2 x 4. $15 a pop for Al the last time I looked.
"...unless it's been through a shop to look it over for safety..." That applies to fibreglas and other "stick" bows too. They can get twisted. Easier to tell though. Just draw the thing. If the string comes out of the groove the limb is twisted and the bow is toast.

[gunnutt]

Buy a Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro bow... It is hunting ready with all bells and whistles, it won't break the bank at 399 cad.
• Shoots arrows up to 305 fps
• Weighs just 3-1/5 lb. without accessories
• Adjustable draw length from 13 to 31-inches
• Adjustable draw weight from 5 to 70 lb.
• 31-inch axle-to-axle length
In a nutshell: it will grow as you grow, has an 80% let-off, so you can hold it easy when cocked. I am waiting to get one, as soon as they come and people grab them like mad.