My First Bow

by Macy Spencer

It was only a few years back when I first picked up a bow.

I first started archery when I met my husband, CJ. We both had little experience with bows, so it was nice to learn beside someone who was also just learning. I find hunting–like most things–is much more enjoyable when doing so with people you care about. So there we were, learning together about archery, and hunting. I got my hands on a used Bowtech Destroyer, and CJ had a PSE.

The Destroyer is a big bow. It’s not that light, and it’s not made with women in mind. I like to think of myself as tough for a girl, but this thing was difficult to draw back more than five times. It was set at about 70lbs, which was obviously way to much for me. I practiced and practiced, but being that I couldn’t shoot more than 5-10 times per session, I never was as proficient as possible. If I shot more than 10 times, my form would get extremely sloppy; just raising my bow up to draw back made me shaky. By the time archery season rolled around, I wasn’t able to shoot past 35 yards, so I set that yardage as my limit. I got a good grasp on what 35 yards looked like. During that first archery season, I did end up getting two awesome shots off, both clean quick kills. The first was a bull elk at 30 yards, and the second, a beautiful whitetail at just 15 yards. Even though season went well, I wanted to know more about archery, and I knew I needed to make some changes.

After season was over, I decided that I needed to get a bow that I was more comfortable with. Lighter and easier to handle. I researched and decided on the Bowtech Carbon Rose, in camo! It’s ridiculously light (weighing in at 3.2 lbs bare), has a very smooth draw and the let off is 80% which makes it easy to hold for quite awhile. That covers the major things I needed in a bow. I am very pleased with the decision to not struggle with a heavy, high poundage bow, and switched to something I can confidently handle. I set the poundage to 55, and after some shooting and growing those muscles this spring, I will most likely max it out to 60. I might outgrow this bow, I hope I do! But for now it is the perfect fit, I’m fully confident in handling it, repetitive shooting, longer distance shooting, being able to hold steadier for longer, and shooting tight groups.

One should be exceptionally familiar with their equipment, know how it shoots, what their limits are, and what the bows limits are. That is why I have the Carbon Rose at this point in my hunting life. Make your equipment decisions based on how you work with it and how it works for you. Good luck to all the Avid Huntresses out there this year!