OutdoorHub Holiday Gift Guide: Bows for Holiday Deer
1. PSE Archery Brute ATK Hunter Bow
Best Value
The 2022 PSE ATK Series delivers everything you need in a hunting bow without forcing you to pay for the things that you don’t. Engineered on our all-new ATK platform for better stability and rigidity at a lower price point, the PSE Brute ATK is smooth-drawing, hard-hitting, and deadly accurate.
Engineered on PSE’s new AF binary cam, the Brute ATK shoots up to 329 FPS, and is highly tunable thanks to PSE’s patented Precision Buss Tuning System (PBTS). The Hunter Package includes the Hunter Lite Quiver, Tru-Glo EZ Rest, FX4 Stabilizer, Sierra Lite Sight, Mongoose Peep and Nocking Loop.
2. Matthews ATLAS
The "Buy once Cry Once" Archery Hunting Option
By the time you shoot the 2021 Atlas, we already know how it’s going to perform. It’s been in the field for months, being put through the paces of hunting in all types of terrain and weather conditions. It’s shot thousands of arrows and punched several tags. The real gem of the Atlas is its long draw length of up to 33 inches. If you’re a particularly tall or lanky hunter, this is perfect for you. In addition to the long draw length, the ATLAS is fast as lightning and quiet as a mouse. Some of the features on this bow may be lost on less experienced hunters, but even if you are a beginner, this is a bow that you can definitely grow into and learn to appreciate all of the neat little features that make it well worth the price when you’re aiming to effectively and humanely fill deer tags every season.
3. Oneida Eagle Phoenix Lever Action Bow
The lever action bow reimagined, rebuilt, and reborn, the Oneida Eagle Phoenix Lever Action Bow gives archers exciting new technologies and unheard of versatility. Quieter and more user-friendly than comparable lever action designs before it, the Phoenix offers an exceptional all-around performance both bowfishermen and bowhunters will fall in love with. Combining high-performance outboard limbs with a precision cam and lever system and new machined-aluminum riser, this bow boasts the silky smooth, constant draw and feel of a recurve with compound-like power and impact energy. This new riser design also gives archers a long sight window for fast target acquisition with an ergonomic handle that greatly increases the hunter’s natural point of aim. A versatile and easy-to-maintain design, this bow also offers a wide range of let-off adjustment with its interchangeable module design. Adding a vibration suppression system and user-friendly draw stop system to the lever action bow, the Phoenix simply gives bowhunters shooting performance superior to any lever action design before it.
4. Benjamin Pioneer Air Bow
All the fun of a bow without the draw
The Benjamin Airbow blends the best features of a hunting crossbow and a PCP air rifle. Capable of speeds up to 450 fps and power up to 160 fpe, it’s faster and more powerful than a crossbow, easier to use, and quieter.
Anyone familiar with bow hunting realizes that it’s not always the easiest thing to do, especially when there isn’t much room to maneuver. This airbow solves the problem of drawing a bow or cocking a crossbow by using an ambidextrous top cocking lever that only takes 2 pounds of force, so it can be used with just two fingers. That makes cocking and decocking simple even for those who find it hard to use a traditional bow.
5. Samick Sage Archery Takedown Recurve Bow
Best Budget Recurve Option
The Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow was designed to be an affordable, all-around choice for novice to intermediate archers- a choice you learn on, experiment on, rely on, and hone in your skills. Samick products are well-proven by archery champions throughout the world and our goal with the Sage was to introduce something enticing, something that will draw you in the world of archery & will last you a lifetime.
6. Killer Instinct® Lethal 405 Crossbow Package
Best Crossbow for Beginners
Offering incredible velocities of up to 405 fps, the Killer Instinct® Lethal 405 Crossbow Package is rugged, lightweight, and quiet. The lightweight composite frame features an over molded grip and adjustable X-Lok forearm piece for maximum comfort and control, while the included 4×32 scope extends your overall range. Integrated rubber suppressors boast quiet, stealthy performance and lightweight carbon bolts offer improved accuracy. Plus, a lightweight, consistent trigger ensures reduced anticipation and steady control. This crossbow package includes a rope cocker, 3-bolt quiver, string suppressors, 3 Killer Instinct HYPR Lite Carbon Crossbolts with field tips, and rail lubricant, ensuring you’re ready for target practice, right out of the box!
Manufacturer model #: 1000.
- Lightweight composite frame
- Over molded grip
- Adjustable X-Lok forearm
- 4×32 scope
- Integrated rubber string suppressors
- 3 Killer Instinct HYPR Lite Carbon Crossbolts
- 3-bolt quiver
- Rope cocker included
7. Ravin Crossbows R26X Crossbow Package
The Ultimate Crossbow
Compact, lightweight, and quiet, the Ravin® Crossbows R26X Crossbow Package delivers proven, deadly R26 performance with a fully-integrated Silent Cocking System. A perfect choice for hunts in cramped quarters, this compact hunting machine still gives hunters the superior accuracy and big crossbow performance of a Ravin. Weighing just 6.5 lbs. and measuring just 26″ long, this compressed bundle of hunting dynamite measures just 5.75″ from axle-to-axle when cocked. Offering the same, sleek, rifle-like feel and HeliCoil® technology as its larger Ravin brothers, this compact cannon launches arrows at 400 fps with 142 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy at the point of impact. Powered by HeliCoil technology, the R26X coils its cables away from the top and bottom of the cams in helical grooves to keep the cams perfectly balanced. This unique stability and balance allows the cams to rotate 340° while remaining completely level through the draw and release for precise accuracy. The crossbow’s Frictionless™ Flight System allows the arrow and string to free float above the rail for more consistent accuracy and increased string and cable life. The Trac-Trigger™ Firing System slides forward on the rail and clasps the precise center of the string directly for a perfectly balanced draw and straight-line nock travel every time. The fully integrated, ambidextrous Silent Cocking System reduces the crossbow’s draw weight to just 12 lbs., as well as giving hunters the ability to cock or de-cock safely and silently. Automatic safety with Anti-Dry Fire. Built-in sling mounts. Weight: 6.5 lbs. Power stroke: 9.5″. Package includes: 100-yd. Illuminated Scope, quiver with mounting bracket, three .003 Ravin arrows with nocks and 100-grain practice points, and removable cocking handle.
What kind of ranges can I ethically take a deer at with a bow?
t is a good rule of thumb to practice at twice the distance you intend to shoot when hunting. As the average bow-hunting shot for whitetail is approximately 20 yards practice to hit a 6-inch circle at 40 yards. However, a lot of the bows on this list are extremely accurate and with practice, effective and ethical shots with the right broadheads can be made out to as far as 50 yards with good skill. No matter what range you’re planning on hunting at, you should always prioritize shots that will not only effectively and reliably hit your target, but ensure minimal suffering.
What draw weight is ideal for hunting?
Bows can range in draw weight pretty drastically. Most practice, youth, and target bows can be as little as 25 pounds in draw weight but don’t really pack enough punch to cleanly take down a deer at typical hunting ranges. A good minimum draw weight to aim for is about 40 pounds. However, if you’re more comfortable with higher weights, you should opt to use those as they’ll have better terminal ballistics which should lead to more consistent and ethical kills.
My bow makes a "buzzing" sound and vibrates on every shot, what am I doing wrong?
Eliminating vibration causes your bow to shoot smoother, helping you shoot better. Nobody likes bows that have a lot of hand shock because it feels like you are getting bit by a dog after each shot. A quiet, shock-free bow is a better-shooting, more accurate bow.
There are a lot of small parts and accessories you can buy to eliminate vibration on your bow including limb savers, string leeches, cat whiskers for strings, and stabilizers – all of which will not only help reduce vibration but make the bow more pleasant to shoot overall. These items usually come standard on more expensive bows but they are still quite affordable and can help customize your bow to fit your needs.
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