By Jason Reid
(Rochester, New York) Buying used archery gear is much more common place than we all think. With brand new bows hitting the market each year, the growing used bow pool also grows and improves every year. I remember trying to buy my first hunting bow in the early 2000s and trying to find a quality used bow was tough since the technology at the time was just starting to truly become innovative for the flagship lines.
As time has passed the bows I’ve bought from craigslist or at my local shop become true deals as prices drop but the quality of bow increase. If you keep your eyes open, you can find fantastic bows at a low cost. Keeping an eye on the used market was how I found my bow for this year. Here are three great bows from the past five years, which are now at a reasonable price for the budget conscious hunter, but are also loaded with great technology.
Mathews Heli-M:
One of the best bows Mathews ever produced continues to draw demand even though production on the bow stopped several years ago. Originally launched in 2012, the bow is popular because of its weight. 3.5lbs is an extremely light frame and pushes arrows at speeds over 300FPS. Prices on this bow have held consistent around the $700 dollar range, although with some digging, prices have been found under $500 on eBay.
www.ebay.com/itm/MATTHEWS-HELI-M
Elite Energy32:
The 2014 flagship bow for Elite is an excellent hunting bow and caused people to stop and consider what the brand had to offer. The E32 has a brace height of 7 inches and only weighs 4.3lbs. It is an easy bow to shoot since it has great let-off and is forgiving on those tough shots. The Energy also boasts the same solid back wall that hunters and shooters have come to love about the Elite bows in general, which makes it great especially if you are just getting into archery. Prices on the E32 are holding high around the $700 range but have been found in the $500 range so far this summer.
www.ebay.com/elite
Hoyt Carbon Element:
With its unique riser design grabbing the attention of many shooters in 2011 the Hoyt Carbon Element is still holding great value for hunters. Hoyt made a few revisions of the bow that is known for its strong yet interesting looking carbon riser and how light it is. 32 inches axle to axle and is IBO rated to send arrows at 330fps The Carbon Element had an original street price of $1,299 and still has a bit of a wild range on sites like eBay and Craigslist. If you can find this bow for about half of the original price it would be worth the buying.
www.ebay.com/Hoyt-Carbon-Element
Used bows are a great way to get excellent technology without having to pay the brand new sticker price for the new year model. They also give you the ability to wait and watch reviews which allows you to make an educated decision. Hunters of all skill levels and experience can benefit from keeping an eye on the used bow market, especially as high quality bows continue to fill the marketplace.
About: Driven to tell the next great story, Jason Reid combines a passion for stories and gear with the written word. Follow his adventures on Twitter for honest reviews, information and unique stories from around the outdoor world.