Purchasing a more expensive deer feeder will not only get you a better machine, but it will give you a greater sense of peace of mind. Walking away from game cameras or deer feeders can give you feelings of uncertainty. It is as if they have to earn your trust by working perfectly for some time.

As a hunter, you want to know that your investment is going to give you the results that you want. This is when the old saying “you get what you pay for” comes into play.

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The 9 Top Game Feeders of 2021: Outdoor Empire Reviews

These are our top recommendations for deer feeders in 2021:

1. Best spin-cast: Take the Boss Buck Automatic Spincast Deer and Wildlife Feeder
2. Best tripod: Take the Moultrie 30-Gallon Pro Hunter II
3. Best hanging: Take the Moultrie 5-gal All In One Feeder
4. Best gravity: Take the Redneck Blinds T-Post
5. Best automatic: Take the Moultrie 15-Gallon Directional Feeder

Looking for a specific feature? Check out our quick-reference chart below:

	Best spin-cast	Best tripod	Best hanging	Best gravity	Best automatic
Product	Boss Buck Automatic feeder	30-Gallon Pro Hunter Tripod Deer Feeder	Moultrie Feeder	Redneck Blinds T-Post	Moultrie 15-Gallon Directional Feeder
Capacity	200 lbs	200 lbs	5 gal	80 lbs	100 lbs
Digital Control	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Power	-	6 volts	6 volts	N/A	6 volts
Solar Panel Ready	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A	Yes
Cost	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

1. Best Spin-cast Feeders

Boss Buck Automatic Spincast Deer and Wildlife Feeder

$300.99

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Guide

08/15/2023 06:54 am GMT

The Boss Buck is a 12-volt automatic spincast feeder for deer and other wildlife. It comes in capacity sizes ranging from 200 pounds to 1,200 pounds depending on your needs.

The hopper is made of durable HDPE plastic and is constructed with galvanized hardware and stainless-steel inserts. All the metal used is weather resistant in order to ward off rust and corrosion.

The HDPE plastic used is not only UV resistant but also made to keep precipitation and varmints out of the feeder. The Boss Buck feeder also has the ability to switch from spin feeder to protein feeder if necessary.

The purchase of this feeder includes a 12-volt battery and solar panel.

Pros:

• Multiple capacity choices for customization
• Made of UV-resistant HDPE plastic
• All metal is galvanized to resist rust and corrosion from weather
• Can convert from spin feeder to protein feeder

Cons:

• Many users state that legs should be staked to resist wind speeds
• No feet pads for legs so that deer don’t tip over
• Legs are not easily adjustable

The Boss Buck Automatic Spincast Deer and Wildlife Feeder is well reviewed by users and is best for hunters wishing to attract deer to their feeder.

2. Heavy Metal 200 lbs Box Feeder

Moultrie 30-Gallon Pro Hunter II Tripod Deer Feeder

$357.95

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 07:00 am GMT

The Heavy Metal 200 lbs Box Feeder is manufactured by Wildgame Innovations, which is under the spin casting category.

It has a heavy duty protective cage covering the discharge area, making sure varmints and other annoying pests keep out. The digital control gives the hunter the option of feeding four times a day and can disperse feed up to 30 feet.

Notable Features

• Made of galvanized steel
• Spin caster feeder
• Varmint control cage
• Digital control
• Dispenses feed up to 4 times a day
• Feed spread up to 30 feet

3. Best Tripod Feeders

Moultrie 30-Gallon Pro Hunter II Tripod Deer Feeder

$357.95

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 07:00 am GMT

Moultrie makes several tripod style feeders with their newest, the 30-Gallon Pro Hunter Tripod Deer Feeder. It has a rugged metal barrel with a capacity of 200 lbs.

The programmable mechanical spin casting feeder has a quick disconnect on the motor, giving the user the ability to remove the motor and place it on another barrel or hopper.

It has a fill height of nine feet so a ladder, ATV, or truck bed must be used to stand on to refill the hopper.

Notable Features

• 30-gallon barrel
• 200 lbs capacity
• Digital control
• Dispenses feed up to 6 times a day
• Quick disconnect motor
• Spin caster feeder

4. Boss Buck 350

Boss Buck Gravity Feeder

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Guide

The Boss Buck 350 is a tripod feeder that can be converted from a gravity feeder to a spin caster with ease right from the box.

It is powered by one 12 volts battery, and this feeder seems to have it all. However, just as most tripod feeders, it may be difficult to load it if you do not have a way to get above the 72″ legs.

Notable Features

• Tripod stand
• Galvanized steel rust proof
• Gravity and spin caster attachments provided
• 350 lbs capacity

5. Best Hanging Feeders

Moultrie 5-gal All In One Feeder

$69.99

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 07:10 am GMT

When hunting in a denser area, or an area with plenty of tree branches to hang a feeder, the Moultrie Feeder is the way to go.

It is a 5-gallon plastic tapered bucket and it compacts down to about one third of its operating size. The motorized feeder uses four AA batteries.

Notable Features

• 5-gallon capacity
• Spin caster
• Collapsible
• Solar panel ready
• Batteries included

6. American Hunter 5-Gallon Digital Feeder

AMERICAN HUNTER 5-Gallon

$49.99

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Guide

08/15/2023 07:10 am GMT

The American Hunter Feeders are more common to find since a larger variety of stores carry their product, easy to purchase type of feeder. Most of them are very affordable to the average hunters.

They are a hanging type mechanical feeder where their largest model can hold up to 225 lbs.

Notable Features

• Built-in varmint guard
• Solar panel ready
• 225 lbs capacity
• Digital control
• Feeds up to 16 times a day
• Feeds different days of the week

7. Best Gravity Feeders: Redneck Blinds T-Post

Redneck Blinds T-Post

$138.89

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 07:14 am GMT

With all the talk about mechanical or programmable feeders, it feels good not to have to worry about battery life or anything mechanically jamming.

The simple gravity feeders seem to be the easiest to setup and maintain. With a capacity of 80 lbs of corn, Redneck Blinds T-Post is the most user-friendly gravity feeder out there.

There is a slot on the back of the molded plastic where it fits perfectly snug to a T-Post or one can use tie downs and ratchet the feeder to a tree.

Rat holing can occur with gravity feeders and because the opening must be exposed for the animals to feed, varmints have a season pass when it comes to stealing food.

Continue to the full Redneck Blinds T-Post review…

Notable Features

• 80 lbs capacity
• Heavy duty polyethylene
• Can be strapped to a tree or t-post
• Light weight

8. Best Large Gravity Feeders

Banks Outdoors Feedbank

$387.84

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Guide

08/15/2023 07:14 am GMT

The Banks Outdoors Feedbank 300# Gravity Feeder has a simple yet effective design. A single post elevates the feeder, eliminating any obstruction to food access.

This particular design holds up to 300 pounds of food that is dispersed via gravity. Four evenly spaced feeding ports are placed at an optimal height of 42 inches.

The large watertight cover will ensure the food inside remains fresh and dry. The Banks Outdoors Feedbank is made of UV-stabilized polyethylene, so it will last for years.

Pros:

• Holds up to 300 pounds of food
• Made of UV-stabilized polyethylene
• Four feeding ports placed at 42 inches high
• Watertight cover to keep food fresh and dry

Cons:

• Post must be purchased separately
• Hardware on lid could be sturdier
• Nothing prevents squirrels from climbing up and in

The Banks Outdoors Feedbank is the perfect feeder for those wishing to observe wildlife. It draws deer, turkeys, and other animals for watching, depending on the season.

9. Best Automatic Feeder

Moultrie 15-Gallon Directional Feeder

View on Amazon

Right out of the box, these feeders come with ratchet straps to mount the unit to a tree. It also comes with a bracket, allowing the user to attach the unit to a t-post if desired.

These feeders can discharge feed in a narrow 30-degree path, which is perfect for only placing feed exactly where you like it.

Notable Features

• 15-gallon hopper
• Directional feed pattern
• Includes bracket and ratchet straps
• Tree or t-post ready
• 6 volts battery
• Narrow 30-degree path

View on Amazon

View at Cabela’s

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing

Any hunter who has ever felt the rush of sitting in a tree stand while the game they are hunting comes wandering right under them understands the time and effort that goes into finding and preparing that perfect hunting area.

Game feeders can give a hunter a huge advantage as they can draw in and retain a larger number of game if they are allowed in your state or country ( if not, use alternatives ). Maintained and correctly used feeders also give added nutrients to the deer aiding in antler growth.

However, if you purchase a faulty feeder or one that is prone to malfunctioning, it can be very frustrating, discouraging, and even a costly mistake.

Just like any other major hobby, there are countless products with varieties of option and setups that a hunter can purchase when it comes to game feeders such as tripod spincaster, hanging spincaster, and gravity feeders.

Where do you begin when you have decided to invest in deer feeders? Because of all the different brands and the large variety, the process of looking for the perfect game feeder can become a very overwhelming task.

Purchasing one should technically be a simple process, although it can seem daunting until you begin to focus on the key factors which include but are not limited to the following.

Location

The location is a great place to focus on first. Where do you plan on setting up your game feeder? If you own the land or can drive up to the feeder, then you have more options when looking at different styles.

A larger hopper, heavy duty, and extremely sturdy are easier to unload and setup from your truck. If you plan on hiking into your spot, you want something light weight and easier to transport.

Refilling the Feeder

The initial setup is important, but you also need to be able to refill it periodically throughout the season or even year-round.

If you are by your truck, you can haul up large amounts of feed, as well as use a ladder to fill it each time. For those hiking in, you need to keep in mind how much you can pack and if you are able to load the feed by yourself.

For those feeders that are too tall, you will be required to use some step stool or even a ladder to reach the top ( or buy feeder which already has it ). It will be very cumbersome to pack food and a ladder each time you need to load the feeder.

However, some feeders are designed to allow the person to stand on the ground to load, which is a desirable feature to many as well as having a larger hopper to space out how often you need to refill since it can hold so much more.

Durability

Durability is another point to consider. A feeder is designed to be outdoors day and night for an extended amount of time. Keep in mind that not all manufacturers produce products that can last as long as a hunter expects a feeder to last.

When investing in a deer feeder, you have to be aware of all the different elements that it needs to overcome to survive such as the wind, rain, sun, and even snow.

Another common factor is the durability that a feeder must have to protect itself from the abuse that it will naturally encounter with animals. This contact can include things such as rubbing, eating from it, bumping it, which may result to tipping it over especially if the animals are larger in structure.

Varmint Proof

Deer are not the only animals that are drawn to the feed. Varmints may attempt to chew through the hopper or anywhere that is vulnerable to retrieve the food inside. These varmints are a big concern for many who have previously setup deer feeders.

Raccoons are especially a nuisance since they can climb and curiously interfere with all your hard work. They are capable of spilling large amounts of your corn or deer feed onto the ground which will force you to buy more feed and refill it far more frequently.

An important detail that you want to look into is the type of varmint protection compatible with each type of deer feeder.

Some styles include a cage around the automatic dispenser, as well as certain attachments that go around the legs to prevent these small animals from climbing to the access area, or even some that will send an electric shock to the smaller lower animals.

Mechanical Parts

Along with structural integrity, mechanical parts also need to be durable. Many options of feeders include automatic feeders that entail a clock to initiate the times when you want the feed dispersed and the allotted time that the food is released.

Some feeders will fill a trough and others will shoot the feed out on top of the ground encircling the feeder. You must remember, that with more moving parts there is a greater chance that those parts might break.

It is very important to have a dependable feeder, one that you don’t have to worry about between visits.

Setting Up the Feeder

The process of setting up of the feeder is another thing you need to think about. For many hunters, they may prefer to keep their honey hole a secret from others and need to rely on themselves to be able to setup the feeder independently.

Many manufacturers who understand that concept have made a large variety of feeders capable to be setup by one person.

Still, it is important to evaluate the bulk, weight, size, complexity, and the height of the feeder so you can range if you’re able to fill the it independently.

You may need to bring a ladder if your location is next to a road. You may also be able to stand on the bed of your truck as you load it.

If you are packing the feeder in, you need to purchase one that you can transport, setup, and fill completely on your own. It isn’t just the physical labor of setting up your feeder; with the different styles, a few varieties require you to setup things such as solar panels, batteries, and even program the timer.

Cost

Regardless of popular beliefs, not all hunters are wealthy. Hunting is a sport or hobby that takes quite a bit of money to get into, and it doesn’t always leave enough money to get the “top of the line” items. So price is usually the main point of concern for the average hunter.

It is common to look at the cheapest item in the category you want and to still assume that the quality is not substandard. In some cases, you can skip on the bells and whistles and get a good-quality basic feeder which might be desirable.

Although when you look for a cheap automatic feeder, you need to do more research to understand the integrity of the product and to see if it still fits your purpose.

Also keep in mind that if you purchase an inexpensive feeder, you may end up spending a lot more for repairs, feed, or even replacing the entire unit down the road.

Consider Your Goal

Think about the goal you are trying to achieve and how you want to feed the animals.

Some styles like the gravity feeder, which tend to cost less, may take the deer a bit longer to trust and feed out of. Where as the mechanical spin caster styles, which are more expensive, sprays the feed to the ground where the deer adapts quicker.

If these options still don’t work for you, you can always use a homemade deer feeder.

Also consider how you will hunt for the deer. Often times people hunt a feeder area from a blind or a treestand. You’re probably going to be there a long while waiting for deer to arrive, so make sure you get a comfortable treestand!

Overview of Leading Deer Feeder Brands

Boss Buck  

Boss Buck not only sells feeders, but also stands, blinds, and even feeder parts. Their feeders are light weight and versatile.

You are able to swap back and forth from automatic to gravity with ease. They have a tripod, four-leg stands, and ATV feeders.

Their feeders are very durable and light when empty which makes them really easy to move and setup. Its price is a little on the high side though.

Shark Teeth

They understand the frustration of hunters when varmints try to access their feeders so they also have Shark Teeth Deterrent Strips.

These spiked strips help keep squirrels from climbing and hogs from rubbing against the legs.

On Time Tripods

From hanging to gravity feed tripods, it seems On Time has each type of feeder for every hunter.

One downside of On Time tripods though is that they don’t have plates at the bottom of their legs.

Customers gave their feedback saying that if the ground is damp, the weight of the feed inside the hopper pushes the leg into the earth resulting in an unstable base with a very high possibility of the unit tipping over.

Of course, homemade foot plates can be rigged to help resolve this concern. However, this is not something a customer should have to worry about taking the unit right out of the box.

Moultrie 

Moultrie seems to be a brand that understands the fact that hunters come in a variety of wealth.

From bucket feeders, gravity feeders, and of course tripod feeders, they have it covered.

Moultrie makes most of their hoppers out of plastic. This, unfortunately, allows small dedicated rodents somewhat of a soft material to chew through and get into the feed.

American Hunter

American Hunter is the most flexible feeding system available. They have tripod feeders, hanging feeders, feeder kits, chargers, and batteries.

It is one of the brands that has analog timers with their feeders.

However, it has some reviews from customers stating that the analog timer malfunctions and engages the motor at the incorrect times or does not work at all. Some of the units completely quit working after a short period.

They also seem to be very temperamental. And if the user spins the timer the wrong way, they have a very high likelihood of breaking.

You Decide

All you have to do now is to go over the considerations stated above based on your necessities, and take a closer look at the recommended products.

These factors will definitely guide you pick the feeder that you need.

What is the game feeder that works for you?

Learn more about deer hunting gear here.

Also check these resources: 

Whitetail nutrition calendar – whitetail seasonal feeding habits explained

The post 9 Best Deer Feeders Reviewed & Revealed (Hands-on Guide) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Not only will you have to carry your bow around for the entire hunting season, it is a huge factor in that deciding moment that ultimately determines whether or not you are successful.

A bow that is the right choice for a given hunter is like an extension of their body. They can operate it smoothly and it is a precise fit for optimum efficiency.

The wrong hunting bow can create a multitude of complications:

• If the draw weight is too great the hunter may not be able to smoothly and stealthily draw the bow on game. Once the bow is drawn, the shooter may also have problems holding it steady while preparing to shoot.
• A bow that does not fit correctly is more difficult to aim.
• If you buy a bow that is too heavy or not compact enough it can be a serious burden if you hunt where you cover a lot of ground or travel through brush.
• Bows that are too heavy or not good fits often create bad shooting habits.
• Not buying the right bow the first time around will often be more expensive since you have to buy a replacement.

Clearly, there is more to picking a bow than just going with a popular brand or the right camo pattern. But, with a myriad of options out there, how do you know which bow is for you?  This article will guide you through the process and hopefully help you arrive at the right bow for you.

In this article:

1. first up is our best bow picks for variety of categories
2. then we explain what makes a good compound bow
3. if you didn’t like our recommendations, then you can use our overview of leading compound bow brands to start your own research

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

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12 Top Hunting Bows of 2021: Outdoor Empire Reviews

Among our 12 recommendations, the bows below are our top picks for hunting bows in 2021:

1. 1. Best overall: Bear Cruzer G2
   2. Best for the money: SAS Rage
   3. Fastest bow: PSE Archery Full Throttle
   4. Best for youth: Bear Archery Cruzer RTH
   5. Best beginner: Quest Forge DTH
   6. Best compact: Mandarin Duck Nighthawk 
   7. Best cheap: iGlow 55lb
   8. Best left-hand: Diamond Archery Edge Sb-1

*Looking for a specific feature? Check out our quick-reference chart below:

Category	Best Overall Bow	Best For The Money	Best Cheap
	Bear Cruzer G2	Infinite Edge Pro	iGlow 55lb
Speed	315 FPS	310 FPS	310 FPS
Weight	3 lbs	3.2 lbs	4.4 lbs
Brace Height	6.5"	7”	7.5”
Axle to Axle	30"	31.5”	31.5”
Draw Weight	5-70 lbs	5 - 70 lbs	40 - 70 lbs
Draw Length	12-30"	13-31”	25-31”
Cost	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

Best Overall

Bear Archery is one of the best compound bow manufacturers, and the Cruzer G2 is their flagship compound bow.

The Cruzer G2 is your typical compound bow in looks, but that’s part of why it’s a classic and such a good value.

BEST OVERALL

Bear Cruzer G2

$341.39

Features: The Cruzer G2 is a versatile bow. It can be adjusted for draw lengths from 12 inches to 30 inches and for draw weights from 5 pounds to 70 pounds. This makes it great for beginners and experienced hunters alike. It’s especially great for beginners who will turn into hunters. Plus, unlike some compound bows, you can adjust the Cruzer G2 with an Allen wrench. You don't need to pay for a bow press. The EnduraFiber limbs and twin cams give you a smooth draw with 70 percent let-off. The Cruzer G2 comes with six accessories made by Trophy Ridge: a four-pin sight, whisker biscuit arrow rest, five-arrow quiver, stabilizer with sling, peep sight, and nock loop. All this, and the bow weighs only three pounds, so you can hunt all day without discomfort!

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's

08/16/2023 05:11 am GMT

Compare prices at: Walmart, Sportsman’s Guide, Cabela’s

Is it worth the price?

Absolutely.

You can get a compound bow that’s better than the Cruzer G2, but you’ll be spending a lot more money for only a little bit better bow.

Instead of paying for a much more expensive bow that won’t actually be any more accurate, why not save that money and upgrade the included whisker biscuit arrow rest to a drop-away style instead?

Specs

• Speed: 315 feet per second
• Weight: 3 pounds
• Axle to Axle: 30 inches
• Brace Height: 6 and 1/2 inches
• Draw Weight: 5-70 pounds
• Draw Length: 12-30 inches

2. Bowtech Reign 7

The Bowtech Reign 7 is a pro-grade hunting bow that’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a powerful, smooth shooting bow that sends arrows downrange at 340 feet per second. It’s not the fastest, but delivers consistent accuracy shot after shot.

It is SmartBow and the idea behind it is that you can harness complete and total control over the bow from the moment you touch the string to releasing it.

For an example, OverDrive binary cams allow you to fine tune the bow for your needs and PowerShift technology provides provides distinct draw cycle options.

Features

• The Bowtech Rein 7 allows you to customize the draw weight in 10-pound increments. Starting at 50 and going to 70 pounds.
• The draw length is also adjustable from 25 to 31 inches.
• It’s a lightweight 4.3 pounds and delivers a consistently smooth and controlled draw.

The Rein is an overall outstanding bow. It’s not a cheap one, but when you want the very best, it costs you.

3. Best Compound Bow for the Money

Many people find that in respect to their hobbies, it is difficult to afford everything top of the line.

There are those who are interested in getting into bow hunting or compound bow shooting. But when they see some price tags, they drop the idea altogether.

For those on a budget or even those who may only shoot occasionally would be interested in a bow that works well with a low price, the SAS Rage is just the thing.

BEST FOR THE MONEY

SAS Rage (or later Outrage model)

$179.99

Features: It has a slightly adjustable draw length ranging from 26 to 30 inches and a draw weight from 55 to 70 pounds. It weighs 4.4 pounds which make it fairly heavy, although a fair price to pay for money. It is sturdy and comfortable to use which makes it functional for hunting. It is accurate and consistent right from the setup.

View on Amazon

08/16/2023 05:11 am GMT

Southland Archery Supply is a small company that developed the Rage which is an adult bow. It comes in black or camouflage, and you can purchase packages with it.

Overcome the Downsides

Its weight can be tiring when sighting or hunting with it. It also has been known to have string issues as well as loose bolts. It is not the quietest either so silencers may help.

It would be wise to replace the bow string right out of the box. With the loose bolts, many overcome it by purchasing a dampening kit to reduce the vibration, plus check and retighten them when shooting too.

The SAS Rage is hard to beat when it comes to a good buy bow. If you don’t mind a heavier bow or a little extra maintenance, it is one of the recommended bows on the market for the price.

Specs 

• Draw Length: 26″ – 30”
• Speed: 270 FPS
• Weight: 4.4 lbs
• ATA: 35”
• Draw Weight: 55 -70 lbs

4. Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package by Diamond Archery

Before you look at the price of the Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package I want you to remember the key word here is package.

Package being the keyword. This isn’t just a bow, it’s a complete archery package. The only thing not included is the arrows and a target.

The Diamond Archery Infinite Edge bow is already an outstanding bow:

Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package by Diamond Archery

Features: It launches arrows at over 300 feet per second. It only weighs 3.2 pounds and has a draw weight of up to 70 pounds total. The Infinite Edge Pro can be used by anybody from an experienced sportsman to new shooters. It’s incredibly versatile in its adjustments for both weight and draw length. Draw length goes from 13 to 31 inches and the weight range is 5 to 70 pounds. Now that's what I call versatile. The Infinite Edge Pro has an incredibly smooth draw cycle, and there isn’t a hump, grind, or kick to be felt. At the end of a draw stroke you meet a solid wall and it’s nearly impossible to overdraw. The let off is 80% which is a little high, but nothing crazy.

View on Amazon View at Cabela's

Compare prices at: Bass Pro Shops

What the package includes

The bow is great, and the package provided is fantastic. It includes a 3 pin Tundra Sight, a hostage XL arrow rest, a Deadlock Lite octane quiver, a tube peep sight, a BCY string loop, a wrist sling, and 5-inch ultra-lite octane stabilizer.

Add in the bow and you really are getting an excellent deal for the money.

Specs:

• Speed: 310 FPS
• Weight: 3.2 Lbs
• Brace Height: 7”
• Axle to Axle: 31.5”
• Draw Weight: 5-70 lbs
• Draw Length: 13-31”

5. Fastest Compound Bow

The PSE Full Throttle is the fastest shooting bow in the world. Through a stunning feat of engineering shooters are seeing speeds up to 370 feet per second with the Full Throttle. This defies most expectations and PSE is certainly proud of their feat.

The Full Throttle is an outstanding bow and lives up to the PSE reputation. The Full Throttle uses a hybrid cam system and preloaded limbs. The cams are made from 6061 T6 aluminum so its super strong and will last forever.

PSE Archery Full Throttle

Features: The Full Throttle has a let off of 70%, and you can adjust the weight to a variety of settings, including 50, 60, 65, and 70 pounds. The draw length can be adjusted by the half inch from 26.5 to 30 inches. The bow is not only fast, but exceptionally accurate. This is one of the benefits to the PSE’s Planar Flex riser which gives the bow a 25% rigidity increase. At 70 pounds you're maximizing your speed at the cost of max weight. However, you can set the Full Throttle to a lower weight and still have a significant speed advantage when compared to similar bows. With this much speed there is some concern for string oscillation. Luckily the included Backstop Lite string suppressor reduces this a significant degree.

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Who is it for?

While the PSE Full Throttle is an outstanding bow it’s not for every shooter. This bow is for experienced shooters and isn’t suited for newbies. With speed like this you need to have your draw length down to a science or you are wasting the bow’s potential.

Specs:

• Speed: 370 FPS
• Weight: 4.1 lbs
• Brace Height: 5.25”
• Axle to Axle: 33.25”
• Draw Weight: 50 to 70lbs
• Draw Length: 26.5” to 30”

6. Best Youth Bow

Bow hunting is a very complex form of hunting.

The dedicated practice and confidence, approach, closing the distance, accuracy, thinking under pressure, making quick and ethical judgments.

These are just a few of the extreme factors that bow hunters face continually.

With the younger generations, we find that children are becoming more exposed and have better access to learning adult sports at an early age. Those who do not understand bow hunting may see that teaching it to children is unhealthy since it involves a weapon.

The reality is, it teaches them deeper lessons that can help them through their life:

• improving by practice
• confidence
• hard work
• making decisions
• strength
• exercise
• love for the outdoors
• overcoming failure
• endurance
• an everlasting respect for nature

Many companies understand these valuable lessons for the future generations and have made it possible to accomplish these. The Bear Archery Cruzer does just that.

BEST YOUTH BOW

Bear Archery Cruzer RTH

Features: It allows children as young as 4 years old to an adult age to target shoot and hunt. It is versatile as the draw length can be adjusted from 12 to 30 inches and the draw weight from 15 to 70 lbs. These adjustments can also be done at home without using a bow press. It is perfect for young children as they grow. Another great aspect is its 75% let-off that allows you to pull it to full draw and hold with little resistance. It is perfect for target shooting until the minimum poundage for big game hunting has been met.

View on Amazon

Specs

• Draw Weight: 15 -70 lbs
• Draw Length: 12″ – 30 “
• Let-off: 75%
• Brace Height: 6.5″
• Weight: 3.6 lbs

7. Best Bow for Beginner Hunters

Many people find that entering into a new hobby can be overwhelming because it is difficult to determine what is essential and what isn’t.

It seems that Prime had the beginners in mind when they built and set up the Quest.

It is constructed for those individuals who want to get into archery and could eventually decide that they would like to get into hunting as well.

It comes with everything needed to get out and get shooting.

One thing that every beginner should know is their draw length since it will determine the bow settings and arrow lengths, and this is easily done in nearly any archery store. This will also narrow your options and make everything a bit less overwhelming.

BEST BOW FOR BEGINNERS

Quest Forge DTH Compound Bow Package

Features: Its draw length ranges from 25.5 to 30 inches, which falls perfectly into the average person's range. The draw weight, on the other hand, can be adjusted to pretty much every state's minimum poundage requirement for hunting big game of 40 pounds but can be adjusted up to 70 pounds. The higher the poundage, the flatter your arrow will shoot and the faster it will fly. For hunting, it is ideal to have the highest poundage you can safely pull back. It also has a creep-free string.

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Out of the Box

Right out of the box, it comes with everything you need to shoot (minus the arrows):

• stabilizer
• tool-less fiber optic sight
• Halo full containment rest
• neoprene wrist sling
• meta peep
• rubber stabilizer
• quiver to hold your arrows
• rest for your arrow

From the rest to the quiver, it seems that the best attachment it comes with is the tool-less fiber optic sight.

Any archer who has been shooting since the fiber optic sights came out understands how great tool-less sights are. No need for two or three different size hex keys in your pockets while out on the range.

Specs

• Draw Length: 25.5″ – 30″
• Weight: 3.9 lbs
• Draw Weight: 40 – 70 lbs
• ATA: 32”
• Brace Height: 7”
• Speed: 315 FPS

8. Best Compact Bow: Mandarin Duck Nighthawk

The Mandarin Duck Nighthawk is the oddest looking bow I’ve ever seen, but it does give users a lightweight, and compact option. It’s remarkably small, but also quite powerful. It’s only 24 inches long and weighs only 4.4 pounds.

It’s still capable of launching an arrow at 270 FPS. This odd Duck is an interesting design and is compatible with both left and right-handed shooters.

Features

• Besides its small size and lightweight, the Mandarin Duck Nighthawk is compatible with a 5 pin sight, an arrow rest and take down quiver.
• The draw weight is 50 pounds and length is 27 inches.
• It’s remarkably accurate and packs a good punch for such a small bow. It’s easy to strap across your back and hit the field with.
• The included pistol style grip aids in control and makes drawing the bow simple for most shooters.
• It’s great for maneuverability, especially if you are hunting in thicker brush, or have a well-camouflaged tree stand.

9. Best Cheap Bow

New shooters maybe looking to dive into the bow world without spending a ton of money. It’s understandable when it comes to a new and expensive hobby like archery.

The iGlow 55 lb lets shooters try their hand and archery and have that opportunity to get hooked on tossing arrows down range.

BEST CHEAP BOW

iGlow 55lb

$84.99

Features: The iGlow’s 55-pound draw weight is appropriate for most shooters and is just powerful for doing some medium game hunting. It’s light enough to avoid intimidating new shooters and powerful enough to bag a big buck. The bow launches a standard arrow roughly 206 feet per second. The bow itself is quite light, weighing only 4 pounds and being made from fiberglass it’s easy to carry and hold for extended periods of time. The draw weight is adjustable from 40 to 55 pounds and the draw length is adjustable from 27 to 29 inches

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08/15/2023 06:07 pm GMT

The iGlow was chosen not only due to its low price, but because it’s a relatively easy bow for any shooter to pick up and shoot.

Conclusion

The iGlow is a very basic bow that doesn’t include a ton of fancy features.

Instead it focuses on being brilliant in the basics. Its rudimentary sights aren’t fancy, but they’re effective. It’s accurate and easy to shoot, and you are best suited using traditional aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon with this bow.

The bow is available by itself at a great price, or you can choose package options that will set you up with a variety of accessories and upgrades for a great price.

Specs:

• Speed: 310 FPS
• Weight: 4.4 lbs
• Brace Height: 7.5”
• Axle to Axle: 31.5”
• Draw Weight: 40 to 70 lbs
• Draw Length: 25-31”

10. Best Left-hand Compound Bow

The Diamond Archery Edge SB-1 is a bow built from the ground up for left-handed shooters. It does have a right-hand variant as well, but they didn’t just move some features over and call it left handed. This is a true Southpaw bow. This maximizes comfort, safety, accuracy, and ease of use for all you lefties out there.

Diamond Archery Edge Sb-1

$329.99

Features: This is a complete system that is a bow, a stabilizer, a sight, quiver, and arrow rest. All you need is your chosen arrows and you are ready to rock. The Bow is easy to configure for most users and weighs only 3.6 pounds. It launches arrows at 318 fps and has an adjustable draw weight from 7 to 70 pounds with a draw length adjustable from 15 to 30 inches. This is one of the highest quality and most affordable options for the left-handed bowhunter out there.

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08/15/2023 07:45 pm GMT

The Diamond Archery is a solid performer for hunting or recreation.

Best Bows From ATA 2019 Trade Show

Anyone hunter that’s ever had an animal jump string on them understands the frustration of a loud bow.  Understandably, there seem to be millions of variables for each shot of a hunt. In this article, we will review some of our favorite bows from ATA 2019.

11. Best Overall Bow: The Mathews Triax

When a manufacturer puts forth an effort to reduce these variables of their bow, the product will help your chances of a more successful hunt. Especially dampening vibration and sound! When it comes to buying bows, we tend to lean towards certain brands. This is because they have created trust with consumers and stand by their names.

Mathews is a name that everyone seems to know because they only develop high-quality bows.  Their only goal is to help their customers be as successful as possible. By creating bows they themselves love to use, they did not disappoint with their newest flagship bow, the Mathews Triax.

The Triax stands out above the rest with its new technology. It provides an outstanding 78% less vibration than the competing bows! This Matthews is a compact design that allows hunters more maneuverability to get into extremely close range.

Coming in at 28 inches from axel to axel, the Triax is even better in tight areas than its competitors. We think it is one of the most balanced, stable, and accurate bows ever made. Not only is it ridiculously quiet, but it has been designed with the Mathews Crosssentric Cam System.

The Triax was designed to maintain accuracy by keeping the nock at travel level. Additionally, you can purchase a flat back grip. This is a synthetic rubber grip made to concentrate pressure at full draw. This reduces hand torque.

Specifications

Brace Height: 6 inches
IBO: Up to 343-feet-per-second
Axel to Axel: 28 inches
Draw Lengths: 24.5 to 30.5 inches
Draw Weight: 50, 60, or 70 pounds
Let off: 75 or 85%
Weight: 4.4 pounds
MSRP: $ 1,099

Learn more about Mathew’s Bows.

12. Best Value for the Money

Not every hunter can afford top of the line equipment in all areas of hunting gear. So, it’s great when you can get products that both get the job done and allow you to stay on a tight budget.  Bear is a company that makes hunting affordable for anyone that wants to get into the sport.

If you are looking for a bow that is great for the money but still has the feel and accuracy of a name brand flagship bow, then look no further than the Bear Approach HC!

Bear Approach HC

When it comes to speed, the Bear Approach HC is neck and neck with most high-end bows. It comes in at 340-feet-per-second! How is this possible? Their hybrid cams obtain the speed. In addition, the Approach has been designed with Sonic Nocks. These cut vibrations to help keep your bow as quiet as possible.

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Another fantastic design feature of the Bear Approach HC is the at-home adjustable draw length. It completely eliminates the need of a bow press! This allows anyone to fine-tune perfect length for themselves.

At $449.99, this bow cannot be beaten when it comes to speed and accuracy. This is the perfect bow for anyone that needs to stay on budget but doesn’t want to sacrifice quality in order to do so.

Specifications

Brace Height: 6 inches
IBO: Up to 340-feet-per-second
Axel to Axel: 32 inches
Draw Lengths: 25.5 to 30 inches
Draw Weight: 55 to 70, or 45 to 60 pounds
Let off: 75%
Weight: 4 pounds

Other Reviewed Compound Bows

• Bowtech Fuel

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing

With a wide array of bows on the market, it may be difficult to find the exact one you want.

It is very similar to shopping for a new vehicle. If you don’t know what kind of car or truck you want, then with so many decisions, it would be easier to just walk to wherever you want to go.

But, by breaking everything down, the decision almost presents itself “What will be my main use for the vehicle? Work, transportation or play?”.

Once you have that figured out, you can narrow your search down and get on the right track for a car or truck.

This same idea applies for archery, ”What will my main use for the bow be? Hunting, target shooting, recreation?”.

Most people get into archery for competition shooting or hunting.

In this section we focus on features and specifications that make up a good compound bow for hunting.

Speed

With hunting in mind, it seems that speed is the one thing that grabs a hunter’s eye more than anything.

Ten to fifteen years ago, if a bow could shoot over 250 FPS, it was a jaw dropper. With all the current advancements, some bows are now capable of shooting up to 370 FPS.

Jumped String

Anyone who has ever archery hunted seems to have the same story to tell. As soon as they shoot at an animal, the animal moved right before the arrow even hit it. This is called jumped string.

This sickening sight causes any hunter to think back and wish that he or she had a faster bow for it to give better shots, more accuracy, lower arc, and a more ethical kill. With that in mind, it is essential to make sure the bow’s speed is right where you want it.

Just to remind you that speed isn’t everything.

Achieving Accuracy

With the thought of ”speed isn’t everything” in the back of your mind, there is one thing that should be rated higher than speed.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the fact that we can shoot as fast as we can. But as long as my bow shoots around 300 FPS, I am shooting an arrow the full length of a football field in one second.

So can I shoot an apple off someone’s head the full length of the football field? Of course, I would never try that, but that brings up the next major point — accuracy.

Brace Height

Besides consistency in shooting and a well-tuned bow, brace height plays a huge part in accuracy. It is the measurement from the grip of your bow to the string where you place your arrow. The taller the brace height is, the easier it is to shoot the bow.

However, the taller the brace height is, the slower your bow shoots. So when the brace height is smaller, the faster and less accurate the bow shoots. Before you take less accurate to heart, let me explain.

The majority of shooters find the 7 inches brace height to be optimal, 6 inches are considered as speed bows and 8 inches are competition bows. So anything out of the 6-8 inches range are bows for special purpose.

Focusing On Getting Better

The difference would be similar to me trying to play golf against Tiger Woods when he was in his prime. I could use the same golf clubs that he used and he would have smoked me.

The reason is because his golf clubs were blades, meaning the sweet spot was a lot smaller to hit. So his form had to be perfect for his shot to play out exactly how he wanted it to.

This same example fits perfectly for a small brace height. If you have perfect form and you are able to do the same thing every time, then the brace height won’t make much of a difference and you will want a shorter one to help with speed.

But if you torque your wrist or are shaky when in the valley of the draw, then your shooting will suffer immensely.

The main thing is to first learn how to shoot a compound bow properly, and then after a lot of practice you should start worrying about advanced factors like brace height.

My Experience

I have been shooting bows for over 30 years and I still feel that I don’t have great form.

I prefer a taller brace height over speed, mainly because if there ever comes a day where I need William Tell a shot and shoot an apple off someone’s head at 100 yards, I will have a 1% chance instead of a 0% chance.

Weight

Again, your bow’s weight is dependent on your purpose. If your goal is for recreation or target practice, then you can use a heavier bow and set it down between shots.

If it is for hunting, then it is important to note that you will be carrying your bow, gear, arrows and everything else for as long as you are hunting. It can be quite exhausting to carry your hunting gear and to hold your bow up or even at full draw for certain lengths of time.

Now, when a manufacturer advertises the weight of their bow, remember that they are referring to the dry weight. You still have to account for the weight from the sights, arrows plus broadheads, rest, and quiver.

Just a small tip if you plan on hunting, it is suggested to practice shooting your bow with a quiver full of arrows and anything else you might have on your bow when trying to harvest an animal.

Understandably, the amount of weight that the quiver full of arrows is very minimal. But when crunch time comes, muscle memory is all you will have to do as you draw and release your shot.

The weight of the quiver on the side of your bow may not throw you off when shooting something like 30 or 40 yards. But if you are trying to reach out to 60 yards, it may affect you more than you think.

Let-off

Let-off is basically the amount of mechanical relaxation that your bow achieves at full draw, which is measured in percentage. It is usually the same proportion with the bow’s peak draw weight.

If your bow is set to 60%, it means that as you draw the bow back it is 60 lbs, but once you get close to full draw the weight reduces. This way you can pull a bow back and hold it at full draw.

This fantastic invention allows the shooter to have time aiming without added shaking if you had to hold the full 60 lbs. This ultimately will increase accuracy.

If you are hunting, then this is the whole reason you are shooting a compound bow — to be able to pull back 60 pounds and hold at full draw for as long as you can until the animal steps out from behind the tree or turns and gives you an ethical shot.

Importance of let-off in hunting

The greater percentage will allow more time at full draw and give you more hunting opportunities instead of becoming fatigued and needing to lower your bow.

Many hunters know that in that moment from when you pull your bow back, you need to hold perfectly still while your heart is beating out of your chest.

If you become fatigued and lower your bow, usually that drastic move will cause the animal to see you and to stop in their tracks. These are reasons why hunters choose a high percentage so they can avoid many disappointing experiences.

Make sure to check your state’s rules and regulations as some states have a requirement that a compound bow cannot exceed at a certain percentage of the let-off.

Draw Length

Knowing your draw length will narrow your options and make everything a bit less overwhelming. This is done in different ways but it measures your wing span or one arm up to a certain point.

It gives a great guideline for setting up a bow with what should be comfortable. If you have too long draw length, then you will be pulling the highest poundage a lot of further back into your draw and it will cause other inconsistencies.

A shorter draw length is also hard and requires you to bend your elbow or not get the bow back to your anchor spots against your face.

Choosing the length of draw

I highly recommend getting fitted at a pro shop for any bow you want to buy or even try to shoot. Draw length is probably the most important aspect and setup you need to shoot a bow correctly.

It does not only create consistency but it also greatly reduces injuries like slapping your forearm with the string, to hurting your shoulder if pulling the bow back too far.

Some of the modern compound bows have the ability to adjust the draw length fifteen to twenty inches right there in your living room. Other bows require different cams or machines to change the draw length.

Any pro-staff can easily figure out your draw length with you there in their shop. But here’s a simple technique for you:

Draw Weight

Understand that not all bows are versatile when it comes to the poundage. Many bows are designed with a  10-pound adjustment window.

For example, you can purchase a bow that will have the lowest weight setting at 50 pounds and the max that it can be set to is 60. These bows may require different cams or limbs to withstand the new weight. Then there are bows that can be set from 13 to 70 lbs.

Recommended Ranges for Modern Compound Bows

It’s also important to have matching arrows for your bow’s draw weight, check our article on choosing the best hunting arrows for more information.

State Regulation

Some states have minimum poundage that you must have your bow set to attempt to take big game.

When I first turned ten and was old enough to deer hunt in my state, I knew the minimum poundage for Arizona was 40 lbs. I shot my bow every day and did as many pushups as I could to try to meet that goal.

It took me a couple of years, but I finally got my bow set at that weight.

The reason for the minimum poundage is a great and much needed law. As any true hunter understands, an ethical kill is something that is always desired.

If your bow is shooting a lower poundage and a lower amount of kinetic energy then even with a perfect shot, you may just end up wounding the animal you are after. Just like draw length, some bows can be easily adjusted at home in a matter of seconds.

Sights

The sights on your bow allow you to pin point how high to hold your bow depending on how many yards you are from your target.

For many, they would have a pin set at 20 yards, the next would be at 30 yards and so on in increments of 10 yards. With the modern advancement in bows, understandably the accuracy has progressed in leaps and bounds. Sights are one of these progressions.

Different Types of Sights

It seems there are more options with different sights than there are with bows. From floating pins to 7 pin setups, the options are limitless.

If your bow doesn’t come with a sight, you need to understand the area and style you will be hunting. Tree stand, still hunting, ground blind, spot and stalk. Each sight has a benefit for those different styles of hunting.

7 pin sights are ideal for spot and stock or still hunting. This allows you to approach an animal or jump one and quickly find the pin depending on the distance.

The floating pin or adjustable single pin is perfect for ground blinds or a comfortable tree stand where you can adjust the sight to where the animal may be standing.

Make sure to also read our article on how to sight in a bow.

Sights & Ethical Shot

The new advancement has also opened the door for sights such as 5 or 7 pin fixed, with the bottom pin being a floater. This allows the shooter to dial in a distance much farther than some believe ethical.

For some avid hunters, they will practice a really far shot such as 80 yards. Not to hunt at that distance, but it allows them to fix flaws with forms since mistakes are drastically noticeable.

Then when they move up to a closer distance, they are more consistent and make fewer mistakes with their form.

Keep in mind that you need to be extremely confident at any distance to make an ethical shot and you should only hunt within your confidence range.

Rest

A rest is an attachment on the bow that holds the arrow consistently in the same place and same angle every time as you draw back your bow and shoot.

Back in the day, the shooter would hold the arrow in place as they draw their bow back in order to keep it from falling off.

Rests have pretty much followed the technology with the sights, from drop away or whisker biscuits to mechanical rests, all the different styles are available. With the new styles, each one is effective so it comes down to preference.

Whisker Biscuit

A whisker biscuit is a bunch of bristles that hold your arrow in place but also allows the fletchings on the arrow to slip through the bristles unnoticed.

Drop Away

Drop away rests will hold your arrow up and when you release the string, the stand will drop and the arrow will float and shoot forward.

As with anything mechanical it can always malfunction, many people will steer clear of them because of the risks that they have. With any malfunction, it can cause the arrow to shoot off to one side or even injure the shooter among other results.

It all depends on who you talk to and what their preference is and the stories they have heard. I have personally shot both and both did the trick.

Further reading:

The Best Arrow Rests of 2019: The Definitive Guide (In-Depth Reviews)

Release Aids

Even though it isn’t part of a bow or attached to it, a good release aid can work wonders in grouping from consistency to perfect shot placements. A good release helps you draw the bow in comfort while waiting at full draw if need be.

Style

There are a few different styles, some strap around your wrist and others are hand-held. Many of them are adjustable to different lengths which matter to get consistent anchor points which result in more consistency.

A cheap release-aid can have a stiff trigger which can cause flinching when trying to shoot at an animal during that adrenaline rush. The trigger shouldn’t be choppy at all, it should be a smooth process.

Hook caliper and double calipers are just a couple options for release-aids. Some argue that the double moving caliper is the way to go as the string won’t slip off the release, it will slide out smoothly seems how both jaws are moving at the same time.

Test them out first

Just like purchasing a bow, the way to find out what style of release you want is to test drive as many as possible. Any pro shop or big name outdoor store will have numerous release-aids that customers can try out until they find the exact one they want.

Some vary in size, length, and styles so you might end up buying one and then with more experience look into a different style.

Price to Quality Ratios

Price and quality are what majority of the people initially look at and want to know when purchasing a gear. You first need to understand what you plan to do with your bow.

If you are an adult, you can just buy one bow to last the rest of your life depending on the quality and money you invested on it. For those that are just going to shoot occasionally, then there is less need for a top of the line bow.

Purpose

If you are going to hunt, then there are corners that cannot be cut. Or if you are going into competitive shooting, then you might want the top of the line for the opportunity of the perfect shots.

Low-cost but cheaply manufactured bows tend to malfunction so sacrificing certain things make buyers regret later.

Looking at the top of the line bows, you are guaranteed quality which may even surpass the shooter themselves if being shot with poor form. For these bows, you must be willing to drop close to or over $1,000 for the bare bow.

Then there are great bows with good quality that the shooter could match and others that you can surpass. Poundage is one thing that many hunters and shooters can surpass so that needs to be accounted for and thought for future use.

My Experience

The bow I used to shoot as a young adult was my dad’s bow in the late 80’s.

I shot that bow for years until I was able to save up the money for a higher end bow. Then I went to several archery pro shops and shot every bow they had until I found one that felt perfect, smooth and most importantly comfortable in my hand.

In all honesty, it wasn’t the bow I was expecting. It didn’t cost me $1,000, it was just a basic no named bow that I liked. I didn’t buy it for the name. I bought it solely because of how it felt and how consistently it shot for me.

My wife recently did the same and ended up with a less expensive bow even when shot side by side with the top of the line bows.

Leading Compound Bow Brands

Precision Shooting Equipment (PSE)

Precision Shooting Equipment (PSE) is the largest privately owned archery manufacturer in the United States. PSE seems to incorporate everyone who may be interested in archery. Located in Tucson, Arizona, their customer service and their dealers seem to be top notch.

Any given day out on the range, the majority of bows that people will be shooting are PSE. Simply because this company offers such a wide variety of bows that everyone can afford and enjoy.

A lot of people have complained that their bows seem to have small issues or they need to be tuned quite often. But they have good customer service that are always willing to stand by their product and correct anything that is out of the norm such as a defect or mechanical issues.

Bowtech

Bowtech turned up the heat back in 2005 with their Allegiance by shooting it at 315 FPS.

This caused all of their competitors to up their game in order to hang with Bowtech. Their engineering seemed to have one up on all the other competitors. But as of today, the speed of all the bows has peaked around 350 FPS.

They produced the RPM 360 giving a speed of, well, 360 FPS. With a bow this fast, it is nice to see that they still have their engineering team always trying to improve their bows, and they are still in the business.

Bowtech also has their Diamond series bows, produced for those people who want to get into hunting but don’t want to take out a second mortgage on their home. Reasonably priced, their Diamond bows can hang with PSE’s lower priced bows.

Customer service

One thing to take into account is that if you ever have any issues with your Bowtech bow, hopefully you have a great pro shop that you can take it to.

Their customer service is sub-par in the sense that even if your bow is still under warranty, you will have a fight on your hands.

Your best bet would be to take your bow to a local pro shop and see if their rep can help you out.

But that is a tricky part too. Some pro shops and major outdoor stores have stopped selling Bowtech because of this.

Regardless of the fact that their customer service isn’t that great, their flagship bows are hard to beat. Speed, accuracy and price range all fall in the range that a professional would expect them to be.

Mathews

Matt McPherson first started making bows back in the early 70’s.

In the 90’s, Matthews came out with the Solo Cam which was considered by industry insiders as the greatest innovation of that era. The Solo Cam was quieter and extremely easy to tune making it a game changer in accuracy.

McPherson is an outdoorsman and understands what it takes to run a company. He understands that the hunter or consumer is what makes a company thrive so he has always put the customers’ needs before that of the company’s profit.

With just the opposite as Bowtech, Matthews’ customer service couldn’t be any better. They try to resolve all issues and concerns within a 24-hour window. They are a well-known brand and always produce quality equipment.

Hoyt

Hoyt is arguably the best of the best when it comes to competition and hunting bows.

With a quick visit to a non-sponsored pro shop, you will find nothing but great customer service and advice as the pro shop wants you to return to their store again.

Hoyt has been around since 1931 and seems to be the premier choice for celebrities and people with money. Once again, the phrase, you get what you pay for fits perfect for Hoyt. With their new carbon bows, they seem to be leading the industry in quality and performance.

Now, It Is Your Turn

When it comes to these top of the line manufacturers, it’s like you are arguing over Chevy, Ford or Dodge.

Each of those truck manufacturers does a great job, but if you ask some people who have strong negative opinions regarding a brand or two, and refuse to drive a certain type because of bad experiences or other issues.

The same goes for PSE, Bowtech, Mathews and Hoyt. Each company does a phenomenal job and pushes its competitors to be better.

But don’t just go and make a purchase of the first one you see. Make sure you test drive each brand, each model and decide for yourself, not just because your favorite celebrity shoots it. Shoot it because you feel comfortable shooting it.

This post is part of our hunting & shooting gear guide.

Other resources worth checking:

National Field Archery Association

North American Outfitters – Hunting bows service and repair.

Bowhunting Safari – Organizes bowhunting excursions worldwide.

The post 12 Best Compound Bows Reviewed & Revealed (Hands-on Guide) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Using a deer feeder is one method that many hunters use to achieve better opportunities for a successful hunt. There are different styles to choose from — some are attached to a tree trunk, hanged from a tree or mechanism, and some are standing with their legs.

Cost Cutting

Hunting is an expensive hobby that requires a lot of equipment including your weapon, apparel, optics and other devices that aid in taking a perfect and ethical shot. So when it comes to cutting corners on expenses, many hunters are willing to explore their options.

Deer feeders can be expensive so many hunters look for ways to build their own. Here are the different styles of homemade deer feeders and an overview of how to construct them.

Popular Homemade Game Feeder Styles

Trough Table

One of the most shared and primary deer feeders that you can replicate is a channel table style. To accomplish this simple task, you need to make a table with deep edges to keep the corn or grain from falling out.

Pros

• It allows the deer to approach the table and see all around them as they eat. Some deer may be discouraged if part of their view is blocked while they eat.

Cons

• You have to refill it continually which can become cumbersome and possibly expensive depending on how far you intend to travel.

• It is exposed to all weather conditions and varmints.

How to Overcome the Downside

Using the same table setup, add a container (can be made of wood, plastic buckets, barrels, or anything else that you have access to) that has holes on the sides near the bottom. Then place in the center of the table.

This allows you to fill up the container and tray with the corn or grain. As the tray is emptied, the container uses gravity to fill up the plate. Your visits to refill it are now spaced out.

However, the feeder is still exposed to the elements so you have to build a shelter over it. Depending on how extensive the roof is would determine how much weather is kept off the feed and table.

And like any deer feeder, once you’ve built it you need to consider where to place your feeder. Pick a good spot to make sure it’s effective.

Gravity Feeder

Another basic feeder is a mounted game feeder. There are different styles to this as well, and much of it depends on what materials are used, not to mention your skill level and what tools you have.

Like some popular commercially available deer feeders, these use gravity to keep a limited amount of food accessible at a time. Though these won’t give you quite as much control over how much feed is distributed as an automated feeder would.

PVC Pipe

The most famous is built from a long wide tube of PVC pipe with a cap on the top. At the bottom, place a 90-degree elbow and then a 45-degree angle pointing up — forming a “J” shape.

This will allow you to fill up the tube and the grain won’t fall out directly. The deer will be able to eat from the 45-degree angle piece. As they eat, gravity will refill the base with grains.

“Y” Shape

Other variations of the PVC pipe style gravity feeders only change at the bottom. For some, they use a 45-degree “Y” attachment piece having the 45 degrees part pointing up, and for the bottom hole they use a cap with a form of grating cuts in it.

“L” Shape

Here’s how the “L” shape is done:

1. Use a 90-degree elbow and then more PVC pipe length and a cap on the end.
2. Then on the horizontal section, cut the top layer to form a gutter type trough to eat out of.

It can be attached to a tree or you can do a free standing post by using a T-post. Some use small skinny structure that has a roof shelter over it.

The same concept can also be adapted to other containers.

1. Use a barrel or 5-gallon bucket with a hole at the bottom.
2. Attach the PVC pipe to the hole of the bucket.

This allows the holding capacity to be greater which lessens the time and energy to make frequent trips to refill.

Another variation is the feeding spout, where a variety of metal or different trays are just secured to the PVC.

Tripod

For grain feeders, you can make a homemade version of a tripod deer feeder. Here’s an overview of how it’s done:

1. It consists of a large barrel with a lid on top that is removable for easy refilling.
2. Then three poles for the legs are attached to it for broad support base like a tripod.
3. Cut a hole at the bottom of the barrel and place some form of a feeding spout over the hole.
4. You can upgrade it and have up to four different spouts to feed more deer.

Keep in mind, you will need a ladder and to e physically capable of refilling the barrel bag by bag until you have the amount you want in your feeder.

And if you expect trouble with little critters eating your deer feed, here are some tips to avoid that.

Alfalfa Feeder

This is created by:

1. Build a structure like a table trough.
2. Above it, make beams close together forming a “V” shape that will hold the alfalfa above the table.

As the deer pulls the alfalfa, the beams hold the rest in. And whatever spills out lands right on the table.

Here’s how to use a 50-gallon barrel:

1. Cut the middle vertically: one-half on its side forming a trough, and the other half used as the roof.
2. These are set around 3 feet apart using 2×4 wood beams as the structural support.
3. Between the barrels, use a sturdy and thick pig fence style wire mesh forming a “V” shape.
4. The roof pipe is lifted to add the new feed and still kept dry.

To make an even simpler version, take a barrel and cut holes around it to allow the animals’ heads to access a pile of alfalfa piled inside of it. This is used for goats and other animals, but can easily be used for deer although bucks need bigger holes to get their heads inside.

Make Attractants as Alternative

If you find the options above still time consuming and costly, then you might be interested in knowing that there are other forms of feeds or attractants that you can use.

Deer Lick

Aside from alfalfa and similar feeds, there are a variety of attractants that can be made into licks or blocks. One common recipe uses molasses, deer corn, cornmeal, brown sugar, oils, and salt.

These ingredients are mixed and baked, and then pressed into a form of your choice to cool. As it cools, you can then place a large screw in it so when it hardens you can attach it to your setup and not have the animals carry it off.

Another way is to make it into a hard candy. Boil sugar and butter. Then pour it into your form to harden with the stick or large screw, depending on how you want to fasten it.

Lastly, you can make a deer cane using various sweet ingredients like sugars, Jell-O, and syrups. This can be molded into a block, liquid, mixed with dirt, or however you like.

Are deer feeders or bait not allowed where you hunt? Then here are some alternative methods that can enhance your deer hunting environment more naturally.

The post How To Make a Homemade Deer Feeder (DIY Ideas) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Hunters across the world are constantly looking for ways to improve their chances to harvest animals. We look for new technology, equipment, and even clothing to get more opportunities to hunt successfully.

One great invention is deer feeders. Many hunters have stumbled upon this appreciable product and as they set it up, they already imagine big bucks on their walls.

They wait anxiously to see their trail cameras after the initial setup, only to face a huge disappointment to find out that all of their feeds were eaten — not by deer, but by varmints!

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links.

How to Get Rid of Varmints

Varmints, like raccoons, are a nuisance.

They don’t just eat all the deer feed, but they’re also known to chew up wires, eat through plastic barrels, and even bend parts of the feeder from their weight while climbing to gain access to the grains!

They are scavengers. So when they find food, they put an enormous amount of effort to obtain it.

Shark Teeth

Boss Buck Shark Teeth is one direction to go for a feeder that requires the animal to climb a slender leg to get to the feed. These can be purchased at stores such as Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops, available in 36” X 1.5” strip of metal.

These strips have sharp barbs protruding close together — the full 36”.  Installation is a breeze. Just screw them to each of the legs of your feeder.

It is ideal to place the Shark Teeth about a foot above the ground to ensure that the animal cannot bypass the strip by leaping from ground level to the leg of the feeder.

How it Works

These sharp barbs will hurt the climbing animal’s feet if it attempts to access your tripod feeder by its legs. Boss Buck also states that it will deter birds from perching on them and they also keep the larger animals from rubbing up against your feeder, which can knock it over.

There are some homemade versions of this product that can be used instead. Like a tin cut in a way that resembles the “shark teeth” and then bent upwards to make it difficult or painful for animals trying to climb.

Leg Funnel

A leg funnel works on a variety of feeder legs. It is exactly what it sounds like — a very broad and steep funnel shape that is placed around each leg. So if a varmint is climbing, it is faced with the wide edge of the funnel, thus creating a road block that they cannot climb or jump over.

This can also be used for tree mounted gravity feeders, assuming you can find or fabricate a funnel big enough to go around the trunk of a tree.

Poles around Legs

This works well for a tripod style feeder because of the angle of the legs and the ease of blocking the access points. An overview of how to build one:

• Take a slick and a slightly larger tube that the deer feeder leg can slide into.

• The tube is then slid up toward the feeder and fastened to the leg.

If the material is slick enough, then the animals will just slide right off, preventing them from reaching their goal.

One hunter found that using roof flashings to make the tubes was a slick material and that the animals were unable to reach his feeder.

What if it doesn’t work on your case?

If the material still has any chance to be climbed, follow these steps:

• Drill a hole on the upper edge of the tube.
• Tie a rope or string through the hole.
• Attach it to the feeder.

This will suspend the tube and allow it to spin freely in both directions without sliding down the leg. And if the animal tries to grip on the tube, it will turn on them using their weight which will cause their fall.

You can also use this concept on a gravity feeder that is mounted on a T-post. It might take a bit more work to ensure that the tube is slick enough or can spin. But you can always add a funnel just in case.

Varmint Zapper

One traditional form of varmint control is an electric shock whenever the metal is touched. Of course, you must be sure that the deer cannot reach any part of the metal as they might never return if they were electric shocked.

Coat the Feeder Legs

Another creative and straightforward thought is coating the feeder legs with Crisco shortening.

The animals find it greasy and do not like the feel of it on their feet. Plus, the rain won’t wash it off and the varmints won’t lick it off. But you need to apply a very thick layer and reapply as often as you see fit.

With each form of varmint control, it is wise to have a backup if there is a possibility of one failing (like leg poles and funnels or electric shock and tubes etc.). This way, you are not discouraged if one fails, especially that you still have varmints to stop.

Do NOT Forget the Obvious

There are ways to make it difficult for varmints to rummage and some might stop them completely. But first, understand these often overlooked attributes.

Material

The first thing to keep in mind when purchasing or building your deer feeder is to use durable and thick material that makes it difficult for a rodent to chew on. This preserves the life of your game feeder even if the pests overcome the obstacles that are in front of them.

The most durable, yet heavy material is metal. However, it can become extra difficult to set it up because of its weight. It is cumbersome to move it to new locations too.

Make sure you notice any hanging or exposed wires that the animals can chew or use to climb. Varmints can cut the wires to battery sources.

Access

Mind the location and accessibility of the varmint to the feeder. Feeders that are mounted to a tree are very inviting and it’s a lot harder to prevent them from getting to it.

A scavenging animal love to have food just handed to them or even find an endless food supply with minimal effort required from them. This is why they are more than willing to explore great lengths to obtain access to any feeder.

Lastly, think like a varmint and try to figure out all the possible entry points that they may use. They are not satisfied with the food just on the ground. They want to stock up for the winter and possibly years to come.

Dealing With Larger “Varmints”

Varmints aren’t only the small animals such as squirrels or raccoons, bears are also classified as one.

If bears reside in your area, you need to take into account that they too love free food and can do far more damage to your setup than any small animal ever can.

How to Keep Them Off

There are a couple of tips and ideas to keep bears out of your feeders as well, but they require a lot of extra work.

• Get the feeder out of the bear’s reach, although this is easier said than done. One way is to create sturdy slick legs for a tripod style but make it extremely tall. This is perfect on an automatic feeder since it spreads the feed automatically a couple of times in a day.

• Have a thick wire strung between two big trees, then have a crank and pulley system set into place. This will keep bears from accessing it by climbing the tree or standing on its hind legs to reach it. This again is applicable to an automatic feeder since an animal can’t access the feed unless it is on the ground.

• Cement an extremely tall pole with a horizontal extender to hang the feeder. Ensure that you have ownership of the property and that you permanently want it placed on that spot.

Think Like a Varmint

Remember that varmints aren’t at the top of the food chain and a lot of them are scavengers so they pretty much do anything to stay alive and thrive. If they can see or smell food, they have an unbelievable drive to get to it. This is called survival.

When it comes to varmint control on your feeders, it is an all or nothing deal. If there is any hint of an access point, as long as they reside in the area, varmints WILL get to it.

But if you block every possible route, you should be set with more deer photos than your memory card on your trail camera can hold.

The post Feed The Deer, Not The Varmints! appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Understandably, most deer prefer to feed in the dark of night, early morning or evening time. So a hunter must remember that a feeder won’t always produce animals during shooting hours.

Stalk Your Target

For proper scouting, when you buy your feeder, you may want to invest in a trail camera or two. This does not only provide you with the knowledge of when the deer are hitting the feed, but also for the trophy hunters out there.

The cameras show you the caliber of bucks in the area as well.

But before worrying about what time the deer might feed or the size of bucks, a hunter must realize that just like any successful business, you must take into account the location, location, location.

If a feeder is placed in a bad area or the setup is poor, then you might as well be tossing money out of your truck window while you are driving down the freeway.

Know Your Game

Location

A key factor to remember when setting up a feeder is, first and foremost: are there deer in that area? If there aren’t, regardless of what kind of feed you use, no deer is going to hit your stand and unless tamed, most deer are very skittish when it comes to predators.

They will not go anywhere unless they feel they have some protection. So if you set your feeder up in the middle of a large open field, you probably won’t see much action because the deer will feel vulnerable.

Deer like cover. It gives them a sense of security as any coverage helps protect them. But just the opposite, if you setup your feeder in a small opening or even in some trees, then there is a good chance of receiving the daily visitors you desire.

Trail

Even if there is a chance that deer does not come to a spot that you want to hunt, a method to move deer to that area is possible.

As long as you do your homework and you know of a game trail or a path that they use for travel, you can place a feeder near this route in hopes that the deer traveling day or night will stop by your feed for a quick break.

If you are consistent in maintaining the feeder, then the deer will become accustomed to this spot. Once this happens, you can move the feeder (within reason) to your desired nearby area.

Why? Because the deer will be expecting the feed in that typical location and if all of sudden it is gone, the deer will do a small area search to see if there is more feed.

If you didn’t move the feeder too far, then as soon as they locate the new spot (which they will), you will have a perfect hunting setup at your desired location

Limitations

Most importantly for a feeder setup, is to know your limitations for hunting. If you are going to hunt with a rifle, bow or even crossbow, you must setup your stand and feeder accordingly.

Perhaps you are in an area where you can setup a feeder for archery and rifle. Make sure to look for good strong trees to give you the option of setting up a tree stand.

If there aren’t any trees close by or within your confident shooting distance, check for natural looking ground blinds, or a way to make your store bought ground blind look native to the terrain.

But before you setup your blind or tree stand, be aware of the prevailing wind. Setup so you are downwind from the feeder.

Of course, if you will be rifle hunting, then your setup doesn’t have to be as critical. Just make sure the distance is within your range for accuracy and that you have a good vantage point when it comes to seeing not only your feeder, but also the immediate surrounding area.

Think One Step Ahead

In short, before you purchase a feeder and trail cameras, make sure there are deer in the area where you want to place your stand.

You will be hunting that spot, so set that up regardless of the direction where the deer comes in. You will have the vantage point, whether by tree stand or ground blind.

Check the prevailing wind direction so the deer won’t smell you before you even see them.

Last, but not least, be sure that wherever you setup, it will be a comfortable and an ethical shot for your skill level. And enjoy every minute of what nature has to offer!

The post Where To Place Deer Feeders? appeared first on Outdoor Empire.