If you’ve been following my blog or our Up North Journal Podcast, you know that I have recently become a Regional Mossy Oak Pro Staff member for Michigan.  Well I have had to start looking for a new bow to shoot since my current bow has another camo pattern on it. 

      Monday, I began the search for my new bow.  I have been to three different bow shops looking at the new offerings for 2008.  At first I had to narrow it down to the companies that I really liked what they had to offer.  The two I chose to narrow the search down were Bowtech/Diamond and PSE/Browning.  I began on Monday shooting the Bowtech General at my local pro shop.  I have shot my son’s Bowtech Equalizer and fell in love with it, so I natural had to give them a chance.  The General won many of the hunting magazines field tests this year.  If it didn’t win, it was in the top group of bows for 2008. 

     My local pro shop loaded it up as if I were going to walk out the door with it, so it was custom fit to me to try out.  When I shot it, it was amazing how far bows have really come in just a few years since I bought my Hoyt Trykon.  This bow was not a speed demon but it was smooth and quiet.  The bow really fit me well.  It was going to be hard to beat this one.

     Tuesday, I made the rounds to two other pro shops within an hours drive from my house.  I first started in Bay City at Bay Archery.  I had never been into this shop before, but was impressed as soon as I walked in the door.  They were a full line dealer of all the top companies.  I tried out the PSE pro line of the X-force, X-force SS, and the Bowtech General.  I wanted to shoot the General again side by side with the other two.  I didn’t like the X-force from the start.  It vibrated quite a bit compared to the General,  it didn’t have a string dampener on it like the General did.  Although it was tapped for one to be put on.  It also slapped me a couple of times, which caught me by surprise.  The draw length was set for me on all the bows so this wouldn’t cause an issue for me to be over extended and force my forearm to get into the way of the string, so I’m not sure what caused it.  It also kicked out on the bottom when I shot it.  Now as for the SS model it was a nice bow.  It fit me well, but it also kicked out on the bottom when I shot it.  The only other problem with it was that the back wall was not as solid as the General.  The fit was really good though and I liked the short compactness of the bow.  Axle to axle was just over 26″, that is a full 7″ shorter than what I’m used to.  The only problem might be that it wouldn’t be as forgiving as the 33″ that I’m used to. 

     After shooting those three bows, I made my way closer to home to shoot at Hicks Sporting Goods and found a couple of bows there to shoot.  I gave the PSE X-Force another try along with a model from last year, the PSE Firestorm.  It was another short axle to axle set up, around 29″ or so.  The X-Force did the same as before at the previous store, so that one is definetly out.  I then shot the Firestorm.  What a nice shooting bow, it was smooth and fast.  The back wall on it was really good, not as good as the General, but it was still good.  The only compomise with this bow, was that it was a short axle to axle just as the SS model was.

     So after three stores and about 4 different bows, I am completely confused.  I really like the General, but I really like the Firestorm also.  I guess while I’m at Bass Pro this weekend working the Mossy Oak event, I will have to shoot them all some more to make my decision.  I guess it could be worse, and not have liked anything I shot.  At least I have a couple to choose from.  On a side note I think a friend of mine wants to purchase my Hoyt, which will help offset some of the cost of the new bow.  That is if I can make up my mind.  Too many choices.