If I were you I would go to a professional archery shop. They will be able to look at you and size you up with the right bow for what ever your price range is. I personally shoot a hoyt but everyone has an opinion about who makes the best bow. I can say this, in the archery world you get what you pay for. You buy $200 bow and that is what you will get. If you want quality you will have to pay for it. I am by no means a pro at archery but that is what I would recommend you do.

If cash is low as it is with me, go to the archery shop and test several bows. let the pro shop fit you ( telling you what your draw lenght is, maybe what poundage you should start out at) then go to pawn shops and see if you cant find one that fits you well and for a fair price. Pawn shops dont give maybe 30% of the value for anything so dont pay much more than this. If money is no porblem get the best bow you can afford, If I were buying I'd get a mathews reezen- SOOOOOOOO FAST!!!!!!

i would say that just getting into the sport you would want to go to a pro shop to begin with. A couple of really good wallet friendly bows are missions, made by Mathews inc, and Hawk by Hoyt. They both are great bows for there buck. The best way to find the right one for you though is to take the extra time and check over all the specs for each bow your interested in. That way when you do get your bow, whatever it may be, it will be satisfactory to what you need and will meet all your expectations!!

I've found that PSE bows are very reliable for shooters of all ages and they are cheaper than most bows.

Agreed, don't make this decision by yourself, go see a pro. I've been beating the drum for Matthews' Mission line all summer, good quality as a good price. Welcome to the club.

A bow is only as good as the shooter.

Mathews are great bows, and I have one I'll admit, but don't get sucked into one b/c of the name. I also own a Bear, Bowtech, and a Parker. If there is one thing a new compound of any brand can do, its shoot straight and hit an animal. Starting out it's hard to see and feel the difference between them, but anyone with experience can recognize arrow speed, flight, weight etc. A "lower" end bow is still going to cost a pretty penny when completely set up, and will easily harvest a deer or whatever animal it is you're after. I agree with the single cam mentioned above, and something with a drawlength that can be adjusted to your growth spurts. A great idea is too wait until spring and get a 2009 model after the 2010's come out. They are significantly cheaper. Keep an eye on the Bowtech's, these are forgiving, quiet, and fast.

Go to a local bow shop. They will help you determin the size of bow you need. It did that and it worked great for me. They are usually real nice and answer all your questions.

Go to Mathews website and there is a find a retailer thread you can use to locate your nearest dealer. I have used 6 different brands since the early 60's and none could touch a Mathews. My advice is always to find a Mathews pro shop. They will measure you and let you shoot some of their bows to see how they fit. The bow you buy will be built to fit you. That is the way to go if you want success from the gitgo.