I have shot both PSE and a Mathews, got nothing but good to say about both brands. Shot my Pse for 13yrs before finally upgrading to my Mathews. Gotta go to a bow shop look around find something thats fits you. you will know when you find it. Hoyt makes a good bow. Bear bows have come along way. Any Archery shop will measure your draw length. Get with people you know who bow hunt get there input. Practice practice practice get good at judging distant out to 40yrd. Its a rush when you finally harvest your first deer with a bow. Yesterday morning got a descent 7pt with my bow at 15yrds. He traveled 50yrds before piling up.

Let me get this straight...you're a starving college kid that is looking to purchase a bow for bow hunting? You're looking at spending at least $200+ on the bow alone, probably another $50 on arrows. In addition you will probably want to get a target, a release, some basic maintenence equipment, a bow case, broadheads and field points, etc. and that doesn't even include the price of the license and extra cost for a bow tag...So lets say after you get all that stuff you've spent probably around $500. If you've never bow-hunted before, it's a whole different ball game, and the likelyhood of success depends on you knowing deer well enough to be able to get within 20-30 yards. If you're really starving, save your money and find a local Aldi's...$500 will buy a lot of food there...or just wait for the firearms season. However, if you want to expand your hunting horizons, just come forth and say so! :-)

I'll give you encouragement! Bow hunting is one of the most exhilerating forms of outdoor adventure. You see more wildlife and you have to get CLOSE for success. You can get into bow hunting for peanuts. You don't need the absolute best bow in the world to succeed... our native American Indians did it with a bent sappling and were highly successful. It is NOT the bow that gets the deer... it is the hunter. If you are already getting near enough for a .44 Redhawk, you have a great start. I recommend going to a pawn shop, ebay, garage sale or the like and buying as much of a bow set as you can get. Often you can get the bow, arrows, sights, case, etc. all in the one package for $25-100. The bow should preferably be 50# or more but 40# will work if that is all you can find. Any arrows with a broadhead will work or you can start with tree Muzzies from Walmart... you don't need a dozen of them until you shot a few deer with the three you have. Some broadheads and bows are better than others but if you get your arrow to a vital zone, nearly all of them will be terminal. You can build your stand out of scrap lumber but suspect you already have something there if you have been pistol hunting. It is a great sport and I encourage you to give it a try.... remember, it is NOT the equipment that gets the deer... it is the hunter and there is no time like the present to get started learning how to do it... even if you don't get a deer, you are likely to enjoy it. Good LUCK and enjoy!

Lol...I was just playin'...hence the ":-)" at the end. I was in the same boat a few years back, so I know where you're coming from. Actually, I ended up getting a job at a local sporting good store right about the time they had an employee appreciation weekend (everything was at least half off for employees). Got all that gear I previously mentioned and then some for $350! You may want to look at going that route...you may even get some extra spending money. Good luck and I hope you find a good deal on a bow!