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Follow our full coverage of the hottest archery equipment for 2022, including crossbows, flagship compound bows, broadheads, and accessories.

Some bowhunters see a bow with a price tag under $1,000 and immediately dismiss it. As someone who’s shot piles of budget bows in the woods and on the range, let me give you a bit of advice: Don’t think that way. Most new budget bows feature technologies that were all the rage last year or the year before. While they may not hit radar-busting speeds, they’ll put big game animals on the ground the same as any flagship. And many budget bows come outfitted with accessories that make them ready for the field, almost right out of the box. If you’re looking for a bow that will get the job done, but you don’t want to drop over $1,000, give these five new budget bows from the 2022 Archery Trade Association Show serious consideration. 

1) PSE Brute NXT 

The PSE Brute NXT hunting bow
For $599, you can buy the PSE Brute NXT outfitted with all the accessories you need to hunt. PSE

For 2022, PSE is bringing maximum adjustability to budget-conscious shooters with the 30¾-inch Brute NXT. The 6.5-inch-brace-height compound is offered in peak draw weights of 55 and 70 pounds with an 80-percent let-off, and peak poundage can be dropped by 50 percent. The bow is plenty light at 3.5 pounds (bare weight). Depending on poundage and draw length—the latter of which is user-adjustable from 22.5 to 30 inches—speeds of up to 328 fps are possible. The bow comes in several finishes, and if you choose to buy it as a package, you’ll have everything you need to send arrows downrange the second you leave the pro shop.

2) PSE Drive NXT 

The PSE Drive NXT compound bow.
The Drive NXT goes for $899 with accessories. PSE

Another member of the NXT family, the 33-inch axle-to-axle Drive has a 7-inch brace height and can hit a top speed of 330 fps. This year PSE redesigned the Drive’s machined aluminum riser. Changes include PSE’s swappable ComfortGrip System, a lower stabilizer mount, and quick-disconnect sling mounts. The PSE ZF Quad-Track System adds stability and boosts tunability well beyond what shooters experienced with previous Drive bows. Built with a bare-bow weight of 4.3 pounds, the the Drive NXT features a 24- to 31-inch range in draw length and peak draw weights of 60 and 70 pounds. It’s available as a package that includes the Torment quiver, Phantom drop-away rest, Recon 6-inch stabilizer, Sierra Micro 5-pin sight, Neoprene sling, 3/16-inch aluminum peep, and a nocking loop.

3) Diamond Edge XT 

The Diamond Edge XT compound bow.
The Diamond Edge XT, with accessory package, costs $469. Diamond

The latest iteration of Diamond’s incredibly popular Edge series, the 31-inch axle-to-axle XT offers 50 pounds of draw-weight adjustment and 23 inches of draw-length alteration. Like all the Edge models before it, this one is meant to be a beginner bow, but one with enough quality (it’s loaded with big-brother Bowtech technologies) that a young shooter can grow with it into adulthood. At 3.71 pounds, the Edge XT has a caged riser and quad limb design that work in concert for more stability and accuracy. You can bank on a top-end speed of 300 fps, and the bow is offered in a bunch of finish options, including Hot Green Country Roots and Teal Country Roots. Sweetening the pot is the accessory package, which includes an Octane Furnace quiver, Octane Brush rest, Octane 5-inch stabilizer, 3-pin sight, D-loop, peep, and a wrist sling.

4) Elite Basin

The Elite Basin compound hunting bow.
The Elite Basin costs $599 for just the bow, but it’s built to last and has Elite’s lifetime warranty. Elite

New for 2022, the Elite Basin comes in some slick solid color options like Sienna Brown and Mountain Green. The rig showcases a super-strong caged riser, stainless-steel cam bearings, and all-aluminum cams, mods, and limb pockets. Elite’s VersaMod allows a generous draw-length range between 16 and 30 inches, and the draw weight can be adjusted between 20 and 70 pounds. At 32.75-inches axle-to-axle, the rig hits a just-right sweet spot in terms of length. It’s also smooth to shoot and feels good in the hand, coming in at under 4 pounds. Let-off is adjustable up to 80 percent, and the bow hits a top-end speed of 315 fps.

Read Next: ATA Show: 2022’s Crossbows Are Faster, Handier, and More Accurate Than Ever

5) Bear Resurgence RTH

The Bear Resurgence RTH hunting bow.
The Bear Resurgence RTH comes ready to hit the woods for $629. Bear

Those looking for a compound in Bear’s RTH (Ready To Hunt) line this year should give the Resurgence RTH a try. The bow hits a top speed of 335 fps, and it’s draw-length is adjustable between 25.5 and 31 inches. The 32-inch axle-to-axle bow has in-limb KillerWave dampeners and the new Bear DHC Hybrid Cam system which is smooth and controlled with a relaxed 80-percent let-off rating. With a brace height of 6.25 inches, the Resurgence comes in at just a tick under 4 pounds and is being offered in peak draw weights of 60 and 70 pounds. The bow is adjustable down 15 pounds from peak, and comes with a solid accessory package that includes Trophy Ridge’s Joker 4-pin sight, 5-Spot quiver, Blitz stabilizer, Whisker Biscuit V rest, peep sight, and D-loop for $629. For those who are looking for a Resurgence without the accessories, check out the Bear Alaskan. It has the same cam system and hits virtually all the same specs as the Resurgence for $100 less.