The past few years have seen an explosion in the popularity of outdoor activities all across North America. More people than ever before are taking to the wilds to hike, bike, hunt, climb, ride, explore, boat, or enjoy the outdoors. Along with this renewed enthusiasm for the outdoors has come a large influx of people wanting to try bowhunting and wondering what bows they should consider among the myriad options available. Today, we’ll review some of our top hunting bow choices, both for beginners and experienced bowhunters looking to upgrade, at several price points.
Top 3 budget hunting bows (also great for beginners)
Bowhunters today are spoiled for choice, with hundreds upon hundreds of quality bows. A comprehensive review would be impossible, and we’re sure we will miss some excellent options, but we can’t cover them all. Here are three top picks for a budget-level hunting bow that would be great for beginners or even seasoned veterans looking to save some dough.
Darton Consequence (and 2.0)
- 29.5” axle to axle (larger, ¼” axles)
- 26”-31.5” draw length
- 7.5” brace height (significantly greater than some other bows)
- 4.2 lbs
- $649 (typical retail price)
Darton’s Consequence offers several features you don’t typically see on an adult-sized compound bow at this price point. For example, it has a cable roller guard versus the usual cable slides. If you keep your string clean and waxed, the traditional cable slides will likely not cause significant wear even over hundreds and hundreds of shots. Still, it’s undeniable that the roller guards that have become popular over the past few years are superior, resulting in a smoother draw (which some say they can feel) and less wear and tear on your bowstring. It’s a premium feature belies the Consequence’s entry-level (or maybe mid-level) price.
The Consequence also features a lateral string transfer just below the pulleys to help prevent wheel/pulley lean. It has wider limb sets than other budget bows, resulting in a stable left-right feel to each shot and a bow that looks home among the $1,000+ bow crowd. It’s also a very quiet bow. The Consequence is offered in several muted, solid colors and a camo pattern. We like the blacked-out stealth look, which is somewhat unusual these days, particularly in hunting-oriented bows, but the OD green and the new gray are also very attractive. You can specify different riser and limb colors when you purchase from Darton if you want to mix things up… A flat-dark-earth riser and OD green limbs, for example. Or a gray riser with black limbs. You get the idea, but this kind of personal customization at this price level is welcome.
Video: Darton 2024 Consequence Bow Review
Drawing the Consequence through its cycle results in a pretty abrupt stop as you reach full draw, while others in this group have a more flexible wall. This is neither a pro nor a con but rather a personal preference. If you like your draw to feel firmly anchored at the same spot each time you reach full draw stroke, you’ll probably love this bow. Look elsewhere if you prefer a little softer stop as you reach full draw.
Downsides? That forgiving, long 7.5” brace height might result in a lower arrow speed if you shoot different 70-lb bows back to back. However, in our testing, speeds aligned with most others in this group.
Darton has also recently released the Consequence 2.0, which is essentially the same bow but with a forged and machined aluminum riser rather than the extruded aluminum of the original Consequence. It’s also drilled and tapped for a Hamskea COR-type mount for your arrow rest, and comes with a new speed module in the cams. The Consequence 2.0 is supposed to be lighter, but on our scale, it wasn’t appreciably so… maybe a 10th of a pound or just a little over an ounce and a half lighter than before. Certainly not something you’d base a purchase decision on. We’d probably opt for the standard Consequence at about $650 (and maybe cheaper on clearance) until they’re no longer available and save a hundred bucks or more versus the 2.0 version, which has a new MSRP of $799 (about $749 at most archery shops). Either way, it’s a heck of a lot of bow for the money and probably our top overall choice for a true beginner who wants an easy-shooting bow with many desirable features for an excellent price.
If you still want to go less expensive and opt for a 30-50 lb draw weight (perhaps for younger or smaller-statured archers), Darton’s Emergence is an excellent choice, starting at an MSRP of $499.
Bear Whitetail Maxx
- 31” axle to axle
- 26”-30” draw length
- 6.5” brace height
- 4.75 lbs
- $599 (MSRP; typical sale price around $499-$550)
Look closely at the Bear Whitetail Maxx if you want a great hunting bow without breaking the bank. This bow performs like a premium hunting bow, costing twice as much (or more). Regarding speed for the money, the Whitetail Maxx is among the fastest bows we’ve tested, with high 280-290 feet-per-second speeds with 430-450 grain arrows and up to 330 fps with lighter ones. Using the higher-force 55-70 lb limbs most adult male hunters will prefer, the initial pull weight feels significantly heavier on this bow than others in this category, but it’s also the fastest, which makes sense. The more aggressive cam profile results in more incredible speed, but when adjusted to its max 70 lbs draw, it’s not a shoot-all-day-in-the-backyard bow unless you’re built like Dwayne Johnson. If you like the other features of the bow but want to dial back the draw weight, optional 45-60 lb limbs are available when you purchase the bow, and you can undoubtedly get them separately later if you already have the bow but want maximum versatility.
Video: 2024 Bear Archery Whitetail Maxx Bow Review
Additionally, you can easily adjust the Whitetail Maxx’s let-off to 75, 80, 85, or 90 percent, which can assist in personalizing the feel of the draw cycle to maximize accuracy in different conditions. Another premium feature is the new roller-type cable guards, which are becoming more common even on entry-level and mid-tier bows.
If we were starting from scratch, we’d go with the Whitetail Maxx in Bear’s Ready-to-Hunt package for about $700 all-in, which is an excellent deal. The RTH package includes a Fatal 4-pin sight, Whisker Biscuit-V arrow rest, 5-Spot quiver, snubnose stabilizer, peep sight, and D-loop.
Bowtech Carbon Zion
- 31” axle to axle
- 25.5”-30.5” draw length
- 6.625” brace height
- 3.3 lbs
- $799 MSRP (typical sale price: $649)
If your hunting style has you covering a lot of ground rather than sitting in a tree or ground blind, the Bowtech Carbon Zion might be the ideal lightweight hunting bow on a budget. At a feathery 3.3 lbs, the Carbon Zion feels stupid light, and if you’re used to a heavier aluminum riser bow, the Carbon Zion may feel a bit like a toy the first time you pick it up. The carbon-composite matrix is marketing-speak, for we used a lot of lightweight carbon bits in this polymer riser, but regardless, it’s pleasant to pack around on long days in the field. Actual full-carbon bows generally start in the $1,300 range and go up from there, but a carbon/polymer/resin matrix bow isn’t just less expensive but can be extremely tough and very light. The Carbon Zion isn’t just a bare, lightweight hunting bow. It quickly switches from comfort to performance mode simply by flipping the disc modules in the cams. It also comes equipped with draw stops and a riser vibration dampener.
Flipping the disc (Bowtech used to call this Power Shift) from Performance to Comfort is welcome. The result is almost like having two different bows. If you’re an experienced shooter with worn-out shoulders, you’ll likely find the Comfort setting to be the one for you (and you’ll also appreciate the bow’s lack of heft). Like nearly all other compound bows today, the Zion is sold with your choice of different limb weights, either 50, 60, or 70 lbs max. You naturally want the 70-lb limbs for maximum arrow speed if you can draw them comfortably. Bowtech says you can typically adjust each set down about 10 lbs from the max so the 70-lb set can be dropped to about 60 at the low end. We found this reasonably accurate, with our 70-lb Zion adjustable down to around 61 lbs. In the Comfort setting, this is a very pleasant bow to shoot, and the light weight makes it a joy to carry all day in the Mountain West, where hunting usually means a serious, high-elevation hike to get anywhere close to the game.
If we want to nitpick, the Zion is so light and with a fairly compact riser at 31” ATA that it’s possible to get some wrist/grip torque if you get lazy on your shots. There’s also a tad more vibration to the shooter than with the other bows in this category, but that’s to be expected when you shoot a much lighter bow and keep the draw weight the same. Bottom line? With the Bowtech Carbon Zion, you get a lot of bow for your money… even though pound for pound, it’s technically less (see what we did there?). In today's market of hunting bows starting at $1,000 and going as high as inflation or imagination can take you, the Carbon Zion is an absolute bargain.
Bonus picks for entry-level hunting bows
We have profiled three of our favorites above, but you should also consider checking out the following, which are all excellent choices, depending on what you’re looking for and how much you want to spend.
- Bear Alaskan XT ($559)
- Hoyt Torrex ($799)
- Xpedition APX ($599)
- Elite Terrain ($749)
- Bear Adapt ($479)
- Mission Radik ($339; great for youth and female archers)
- PSE Stinger ATK ($499 ready-to-hunt package)
Our top 3 picks for premium hunting bows
Now that we’ve reviewed some excellent choices for lower-cost hunting bows let’s look at a few options that might sting your wallet but have some premium features and performance that might make them worth it to you.
Hoyt Alpha X 33
- 33 5/16” axle to axle
- 26-27” / 27.25-29” / 29.25-31” draw length options
- 6 3/8” brace height
- 4.75 lbs
- $1,449 MSRP
The Hoyt Alpha X 33 is a top-tier hunting bow from the well-reputed Hoyt archery company. At 33 inches ATA, it’s not the most compact hunting bow out there, but for most adult-sized hunters, particularly those shooting in the open, the larger riser size can result in improved feel and stability at full draw. The 33” is a good compromise size for many hunters. It is not too tall or short and could easily be flexed into 3D archery competitions. The Alpha X 33 has premium features, including Hoyt’s new HBX Xact Cam. This design allows you to adjust the draw length to 1/4” at a time to get exactly the perfect length.
Video: Hoyt Alpha X 33 Long-Term Review
The Alpha X 33 has one of the smoothest draw cycles of any bow we’ve shot, and it’s just a pleasure to shoot. You can choose from Hoyt’s extra-hard and less-firm back wall options just by loosening and rotating the string stop doohickey on the cam, and you can also easily switch between 75%, 80%, and 85% letoff with just an allen wrench in a few seconds. One premium feature we also love is you can build your Alpha X 33 on Hoyt’s website using their interactive bow builder, which allows you to choose the color of your riser, limbs, and even the cable/string color among multiple options, and Hoyt will build and ship your bow in just a few weeks. The base price Includes a short 2.25” front stabilizer at no extra charge, but you can easily add a longer one during the custom online build process on the Hoyt website.
The riser is milled with the new Picatinny-style sight mount, which Hoyt pioneered and will likely become the gold standard. The Alpha X doesn’t come standard with an arrow rest, but you can choose between Hoyt’s UltraRest for $200 or an UltraRest Integrate, which is a $309 option during the build. Both are excellent, or you can install the aftermarket rest you prefer. We suggest the $139 Go-Stix bow stand option, which, combined with Hoyt’s clever new polymer cam rests at the top and bottom of the bow, should be all you need to keep your bow free from damage and debris when resting it on hard-packed ground.
If we had to pick just one bow from all the hunting bows we’ve shot, it would probably be the Alpha X 33, as long as the considerable price wasn’t an issue.
Mathews Lift 29.5
- 29.5” axle to axle
- 24.5”-30” draw length
- 6” brace height
- 3.99 lbs
- $1,329 MSRP
Mathews has developed a shorter ATA hunting bow called the Lift 29.5. It shoots fast and quietly. If you want a very light hunting bow but don’t want to pay for a top-tier full-carbon riser, the Lift 29.5 is an excellent choice. Compared with its Phase 4 predecessor, the Lift’s riser has been aggressively skeletonized and has lost about half a pound of weight. This is greatly appreciated by hunters who cover many miles during their hunts.
Despite its somewhat short 29.5 ATA length, the Lift is still stable on target and acceptably smooth to draw, but without a super-pronounced hump at the valley as you approach to reach full draw. If you go with the 70 lb limbs, it’s not super EASY to draw, particularly with the bow’s pretty aggressive SwitchWeight X cams, which help it achieve its excellent speed figures of about 290+ fps with 455-grain broadheads or 330 fps with 350-grain target arrows. With either, the bow is a pleasure to shoot, as each shot is smooth, quiet, and vibration-free. The draw is firm but relatively linear, which many people may prefer. Mathews calls it a steady stacking draw cycle, which is a good description. Letoff can be adjusted to 80% or 85%. Available draw weights go from 55 to 70 lbs in 5 lb increments. For very tall shooters or those who may use their hunting bows for 3D archery, Mathews also offers a 33” ATA version with a $100 upcharge.
Video: 2025 New Mathews Lift X Hunting Review
So why does this bow feel so good to shoot? Mathews has been a pioneer of properly damping vibrations (we like that they use the correct term, rather than dampening like everyone else… you’re not making anything damp), and there’s an integral damper included at the bottom of the riser, and each forked, 2-arm limb is four limbs, with two limb sections connected by Mathews’ vibration-absorbing polymer material. Sharp-eyed shoppers will also note that Mathews locates their axles on the outsides/tops of their limbs rather than sandwiching them between the laminate layers of each limb. Whether this contributes to the bow’s remarkable smoothness and quietness is unknown, but we encourage them to keep doing whatever they're doing.
A unique feature of the Lift is that it uses Mathews’ Bridge-Lock sight mount and stabilizer system, wherein the sight mounting strut is inserted through the center portion of the riser rather than along one side like many other bows. This allows it to be secured with a single set screw, and you can easily adjust the sight in or out or replace it in seconds. The stabilizer also benefits from this adjustability, being similarly mounted through the milled openings in the riser, and you can fine-tune the length of your stabilizer by sliding its shaft out or in, depending on your preference.
Another premium option that most hunters won’t bother with, but some might find useful, is Mathews’ Shot Sense module. This module can be installed in the grip and tracks and records your shot analytics through Bluetooth to your phone, providing advanced feedback in real-time through the Shot Sense app. If you’ve been craving exact feedback about how much you’re moving your bow throughout the shot cycle, this is the $349 option for you.
Bowtech Core SR
- 33” axle to axle
- 25”-30” draw length
- 6” brace height
- 4.5 lbs
- $1,399 MSRP
Bowtech keeps improving its bows, and the Core SR is one of the most versatile, easily adjusted, and easiest-to-tune bows we’ve ever used. It’s also a very fast hunting bow, with speeds of 340 fps and a 350-grain arrow in Performance mode and 330 fps in Comfort mode. But this isn’t just a speed bow… it’s very user-friendly, thanks to some Bowtech innovations. Let’s talk about TimeLock, DeadLock, and GripLock.
TimeLock is part of the flippable module in the Core SR’s cams. You can adjust the cam timing to your preference without a bow press by adjusting cam positioning with a basic Allen key. Just loosen the locking screw, adjust, then lock it back down with confidence it won’t move. You can adjust the string stop for a hard or more flexible wall by flipping the piece around and locking it down with an Allen key.
This is becoming somewhat common among premium bows. What isn’t common, and a feature we love about the Core SR, is the DeadLock system, which lets you quickly move each cam left or right and lock it down using an Allen key. One screw unlocks the axle, and another moves the cam left or right while maintaining verticality. With the DeadLock system, you can fine-tune your broadheads or get perfectly centered on paper with any arrow from the shooting line. It’s an absolute genius and a huge selling point that does away with tedious axle/cam shims.
Video: Bowtech Core SR Long-Term Review
Like the Mathews, the Bowtech Core SR uses a Center-Mass mounting system for the sight and stabilizer. The idea is to maintain the weight of the bow and all its components as close to the center of mass of the riser as possible. It’s also drilled and tapped for the usual mounting configurations alongside the riser if you prefer.
GripLock refers to the adjustable grip, which you can lock in various positions of angle, from nearly vertical to significantly raked out at the bottom. If you prefer a shoot-off-the-riser feel, you’ll likely leave it alone, but if you like a bit more steep/angled grip, it’s there for you to use.
With the modules set in Performance mode, this is not a super-fun bow to shoot, with a very aggressive valley and a somewhat harsh draw cycle. However, flip it to Comfort, and the Core SR becomes a relative pussycat, much more pleasant to shoot while still retaining blistering speeds. We'd always leave it in Comfort mode unless we were seeking absolute top arrow speeds.
With a price nearing $1,400 for just the base bow, you’re likely looking at close to 2 grand ready to hunt if you choose accessories that are appropriately high-quality and deserving of being mounted to this excellent bow. But once you shoot it, you might decide the Core SR is a relative bargain.
Bonus picks for premium hunting bows
Again, there are hundreds of fantastic hunting bows out there today, and pretty much all bow manufacturers come out with improved models every year or so. Whether or not the improvements and changes are worth buying a new bow is up to you. However, here are some other highly regarded hunting bows you should consider in your research.
- Prime RVX 32 or 34 ($1,199)
- PSE Mach 30 DS ($1,799)
- Elite Ethos ($1,299)
- Xpedition Xlite 29 ($1,949)
- Prime Ronan ($949; Often determined to be the Best Bow Under $1000)
Store your hunting gear in a Liberty Safe
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