How Much Do A Bow And Arrow Cost (Are They Expensive?)
While it's difficult to provide an exact price for a bow and arrow, most archers agree that the average cost is between $350-$400.
If you want to get started in Archery and improve your skills, after the practice range, everyone starts by buying a bow and some arrows. However, before you visit a pro Archery shop, it’s best to familiarise yourself with the specs and costs of Archery equipment, to save yourself from any surprises, as some of the bows can be really expensive. Though, you can also get your hands on a relatively cheaper model that’s perfect for you. Well, go through some tips below.
While it’s difficult to provide an exact price for a bow and arrow, most archers agree that the average cost is between $350-$400.
If you want to know exactly how much a real bow and arrow costs, read this guide. We have detailed the price range of each type of bow.
The Recurve Archery bow is one of the most common bow types used for target practice and hunting. It has a simple design of a stick and string with just a little tweak. The ends of a recurve bow curve away from the side of the string when unstrung. Due to the simple mechanical construction of the recurve bow, it doesn’t cost as much as some of the more sophisticated bows in the line-up. You can expect a recurve bow to cost anywhere between $100-$200.
While there are certain bows that would cost you less than $100 too, experienced archers would advise you to purchase something at least over $100, if you want to own a quality bow. If you’re a novice Archer looking to get started in this sport, then a recurve bow on the lower end of this range is perfect for your needs.
Arrows: You can buy cheap arrows for as low as $10-$15 if you’re a novice, and are still learning how to shoot an arrow properly. There are also some expensive arrows, but it’s best to stick to the ones that cost about $25-$30. The arrows are usually sold in sets. So for instance, you can buy 3 arrows for $10, or 12 for $30.
It’s your choice whether to prioritize quantity or quality, but if you ask us, choose the quantity, because as a beginner, you will need to practice shooting arrows a lot. During target practice, you’d inevitably lose a few arrows, so it’s best to be armed with enough of those. Ultimately, it narrows down to your technique, whether or not an arrow hits the bull’s eye. (1)
Compound bows come with a more sophisticated mechanism, thanks to the incorporation of intricate wiring, cams, and pulleys. This is why these bows are way more expensive than the recurve ones. A lot of high-end compound bows can cost you over $1000. However, you can also buy a less expensive bow for about $500, and get high-quality regardless of the low price.
Do not be deceived into thinking that the more the bow cost, the higher your shot accuracy would be. Ultimately, the accuracy and shot perfection depend upon your practice and technique. If you’re a beginner, don’t be pressured into buying an expensive bow. Instead, start with a moderately priced bow, and make your way up as you get the hang of shooting.
Compound Bow Arrows
Compound bow arrows can be both cheap and expensive, depending upon where you buy them. A pack of 12 could cost you about $40. If you’re a novice, it’s best to choose a set that comes with at least a dozen arrows, because as we said before, you’d be shooting a lot of them, and consequently, losing some of them as well.
You could also purchase mid-range arrows for $60, where you would get 6 arrows in a set. These are perfect for people who want to hunt animals, and thus, have a certain degree of experience in using a bow and arrow. If you want A more high-quality arrow, then you would have to pay about $80 or more, with which you will get 6 pieces in a set. You can use these high-end arrows for hunting and target practice and competitions.
If you’re looking to practice archery, but are not willing to spend a boatload of money on the equipment, then longbows are ideal for you. Longbows are less expensive than compound bows and recurve bows. You can get a starter bow for $100. For $100-$200, you can purchase a high-quality longbow, and practice shots with equally cheap arrows. If you want intermediary or high-end bows, then be prepared to spend around $500 to $700, or even more than that, depending upon the manufacturer you choose to buy from.
Keep in mind that you would also be expected to cover some other expenses if you want to learn archery, especially if you plan on hunting later on. For instance, you would need to get some tags and licenses. The cost of these things would differ from state to state. Before you start bowhunting, familiarize yourself with the cost you’d have to pay for a license, and then proceed to buy a bow, be it a beginner one, or a high-end one. The price range for arrows for this one is similar to what we mentioned for recurve bows.
If you want to start learning Archery, prepare to spend some money on the equipment, lessons, licenses, and more. Although, as a beginner, the exact cost would depend upon various things, including the type of archery you wish to practice. Classes can range per hour with a personal trainer dependant on their skill level with group classes being discounted due to class size. (2)
The three main types of bows used in Archery are Recurve, Compound, and longbows. As we mentioned above, compound bows tend to be the most expensive of these because of the additional accessories used to shoot them. However, there appears to be a downward trend in the cost of compound bows because of the recent enhancements in technology.
But if you want to keep your expenses minimal, then it’s best to stick to recurves and longbows, especially if you have limited experience in shooting. Apart from considering your expenditure on bows and arrows, you’d also have to consider the prices of targets, and the Archery tournaments that you want to participate in. These will inevitably increase your total costs. Here are different kinds of Archery disciplines and the respective prices of their targets.
Target Archery and Field Archery
Target archery and field archery are both competitive forms of archery. We assume you’d want to participate in tournaments, which, needless to say, would require you to own professional targets.
You can easily get affordable bows and targets for competitions. Amazon is the best place to find these targets. Often, some archery equipment manufacturers will keep the prices low, around the competitive season. This is so more and more archers are inspired to participate in competitions.
3D Archery
3D Archery targets can be a bit expensive, unlike target and field archery targets. Though, you can buy some inexpensive targets online, as long as you do your research well. The prices for 3D targets can range from $15 to $1500.
Traditional Archery
The equipment for traditional archery is the cheapest of all, due to the old-style bows that are used in this sport. With a $100-$200 longbow and a $100-$150 target, you will have pretty much everything to start practicing. If there are any traditional competitions that take place (they are rare), then you won’t have to worry about exorbitantly high entry fees, so you’re good on that front.
Speaking of the cost of archery, there are other things you might want to consider too. The biggest of them is archery lessons. If you’re completely new to Archery, chances are you would want to take pro lessons. Although it’s tough to give you a precise cost, or even range for this, some estimates suggest that you’d be required to pay at least $15-$50+ per hour for private Archery lessons.
If you’re learning from a professional archer, then this range could easily soar to about $50-$100 per hour. The lesson cost could vary tremendously from state to state, so it’s best to check out pricing standards locally. If there is a local Archery club near your home, you can check with them if they provide Archery lessons, or if the technicians there know who does.
One of the things that many novice archers wonder is if the bows are expensive. From this article, you must have gauged that bows cannot be bought on a shoestring, and you indeed would have to loosen up the purse strings a bit to buy a professional bow, be it recurve or compound. Although, as we have mentioned, recurve bows are much cheaper than compound bows, and if you’re a beginner, that’s where you should start. Even then, if you’re not willing to spend even $100 on a bow due to your inexperience, you could consider making a DIY bow just to get a hang of things, before you spend money on anything professional. DIY bows are easy to make and would require cheap household materials, and a little creativity from your end.
If you haven’t already guessed, Archery can be really expensive, when you consider the whole picture. With the bows, arrows, and targets, in addition to Archery lessons, and entry fees of Archery tournaments, you indeed have a lot on your plate. Before you get started in this sport, it’s best to make a practical budget and buy Archery equipment accordingly. This would guarantee that you don’t overspend on any one item.
You may want to check other guides that might help you in your archery skills.
References
(1) quantity or quality – https://www.researchgate.net/post/Quality_vs_Quantity
(2) skill level – https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/skill-levels-for-resume
