Which bow should you start with?
About 30 quick questions on your body, your goals, the rules where you live and your budget. Every bow type gets scored, then you get your draw weight, bow size, the bows to look at and your starter kit.
How to use it: Answer like you’re talking to a friend at the range, one tap per question. Add your email at the end to see your result.
// The quiz
5 ends · about 30 arrows
Find the bow that fits you
Each question is an arrow, and every five or six make an end. Answer like you’re talking to a friend at the range: I’ll score all five bow types for you, with the draw weight, the size and the gear to match.
- About 4 minutes
- Recurve, longbow, horse bow, compound and crossbow, all scored
- Free: add your email at the end to see your result
// How it works
Five ends, every answer counted
Each answer moves the five bow types up or down, and the results show you exactly which answers did it. The draw weights come from bow makers’ and coaches’ charts, the state rules from each state’s wildlife agency, and the advice from about 200 beginner threads on Reddit and the big archery forums.
End 1: You
Age, height, arm span, body weight, a push-up check and any shoulder or hand trouble set the draw weight, the draw length and the bow size.
End 2: Why you shoot
Hunting, competing, family fun or the traditional feel each favour different bows; so do how you aim and how fast you want results.
End 3: Where you’ll shoot
Your state’s hunting and crossbow rules, the space you have, the neighbours and whether a pro shop is close enough to fit you.
End 4: Your style
The bow you love the look of, tinkering, noise, how often you’ll practise and your dominant eye (which decides the hand).
End 5: Budget and plans
Real setup costs, how sure you are, whether others will share it, and where you want to be in a year.
// FAQ
Questions about the bow quiz
How it picks, how exact the numbers are, and what happens to your answers.
How does the quiz pick a bow?
Every answer adds or takes away points for each of the five bow types, and the results list the answers that moved each one. A takedown recurve starts slightly ahead, because nearly every coach starts beginners on one; a horse bow starts slightly behind, because forums call it a hard first bow.
How exact is the draw weight?
It’s a starting range from bow makers’ and coaches’ charts, not a fitting. Recurve, longbow and horse bow weights are marked at a 28″ draw and change about 2 lb per inch, so the quiz shows the marked weight to order for your draw length. If you can’t hold it steady for about five seconds, go lighter.
Why does it ask where I live?
Hunting rules differ by state: some set a minimum draw weight for deer, and some only allow crossbows in the archery season with a disability permit. The quiz uses each state’s wildlife agency rules as we found them in October 2026 and always links to the agency, because rules change.
Why does it ask for my email?
Your result opens as soon as you add your email at the end. You also get my free range log PDF and the monthly email, and you can unsubscribe in one click. Your answers are saved with your email so later emails fit your bow, and you can ask me to delete them any time.
Why did it suggest a bow I didn’t expect?
Usually because of one strong answer: a sore shoulder, a hunting plan, a small budget or no pro shop nearby can outweigh everything else. Check the “Held back by” lines under the other bows to see what tipped it, then retake the quiz if an answer wasn’t right.
Where do the bow picks come from?
They’re matched to your size, hand, budget and goals from bows we’ve reviewed or researched, using live Amazon listings. I only call a bow mine if I own it. I may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
