I'll prob. have a thousand questions after the Xmas holiday when I undertake this "traditional" journey but anyways...

Do I need a bow stringer? Are some better than others?

I just received my son's and my own Samick Sage today and have not put one together as of yet as Pete Ward said on his review that it should have come with DF97 which performs better than the B50 they sent it with.

I would not have a clue as to which one would perform better, but his review states DF97 is hands down better for this bow.

I don't want to open the B50 strings if Lancaster decides to send me DF97. In the meantime, I'd order a bow stringer from them if they are going to send me new strings.

Any other initial things I should purchase?

Thanks,

Tim

Merry Christmas to you, and yes a stringer would be money well spent.

I would call a good stringer a "must have".It is that important.I would get one ike the Selway stringer.You will need a bow square to set your nocking points ant check brace height.You are in for a lot of fun.

Not to be smart here but arrows are important.  Finger tabs and or gloves ( 2  per person ), string wax, extra knocking points, a second string as a back up.  sock or carrying case, bow square, serving material, a quiver.   These items will give you enough supplies to shoot for a while and are all vital to having a successful day with your bow.

prolly be very handy an informative to you to download the Easton Tuning guide. It will answer allot of questions.  setup, tuning, shooting, arrows, ect....  Merry Chistmas & Good Luck Brother, Ken
  http://www.eastonarchery.com/pdf/tuning_guide.pdf

Nocking points can be as simple as a wrap of masking tape on the string. One above and one below the spot where you want the arrow on the string. Easy to move around when searching for the perfect spot, costs nothing.

You can make a temporary quiver out of a pants leg and clothesline or a web belt. I made one with that stuff, with a woven cotton strap held on with binder clips. Used it for over ten years, deciding whether I liked it or not...

As you can tell, part of the fun is learning what gear you can make for yourself. And then there are our fine sponsors, who supply all the stuff you would rather not spend years learning how to make.

The Selway-type stringer is the best that I have found. Looking forward to your questions!

Killdeer

Buy either TJ Conrad's or Brain Sorrel's book on Traditional Bowhunting and read it cover to cover. Even if you are not planning on hunting either would be invaluable to you in terms of getting setup properly. Either will save you a lot of time, money, and frustration and will make the "journey" more enjoyable.

QuoteOriginally posted by Killdeer:
Nocking points can be as simple as a wrap of masking tape on the string. One above and one below the spot where you want the arrow on the string. Easy to move around when searching for the perfect spot, costs nothing.

You can make a temporary quiver out of a pants leg and clothesline or a web belt. I made one with that stuff, with a woven cotton strap held on with binder clips. Used it for over ten years, deciding whether I liked it or not...

As you can tell, part of the fun is learning what gear you can make for yourself. And then there are our fine sponsors, who supply all the stuff you would rather not spend years learning how to make.

The Selway-type stringer is the best that I have found. Looking forward to your questions!

Killdeer

I like the way she thinks!

Still have a nock point made of string wraped around the bow string repeatedly on one of my bows.

PVC pipe makes a serviceable quiver or arrow holder. One of my favorite quivers is a case skinned coyote I sewed the mouth shout on and used the tail as a strap, just drop the arrows in the now open rear end.

Been using a framing square instead of a bow square for years.

Get some good basic archery books, a stringer, gloves or make a tab and a arm guard. Just to muddy things up a bit more I've found that leather driving gloves out preform any shooting glove I have ever tried and I have never worn a arm guard. I also practice shooting without a glove, I am not about to climb back down the mountain and loose time sheep hunting because I forgot a 12 dollar glove!

BTW no such thing as a stupid question! There are definitely stupid answers, just look at my earlier post, but no stupid questions. You have to learn this stuff somehow.

Sounds like most the essentials have been mentioned.

I would recommed a fletching jig,fletch tape,fletchings,and spare nocks.

you can often find a fletching jig in the classifieds 2nd hand in the arrows section or post a wanted add.

Maybe a desent target that can handle being shot at many many times.

http://www.kustomkingarchery.com/Web-Ster-Bowstringer/productinfo/2302/  

Best stringer I've ever used,I highly recommend this one.

Read all you can about tuning.This site has one of the best search features I've ever used on an internet forum.Search for tuning,arrow spine.Read about tuning before buying arrows.You'll have a better understanding of what you'll need before you buy.

The B50 string with stretch more than the D97 will.In a jist of it,the D97 will give you more efficent energy transfer from the limbs to the arrow.Search for the differences on here,it's been done to death.

Wool puff or cat whisker type string silencers will work great.

Ask away on here,we're all glad to help out.  

Nahh, just stick the bow in the dirt and pull. Thats what I do......its in the trad archers handbook....


Heh...

Get a stringer, they are an invaluable piece of equipment. It will assure that you don't twist a limb. Check out the Bow Hush silencers here at the gang.

Thanks all. I should note that one of our fellow TragGang members is sending me the guide to trad hunting book to read.

Very nice gesture and my son and I appreciate it.

Tim