Do you support the small Archery Shops ?

[SteveB]

My local shop. Greg's Archery, is one of the good ones.

Very competitive pricing and installs all the accesories for no charge.

Then helps with siting in if you need it - again nc for this or the range time.

Generally helps you maintain it as well.

8 lane indoor up to 30 yds and a 30 target Rinehart outdoor 3D with 3 stakes each in the woods.

Even a moose! And outdoor backstops to 100+ yards.

Fun to watch someone bring a Bass Pro or new internet purchase in - often as not, the bow has major setup issues and a good chance it doesn't fit. They get charged the going rate and generally  would have saved money buying from him with his included services AND had it right the first time.

[Chevy]

I remember Sal in Webster Fasteddie. That's where I took my bow course years ago and bought my first set up. What a mean SOB that guy way. It was like he hated life. I guess that can happen if you turn a sport or past time into work or a business.

[nyslowhand]

I have always tried to support local businesses with my hunting needs. Been to the East Williamson shop recently, also with disasterous results. Took 2 weeks to get a dozen arrows made up. Young guy who owns business is a strange businessman for being a full-time pro shop. Really helpful when I wanted a new BowTech Swat. Also been to an archery shop in Marion a few years ago. Huge inventory of over-priced old, old bows. Bought a new AR-31 on eBay for what he wanted for some of those relics. Owner has a reguluar job and runs shop part-time along with guide service in Naples area. These local shops can not compete with the web based businesses. Basically I'm for keeping money in my pocket. If prices at local shops and on the web are comporable, I'm shopping locally. Had bad experiences with arrows on the web, so there is something to be said for local pro shops.

[fasteddie]

I bought a new bow at a shop in Henrietta several years ago . My son had spent a lot of money there previously . I thought the guy would cut me some slack because of that but I paid MSRP price . Anyway , I changed out the sight and replaced the Whisker Biscuit with a Drop Away that I had fastened to the down cable . I had my string and cable replaced there and the shop owner fastened the drop rest to the cable slide . That method didn't let the rest drop fast enough so I bought some cord and rut it back the way I had it before . I know the guy was more knowledgable than I am but I wasn't happy with how he set up my bow . I havn't been back . He was a real nice guy .

Another shop owner who runs the shop part time .........

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Doc...not sure where you are in Western NY but in Rochester try JayVee sporting goods.. Dan and Rick has always treated me fairly and gave me great service. I have yet to shoot at their range at their new location  but I know they have one. I bought my last 2 bows through them and was never disappointed

[Doc]

Doc...not sure where you are in Western NY but in Rochester try JayVee sporting goods.. Dan and Rick has always treated me fairly and gave me great service. I have yet to shoot at their range at their new location  but I know they have one. I bought my last 2 bows through them and was never disappointed

It's been a pile of years (like 30+) but I seem to remember a JayVee Fishing Tackle Store over on or near Seneca Ave. I think it was above that where there was a large archery shop and indoor shooting range. We used to go there all the time, but I can't seem to remember the name of the guy and his wife that ran the place. That wouldn't be the same place would it? it used to be real handy when I worked over that way, but over time I was shipped up to Webster and the whole gang kind of stopped going over there. So I completely lost track of the place.

Doc

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Probably the same place. They we on Senaca in a old warehouse right hear Norton. They have a pile of fishing and bait. Not sure if it was their fathers first but I have been going there since 92 and they just move to a new place last year...1449 Norton Street. I shot in a winter league there for years but once i started traveling for business I had to drop it. Nice little shop.

There was just a shop that opened by me in Henrietta and I stopped in to see the guy....seemed nice and he is closer for me but old loyality dies hard for me.

[WNYBuckHunter]

The guy that just opened in Henrietta is someone I know. Hes a good guy, bought my first bow from him years ago when he had his first archery shop up on Black Lake. His parents babysat my daughter for a couple of years. As far as i know, he knows his stuff pretty good. He always has a stand at the Avon DEC days.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Great to know WNY in case I ever get in a pinch. From what I understand he has a range open in there now too.

[sits in trees]

i think for alot of us it's just the fun of hanging out in an archery shop and chewing the fat with other hunters and exchanging ideas and yea buying something now and then, thats the one thing i miss since i have went solo and been doing my own setup, work and tuning.

[RPIBuckHunter]

I usually go to Brown's Archery in Schenectady.  Great service, great prices, great gossip.

I've also been to Flying Arrow Sports in East Greenbush, they give descent service as well but the prices are outrageous!!

To be fair though, Flying Arrow does a lot for our college archery club, so that's all well and good.

[woodsdweller]

guys and gals my family and i take all our business to the archery connection in middleburgh (schoharie co.)  Bruce will do you right and has a quality shop,w/indoor ranges and great service.

[orion]

2nd Archery Connection. And I live on Long Island. It's about an hour from where I hunt. Always treated as well.

[fasteddie]

Many of the Archery Shops are owned and operated by an individual who has a full time job and works in the shop when he gets homes from a day's work . I don't envy these guys at all . I have respect for most of them . I try to do as much with my bow as I can to avoid going to a shop .

[doulos]

  I’ll second what Larry302 said about Phil Race at Indian Mountain Archery in Hamlin. Ive use most of the shops in the are over the years and Phil takes the customer service to a level I havent seen before. Yep I can concur the stories about the grumpy pro shop owners and those that ignore you on their cell phone. But that’s not the case here.

Case in point---Last year I accidently cut a string on my Bowtech. I called around and even called Indian Mountain in desperation even though their web site said they were closed. Well Phil answered and said he did have one but he was closed and the shop wasn’t open until Wednesday( it was Monday). He paused and said “I suppose you want to hunt this week” I said “YES! So he said come on down and I’ll fix it.

On my way down I thought I have to go back to owning 2 bows like I used to to have a backup. So I determined I would look at what he had there.

While he was fixing my bow I told him I wanted to buy another he answered that he rather not sell me one now because the new ones were coming out soon and I would be happier waiting. HOW MANY GUYS WOULD REFUSE A SALE? HOW MANY GUYS WOULD OPEN WHEN THEY ARE CLOSED?

His philosophy is he wants you to walk out totally satisfied.

Well he fixed my and 3 days later I killed the best buck of my life.

When you buy a bow from him He’ll set up a couple different bows for you and let you alone on the range to decide. Then he’ll bring you in when the place is closed and make sure the bow fits perfect. He will spend a lot of time with you. How much is that worth?

Ive never had so much personal attention when buying a bow and Ive always bought from pro shops.

Phil at Indian Mountain is the best Ive used so far.

PS Im waiting for my new Matthews Z7 to come in.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

When I am able to, I support my local archery shop...There are two in my city but I only go to one of them...It's called Doc's Archery http://www.docsarchery.com/ .  Mark, the owner, knows me by name and I feel at home when I go in to his place...And it is only a couple minutes away from my house to boot.

[sits in trees]

it's probably a safe bet to say it was in an archery shop where most of us got our start. i walked into an archery shop 25 or so years ago in Coram Long Island on i think it was rt 112, there was a big burly guy in there who saw a rifle hunter (me) gazing at the bows and about an hour later i was walking out the door with a bow(PSE Polaris express), arrows, sight, and about 400 bucks lighter in my pocket. he's the one who got it all started....hey any of you Long Island guy's remember or know of this shop and owner, is he still there????and what was the name of the place???it wasnt far off of rt 83, patchogue mount sinia road on rt 112, maybe Medford or Coram?

[rock]

how many really check to see if they are getting quality work, do you guys check to see if you axel to axel is correct brace height and cam timeing, sight and rest set up 90 degrees from the string. you can shoot 20 yards and never know the difference.... this is why i started getting my own tools because of the years of shafty work

[sits in trees]

how many really check to see if they are getting quality work, do you guys check to see if you axel to axel is correct brace height and cam timeing, sight and rest set up 90 degrees from the string. you can shoot 20 yards and never know the difference.... this is why i started getting my own tools because of the years of shafty work

yea when i see the amount of time i spend on my bows before and during each season i just know theres no way any pro shop can be doing that and still turning a profit..they will set up the basics for you but to really maintain a bow over an entire season i do beleive you gotta become your own bowtech...

[rock]

i agree sits i see so many bows that people pay to get so called super tuned not even be in time or paper tuned

[Caveman]

I usually go to Brown's Archery in Schenectady.  Great service, great prices, great gossip.

I've also been to Flying Arrow Sports in East Greenbush, they give descent service as well but the prices are outrageous!!

To be fair though, Flying Arrow does a lot for our college archery club, so that's all well and good.

I need a new string and cables on my bow and after polling everyone at work about their shop of choice Flying Arrows and Brown's were the top two.  Which would you recommend over the other?

[doulos]

how many really check to see if they are getting quality work, do you guys check to see if you axel to axel is correct brace height and cam timeing, sight and rest set up 90 degrees from the string. you can shoot 20 yards and never know the difference.... this is why i started getting my own tools because of the years of shafty work

yea when i see the amount of time i spend on my bows before and during each season i just know theres no way any pro shop can be doing that and still turning a profit..they will set up the basics for you but to really maintain a bow over an entire season i do beleive you gotta become your own bowtech...

the pro shop i use the owner sets up the bow and uses a Hooter shooter until the bow will shoot arrows in the same hole at 25 yards.  Not close to each other or a good group BUT the same hole. ive allways tuned my own stuff but he takes it to a level I cant because of his equipment. Ive learned alot just watching him work on stuff while we're talking.

[Doewhacker]

I usually go to Brown's Archery in Schenectady.  Great service, great prices, great gossip.

I've also been to Flying Arrow Sports in East Greenbush, they give descent service as well but the prices are outrageous!!

To be fair though, Flying Arrow does a lot for our college archery club, so that's all well and good.

I need a new string and cables on my bow and after polling everyone at work about their shop of choice Flying Arrows and Brown's were the top two.  Which would you recommend over the other?

Flying arrow has better hours, Browns has been around forever and they all know their stuff there. I would go with Browns if you can get in. There is also a shop that is on Saratoga Lake, Saratoga Bait and Tackle, his prices are real low and he seems to be a good guy. I have used the saratoga guy twice now for strings, you will need to tune your bow after reguardless of what he says.

[First-light]

Muzzyloader,

"I support a local shop (Arnot Forest Archery)." I bought my bow there last year. Great people, yes they charge a bit more but the service is great. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law shoot in a league there. They live over in Burdett and I have a place in Howard, Steuben county.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Tried a new shop ...totally sucks and if you aren't buying a bow from him you don't get the time of day. My buddy and I dropped our bows off...tune up and bought some accessories to mount. He told us 2 weeks....my budies was done in 2 but only half the work he needed. mine took 4 and I never got a call from him to say it was done. when I showed up to pick it up  and take it somewhere else he studdered and said it was done.....and ran in the back room. I followed him after a few minutes and he was in a mad rush to do what I had asked for. I was buying a new bow next season and they are the local rep for the one I wanted....I will drive out of the area to buy it b4 this guys sees another dime of my money...

Traditions archery in Suburban Plaza,,,,Henrietta NY