Compound Bow Comparator

The BowTech StalkerLite is the short-draw, low-poundage member of the Stalker family, sold in 2002 and 2003 as a value-tier bare bow. Its whole case is reach: a 30-to-60-pound draw-weight spread and a 23-to-29-inch draw length put a genuine adjustable hunting single-cam in the hands of smaller-framed, younger, and developing shooters that the 40-to-70-pound hunting bows of its era simply did not fit. It is built on the same light, simple platform as the standard Stalker - a BowTech single cam, a long forgiving riser, and a 2.85-pound mass - and rates an honest 288 to 295 fps measured at its own near-maximum rather than an IBO setup it cannot reach. In my experience the thing that makes a bow like this worth owning is not speed but access, and the StalkerLite was one of the few real hunting bows of its day that scaled down far enough to give it. It is an excellent used-market choice for the lighter-drawing or still-growing hunter who wants a true adjustable single-cam rather than a starter toy. Shooters who need a full 70-pound peak or a longer draw should step up to the standard Stalker, and those who want the most compact, fastest value single-cam of the family should look at the BowTech BlackHawk. Read full review...

The BowTech BlackHawk is one of the more likeable budget hunting bows of the early 2000s - the shortest, lightest single cam in BowTech's catalog of its day, carried at a $499 launch MSRP that put it hundreds below the flagships while still handing the shooter the continuously-tunable InfinityCam and a genuine low-310s IBO rating. Its whole case is compactness without compromise: under 29 inches and under three pounds, yet quick, quiet, and reported by owners as nearly free of hand shock even shot bare. It asks one thing in return - a soft, honest grip, because a bow this light will not hide a torqued hand the way a heavy target rig does. What stays with me about it is that contrast: a sub-three-pound bargain bow that still sits dead-still at the shot. For the treestand or ground-blind hunter who prizes a bow that comes up fast in tight cover and holds easy through a long sit, and especially for anyone restoring a clean used example with a fresh custom string, it remains a rewarding little bow. Hunters who would rather have the steadier hold of a longer, more forgiving frame should look instead at the BowTech TomKat or the PSE Firestorm - same era, same value spirit, a calmer aim in exchange for a touch of the BlackHawk's speed and handiness. Read full review...

The BowTech TomKat is the value package bow of the brand's Binary Cam era, and its trick was putting a flagship-grade cam under a budget riser and shipping it ready to hunt. For roughly $550 in the mid-2000s you got the complete rig - rest, sight, peep, quiver, sling and Hush Kit - around a compact 313/4-inch chassis with a tall 81/2-inch brace, a self-correcting Binary Cam with a speed-or-smooth module choice, and 65-80 percent adjustable let-off. Real-world speed with a hunting arrow lands near 280 fps, the shot is quiet and low in hand shock straight from the factory, and the whole package is light and easy to carry on a stand or a 3D course. What I keep coming back to is how much finished bow this was for the money - the accessories were basic and the valley is short, but the bow underneath them was the real thing. It is an excellent choice for the budget-minded or first-time hunter who wants a complete, dependable rig in one box, and it remains a smart used-market buy for a compact treestand or 3D setup. Buyers who want a longer, steadier, lighter bow should also look at the Mathews Classic, and those who want the widest adjustment range and a little more speed should also look at the Hoyt Trykon. Read full review...

• Light and simple at 2.85 lb - the same single-cam, module-draw platform as the Stalker, with no two-cam timing to keep in sync
• Reaches genuinely low - down to a 30 lb peak and a 23 inch draw, opening a real adjustable hunting single-cam to smaller-framed, younger, and developing shooters

• Pocket-sized and under three pounds - the sub-29-inch frame swings up fast and holds easy from a treestand or inside a cramped ground blind where a long bow fights you
• Dead in the hand for a value bow - owners report little to no hand shock even shooting it bare, without hanging a stabilizer on the front to quiet it down
• High, dial-in let-off - the InfinityCam's continuously adjustable 65-to-80% hold lets you trade holding weight for aiming steadiness, and owners favored the 80% setting for all-day hunting

• Complete ready-to-hunt package - Hostage rest, fiber-optic sight, peep, quiver, sling and Hush Kit all in the box, the only BowTech sold this way
• Runs the same Binary Cam System as BowTech's flagships, with a solid, repeatable back wall that holds its timing
• Quiet, low-recoil shot straight from the factory Hush Kit - many owners shoot it well with no added stabilizer
• Compact 313/4-inch axle-to-axle with a tall 81/2-inch brace makes it easy to pack and steady to aim, a favorite for 3D
• Fast enough for real hunting - hunting-weight arrows fly around 280 fps, flat enough for typical whitetail ranges

• A lower-poundage, shorter-draw bow by design - hunters who need a full 70 lb peak or a draw past 29 inches will want the full-power Stalker instead

• The short 28 7/8-inch axle-to-axle rewards clean, relaxed form; shooters who want a more forgiving stance at full draw, or who draw long, may prefer a longer-riser bow such as the TomKat
• A long-discontinued model, so factory InfinityCam draw modules and string sets are special-order today - a used buyer should budget a shop-built custom string and have the cam timing checked before hunting it

• Entry-grade factory rest and sight - owners often swap both for better aftermarket parts, a cheap and common upgrade, since the bow itself is the value
• Tall brace and short axle-to-axle keep the speed but give a short valley - shooters wanting the era's most forgiving BowTech should look to a longer-riser model