You can't just walk in to a store pick up a bow, pay, and walk out. Buying a bow is like buying a new pair of shoes. It has to fit you. This insures no extra variables in a shot. 

When you go to get your bow they will probably give you a bow with a draw weight of around
25 to 30 pounds. They have a arrow that is about 35 inches in length with markings that tell them how long your draw length is. 

Then you need to find an anchor point. This is the place that you draw to every time. They may have you hold the string with 2 fingers, draw it back, and then bend your finger at the joint, and place it on the inside of your cheek. You may have a different anchor point so it is up to you to tell the person what feels comfortable and what doesn't .If you see a bow you like and they don't have your size. Don't go ahead and get it anyway. look around and you may find something else or contact the manufacturer of the bow. 

You need to find how much you can pull back. DON'T get a bow that you have to tug and strain to pull back. People won't think you are a dork if you can only pull back a little amount of weight. But they will think you are a dork if you strain each time. You may also want to invest in a Bow arm exerciser. It looks like a sling shot with rubber tubing that you can pull back each day to strengthen up. I promise you, as you get the feel for shooting and work those muscles " some that haven't been worked before" YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MORE WEIGHT! . Remember some bow dealers (not all), but some, will try to sell you anything, so ask around and go to the dealer with the best reputation. 

Telling the difference between bows can be tough. Here are some rules that will help you pick the right bow every time.

• How heavy is the bow when you pick it up? If it is to heavy it's going to do a number on the arm when you shoot it or romp around in the woods all day. 4 pounds is about the most weight I'll take. 
• Is the bow durable? There is no use in buying a cheaply manufactured bow that will fall apart in a year. A bow is a big purchase and should be chosen wisely. Check for cracks in the limbs " arms" of the bow and loose parts. Some bows get dry fired in the bow shops and you do not want a broken bow. Cracked limbs, splitting bow strings and loose cams can cause injury to you and bystanders so inspect the bow carefully.
• Will the bow be easy to setup and maintain? Newer archers make the awful mistake of getting in over their heads and end up with alot of frustration. If your like me, when you get frustrated with something, or it takes to much time and energy to do, you don't want to do it. If  Bowhunting.net or the Young Bowhunters Club recruits you as a new archer or bow hunter, we want you to be a part of the family forever. Its a sport that truly grows on you and will bring you a lifetime of enjoyment if you start off on the right foot. So get something easy to maintain. One cam bows take timing out of the picture and I would recommend them to newer archers.
• Does the bow draw and shoot smoothly? This is another important factor. You don't want a strain or a bumpy draw. This can cause all kinds of problems with the arrows bumping around, accidental releases and dry fires " shooting a bow without an arrow in it " 
• Is the bow quiet? Another important factor. If you bow is noisy then the animal your hunting is going to duck and run before the arrow gets there. Even though arrows these days fly at high speeds, an animals reflexes usually get the luck of the draw. Noisy bows can make for misses and bad shots. 
• Lastly......... The person selling you the bow usually will give you a chance to shoot it. If he or she doesn't want you shooting it before you buy it go elsewhere.