Bow Hunting Advice

ya, i am talking about the hinge release, I always learned it called a back tension, they wil always scare me. I will stick with my other ones.

I know they are used for hunting by some, but they just make me really nervous, probably because of how I draw. Rather than draw straight back like you are supposed to, I point the bow partially up and and arc it down as I draw. I find it helps to calm me before a shot, it is completely a mental thing. I can draw the other way, just prefer that way. I have a bit more wrist movement when I do that, so that is why it makes me nervous.

 

^^ This. Try shooting the newer parallel limb hoyts they wont have the vibration. I have hoyts and then mathews quivers on them and they are sweet period.

As for sights Im suprised no one has mentioned the sure loc's they are very solid and offer the smoothest adjustments I have experiences with a sight. I have tried a few. If anything though do not get a viper sight I had one and it wasnt very good. Tough to adjust, sight fibers broke regularly and it was very heavy.

 

Okay, once I get my bow and get fairly decent at it, I will teach you how to shoot that! and you can teach me to shoot guns better. Only been a hand full of times and only have shot 9mm and .45's. deal?!

That is awesome that Armortech does that for you and customizes their sights to what the customer wants.

As far as the 737 I figured it was a bit older but was just going off of what the guy at the shop told me. I will definitely try to shoot another hoyt sometime soon! hopefully next weekend I can get out to Fullerton to Hi-Tech Archery and see what happens.

My dad wants to buy the matrix so I am sure he will search for one and I will be able to shoot it as well

I apologize, the t-handle thumb release I shot was the tru-ball pro diamond. It was not the absolute 360. I dont like the hook type either.. doesnt seem as secure IMO. Not really looking into the back tension type of releases, I feel it would be hard to learn that while starting back up at shooting..

I understand what you mean with every release should be "Back Tension" when used correctly. I believe he is specifically talking about This type of release though.. Feel it would be hard to get all aspects of my form and everything else while also focusing on the back tension release.

I am trying to be open to all, Just had the local shop order me a few releases so I can try them out

haha yeah dont need to be shooting arrows into the sky and loosing arrows or hitting something you dont want!

I will definitely try to find some newer hoyts to shoot if I can find some!

I am also looking into the axcel gold sight, the guy at the shop has been shooting for a long time (30 years or so) and said that will be his next and he really likes them! Still unsure on the type of sight and release I will end up with but starting to get better ideas..

 

I've heard good thinkgs about axcel I handled them and they seemed a little heavy but they were solid from what I could tell. Just take a look at the sure loc's and I dont think you can go wrong.

Also when I mentioned the viper sights beening poor I was refering to the multi pin hunting sights. The single up pin target scopes are very nice.

 

I currently shoot with a pro diamond hunter and I love it, I didn't have the coin the get one of their better ones....but I am very pleased with it

And they are right about the parallel limbs, much less vibration

And yes, that was what I meant with the back tension releases.

 

Yep, that is a hinge release. I've been using the Scott Longhorn Pro Advantage for a few years now.. I've found it fits so well it disappears in my hand. http://www.scottarchery.com/back-te...rn-series-releases-longhorn-pro-advantage.php

They are not too tough to learn to shoot either.. Every good archery shop should have a Genesis all set up with a D-Loop ready to go for testing releases. Grab that Genesis and shoot 100 arrows and learn how that hinge feels. Learn to draw smoothly with your hand/wrist in the correct location. Learn to use your back to set off the release and then transfer that to your "real" bow. I was forced to shoot a hook release and learn back tension because of target panic at the age of 12. Target panic is not fun. It makes lots of people give up archery and hunting with a bow all together. Now I use a Genesis and a Hinge to help others get over the same problem. It works, if they commit and stick with it.

And nomad_archer has a good point..Sure Loc sights are some of the tops in the industry. I use their Black Eagle scopes and target sights. No problems with them at all.

 

I know what you are talking about with he target panic. The diamond hunter actually help me a lot, I don't really know why though.

I had my worst target panic when I was using this, unfortunately I could draw a stronger bow with it, which kept me from switching. I am glad I did though.

 

Sounds like Strother is s till producing great bows even though Kevin Strother left the company after the first year or two. Last I heard he started up K&K archery (for Kate and Kevin). His wife is that hot chick that used to do the sexy Martin Archery adds. He started out at Bowtech, moved to Elite, then Strother, then K&K, I quit keeping track. Ever since I shot the Infinity I quit looking at bows, lol.

 

Checking out the Sure Loc tonight and I will hopefully be able to handle them tomorrow I will check in tomorrow, Suppose to be going to a HUGE archery shop tomorrow afternoon..

What better one would you be talking about with the Tru-Balls??

I will try to shoot other Hoyt's tomorrow as well and see how the new parallel limbs will feel.

I will give the back tension release a shot once I get my form and draw and everything else down so I can focus souly on the release..

Seen those on the computer, Havent heard a whole lot about them. I feel they are just a twist of the t-handle thumb releases to accommodate the rifle hunters when transitioning into archery. That is just my take on it though..

Yeah the Strother is unbelievable, shot it again today before I went into work and it just solidified me liking it better then the mathews Helim. I heard that Kevin has been all over, seems not get settled and then moves on. Not sure on his tactics on that one but he definitely get good bows going regardless!

 

Do the Sure-Loc's have a light instead of Fiber Optics??

 

kinda, it has a rifle style trigger, but your hand is positioned like you have a single shot pistol with the barrel on your cheek. I posted it because I found I got target panic with them, but it makes the bow feel easier to hold and draw. either way, I would prefer the diamond pro hunter to this, more accurate

 

which sure loc's where you looking at? They all use fiber optic it is just very protected.

 

Yeah I can understand that! I think I will go with the pro hunter. Should be purchasing my stuff soon

I was looking at all of them and it said they came with a light?? I saw them today at an archery shop regardless and saw they are fiber optic so nvm haha


Sidenote!

-Shot a Hoyt Element today and it shot great! draw was pretty smooth.. dont really like how much the hoyt "Click" in at full draw. It shot great though, no vibration and felt good in my hands.

-Also shot a PSE EVO. Another great bow, Vibrations are a little more. Really fast, but not as smooth as the Hoyt Element.

All in all I will go with Strother SX Rush. Felt the smoothest to me and I like the feel and release and everything!

As of right now my shopping list consists of:

1. Strother SX Rush RH #60
2. Tight Spot Quiver
3. Tru-Ball Pro Diamond Release or other Finger Caliper release
4. Axcel Armortech Sight (5 Pin), Ascent Gold (5 Pin), or a Spot Hogg
5. Q.A.D. Ultra Rest HD
6. Arrows (Not sure what kind yet but probably get Blazers)
7. Case (Soft or Hard)

Am I forgetting anything guys or suggestions on what I am thinking?!

Thanks for everything and all the info! if you guys have anything to add or what just let me know!

 

Also, Anybody have any information on stabilizers?? just realized I havent even put any thought into those!!

 

Depends are you going to be using the bow for hunting or competitive shooting? The basic ones for hunting you can get in different weights. You just have to try out a few different ones till you find one that balances the bow at full draw. Look for one between 4-8" anything longer than that will get in the way for hunting. Also look for one that has good dampening on it to cut down on vibrations.

 

I have a stabilizer by limbsaver, not too much balance difference with it on, but it absorbs a lot of vibration. It was a cheaper one, but I liked it. I have shot a bow with a target stabilizer and there is a difference, but not worth dealing with a long stabilizer while hunting

As for cases, I like my hard sided case a lot more, not as hard to knock the bow around, especially strings. I have a cheap Plano bow case and it works great, holds 2 dozen arrows (or 18, dot remember which)

And good choice on the release.

Have you decided what brand of
Arrows you will get? (can I assume carbon?)

 

sounds like one hell of a shopping list...i'm jelly!

can i offer some advice for arrows? for me this is the complicated part. try to keep up arrows are different. weight per inch is different. straightness tolerances are different..(straighter=mo$). and spine (stiffness) is different. i'll focus on spine. spine is indicated as a deflection per specified load. they are typically. .400", .340" and .300" the smaller the number the stiffer the spine..the less it deflects.got it?

so knowing this, you really in the perfect world the bow chooses the arrows. here is what i did..i knew i was going to use my bow exclusively for hunting. so i knew i wanted my arrows on the longer side. my DL is 28" my arrows are cut to 28.5". this way my razor sharp broadhead is way ahead of my soft fleshy hand. here is where it gets crazy. the longer the arrow the less stiff it behaves. the heavier the broadhead, the less stiff it behaves. so you bow needs a perfect spine to make it easy to tune. someone with some arrow software will get you in the ballpark.

i bought my arrows from SouthShore archery. he runs the numbers and builds arrow beautifully. i got a .300" spine arrow, which is too stiff for my bow. but i added some insert weight upfront to make it behave less stiff. this is a win/win. because now my arrows are only slightly overspined, and my arrows are super nose heavy. (high FOC, front of center) high FOC hits animals harder, better penetration, are more accurate, and are easier to tune. by in tune i mean my fieldtip arrows fly like my broadhead arrows. for a hunter that is everything.

oh, i used (i think) FFP 360 arrow vanes. they are 3" long and are not as tall as blazers. i wanted some extra clearance with my vanes and QAD rest.

hope this helps. confused yet?

 

Good choice in vanes!! Flex Fletch makes the best vanes, period. And the FFP 360 is an excellent hunting vane. I've been using the FFP for about 6 years. They are actually 3.6" though.. What I like about Flex Fletch vanes is that they are super durable, do not take a set, never ripple, and are quiet when shot.

Everyone is caught up in the Blazer hype.. To me they are horrible. Lay an arrow with Blazers on a table over night..the vanes will flatten out and set to that flat position. Flex fletch will not. I accidently left an arrow burried in a target for 48 hours. I found it, pulled it out and threw it in my quiver. By the time I got back to 60 yards that arrow with Flex Fletch looked just like all the other arrows in my quiver. They straighten out so nicely

 

Stabilizers are a funny thing. Pick what works best for your. I hunt with a 12" and it has never gotten in the way. I am thinking about going with an 18" one for hunting this year. I have losts of different stabilizers laying around in the basement. The job of the stabilizer is to stabilize the bow before/after your shot dont worry about the dappening properties it wont make that much difference. For target shooting I use something between 24" and 36" depending on the bow. 12-18" for hunting has worked well for me.

 

I will mostly be using the bow for hunting. Not really planning on doing any tournament shooting.. So it sounds like your suggesting trying out a few at the shop to see what feels the best? Suggest any companies that any quality products??

Yeah definitely don't want one of those long ass stabilizers, it would probably piss me off!! Haha

I was thinking of getting the Plano case, haven't really looked into those as they aren't a huge concern at the moment. Figured I need the bow before I get the case haha

As far as arrows, I am not a 100% sure at this point, going to just figure out what shoots the best with the bow when I go in to purchase. But yes, more then likely getting a carbon arrow.

Thank you kindly for the info, sounds like I will need to be splitting hairs and coming to some type of happy median between all the different aspects of the arrows, I am going to look into this more.

And not TOO confused I think I followed it quite well haha

Looks like I'll get some flex fletch vanes. I like the durability that you are talking about, changing my list from blazers to those

Thank you for the info man, I will try as many as possible and see what works out the best!

As for arrows, what are all of your guys using and what do you recommend for me with the set-up I am going with??