coon dawg
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Comer, Georgia
Posts: 4724 |
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quote: Originally posted by mjflores
First, I dont claim to know it all...or be the worlds most accomplished archer...but:
My preference is Hoyt, I've shot Hoyt for years and have never even entertained the idea of shooting anything else. I've been involved in archery since my 8th birthday when I got my first bow, a recurve...I've bowhunted ever since.
Weight: What I havent seen mentioned here is weight..both bow weight and draw weight. What I look for in a bow is light weight, you'll know what I mean when you're in your tree stand, at a weird angle, and have to hold your bow out but not draw yet for what seems like an eternity...every ounce of weight matters, and hurts in this situation. Look for something light. I also will never use a draw weight any higher that 65 lbs. I dont see the need to have an 80lb. draw weight! Can I pull back an 80 lb. bow? Sure...easily?..yes. Has my 65lb. draw weight blown through every deer I've shot with a bow...YES! Complete pass throughs. 65lb. draw weight is very easy for me to hold back, for a long time and hold before I make a shot. Heavy draw weights are for bragging at the 3D shoots, not for killing stuff if you ask me.
Arrow speed: Dont get hung up on this, it' nothing more than a marketing ploy to sell bows. The slowest longbows have been killing game for thousands of years. It's easy to get wrapped up in the speed game...it's senseless. Show me someone who claims they missed a deer due to arrow speed, and I'll show you a Big Dummy that's great at making excuses.
Practice: Any practice is good...practicing at ground level is WAY over done if you ask me. It's great for making your hold and release instinctive, and for excersising your drawing muscles...but try to practice from elevated platforms. This is really important. Build a platform if you can..15 feet up a tree just to practice from. You can use a treestand, a ladder stand is better since it's easier and quicker to go up and down. You can shoot off your deck if it allows enough elevation. As crazy as it sounds I used to practice out a second story window! Anything to closely replicate hunting from a tree stand.
You're in for allot of fun...enjoy the whole journey of getting started in archery.
Oh, here's 2 more quick pointers that have worked for me. Bow holster..get one! It hangs off your belt in front, and has a pocket that you rest the bottom cam of your bow in. This allows you to hold your bow at "almost" ready to draw position, but takes all the weight of your bow and puts it on the holster leaving your arms fresh and rested. I tried my first one probably 15 years ago, (or more) and will never go back to not using one..ever!
The second, and subject of heated debate...mechanical broadheads. Whatever you decide will kill a deer just fine. Take a good look at Spitfire mechanicals. I tried them when they first came out...I think in 1998?. Fell in love with them. They dont use rubber bands...they lock closed protecting the blades..and you and your gear! I cant tell you how many knuckles...servings, and strings my old muzzy broadheads claimed by cutting stuff they were not supposed to! Spitfires are super safe, you cant cut anything you dont shoot them at! As for people saying they rob impact energy and penetration? I've always gotten complete pass throughs..ever after breaking ribs on both sides of a deer. I've never wanted anything else. The fact that they have the exact same place of impact as your same weight field points means no messing with sites between hunting and practice.
Alright, enough out of me...have fun! Let us know what you get.
...................on draw weights and arrow speed..................agree with you 100%........most of it is "macho" crap.................I crank DOWN my bow..it's more important to me to be able to hold at full draw as long as I might need than it is to send the arrow clear through the animal to stick in the ground 6 inches versus 2.......lolololol..............80 or 60, it's goin' through on a good hit.............300FPS????.....I don't need it.........I hunt nasty thickets..........I can only see about 40 yards, shoot 25 or less..........buck really doesn't care if he's hit at 300fps or 280 at that distance.............lolol
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