What Is Your Primary Hunting Bow?

[Loggy]

I know many have several bows but what is your primary bow you use for hunting?

Mine a a 1994 PSE Fire Flite 70 LB. 41" axle to axle compound. It has the Vector III machined eccentrics, HTE brackets and is 60% let-off. Have the ole Center Flight proven riser. I have a TM Hunter Rest.

I see PSE has the Fire Flite again in 2004. Man, has it ever changed plus now rated to approx. 294 FPS and available with 80% let-off. Now axle to axle is only 33 3/8". Think I'll just keep my ole Fire Flite. 220 FPS is plenty. ;D

[SW]

Palmer 62" recurve and 29.5" XX78 29.5" 2117s 5" LH helical, 100g Sattelites. 46#
Secondary Hoyt Razor Tec 2413 XX78 29" 4" RH offset, NAP expandables - 125g. 61# at 29" draw
Use 1st bow when using stands where shot is limited to 30yds or less unless raining or threatening to do so.
The Hoyt Razor Tec is an excellent bow - quiet, fast and very accurate. It replaced my 10year old bow(Oregon)that broke a limb. Hate to change bows after getting one all set-up. This one has been a treat. Also, the NAP drop away rest seems to aid accuracy greatly.

[Douglas Blair]

Loggy I shoot a 1997(I think) Buckmaster. It is set at 60# and has a 4 inch overdraw, 75% letoff and it shoots a 125 grain razorhead on a 27 inch 2213 arrow at 262 fps. I really like this bow.

[Loggy]

Yea Doug & SW, some nice equipment you guys got. I got my paperwork out this morning and couldnt believe my PSE is 10 years old! I saw the wheels, cf riser etc on mine arent even listed on the newer models. Amazing how this sport has changed over the years as far as equipment goes. A compound breakin 200 FPS 10 years ago was a fairly fast bow. Now its approx 100 FPS slower than alot of the newer bows out there.

I better stop now or I will start lookin at the Cabela's Archery Catalog I just got and get myself into trouble. ;D

[DaveK]

The bow I always grab is a 1994 Oregon. Actually I have two that are identical. I would hate to be without a bow during the season. 40" center to center, 65#, 29 3/4" 2117 tipped with Zwickeys. Shooting off of a API plunger/flipper and using fingers. Shoots a blistering 220fps. with a 610gr. arrow/broadhead combo. It passes through them real easy.

[SW]

Mark A,
I like my arrows to explode inside the deer - they go down right there. I think you and Edge still think pass-thrus are better. When will you ever learn?

[DaveK]

Pass throughs are better. The only reason a deer drops at the point of impact is because of the spinal injury. Arrows are not bullets,they do not kill by hydra shock, but by hemmorage In Ohio exploding heads are illegal, expanding heads though are,so we must rely on the tried and true hemmorage. Depending on the amount of adrenalin induced into the animal before the shot, they my travel a few yards or a 150yds IF the shot is a DOUBLE LUNG or a HEART shot. It takes that long for the lack of oxygen to the brain to cause the brain to shut down and the animal to pass out with death following almost immediately afterwards. Take a fast running man. He can run 25mph. Wreck his cardiovascular system and he may make 100yds before he crumbles. Deer can travel faster than a man so that is why the 150yd. range. I like a chance for blood to exit on both sides of the animal to increase my ability to track it. I have been called to helped track many deer that were arrowed through both lungs or heart that traveled miles. When we found them (if we did), we also found that these organ were missed and it was another organ(s) that were hit that caused death.

[DaveK]

Sorry Mark, I thought you were serious about the "exploding" arrows. opps!

[Loggy]

I hit a couple of deer in close with a Thunderhead 125 delivered by my 70 Lb. PSE that after skinnin one possibly could of questioned what I was a usin. ;D

[SW]

DaveK,
Sorry, that comment on exploding arrows was a weak attempt at humor, being a carry-thru of the ongoing controversy of what is desirable bullet performance concerning deer hunting. Absolutely, I believe pass-thrus with arrows is what nearly all bow-hunters want. We're in total agreement.

[brianr]

I hope only one bow is enough. I shoot a 94 XI Flatliner with 95 speed cams. 28" beman ics 400 arrows and 100 grain muzzys. Have thought about a new Mathews but this bow shoot so smooth it's hard to let go of 800+ dollars for another 15 fps.

Brian

[Tom]

I shoot an AR Blade taget at 55 lbs with carbon arrows and 85 gr thunderheads. Also a Parker Mag 35 with same arrows and head. Don't know how fast they shoot and just got the the AR so haven't shot a deer with it yet but the Parker puts it right through um with no problem.

[JimA]

1. Great Northern critter getter longbow 62" 60lbs with doug fir 29" arrows and Magnus 4 blade heads.

I won a Great Northern Ghost recurve at a shoot last summer. 60" 60 lbs. It may well be my bow of choice this fall.

[frontloader]

Right now my hunting bow is a Mathews Ultra Max. Have had it since they first came out. Lightweight and quick. May not have the smoothest draw of the bows out their now, but it will do the job and I still like the way it handles.

I use 2413s and 100 grain Muzzys. They shoot fine for me.

Have been working with a Tom Parsons' longbow. Great little bow but only 45 #. Would prefer at least a 50# for hunting. Thinking about a 3 piece recurve but not sure as there are some quick longbows out there and I like their light weight.

Just want to find a bow that is shock free and fast. Performance is needed at my short draw and light draw weight. The Adcock ACS would be great but the cost and waiting period just don't fit me at this time.

Shoot straight. ;D

Ed

[Randy Dunn]

Primary hunting bow It depends on what area I'm planning to hunt in. I shoot a compound and a recurve.

For area's that I might be able to shoot out to 45 yards or so I use my Hoyt supertech with XT 1000 limbs, Its got a Muzzy Zero Effect drop away rest, a Truglow GLO-Brite Site 1-PIN, and I shoot carbon arrows tipped with Muzzy - 100Gr. 3-Blade. This bow (for a compound) is awesome, the flattest, fastest bow I've ever shot.

What I've been having the most fun with is a 62# @ 30" breakdown recurve (I think it might be a checkmate or a keystone? it isn't marked) This will be my second year in the woods with it, my confidence with instinctive shooting has improved greatly over the last 2 summers.

I've been shooting aluminum arrows with Muzzy - 125Gr. 3-Blade. I cant wait to whack one with this bow, the whole concept instinctive shooting has me rethinking what happens when I enter the woods. I'm not a "convert",,yet , I still like my compound bow allot! But Trad "rocks"! It's alot faster without sights.

Bow hunting has got me hooked real-good. Although after about a month of bow hunting, It's nice to break out the ML-II's.

Randy Dunn

[Tenbears]

My primary Hunting bow Is a long Bow Made In 1963 from Lemon wood. I shoot instinctively, So my success is not as High as most. But It is so much fun to hunt this way. For me it seems to make the hunt the most important, and enjoyable part.

[mamaflinter]

Tenbears I'm glad you made it over. I think you will like this forum unlike some others we have been on.

Folks Tenbears is a good fellow. He & I moderated together on another forum until it went offline about a year or so ago.

He is a taxidermist, so maybe we could talk him into giving hints or helpful suggestions to anyone who has questions about that.

[ABinMD]

mamaflinter, Tenbears , That's great--Welcome Tenbears! Al

[Bigbuckslayer]

This year its my new Hoyt Xtec its so SWEET. ;D

[bubba]

mathews Q2XL in 60-70, I got it cranked down.......

dont want to break the sound barrier, shoot 75gr
vortex expanders, carbon express something or another arrows @ 28-29 inches with a whisker bisket
rest......

I'll let you know how it works.

-bubba

[HighTeckRedneck]

I have been bow hunting about 10 years now
This will be my 2nd season with my High Country Brute Force. It is the 1st solo cam bow I have owned. It's set at 72 lb draw 29" 80% letoff. I am shooting carbon arrows with 85 grain Thunderheads. I have not gotten lucky enough to take a deer with this setup yet. In fact I have yet to shoot at a deer with it

I used to use a Martin Prowler 65lb draw 29" 60% letoff shooting a 26" 2213 with 85 grain Thunderheads. I have taken around a dozzen deer with this setup

[RAF]

I shoot a Champion Stinger, 30/70 set at 55 lbs. with 85% letoff. My arrow at Carbon Express. CX Hunter 300 tipped with 125 gr spitfire mechanical broadheads. This past Saturday morning shot a mule deer doe at 30 yrds. Arrow went straight through and stuck in ground. Watched as she ran 60 yrds into a clearing and went down. Gave her 45 minutes and when I got up to her she was already stiff.

[scott41069]

PSE Firestorm Lite. 70lb

[Hoytmania]

My one and only bow is a black Hoyt Ultratec with XT3000 limbs set at 62lbs. I'm using a Drop-zone rest, Cobra sight, and Easton Lightspeed graphite arrows tipped with 100gr. Muzzys.

I'm hunting thickets where I can seldom see more than 25 yards.

[bubba]

well, I have posted how my setup worked with the pic of the doe, still dont know what poundage I am shooting, but it is not heavy, I would guess 55-62lbs range.

I did chrono my arrows the other day, very consistent
at 250 and 251 is all the readings that I could get until I put my carbon arrows away and shot aluminums. The aluminums shot 233 (every time).

This was about 15 ft away from the bow, thats scary shooting into a small area like that (with a borrowed chronograph ! )>

-bubba

[acal]

I shoot a McPherson Edge. I have it set at 55 lbs. for hunting.

[shunka]

Howdy Folks -
I still have my pulley bow, but hung it up several years ago as it simply wasn't fun any more; just a bit too mechanical for my tastes.

I acquired a lovely Saxon Longbow at 50# for 27" (I draw a little longer) with a plain wrapped leather grip and a simple shelf. It has a flemish string, and I shoot rather long heavy Port Orford compressed cedar shafts with goose fletching and the Zwicky flat razor head. Later I plan to switch to Casehardened traditional Northern Plains Trade points of my own manufacture, and Dogwood shafts collected locally.

My backup bow is a rather long 50 # Osage Orange Northern Plains Flatbow; sinew backed and cased in a rattlesnake skin, with a Red Trade cloth grip and no shelf or riser at all. I acquired this beauty at a Rendesvouz from the maker, a gentleman from West Texas.

My shooting is all "instinctual" at 25 yards or less. In the Rockies I count myself lucky to have merely "seen" several muleys at less than a hundred yards, with an arrow on the string! However, more than once whilst walking back to my truck after legal shooting hours I was able to "count coup" on a nearby deer with my cased bow ..:-)

best
shunka

[hockey7]

-well, I've got an old PSE Fire Flight Express hanging around. Used to shoot it when I shot fingers and instinctive. My new Bowtech Patriot did a number on a big 6 point this fall. Arrow zipped right through, when I gutted, the heart had a perfect "X" through the middle. Very short trail to follow. My son shoots a recurve, and is attempting to build a longbow out of an osage stave. My hunting area has a muzzleloader season, that's why I'm getting a Savage. I know where the deer are, and have a 2 limit season, so I decided to try this new form of hunting out. Already excited, and the season is a year away!

[joen]

I got a Bow Tech Pro 40. I am very pleased with this bow. Woks for indoor shooting, 3-D and hunting I think the Brace hieght is 8.5" very forging well more than my XI.

[TYE]

Right now I use an Excalibur Pheonix (crossbow) shooting 2219 XX75 Easton Aluminums with 100gr Wasp Boss broadheads.

Seriously thinking about switching to a vertical compound bow.