Compound Bow hunters Archery Shooters, I need a new sight

[Godsdarling]

Once I get a better hand at the craft, if I like it enough to stick with it, I intend to try longbow out more and do some field bowcrafting, making string seems like a nightmare, but I figured recurve was a good starting point for me to explore.

Yeah, I mean, I have trained some with damn near everything else, from balisong to boarspears. I never fucked around with bows, because i started with firearms when I was 5 years old (thanks dad), and didn't see much point.

I recently discovered there is an archery range literally within walking distance of my house, so figured why not teach an old dog a new trick?

Me too, but archery hunting opens a lot more areas in Cali for us.

 

[ScorpioVI]

I’m selling an HHA Optimizer if you’re interested. If you’re pretty good at gauging your range, or have a rangefinder, hard to beat a single pin IMO.

Had to switch from RH to LH so I’m actually selling my entire bow setup. If anybody’s interested.

2012 PSE Dominator3D
HHA Optimizer Sights
QAD UltraRest HDX Rest

 

[Kestrel]

Aw but you are competition bow, I'm hunting and you know and I know the compound is better.

Oh for sure :thumbup But a compound gave me nowhere near as much thrill as a ground level stare-down with a buck at 6-7 yards with me frozen in place and him stamping his hooves and snorting at me.

He stared me down for one of the longest 5 minutes of my life. Then he faked going down to take a bite of grass, while no doubt keeping an eye on me... I tried to draw, and that was it... he was gone. :laughing

Unforgettable. Were it a compound, I could have pulled and held for many more minutes. Full draw on a recurve for 5+ minutes? Good luck :rofl I kept trying to wait for the right time, but it never really happened. He got away, and that was completely fine with me.

 

[Mike95060]

Oh for sure :thumbup But a compound gave me nowhere near as much thrill as a ground level stare-down with a buck at 6-7 yards with me frozen in place and him stamping his hooves and snorting at me.

He stared me down for one of the longest 5 minutes of my life. Then he faked going down to take a bite of grass, while no doubt keeping an eye on me... I tried to draw, and that was it... he was gone. :laughing

Unforgettable. Were it a compound, I could have pulled and held for many more minutes. Full draw on a recurve for 5+ minutes? Good luck :rofl I kept trying to wait for the right time, but it never really happened. He got away, and that was completely fine with me.

I heart ethical hunters.

 

[Godsdarling]

Oh for sure :thumbup But a compound gave me nowhere near as much thrill as a ground level stare-down with a buck at 6-7 yards with me frozen in place and him stamping his hooves and snorting at me.

He stared me down for one of the longest 5 minutes of my life. Then he faked going down to take a bite of grass, while no doubt keeping an eye on me... I tried to draw, and that was it... he was gone. :laughing

Unforgettable. Were it a compound, I could have pulled and held for many more minutes. Full draw on a recurve for 5+ minutes? Good luck :rofl I kept trying to wait for the right time, but it never really happened. He got away, and that was completely fine with me.

:laughing Oh I know how you felt! I set my bow down against a tree and went behind a bush to take care of business and stood up and a buck walks out behind the bush in front of me. Literally just a few feet from me. We startled each other. He is staring at me and I am staring at him with big bug eyes and I inch towards my bow and he takes off and I start laughing. Last time I set my bow down more then an inch away :laughing

 

[Eldritch]

Me too, but archery hunting opens a lot more areas in Cali for us.

Agreed, and June 30th, I took a lot of cash to the store to buy an inventory I sadly now don't want to deplete, because it means I would have to drive out of state. That is a hassle, but I assume I will need a good long set of practice before I am comfortable bowhunting.

I don't intend to shoot at what I can't hit, LOL, and right now, I can't aim for shit with a bow. Like, I hit the target every time at 25 yards, but my grouping is all over the place and I am not even sure how to correct it yet, I'm still going mainly off of instinct to hit the targets. Long, long way to go before I could consider myself a safe bowhunter.

 

[Godsdarling]

I’m selling an HHA Optimizer if you’re interested. If you’re pretty good at gauging your range, or have a rangefinder, hard to beat a single pin IMO.

Had to switch from RH to LH so I’m actually selling my entire bow setup. If anybody’s interested.

2012 PSE Dominator3D
HHA Optimizer Sights
QAD UltraRest HDX Rest

I’ll post pics later.

Whats the draw length range on it? Don't piece it out, you'll get more if you leave the sight on it.

Agreed, and June 30th, I took a lot of cash to the store to buy an inventory I sadly now don't want to deplete, because it means I would have to drive out of state. That is a hassle, but I assume I will need a good long set of practice before I am comfortable bowhunting.

I don't intend to shoot at what I can't hit, LOL, and right now, I can't aim for shit with a bow. Like, I hit the target every time at 25 yards, but my grouping is all over the place and I am not even sure how to correct it yet, I'm still going mainly off of instinct to hit the targets. Long, long way to go before I could consider myself a safe bowhunter.

Key is consistency, take notes on your phone exactly where you are anchoring your knuckle, where it is touching your mouth and nose. How you are standing. Do the same steps over and over until you are constant. If the groupings are within a hand print you are good. Have someone film you a couple of times so you notice where your anchor points are.

So for me my knuckle is on my earlobe, the string is against the corner of my mouth. My nose is small so I don't touch it :laughing I breathe out and fire. Same movements the same way every single time. You will get there. :kiss

 

[Kestrel]

I heart ethical hunters.

:laughing Oh I know how you felt! I set my bow down against a tree and went behind a bush to take care of business and stood up and a buck walks out behind the bush in front of me. Literally just a few feet from me. We startled each other. He is staring at me and I am staring at him with big bug eyes and I inch towards my bow and he takes off and I start laughing. Last time I set my bow down more then an inch away :laughing

I had another buck last year walk right under my stand... It wasn't even that high... 8 ft? I could have JUMPED ontop of the damned thing. Nope, never turned a side... was always facing the perfectly wrong direction :rofl

 

[Ridley]

Thank you but I was hoping to keep it under 200 and the hunter is 250 which is why I included the Grinder for 170. Looking at the differences they both have the micro adjust. are you aware of any major differences that the descriptions don't state?

I didn't realize the hunter is $250...I guess it pays to know people in the archery industry :teeth

I haven't looked at the Grinder so I couldn't tell you what the differences are.

 

[Eldritch]

Key is consistency, take notes on your phone exactly where you are anchoring your knuckle, where it is touching your mouth and nose. How you are standing. Do the same steps over and over until you are constant. If the groupings are within a hand print you are good. Have someone film you a couple of times so you notice where your anchor points are.

So for me my knuckle is on my earlobe, the string is against the corner of my mouth. My nose is small so I don't touch it :laughing I breathe out and fire. Same movements the same way every single time. You will get there. :kiss

Thanks, a lot of that isn't that different from firearms training, just a different tool. I need to buy my own bow first! I have just used the loaners they have at the clubhouse so far.

Any archers have good resources for a buying a starter kit/equipment?

Seems like Cabelas and Lancaster both have a lot.

 

[Kestrel]

Thanks, a lot of that isn't that different from firearms training, just a different tool. I need to buy my own bow first! I have just used the loaners they have at the clubhouse so far.

Any archers have good resources for a buying a starter kit/equipment?

Seems like Cabelas and Lancaster both have a lot.

Sure.

Lancaster is a good vendor - I've used them for years, and never had any issue.

If you want a recurve, as I mentiong before...something like a Samick Sage takedown (now sold as the Galaxy Sage by Lancaster) would be a good bow. For what you spend, they are fantastic shooters.

https://www.lancasterarchery.com/galaxy-sage-takedown-recurve-bow.html

Throw on a Bear Weather Rest, and get some sort of inexpensive leather finger tab.

Get a set of aluminum arrows to match your draw length, along with the proper spine. Don't worry about carbon this or that - just get something cheap and easily replaceable. Maybe something like this...

https://www.lancasterarchery.com/easton-tribute-fletched-arrow-w-3-vanes.html

Buy some tips, and throw 'em in with hot glue.

3 Rivers Archery has a great arrow spine calculator shown here. Knowing the bow weight and your draw length, you can select different arrows and characteristics (tip / insert weight) to get the proper spine rating of the arrow so that they don't shoot like trash.

https://www.3riversarchery.com/dynamic-spine-arrow-calculator-from-3rivers-archery.html

If this is your first real bow, do yourself a favor and do NOT buy a 60+ lb bow. Arrow velocity is a function of many things, but you can STILL get very fast arrows out of a lower weight bow. As a new shooter, it is much more important that you focus on a lower draw weight so that you can shoot over and over again with good form. If you start with too high weight limbs, you'll do yourself a serious disservice. Even if you were a fairly ripped guy, I wouldn't go for more than 30-35lbs. Ideally 25-30. Shoot a couple thousand arrows, develop your form, and then think about buying another set of limbs for the Sage for ~$65.

 

[ScorpioVI]

Thanks, a lot of that isn't that different from firearms training, just a different tool. I need to buy my own bow first! I have just used the loaners they have at the clubhouse so far.

Any archers have good resources for a buying a starter kit/equipment?

Seems like Cabelas and Lancaster both have a lot.

Just buy a Samick Sage dude, like Kestrel said. Simple, cheap, upgradeable.

I started with just a Samick Sage with #25 limbs. Then added a #35 and #50 limbs. Then I bought a LH riser and now I'm learning how to shoot all over again left-handed. I'm keeping the RH riser to loan out to people.

I love the precision of compound but there's something beautiful in the pure and simple recurve. I'd probably never hunt with recurve because I'm just not accurate enough with it for it to be ethical.

 

[Eldritch]

Sure.

Lancaster is a good vendor - I've used them for years, and never had any issue.

If you want a recurve, as I mentiong before...something like a Samick Sage takedown (now sold as the Galaxy Sage by Lancaster) would be a good bow. For what you spend, they are fantastic shooters.

https://www.lancasterarchery.com/galaxy-sage-takedown-recurve-bow.html

Throw on a Bear Weather Rest, and get some sort of inexpensive leather finger tab.

Get a set of aluminum arrows to match your draw length, along with the proper spine. Don't worry about carbon this or that - just get something cheap and easily replaceable. Maybe something like this...

https://www.lancasterarchery.com/easton-tribute-fletched-arrow-w-3-vanes.html

Buy some tips, and throw 'em in with hot glue.

3 Rivers Archery has a great arrow spine calculator shown here. Knowing the bow weight and your draw length, you can select different arrows and characteristics (tip / insert weight) to get the proper spine rating of the arrow so that they don't shoot like trash.

https://www.3riversarchery.com/dynamic-spine-arrow-calculator-from-3rivers-archery.html

If this is your first real bow, do yourself a favor and do NOT buy a 60+ lb bow. Arrow velocity is a function of many things, but you can STILL get very fast arrows out of a lower weight bow. As a new shooter, it is much more important that you focus on a lower draw weight so that you can shoot over and over again with good form. If you start with too high weight limbs, you'll do yourself a serious disservice. Even if you were a fairly ripped guy, I wouldn't go for more than 30-35lbs. Ideally 25-30. Shoot a couple thousand arrows, develop your form, and then think about buying another set of limbs for the Sage for ~$65.

Just buy a Samick Sage dude. Simple, cheap, upgradeable.

I started with just a Samick Sage with #25 limbs. Then added a #35 and #50 limbs. Then I bought a LH riser and now I'm learning how to shoot all over again left-handed. I'm keeping the RH riser to loan out to people.

I love the precision of compound but there's something beautiful in the pure and simple recurve. I'd probably never hunt with recurve because I'm just not accurate enough with it for it to be ethical.

Awesome guys, this is great for me, thanks. I'm 6' 3" 250 lbs, the instructor at the clubhouse had me pulling a 50# just for getting a feel, and it was pretty easy for free range shooting, but you don't have to hold it long at the range, right? I figured I would use a 30# to start to put in my Ninja 250 time before I hit the TurboBusa. :laughing

 

[Rambeezi]

Purchased a Martin Jaguar Elite recurve a couple of summers ago... was planning on practicing and training with it to be ready to go hunting this year. Alas, health and injury issues forced me to put it on the shelf. Just last week I took it out to see where I am strength wise and could hardly pull 40# draw. <sigh> I am hoping my recovery comes around quickly as I am in love with that bow.

Sorry to threadjack... just seeing an archery thread got me excited for the hobby again.

 

[Mike95060]

If you want to draw the bow with your left hand, do you need a "left handed" or "right handed" Bow?

 

[Kestrel]

Handed-ness refers to the hand doing the drawing. Riser is held in the opposite hand.

Right hand bow has a riser formed for the left hand gripping, and right hand drawing.

 

[ScorpioVI]

Purchased a Martin Jaguar Elite recurve a couple of summers ago... was planning on practicing and training with it to be ready to go hunting this year. Alas, health and injury issues forced me to put it on the shelf. Just last week I took it out to see where I am strength wise and could hardly pull 40# draw. <sigh> I am hoping my recovery comes around quickly as I am in love with that bow.

So get lighter # limbs and start over man. I was drawing #50 on recurve and #60 on compound. Had a couple of surgeries in my left arm and can't afford a string-hit there so I had to switch from RH to LH. Can't even draw the #50 limbs with my left hand.

 

[ScorpioVI]

My PSE Dominator 3D for sale. I'll take recent pics and put it in classifieds this weekend.

 

[Rambeezi]

So get lighter # limbs and start over man. I was drawing #50 on recurve and #60 on compound. Had a couple of surgeries in my left arm and can't afford a string-hit there so I had to switch from RH to LH. Can't even draw the #50 limbs with my left hand.

Yeah... I purchased #25 limbs and my strength still isn't quite there yet. I can't even pick up a full laundry basket right now without getting light headed. Just have to remember my recovery will take a LONG time but will get there eventually.

 

[Eldritch]

Purchased a Martin Jaguar Elite recurve a couple of summers ago... was planning on practicing and training with it to be ready to go hunting this year. Alas, health and injury issues forced me to put it on the shelf. Just last week I took it out to see where I am strength wise and could hardly pull 40# draw. <sigh> I am hoping my recovery comes around quickly as I am in love with that bow.

Sorry to threadjack... just seeing an archery thread got me excited for the hobby again.

Threadjack is my fault, as Dar and I run in a certain amount of Heaven and Hell synchronicity, this is also an interest for me. Sorry to hear you can't do what you want right now, just keep at it, you'll get back!!