By Dan Fiske
So you bought a bow and now you�re what accessories you�re going to put
on it� There are many different brands and types of accessories to outfit a bow with. Some work just as well as others, but many times that is not the case. I�ve found out through trial and error what products are needed, what products are nice to have, and what products make shooting to difficult because of size, weight, noise, vibration, or other hassles you may encounter because of them once in hunting conditions. Some of that knowledge I will pass on to you through this article as I take you through the steps
of setting up your new hunting bow.
Once you get a bow the first thing your going to want to put on it is a
rest. What type of rest you use will vary with the type of arrow you
shoot. If you�re shooting with a carbon arrow with a thin shaft your going to want a rest with a closer gap between the prongs (on a shoot through style rest), where as if your shooting larger diameter aluminum or carbon arrows you will want more space between the prongs. On most shoot through style rests this is adjustable, and some types of prongs are interchangeable. The reasoning behind the space is to allow your vanes or feathers clearance so they don�t come in contact with the rest during the shot. This will give you better groups and better Broadhead flight. I personally like a rest that is easy to adjust to make the paper tuning process easier. A good rest should allow adjustment of spring tension, prong height, and prong positioning.
The next piece of equipment you should select is your sight. A sight
with fiber optic pins will enhance your ability to see them in low light conditions, so I prefer to select one with fiber optic pins. A sight that is easily adjustable is important. I like one that has at least 2 sets of brackets for the pins to be set in so they can be closer together if needed. When installing a sight I like to place a thin sheet of rubber between the riser and the sight. That makes the bow a little more quiet when shot, and also should help keep the screws holding the sight in place from vibrating loose.
A peep sight is not a necessity and has its ups and downs. On the
positive side it helps me maintain a good, solid anchor point each time. On the down side it limits visibility and darkens the scene. This can be extremely helpful in low light situations, but I decided one was a must for me. I don�t like taking low light shots, and decided the benefit outweighed the loss of light. That is something you will have to decide for yourself. They aren�t too expensive (a couple of bucks should do the trick) and if you don�t want it there�s always someone that could use one.
Whiskers are another thing that is not a necessity, but something I
personally like to have. They dampen bowstring vibration and make the
bow quieter. This allows a lesser chance of the deer jumping the string. There�s not a whole lot to them to be honest with you. They are rubber strands, which are affixed firmly to the string by a variety of ways, and they take
up vibration produced by the bowstring.
A quiver is used to hold arrows when not in use. I like to have one in
the event that I shoot and miss, and don�t have to get out of my stand and retrieve my arrow. I can just take another arrow out of my quiver and I�m all set, and can get my shot arrow after I am done hunting. I like to use a detachable quiver. This allows me to take it off of my bow once I am on stand and place it in a more convenient area. If you decided to hunt with a fixed quiver practice with a full quiver also because a bow may shoot differently with or without one on. Usually I only take 3 arrows with me. I usually only need a maximum of one but it�s nice to have another two there just in case.
A stabilizer is loved by some, and hated by others. I personally use one on one of my bows and not another. Why one and not the other you may ask? Well, the answer is simple; it feels good and has a noticeable sound difference in one, and on the other it seems to throw off balance and add unnecessary weight. A stabilizer can serve many purposes. They can help make your bow feel more balanced, help you with follow through, and dampen vibration, reducing sound. The down side may be it adds weight to your bow, throws your bow off balance, and it could hurt your follow through. They come in a variety of sizes and styles including hydraulic, lead filled, and some others. You�ll have to try one to really know if it helps or hurts you.
The string loop is becoming more and more popular with today�s archers.
Only archers who use a release to shoot their bow can use a string loop. What it is a piece of release rope attached bellow and above your nock. It allows the bow to be drawn from directly behind the arrow eliminating string pinch, and helping produce a more stable nock travel, and produces less wear on servings than having the release attached to the string. The down side is in hunting conditions it may prove difficult to attach your release to the loop, but with a little practice it should prove no problem.
To ensure the bow is as quiet as possible you should make sure all moving parts on your bow are lubricated. Also consider using shrink tubing on your prong style rest to keep the metal-to-metal noise from occurring. I like to hand tighten all screws and hex bolts to make sure they don�t come loose when needed most. Just be careful not to strip anything out by tightening too much. Following these few tips will help bring meat to the table, and a smile to your face.
