petey
08-08-2007, 08:30 AM
Just got myself a new Hoyt Gamemaster Takedown, 55# @ 28" and started shooting it last night. I have to say it's fun to shoot.
As I expressed at the end of season last year, I've killed lots of game all over the States with my compound. Although archery season is my favorite time of year, I was getting the feeling that it's almost too easy sometimes, so I wanted to step back a little and go primative. Well ok, it's not as primative as you can get, with the fancy new Hoyt, but I am shooting fingers, off the shelf and instinctively.
My ol fingers are sore this morning as I shot over 2 hrs last night. I just couldn't stop. When I used to shoot my compound prior to release I used a Tab. Last night I tried both a 3-finger glove and my 15 year old seal skin tab I had laying at the bottom of one of my archery boxes. The tab seems to protect my fingers more and seems to be more qiueter on the release, but didn't produce as accurate results it seemed. I'm not all that new to instinctive shooting as I used to bowfish quite a bit with an old Bear Kodiak. Those shots were typically under 5 yards though.
I won't be winning any competitions anytime soon, but I figure I have 2 months of practicing ahead of me and hope that it'll be enough. I started out last night about 12 yards and would move back to 20 as the night progressed. After the first evening, I was pretty consistant in keeping 3 arrows in a 6" kill on my deer target at 12 yards. I was probably shooting 10-12" at 20 yards.
I know it doesn't sound great yet, but I'm pretty pleased with my first couple hours of shooting. I read a lot on instinctive shooting prior to getting my bow and I seem to be picking it up rather quickly. I'm picking a spot, not aware of my arrow and it's pretty awesome when that sucker hits right where your mind wants it to.
Definitly different than my Mathews. Heck I can shoot tacs at 10 yards and shoot 6 to 8" groups out at 60 yards. It'll all come together though. Where I've been hunting over the past 4 years presents shots no more than 30 yards and of the bucks I've killed in that area, all have been 20 or under. I figure if I can get to the point where I can keep 6" groups at 30 then I'll be more than ready come 1st of October. I have to say I'm more anxious than normal with 2 more months to go!
I have 3 different set of arrows I was using last night. All three produced different results. I'll probably be going and getting some specific arrows but I have some questions before I put the money into them.
I build a lot of my own arrows so I had a bunch pre built that I used for my compound in years past. Here were the reuslts:
29" lot of XX75 2213 superlites, 90 grain Feild point, 5" right helican twist plastic veins: Erratic flight with some whip
29" lot of XX78 2213 Super Slams, 90 grain Feild point, 5" right helican twist plastic veins: Massive whip, shoots 1' to the left. These same arrows are tuned for my Mathews and shoot like a dream.
29" Carbon Express, 90 grain Feild point, 4" straight plastic veins: little or no whip, very accurate. Shoot great out of the Mathews until you put a fixed blade broadhead on them (my big concern now!)
From what I read everyone says to use feathers with a twists. The way these carbons shoot almost make me want to consider a lot of carbons with quick spin veins. Anyone use these? What's the best way to tune your arrow for your bow. I mean, from everything I've read, these carbons with straight plastic veins should shoot the worse, but they shoot pretty darn good. Should I just be shooting with broadheads from day one also?
As I expressed at the end of season last year, I've killed lots of game all over the States with my compound. Although archery season is my favorite time of year, I was getting the feeling that it's almost too easy sometimes, so I wanted to step back a little and go primative. Well ok, it's not as primative as you can get, with the fancy new Hoyt, but I am shooting fingers, off the shelf and instinctively.
My ol fingers are sore this morning as I shot over 2 hrs last night. I just couldn't stop. When I used to shoot my compound prior to release I used a Tab. Last night I tried both a 3-finger glove and my 15 year old seal skin tab I had laying at the bottom of one of my archery boxes. The tab seems to protect my fingers more and seems to be more qiueter on the release, but didn't produce as accurate results it seemed. I'm not all that new to instinctive shooting as I used to bowfish quite a bit with an old Bear Kodiak. Those shots were typically under 5 yards though.
I won't be winning any competitions anytime soon, but I figure I have 2 months of practicing ahead of me and hope that it'll be enough. I started out last night about 12 yards and would move back to 20 as the night progressed. After the first evening, I was pretty consistant in keeping 3 arrows in a 6" kill on my deer target at 12 yards. I was probably shooting 10-12" at 20 yards.
I know it doesn't sound great yet, but I'm pretty pleased with my first couple hours of shooting. I read a lot on instinctive shooting prior to getting my bow and I seem to be picking it up rather quickly. I'm picking a spot, not aware of my arrow and it's pretty awesome when that sucker hits right where your mind wants it to.
Definitly different than my Mathews. Heck I can shoot tacs at 10 yards and shoot 6 to 8" groups out at 60 yards. It'll all come together though. Where I've been hunting over the past 4 years presents shots no more than 30 yards and of the bucks I've killed in that area, all have been 20 or under. I figure if I can get to the point where I can keep 6" groups at 30 then I'll be more than ready come 1st of October. I have to say I'm more anxious than normal with 2 more months to go!
I have 3 different set of arrows I was using last night. All three produced different results. I'll probably be going and getting some specific arrows but I have some questions before I put the money into them.
I build a lot of my own arrows so I had a bunch pre built that I used for my compound in years past. Here were the reuslts:
29" lot of XX75 2213 superlites, 90 grain Feild point, 5" right helican twist plastic veins: Erratic flight with some whip
29" lot of XX78 2213 Super Slams, 90 grain Feild point, 5" right helican twist plastic veins: Massive whip, shoots 1' to the left. These same arrows are tuned for my Mathews and shoot like a dream.
29" Carbon Express, 90 grain Feild point, 4" straight plastic veins: little or no whip, very accurate. Shoot great out of the Mathews until you put a fixed blade broadhead on them (my big concern now!)
From what I read everyone says to use feathers with a twists. The way these carbons shoot almost make me want to consider a lot of carbons with quick spin veins. Anyone use these? What's the best way to tune your arrow for your bow. I mean, from everything I've read, these carbons with straight plastic veins should shoot the worse, but they shoot pretty darn good. Should I just be shooting with broadheads from day one also?