Blog Entries tagged 'bow'

Matt-2009 Bows-Hoyt

matthewblog@bowcast.com — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100

� Hoyt AlphaMax 32 inch

Although I was not able to attend Hoyt Night, I was able to shoot their new bow the AlphaMax 32 inch at my local pro shop.� I really wish I had the opportunity to shoot this bow set up with accessories and test it out at a few� 3-D shoots and with broadheads in the field.� But I will gladly shoot it at the pro shop and enjoy the new features that Hoyt has shot into this new�bow.

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One thing that is a priority for me is my equipment has to be backcountry bombproof.� My first impression with the new Hoyt AlphaMax 32 inch was the thickness of the limbs compared to other bows with split limbs and the fact that they are built to withstand 1,000 dry-fires.� Those are great standards but only if they can help provide the power needed to the arrow on a consistent basis and they did just that when I shot it.

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The main power for this bow comes from the cams, which are a new modular adjustable XTR cam & �.� I found the draw cycle on this bow to be unlike the PSE bows as there was not a big valley right at the end of the draw cycle.� With the set up I was shooting, the draw cycle was aggressively smooth with a small valley towards the end.

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At full draw this bow balances very well in your hand, no canting, but one thing I would change is the grip.� For me I like a grip that is thin like the PSE or BowTech as I have found that a grip like these will sit in my hand more consistently and aren't prone to rolling.� This is why I don't like Mathew's grips.� Hoyt's grip is better than Mathew's grips but for me still needs to be slimmer and I would choose the side plates.

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The weight of this bow is 3.9 pounds and Hoyt has done a great job of keeping it under 4 pounds by machining weight from the riser, among other things.� The riser still has that unique bridge that is behind the grip and this year the riser forks more at the top and bottom.� Close inspection of the riser will reveal complex machining covered by a Realtree APG HD finish.� The AlphaMax has a 7" brace height which might take away some speed but overall adds to the consistency of this bow.

I was impressed with the minimal amount of noise and vibration in this bow.� I think most of that is the result of the Alpha Shox on the limbs, String Shox on their new Fuse string and the string stop.�

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Overall, I think the AlphaMax is a great bow that will appeal to many bowhunters due to the brace height, weight, lack of noise and vibration, and toughness.� With all the hype around speed, and this bow published at 321 fps, I wouldn't overlook this great performing 32inch ATA bow based on that one factor�as there is a lot more to consider.

I have shot the new BowTechs and will be shooting the new Mathews in the next few days.� More important its still hunting season so get out and HUNT!

Matt

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Scouting Parts 2 and 3

joeedge@bowcast.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Elk

For elk, the 3 major areas I concentrate on are;

1) Quality Forage, Shelter and Water - This is number one; simply put elk are big animals and if you don’t have the food, shelter and water to support them, so simply won’t find them in that area. There needs to be a big supply of quality forage, especially if you’re looking to find a good size herd, ample quantity of quality food for the animal.

Generally during the western elk seasons the weather will be warm, and you can count on the elk looking for somewhere cool, and shady for them to bed up in during the heat of the day. Look for north slopes and heavily-timbered pockets to find these cool conditions.

Water is another ingredient that elk need every day, especially bulls due to the fact they are tending their cows, and on the move all day. Even small seeps are a place to find elk sneaking into.

2) Critters of Habit – It seems as though every year the weather might be different, you might be shooting different arrows and wearing different camo but the elk don’t care. They will always be in the same spots, or close by. It’s also a good idea to look for areas like this by the sign; trees with different aged scars from rubs, and rubs that have been rubbed over the season prior. When you have good habitat, elk will return to it.

3) Rutting Remnants- This is very important; you must remember, you don’t care where the elk are now, rather, where they’ll be when you have a valid tag in your pocket. Look for big rubs, both new and old. Look for areas where a bull would feel comfortable wallowing. Elk rut in certain areas and that’s where you need to be come September.

Pronghorn

Here is what I look for, when scouting for goats;

1) Quantity vs. Quality – Here in Oregon, with the pronghorn tag I hunt, it’s very tough to find a quantity of goats. Before you do your scouting, it’s best to do research and find out whether it’s an accomplishment to simply stick a doe, or if you should hold out for a P&Y buck. You then need to factor in your personal standards of what type of animal you’re looking for, and match the two.

2) Water – The obvious answer is to find a good waterhole, however there is more to finding just any waterhole and plopping out your blind. I am quite picky about the waterholes I choose to hunt from because, first, I need to make sure there isn’t any cattle traffic. I have found that if there is a lot of cow traffic the goats are more likely just to by-pass the waterhole and head to the next pothole for water. The next thing is to find a waterhole the goats will come to, and feel comfortable doing so. What is the point if the goats come in spooky, and head on, drink for a few seconds then sprint away, you’ll get no shot. Look for tracks in the fresh mud around the hole, goats are very much, creatures of habit. Pick a “usual” drinking hole for the best blind success.

3) Long Range – It is very important to use your big glass, 12 power and up to a spotting scope to do your pronghorn scouting. Watch from afar. Pattern your buck, and his herd from a vantage point. They are super weary and in an area with few goats and a lot of pressure, ruining your hunt before it starts if a very real possibility.

Another quick thought, when you go out in the woods, take your bow, do as much shooting as you can in the terrain you’ll be hunting before it actually counts. Throw on some judo’s and go to work, pine cones, tufts of grass, or even the occasional sage rat. Practice now, makes perfect later.

Most of all, when scouting use common sense. If you have a feeling there is bucks there, and you have seen them there, then be smart and try and glass them up rather than going in and kicking a big buck in his bedroom. Know that when you see rub after rub reaching up high on a lodgepole that rutting activity will more than likely occur there, so why scent it up more than you have to.

My thought is that scouting is the time to be conservative, and do as much as you can without animal contact. When the time comes to stick an arrow into that animal you have watched for weeks, he’ll have his guard down just as much as he did when you spotted him the first time.

Joe

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Thursday's Recap

dan@sportsmansfitness.com — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:21:37 +0100

6:30 am morning bible study 1/2 bagel (whole-wheat w/flaxseed) 2 tbsn peanut butter

7:30am drop truck off at the shop...$700 heater hose ...FORD :(

Emails, phone calls, etc

10am 1 cup egg white substitute, 1/4 cup fat free cheese, 1 whole wheat tortilla, 6 almonds

12pm Train CrossFit clients

2pm Final walk through on new facility...yes!
< br />3pm Apex Protein Cookie

4pm 5x5 Backsquat : 225lbs, 235lbs, 245lbs, 255lbs, 260lbs wow!
3 mile run on treadmill o 10% grade...had to take a break every 1/2 mile ...soaking with sweat!

5pm 1 cup yogurt Dannon light & fit, 10 almonds, 2 oz chicken

6pm Train CrossFit clients

7pm SHOT my bows!!! woohoo, getting ready for that bear hunt coming up.

8pm Lakers loose, YES! 1 cup cottage, cheese, 4 oz chicken, whole wheat tortilla, stuffed!

9pm Business meeting with partner, ordering equipment, construction costs bids

12am I need to sleep

1am lights out!

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