I am of the opinion that we (archers/bowhunters?) are beginning to over-think things. One example is a recent arrow vane test that determines which vane is the ideal vane for hunting. After listening to a podcast (Podium Archer), it seems that most testing was done for longer distances. I, personally, do not shoot a deer over 30 yards, much less even practice out past 30 (40 if I feel like having some fun). I have to believe that which vane I have on my arrows, not to mention FOC/spine (to an extent)/etc… does not really make too much of a difference either. Another thing I believe is being over-thought is tuning. My practice heads (Grim Reaper) hit with my field tips out to 30 (furthest I shoot), so why do I need to worry about moving top hats and paper tuning, walk-back tuning, or any other method of tuning my bows? What are your thoughts? Do you think some aspects of archery into bowhunting are being over-thought? Is all of this tuning/testing really geared more towards longer distance hunting (elk, for example), not so much for a tree stand hunter shooting a deer no further than 30?
I agree with you. But, some guys really get into the technical aspects of setting up and tuning a bow. It's all good. I have always practiced shooting with the same broadhead that I'll be hunting with. I don't hunt with field points, so I see no need/reason to practice with them. Just my opinion. I sight in at 20 yards and won't shoot at a deer past 25-30 yrds. Out of 40+ deer I've killed with bow/CB, all were at 20yrds, or closer.
I, certainly, have no issue with what others do with their bow(s). To each his/her own. I like that my practice heads and field tips hit together so I do not tear up my target shooting, as I like to shoot at least ten arrows a few days a week.
To each their own for sure. I used to spend a lot of time myself working on tuning my bow, now I rely on my local shop to help me make sure I’m as good as I can be. Whether I’m shooting 5 yards or 80 yards, I want to have confidence in my equipment. I’ve also seen the results of poorly tuned bows - wrong fletching, ridiculous broadheads… I don’t have the time anymore to play with my set up like I used to, but I still enjoy seeing how different options change or don’t change the way my arrow impacts the target. I’m sure you can overthink your setup but for most of the people I shoot with, we just like messing around with different set ups.
I enjoy working on my bow (when it needs it), but I also do not mind going to my local bow shop for certain things, mainly equipment. I just do not see the benefit in doing everything required to get my broadheads and field tips hitting together at 100 yards.
I won't nock( see what I did there) for doing what you want and see fit. But I assure both things are purpose driven. When deer "jump the arrow" it is usually due to vane noise not bow noise in my experience. (That and dumbasses that shoot when the deer had it's head down). The vanes are meant to guide and rotate your arrow so that it does true faster. They are great but you should be good bare shafted first. Tuning is wildly important to me as I have seen what happens when you don't. From my post exp. Tuning out porpoising and oscillations helps me know that I'll have little to no deflection after impact creating a deeper penetration as the arrow flies and strikes as a bullet would. All that being said thousands of deer have been killed with untuned bows. Like all things, when you have a passion for something you tend to go down all available rabbit holes. Good luck this season Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
It's interesting to visit museums and see the bows and arrows used by the American Indians. Primitive at its best but supplied food for the tipi.
I want my FP's and BH's hitting the same POI .. I BH tune to 40 yds .. no need to go further ... 30yds and in is my sweet spot for deer ... bare shaft tuning is only a starting point .. I'll paper tune to start, then go to BH tuning... once my FP's/BH's hit same poi/good tight groups I wont go near paper again... right now, I can shoot FPs/Black Hornets, Exodus swept and Steelhead/Valdez all same poi to 40 yds ... the newer tuning systems make it easier to do so, no presses needed ... love the Deadlock system ...
The answer is always yes - we overthink everything. It's part of what makes this fun. 99.99% of the time if something goes wrong with a shot it has very little if anything to do with the gear setup, and everything to do with the person shooting the bow. But it's way easier and more enjoyable to find mechanical solutions to our people problems.
Those people also gave zero consideration to making a clean, quick, ethical kill. They filled their quarry full of arrows and chased them for hours or days until they were dead and food was supplied for the tribe.
