Get ready for 3D shooting.
It is time to get your bow ready for the up coming 3-D season. 3D shoots are a great way to get ready for hunting season. Taking your hunting bow to the 3-D shoot can be daunting. There are some easy steps that you can take to make the bow you use for hunting into a 3-D bow. There is a bow hunting class at most 3-D shoots.
The first thing you need
is a sight that has site pins to fifty
yards. There are many options that you can use when it comes to
sites. I
still want my bow to be a hunting setup. This is the reason I don’t
use a moveable pin.
Most
3-D shoots require 5 to six pins. I know that a lot of eastern tree
stand hunters only have one site pin.
3D shoots will have targets that are out
to fifty yards.
Most shots will be less than 30 yards
but you should be ready for longer shots.
Most sites made today can have pins
added for two dollars each.
Next
you need to take a look at the bow.
Check you cables and strings for any
wear or breaks.
This is the time to replace any broken
cables or strings. You don’t want to be breaking in a new cable or
string just before hunting season. Shooting with worn and broken
cables is an accident waiting to happen.
What you are looking for are broken
threads on the cables and strings.
Also look for
places where the cable is discoloring.
This could be a sign of damage threads.
This is also a good time to replace you
D-loop and the tube for you peep site.
A D-loop and tube should be changed at
least once a year.
The next thing to check is
the limbs and riser.
This is the most overlooked item on any
bow.
You would be surprised
how
many archers are shooting with limbs that are delaminated or have
big nicks in them.
Shooting with
limbs that are either delaminated or
with a big nick is very dangerous.
The
riser must be checked for damage.
You should check the handle to ensure
that it is firmly attached to the bow.
You
should check the limbs bolts for any sign of striping out or
bending.
If there is any damage to the riser you
have to go to your archery pro-shop to repair or replace it. The
good news is that all bow manufactures stand behind their limbs and
risers.
Checking the rest can be
very involved depending on the
kind of rest you have.
This
may require a visit to the local archery pro-shop. A fall away rest
has many moving parts that should be lubricated and checked for
ware.
This kind of rest has a cable that needs
to be changed regularly.
There are also plastic parts that wear
that may also need to be replaced.
The Whisker Biscuit stile rest also has parts that need to be maintained. Start by Looking at the circle in the center of the rest, checking to see if it is round. If the circle looks oval it is time to change the whisker part of the rest. This can be done very easily and without affecting the center shot. If your rest has three fingers that hold the arrow, put an arrow in the rest to see if all three fingers are touching the arrow. If they are not, it is time to change the fingers. Do not just change one finger, change them all.
The TM stile rest is the easiest type of rest to maintain. I have found that as long as the rest can be pushed down snaps back it is fine. I use Teflon sleeves to cover the metal fingers of the rest. The sleeves protect the metal fingers but they need to be replaced every year.
The last thing to look at is the arrows. Most arrows are either made out of carbon, aluminum, or a combination of the two. Check to see if any arrows are bent. Aluminum arrows can be straightened but carbon can not. In most cases, carbon arrows do not bent but they do break. If the arrow has any damage it is time to throw it away.
It may be time to change fletching from hunting to 3-D. Some 3-D shooting leagues have rules that only four inch fletching or bigger can be used. This is the time to strip off your old fletching and place the ones that you will be shooting. Fletching your own arrows gives you the option to try different fletching for a low cost. You would be surprised how much a simple change like this can make.
Changing shafts and fletching can increase the arrow speed dramatically. I have found that a lot of archery shops sell used arrows. This is a great way to try different options for a lot less money.
It is time to find out where you local 3-D shoots are. Call you local pro-shop and ask where the next shoot is. You can have a lot of fun shooting 3-D. It is also a great way to meet other hunters.
Good luck,
Sean
