Most bowhunters believe a long stabilizer is a hindrance in the deer woods. This is why indoor target shooters use stabilizer bars measuring more than 30 inches long! In other words, the longer the broom handle with weight at the end, the harder it becomes to move. Bill Leven, owner of Doinker Stabilizers, explained this concept to me more than 15 years ago.Īlso, the length at which this concentrated weight is extended outward from the bow will dictate its leverage effectiveness to resistance. The hollow handle with the weight at the end will certainly be the hardest to move in any direction. Take three different broom handles: One that is completely hollow with no weight, one with weight equally distributed across the handle, and one with a hollow handle but with all the weight concentrated at the far end. I like to use imaginary broom handles to explain the phenomenon. If not, you may have to experiment with different stabilizer brackets that allow you to fasten weight to the rear of the riser.ĭuring my bowhunting career, I’ve used all sorts of stabilizers, and I’ve noticed that models with a weight coupler fastened at the far end of the bar optimizes the bow’s resistance to rotation the best, compared to all other styles. Most of today’s bows come with a threaded stabilizer mount on both sides of the riser to make this technique simple to use. I often use this type of setup, and it keeps the bow compact and streamlined while providing a solid-aiming bow when using an eight to 12-inch stabilizer. By adding a short stabilizer or threaded counterweight directly below the grip on the bowstring side of the riser, you can usually correct this imbalance. If you hunt without a bow-mounted quiver (or remove it while on stand or just prior to the shot), chances are the bow will balance fairly well from side to side, but it will still display a “top-heavy” downward twist at the grip. These are two highly desired traits at the moment of truth. When shooting a well-adjusted backbar setup, you’ll notice two things: The bow will balance almost all by itself, and once locked on target, the sight pin will stabilize very quickly. However, the tradeoff will give you a sweeter-aiming setup, so you must weigh the pros and cons and decide what’s acceptable for your style of hunting. Depending on how this bar is set up, it can make the bow bulkier and less streamlined for hunting. In this case, using a back or sidebar stabilizer is what’s needed to counter the front mass weight. Secondly, a quality stabilizer will come with some sort of dampening system or coupler, which squelches residual shot vibration and noise, allowing for smoother, more comfortable and consistent shooting. This also allows the sight pin to settle faster, and to move in a smaller pattern on the bull’s-eye. This keeps the bow more rock-solid for improved consistency. First, it increases rotational inertia, so the bow is harder to move, twist, or otherwise torque during the draw and arrow-launch phase. How Stabilization WorksĮffective bow stabilization does two things. The entire experience reminded me of the importance of increased bow stabilization, and how it could benefit me greatly in a hunting situation. It took more time to control the sight pin and to stay focused on the mechanics of the shot. At home, my bow seemed to hold pretty well, but when shooting 3-D and feeling the effects of shooting pressure while in the presence of a small crowd, my sight pin was dancing wildly at times, particularly on those longer-than-normal shots. The idea was to keep my bow light and compact for long hikes in the mountains.įortunately, I shot fairly well that day, despite the sometimes-irritating sight movement. However, since mule deer season was only a couple weeks away, I decided to leave my short hunting stabilizer on the bow and began shooting. When I partake in target or 3-D shooting, I typically add a 10 or 12-inch field stabilizer - and sometimes a side/back bar to the bow’s riser - to steady my aim, and my nerves, for improved consistency. I brought my normal hunting rig with a fairly short stabilizer. The other day, I was at the range shooting 3-D targets with some friends.
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