John's Journal...

Click to enlarge“IDIOT-PROOF YOUR BOWHUNTING”

Check the Tube and the String

EDITOR’S NOTE: "Yes!" I exclaimed as the arrow I released from my bow hit the bull's-eye 30 yards from my backyard deck. Well, I still seemed to possess my bowhunting magic from the previous year's season. Later, feeling confident after a week's worth of practice in my backyard, I packed all my equipment into my bow case and left my house in a last-minute frenzy for a bowhunting trip to Montana. When I arrived at the famous Milk River in Montana near the Canadian border, I took a few practice arrows out of my bow case and started shooting. Although my arrows did hit the target, they wouldn't consistently fly straight. I asked Ralph Cianciarulo, an archery pro from Lanark, Illinois, to check out my equipment and my shooting form. I wanted to know what changes he thought I Click to enlargeshould make in my bowhunting tackle. I realized that when you hunted with a master hunter, you needed to learn all you could from him to idiot-proof your bowhunting. He'll enable you to hunt better, shoot straighter and take game more efficiently.

Although I hadn't noticed before, Cianciarulo saw that the tubing holding my peep sight in place showed signs of wear. "UV rays from sunlight will deteriorate the tubing," Cianciarulo commented. "Every season, you should replace the tubing that holds your peep sight in place before you go hunting. And always carry an extra piece of tubing with you when you're hunting. If a piece of brush catches and cuts that tubing, you'll lose your sighting system because your peep sight won't turn properly as you draw back your bow."

Click to enlargeAs I shot before the hunt, Cianciarulo's keen eyes noticed problems with the string on my bow. "Your string seems to have a little fuzz on it and is slightly frayed," Cianciarulo mentioned. "The string also appears to be somewhat white, showing that the string is drying out. All these things tell me that your string needs to be waxed." Luckily, the string in the Fast Flite System shows signs of wear that let you know when to wax it. Apply bow wax to the string, and use a piece of cut leather to rub the wax vigorously into the string. As you rub the string with the leather, the wax will heat up and penetrate the places in the string where the string needs the wax the most. Many archers overlook the portion of the string that goes over the wheels or the cams when they wax their strings. "A lot of wear and tear occurs where the string goes over the wheels or the cams," Cianciarulo said. "So make sure you wax this area of the string when it begins to show wear." To wax this section of the string, pull the bow back. Then have a friend or a hunting partner wax that part of the bowstring for you.

Click to enlarge To learn more about bowhunting, order John E. Phillips’ book “The Masters’ Secrets of Bowhunting” for $13.50, which includes shipping and handling, and his “Jim Crumley’s Bowhunting Secrets” (Crumley is a longtime, avid bowhunter who created Trebark camouflage) for $15.50, which includes shipping and handling, by sending a check or money order to Night Hawk Publications, 4112 Camp Horner Road, Birmingham, AL 35243, or using PayPal, account – john7185@bellsouth.net . You can see more information at http://www.nighthawkpublications.com/hunting/hunting.htm
To order both bowhunting books, pay only $25, which includes shipping and handling.

TOMORROW: HAVE A CLEAN RELEASE


Check back each day this week for more about “IDIOT-PROOF YOUR BOWHUNTING”

Day 1: Spin-Check Your Arrows and Stop the Rattle
Day 2: Listen for Quiver Noise and Squeaks
Day 3: Check the Tube and the String
Day 4: Have a Clean Release
Day 5: Inspect the Edge and the Wind Checker

 

 

Entry 319, Day 3