Been reading everything I can get my hands on about him, he shot with an elevated rest and vanes because of the wet weather areas he often hunted. Well it seems that everytime I go on a hunting trip to another state it rains half the time I am there, long story short I have always shot off the shelf so I put a bear stick on rest and fletched some arrows with vanes and holy cow, the man was right, I doubt if I will ever shoot off shelf again, don't really notice a difference in accuracy, but now I can hunt in wet weather.
Your not kidding. I also like it and have done that. But I still used feathers. I think most don't go that way because they kinda consider it not "traditional" so to say.
Use what works for you and don't worry what others think or say. From what I have read and heard, Paul was an awesome shot. I wouldn't even think or question if what his choice of equipment was traditional .I wish I have got to meet him.
Still going to use feathers, but will carry a couple arrows with vanes just in case.
No doubt the greatest bow hunter of this era. Had a bow made by him along time ago, wish I still had it.
I recently went on a hog hunt in Georgia, and it rained most of the time. My feathers where matted down and cost me a hog. I just recently striped down my tall tines and sent it back to be refinished, and have been debating on using a rest. Does it effect your tuned arrows. Or did you have to start back from scratch?
Jeff
Same thing happened to me in S.C. at Wild Things, I was using a feather rest and feathers and it poured and cost me the biggest hog I have ever seen in the woods, been thinking about the stick on rest ever since, all I did was put it on and raised my nock, shot like it was meant to be on there. With vanes I had to rotate the nock till it shot good. No problem.
I use an elevated Bear Weather rest on all of my bows now. I trim off the bottom third of the rest to get it closer to my bow shelf yet it is still elevated enough that I get PERFECT arrow flight. Just had to raise my nock point a little to tune them. I shoot feathers for most of the year because I like the traditional look to them but switch to my dedicated hunting arrows with plastic vanes for elk hunting. They shoot exactly the same point of impact as my feather fletched arrows and work incredibly well in the rain and snow we get in Colorado in September.
I bought a black stick in rest the other day. I'm planning on giving it a try when my recurve makes it back home. I guess you place it in the center of the riser as close to the shelf as possible. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jeff
Attach it just like you would your side plate as if you were shooting of shelf. I put mine right above web of hand between index finger and thumb.
Years ago I bought a bow from Paul and I asked him how to set up the bow when I received it, he told me he shoots off a rubber rest and even duct taped it on when necessary. It is one of only a few times I actually listened to someone instead of learning the hard way. I have been using rubber rests on all my recurves since that conversation and have never been disappointed.
maxwell can you explain what rubber rest your talking about . please
I believe he is referring to a Bear Weather Rest. It is a black rubber stick on style rest. All three of my silvertips have one. Great rest!!
Bill, are you shooting plastic vanes? Are all of you guys that are shooting vanes shooting them 4 fletched or just a standard 3 fletch vane arrangement?
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss311/thornhill_bucket/PCHdymondback041.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/thornhill_bucket/media/PCHdymondback041.jpg.html)
I used this on a black widow. I really couldn't tell the difference between shooting feathers or plastic vanes from this set up.
My hunting arrows are set up with four 3" long plastic vanes, 90 degrees x 90 degrees, 200g Cutthroat single bevel 2 blade broadhead, 600g total arrow weight. I rotate my nock slightly to get the orientation of feathers or vanes that I want.
I too have found absolutely no difference between shooting feathers or plastic vanes off my elevated Bear Weather rest. I'm getting PERFECT arrow flight with both feathers and vanes.
Plastic vanes are also much quieter, have you ever brushed a feather while on stand and get that loud scratching sound ?? !! Vanes do not do that. I have used the bear rest for years and it really is a good dependable rest. I still shoot some bows off the shelf but when tuning starts driving me crazy I go to the bear rest and problem solved most times.
Has anyone tried using one on a longbow?
Jeff
I use Bear Weather rests on my recurves and longbows. Amazing how much better arrow flight I get with the elevated rests and the ability to use plastic vanes for wet weather hunting.
Yeah, they work on longbows.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/EAA12735-6D8C-4F6A-BD94-9979B1FD4C0C_zpsvv8333tu.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/EAA12735-6D8C-4F6A-BD94-9979B1FD4C0C_zpsvv8333tu.jpg.html)
And you don't have to worry about cutting them up to get them close to the shelf either. I set mine up purposely high so there is no chance for any contact in any way with the shelf. Gives me lots of confidence hundreds of miles from the closest cabin to dry things out.
Are you shooting blazer vanes on all your arrows?
What's the average life for the rest? Do They come off frequently?
I have never had one come off, I change mine out every few years depending on side wear..
QuoteOriginally posted by Warden609:
Are you shooting blazer vanes on all your arrows?
No...
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/2A87325E-2193-4D1E-80AC-335E970A78B6_zpsjitwywrl.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/2A87325E-2193-4D1E-80AC-335E970A78B6_zpsjitwywrl.jpg.html)
All those combos shoot 250g Abowyer Brown Bears, Wapitis, or big Snuffers the same.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/373F5E53-D460-4D89-9F1D-7495813383D5_zps8cylmh6f.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/373F5E53-D460-4D89-9F1D-7495813383D5_zps8cylmh6f.jpg.html)
The arrows I took to Alaska last year for my TallTines longbow had a mix of Blazers and NAP Quikspins.
QuoteOriginally posted by deerhunter_w:
What's the average life for the rest? Do They come off frequently?
Now I know "the sky is falling" crowd goes on, and on, and ON about the fragility of the elevated rest, but I have never had one break, fall off, or anything else in over a decade of using them a LOT on most of my hunting bows in that time. That's from Arizona to Alaska and the desert to the rain forest. And I've gone to the allegedly more delicate Hoyt Super Rest over the Bear Weatherest. The Hoyt has not required any change for wear with the side plate getting dug out like Ken mentioned on the Bear. That was an every couple year maintenance thing, nothing unreasonable.
I have shot the bear rest for about five years. I cut the bottom off and shoot feathers. I have always toyed with the idea of leaving it intact and shooting vanes. My bows tune easier and I have never had any issues. I do get a little wear on the side, but I just replace them once a year.
The full rest definitely gives you an advantage of choosing the best fletching for the weather. I might setup one of my tips this summer and give vanes a try.
I kinda like the idea of using one with those blazer vanes. Those things are much quieter in flight than fletching.
I had a couple of bows with elevated rests, and they worked fine. I took them off, because some of the traditional shoots I attend did not allow them. I really don't understand why they are not considered traditional, though. I never hunted with them, but if they perform well with vanes, I may rethink this whole thing, even though I seldom hunt the rain. Currently, I use the water repellency powder for wet situations.
QuoteOriginally posted by jonsimoneau:
I kinda like the idea of using one with those blazer vanes. Those things are much quieter in flight than fletching.
Jon,
You are young enough and smart enough not to be stubborn and try something new...Quikspins are so quiet and spin so much better than feathers it is scary ;)
Best way to cut thru all the internet hype is to be tolerant of others ideas, keep an open mind , and try it yourself. You have my number if you run into any snags.
This thread has been great.
Great post Jimmy. Hope you are well. Don
Stev O great post about being young,,, before the net us old guys just had to try **** out to see if it worked not just listern to the internet world
Thanks Shane
Been shooting this rest now for a few days and the only advantage I can see to using one is that you can shoot vanes. Going to leave it on and now I can laugh at the rain when I go out of state bow hunting. Glad I took the plunge and tried one. Doing good Don, hope you are also.
When using vanes off of an elevated rest, has anyone noticed a difference in flight, contact, or wear between left or right helical?
QuoteOriginally posted by Pheonixarcher:
When using vanes off of an elevated rest, has anyone noticed a difference in flight, contact, or wear between left or right helical?
Well sure. I spend some time with lipstick on the vane edge and/or powder on the riser so I end up with NO contact and that produces better flight and no wear.
One of the many benefits of the NON wood arrow and infinitely adjustable nocks.
Glad you clarified where the lipstick and powder went Steve O these youngon's might have gotten the wrong idea LOL !
I finally got my recurve back and the first thing I done was put on an elevated rest. It took a little getting use to. But I think I'm going to like it. I was consistently hitting high, but I'm starting to get dialed in
Jeff
Cut down Bear Weather Rest is the way to go. Makes tuning much easier. I have been shooting mine off my Predator Hunter for about 5 years.
Bohning is making a vane called the impulse vane designed for Olympic recurve but it comes in a 4inch version and I think it could make a great option for shooting off an elevated rest.
How do you guys fletch your vanes? Straight or helical? I normally shoot left wing feathers.
Jeff
I shot from an elevated rest for years. I went over to shooting off the shelf because the guys I hunt with were diehard traditional shooters. I think I am going back to the rest.
I also shot vanes when I hunted Alaska but never really liked the ones I had. What vanes do you guys use?
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve O:
QuoteOriginally posted by Warden609:
Are you shooting blazer vanes on all your arrows?
No...
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/2A87325E-2193-4D1E-80AC-335E970A78B6_zpsjitwywrl.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/2A87325E-2193-4D1E-80AC-335E970A78B6_zpsjitwywrl.jpg.html)
All those combos shoot 250g Abowyer Brown Bears, Wapitis, or big Snuffers the same.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/373F5E53-D460-4D89-9F1D-7495813383D5_zps8cylmh6f.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Alaska%20Moose/373F5E53-D460-4D89-9F1D-7495813383D5_zps8cylmh6f.jpg.html)
The arrows I took to Alaska last year for my TallTines longbow had a mix of Blazers and NAP Quikspins. [/b]
I thought that would be good enough to show it does not matter which vane you choose. The Quikspins say you can fletch straight or right helical, I'd never pick straight fletch for anything. All others right or left it matters not. 3 or 4 fletch does not matter either. Just spend some time setting things up to not hit anything.
Steve O, what bow is that with your arrows?
Dang this thread and deerhunter_w. Im picking up a rest today, i really like hunting on rainy mornings.
QuoteOriginally posted by Car54:
Steve O, what bow is that with your arrows?
TallTines Stickflinger--Charcoal Dymondwood riser, Myrtle limbs.
Thanks Steve O!
x2 Steve O
No problem gents.
These are kinda cool. Made by AAE and have fiber optic filaments molded right into the vane. Good low light visibility.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Post%20pics/3096f374.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/Post%20pics/3096f374.jpg.html)
That is cool.
How do you guys like to orient the vanes with the rest? Cock vane in? With 4 fletch?
Steve, is that fletch set at 75 x 105?. I was wondering if that was still being done any more or if most 4 fetch guys went the 90 degree route?
Todd--60x120--the old Roger Rothhaar way.
Do the quick spins come in left/right wing or can they be used for either?
QuoteOriginally posted by DaveT1963:
Do the quick spins come in left/right wing or can they be used for either?
Nope. The little fin is set up to spin them RH when fletched straight. You can fletch them straight and get a good RH spin or fletch them RH and get a TON of RH spin.
I have a "rainy day bow" that set up with an elevated rest, rubber cat whiskers, rubber Selway quiver hoot, etc...nothing that will absorb water. I shoot 4-fletch 4" AAE "Fastfletch" vanes on the arrows and they shoot fantastic.
I did experiment with some different vanes and some of the cheaper & stiffer vanes didn't shoot well. But quality vanes shoot fantastic off the rest.
I love to hunt on the ground when it rains so I wanted something that will allow me to do that without worry of compromising my equipment or shots.
I am new to this so forgive me if this is a dumb question: I thought the fletching, whether it be vanes or feathers was not supposed to contact the rest. If that is true why couldn't you just use vanes off the shelf if it's not going to contact the rest anyway?
Thanks.
Lot of theory out there. In practice there is a LOT of contact and is why minimizing the contact with a rest works so well and tunes so much easier.