I just ordered a clicker, I'm tired of the inconsistency in my anchoring. I'm not really going to make this a form question or I would have posted in the shooters forum. But i was wondering how many of you guys that have went to the clicker are using it while also hunting? Are there any issues with the noise spooking game? Thanks fellas.
I do. No issues. I do quieten the clicker a bit with a small bit of tape.
Goin to this year.
Larry D Jones
Once you get comfortable with the clicker and are shooting well, you can open it up and put a little electrical tape on it if worried about the noise. Many use with out
This will be my 25th year hunting with a clicker. I have never had a noise issue with them. I do take efforts to quieten the blade before I hunt with them.
I hunt with mine and so far no issues with it spooking animals.
I don't currently shoot with a clicker, but I hunted with one for several years and never had any problems with the "click" scaring animals. As other have said, use a piece of electrical tape to quiet the click of the spring steel blade and replace the stock chain with a nylon string.
The bigger problem I have experienced with clickers is moisture getting behind the double sided tape and allowing the clicker to then pull away from the limb. To prevent this, I used to use electrical tape to create a "sealed" clicker.
These aren't great...but below are couple of pictures showing a clicker that is sealed and upgraded to cord and snap swivel attachment.
If you are interested in more detail, I cover clickers and other ways to achieve a consistent anchor in my book.
Best of luck and feel free to shoot me a PM if you need any help.
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l65/rwr8/clicker.jpg) (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/rwr8/media/clicker.jpg.html)
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l65/rwr8/clicker2.jpg) (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/rwr8/media/clicker2.jpg.html)
I'm also going to try the clicker for hunting this year. It's made a substantial difference in my shooting and it's upped my confidence as well !
Thanks for the replies. Do you guys mount on upper limb or lower or does it matter? I would feel that on the lower limb it would be out of your sight picture.
I mount mine on the upper limb. Just low enough that your string has clearance when you unstring your bow. This keeps the clicker cord fairly short.
I have mounted it on the lower limb in the past. I never had an issue either way.
I wouldn't hunt without one. I set mine up just like Allen. Be careful wrapping electrical tape around the blade. In cold weather it will almost nullify the click. I use moleskin on both sides of the blade. Never ever had an animal notice the click.
Hunting with one this year after shooting so well with it this summer. It wouldn't make sense not to try hunting with it. The "click" on mine is very soft, more of a "bump" that's felt.
I've been thinking about getting a clicker. Which one do you guys recommend?
QuoteOriginally posted by Jerrynocam:
I've been thinking about getting a clicker. Which one do you guys recommend?
I have too! seems like a good deal, and it would probably help me! lol.
Below are couple of paragraphs from my book that might be helpful...
From "A Traditional Bowhunter's Path:"
I know of many hunters who use clickers on their bows during the off season to practice, but remove the clicker for hunting because they think the "click" sound will scare game. I suppose this is fine as long as the good form developed through repetition of using the clicker holds in a hunting situation, but I suspect this is often not the case. I don't presently shoot with a clicker, as I now use a dynamic double anchor, but when I did, I kept the clicker installed while hunting. I never had an animal detect me because of the click, but I do recommend a few clicker modifications for hunting.
There are two clicker brands available at retail traditional archery stores. The Clikety-Klicker and the Crick-It. There are some minor differences, but preference is likely a personal choice. Both brands use a tab made of spring steel set in an aluminum frame to produce the clicking sound. To modify the clicker for hunting, disassemble the housing and wrap the spring steel tab with a small amount of electrical tape to mute the metallic click. After doing this, you'll find that you actually feel the click with your fingers on the bow's string more than you hear it. I also like to replace the clicker's short section of metal chain with a nylon string to prevent noise made by the chain hitting the bow's limb. The other modifications I recommend are to re-inforce and weatherproof the clicker's attachment to the limb. The clicker attaches to the limb with a piece of double-sided mounting tape. I recommend re-enforcing this with a few wraps of electrical tape beneath the spring steel tab and around the bow limb, and waterproofing it with tape on the sides of the clicker frame to prevent water from getting to the mounting tape. While hunting, the clicker will be useless if it becomes loose and can pull away from the limb by even a fraction of an inch. I found this out the hard way on a rainy spring bear hunt!
Ron, Thank you for adding those paragraphs. I appreciate everyone's input.
I got the clicker yesterday and installed it just above the top limb bolt on my widow PSA. I really like the clicker so far and everything seems to perform well. I am not getting any interference from the string but man is that thing an eye sore. I wish I would have followed my gut and put it on the bottom limb which I considered but I really didn't want to cover up the specs and my name on my brand new PSA.
I'm somewhat of an OCD person and I'm hoping that the spot that it's in will grow on me but if it doesn't do you guys have any suggestions for removing the clicker, because that thing is on there!
Wow, Buckeye, you must have a long piece of cord hanging down if you mount the clicker just above the limb bolt on the top limb. I mount mine far enough near the top of the upper limb to be just a couple of inches below the string loop when the bow is unstrung. You may find that long piece of cord hangs up a lot in the woods.
I have used clickers for years and removed and remounted many on other bows when I sell/trade, etc. I use a thin knife blade to remove them--being very careful to hold the blade at an angle where the blade does not touch the limb but toward the clicker base plate. Take your time and it works fine. I use a tape from 3M I believe that is gray in color and the peel off side is red. That stuff holds great and comes off much easier than normal mounting tape that has a sort of paper consistency.
Thanks David I'm gonna grab some tape an move that thing. Way too much cord for my liking lol.
I haven't used one but I own one. Unless I misunderstand the directions it seems the makers recommend mounting near the limb butts? I suppose this is to keep weight (however little) away from the limb tip?
However, every picture I see of a clicker in use (I have the Crick-it) they are mounted just down from the working part of the recurve limb tip?
Here is a picture of one of my bows showing where I generally mount my clicker.
(http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/davidmitchell_6466/Bear%20Super%20Kodiak/Bear%20Super%20Kodiak%2040/2014%20Super%20Kodiak%2040%20004.jpg) (http://s796.photobucket.com/user/davidmitchell_6466/media/Bear%20Super%20Kodiak/Bear%20Super%20Kodiak%2040/2014%20Super%20Kodiak%2040%20004.jpg.html)
I adjusted my clicker to the lower limb. Less cord and less of an eye sore. These are the results, i think I'll keep it. (http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx73/buckeyebowhunter/Mobile%20Uploads/20160930_191848_zps61xuyovl.jpg) (http://s743.photobucket.com/user/buckeyebowhunter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160930_191848_zps61xuyovl.jpg.html)
I have a good friend who never visits this forum. He's the closest thing to a hit man with a recurve bow I've ever seen. Been all over the world taken lot's of critters with a clicker. So I'd say they work.
Ok Three Rivers sells two clickers, the crick-it and the clikety-klicker, any preference?
Crick-it for sure. They are basically the same but the Clickety-Klik has a longer base plate than the Cricket which has no function. Both work the same.
I have had both the clickety click is louder than the cricket I think. I have the clickety clicks on my bows.
Appreciate all the info. I just ordered one. I've been shooting over 55 years, never used one- but some recent "lack of consistency " (aka misses....,) has me thinking. I understand the installation process and the need for consistent anchor and back/shoulder pressure. My question is: "are you releasing as soon as it clicks?", if so, is the basic process- to slowly draw, find your anchor points, focus on your target, then increase the shoulder pressure (I call it rolling my shoulder) until the click, then release. This old timer appreciates your thoughts. Thanks
As long as you don't use one on a longbow, that's taboo :D .
Sorry forestdweller I'm taboo.
Scruff my shot sequence goes something like this.
Draw Anchor Aim/Pick a spot
Increase back tension until it clicks then relax string hand.
I use Joel Turners system using the clicker as my trigger. The combo has given me a lot more confidence in my shooting.
Good Luck
I was only joking haha, whatever works for you I just prefer to shoot barebow for the challenge and pureness if you can call it that.
I love my clicker for hunting the only problem is it rarely goes off when i shoot a deer! Target panic never completely goes away for me....
I buy whatever clicker is the cheapest. If it is the one with the longer mounting plate I just cut it off flush with th blade. I also replace tape with the 30# 3M double sided tape. Taking old clickers off I use some string and slide it under and cut through tape.
Thanks Caleb, i do not know anything about "Joel Turner" system. Where can I read that. I shoot a recurve.
Really appreciate the responses.
DK
Thanks for the info
Scruff, do a Google search for Joel Turner Ironmind archery system.
Is a clicker mostly for helping out guys who are having trouble reaching full draw?
Thanks I just ordered Joel's videos
Yes, Jon, most people who use a clicker do so to get to a full draw. The guys I know who use them (me included) do so to manage target panic issues.
Gotcha. Thanks David. Fortunately for me I have no issues getting to full draw. It's AFTER I hit full draw when my issues begin. Lol.
Jon,
Many of you guys have been at this a lot longer than I have but when I first picked up a traditional bow I never had issues reaching full draw, and that was a fairly heavy bow at #55 lbs. I was in high school and playing football at the time so strength training made a big difference. It wasn't until a few years ago that I began to short draw my bows. All of them! Even light bows in the 40-45 lb range I had to talk myself into getting to full draw. This obviously led to extreme frustration and inconsistent shooting. My accuracy wasn't always the issue but my form was just always different. Since installing the clicker I seem to be getting back to full draw more consistently. Although I like to consider myself an instinctive shooter there have been instances so far where I have released without clicking the clicker. My mind tells me everything is correct therefore my hand releases, the only thing I am thinking about is the target. I am hoping that in the long run the clicker gives me more consistent form, but I'm beginning to agree that "target panic" or whatever I am doing never really goes away because that is the way my mind has been trained since I started shooting instinctively.
I've not yet tried one but, I think I will. I won a nice one from the St. Judes auction. My understanding is that if used correctly it's has similair results to the draw stop found on wheelies. It makes a vey consitent draw which really boosts your accuracy.
Was going to shoot a large doe this morning feeding about 10 yards from the base of the tree. The woods were quite enough to hear a mouse break wind. Got to full draw and the clicker said click and she was gone. The one on this bow was not as loud as the ones on my other bows. Never had it happen before. Guess the woods were just to quiet and no tape on the blade. Guess there is always a first time for everything.
I've shot a bunch with a clicker. I have never had a problem with deer spooking but as others have said I quiet the blade. When it gets really cold it doesn't hardly make a click. I just feel the slight break over.
It still takes a lot of practice and mental conditioning for me to shoot well even with a clicker but it is worth it. There was a time a few years ago that I almost gave up on this sport I love because of TP.
Shot some tonight with the clicker on my bow but also shot some with my buddies bow which has no clicker. There really wasn't much noticeable difference between shooting the bow with clicker an the bow without. I was really liking the clicker at first but i am beginning to wonder if i really want to hunt with it on my bow. I really can't say that it has made such an improvement that i will continue to have it on my bow for hunting. I do believe that it has helped with my form consistency overall. But for hunting we're usually talking only one shot. I'm beginning to wonder if this whole TP thing is in my head lol. I never intended for this to be TP thread just a thread about hunting with the clicker. So mods feel free to move this thing if it has gotten too far off the original path.
I do. Put electrical tape over the spring. Never a problem with noise.
Hi guys- really appreciate all the tips. I got the clicker the other day and shot yesterday and this morning. I also got to watch masters of bare bow #4. I had seen Joel Turner and Tom Clum at the P&Y in Phoenix. They were both very helpful, but I'm a slow learner....,The videos reminded me of some of the things I was not doing well-especially the parts about "conscious vs subconscious mind". The clicker absolutely helps with this and after a few sessions at the target, "I'm BACK"! Ready for the critters and buddies!
I'll be playing with it today,,as Matthew will keep me out of the NC woods today. Sunday night looks like my next chance with the whitetails. I'm be praying for my buddies to the south of me and on the NC coast.
We'll see how this whole clicker and mind control thing works, maybe you can teach old dogs new tricks. Thanks again to all who posted. DK
And I forgot- I am now "keep pulling , keep pulling , keep pulling.....,"
I noticed that the pics posted had a thicker string on the clickers than the fast flight serving material I used. Can anyone tell where they got that cord? Also, with regards to "quieting the clicker", are folks only putting the electrical tape or moleskin on the metal clicker part that is attached to the cord? Thank
It is what they use for d loops on a compound. I have seen some with small paracord.
Not siren Caleb, never put a loop on a compound
I am now using flo orange 200 lb test bowfishing line on my clickers. If anyone wants to try it, pm me your address. No charge.
I use a clicker. Helps with target panic a bunch. I am much more consistent a shooter with the clicker than without. I'm not comfortable taking my bow out hunting without the clicker setup. My shot execution is just so much better with it. The few people I've shot with haven't really noticed it until I say something. The click and the release happen so close together it's almost one noise. If you watch the Olympic recurve shooters, they all have clickers on their bows. They execute their shots the same way. Draw, anchor, aim, pull, click/release, follow through.
I loved the idea of using a swivel to clip on the metal clicker. I've run D-loop cord through mine and it's a pain to feed that into the bead chain stop (whatever it's called). I'd much rather tie it into a swivel. Thanks to the person who posted that!
I replace the cord with braided duck decoy cord. I reinforce the knot and cord through the hole with serving. I then run it through the string with a knot at the end and leave it to slide up and down until I get it adjusted. After that I tie it in place with serving.
Any way to adjust the length of the cord once it's tied in place? I was pulling on the d loop cord so much that it actually broke a strand in my string. So i put on another string and tied in about 5" of serving string to the end of the d loop cord that attaches to my string. I then served in that serving string but it's slightly long. Could i raise my brace height to fine tune the length of that cord?
I serve where I want the cord on the string. I only serve above the cord(top limb mount) and leave the clicker cord a couple inches long till I find the correct length(trial and error by shooting). Then I cut and burn/mushroom the end of the clicker cord and snug it up to the string and serving. Never had any issue with it moving and I always set up an identical string for each bow, so switching strings is very easy. As Rob mentioned above, you could slide the serving up some or reserve a little higher. I would never mess with my brace height to tune clicker cord.
buckeyebowhunter -- I usually leave the d-loop cord a half-inch or so longer than needed for a week or two while I tinker with the draw length and the resulting arrow tune and gaps (in that order). Then I'll serve it in tight & shoot it a bit more. I can still adjust it a bit by unstringing the bow & using some pliers to gently pull the d-loop cord. Once I'm certain of the position, I'll cut, melt/mushroom as described above. You'll find that, especially on a well-waxed string, the d-loop cord can still be pulled around a bit if the bow is unstrung. The tension of the bowstring clamps down and actually dents the d-loop cord slightly, which does a fair job of locking it into place when strung. Any tension on the d-loop cord created by drawing to the click isn't usually enough to pull it free of the bowstring -- even without serving it in.