Deer season is closing in quickly here in Kentucky. Always seem to be interested each year in reading the different deer hunting setups others have selected.
Hopefully, many will be willing to share.
I have four different hunting bows on ready with a multitude of arrow setups. This year I am targeting the following as my go-to setup.
Mountain Monarch.....64"s...51@28
Arrow...BE Carnivore 400...50 gn insert...250 gn 3 blade VPA...27% EFOC...523 gn total
I'm torn cause I have a few bows I really love and another on the way but the one I've been shooting the most is my 57lb Robertson Primal w Wapiti tapered cedars and tipped w snuffers.
Nothing crazy fancy for wood but it shoots
For me, my bow will be my Black Widow PA that is in my sig
Arrows- Easton axis trad 400s with a 75 grain insert and glue on treesharks with a standard adapter.
Trying to decide still. I'm torn between two bows.
My go to bow is my Abbott longbow 66" 62@30 and shooting GT trads 500 with a 200 grain Grizzly.
My second choice will be a Stillwater Aberdeen that I just got that is 60" and 57@29 with the same arrow.
Will probably end up using the Aberdeen because it is a takedown and will be easier to take to college. If I can make the Abbott work though that will be my hunting bow.
This year I will be using two rigs:
First is my 64" Stewart Slammer 3-piece takedown longbow. I just upgraded it this weekend with Leon's newly designed limbs. I'm pulling 47 pounds at my 27 inch draw. It shoots the new Gold Tip Traditional Classics 500's with a 175 grain Woodsman up front like a laser.
Second is my 68" Hill Big 5 stringfollow. It pulls 45 pounds at 27 inches. I'm still trying to find the right wood arrows for this bow. In the meantime, it shoots my Gold Tips just fine. I'd love to take a deer this year with this rig.
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I'll be using my 64" Hoyt Tiburon at 55#. Pretty sure I'll be shooting Easton Axis with 150gr Silverflames, about 540 gr arrows.
Truth be told I may change my arrows... I am waiting for some feedback on the new AD Stingers before taking the plunge though.
Hard to say for me, I'm right in the middle of a move to Georgia and all my bows are packed and just got to my new home. Be a bit before I can sort things out...........May have to go with my old stand by, River Runner, 60", 46# @ 29"......always been my go to bow.
Primary: Maddog Prairie Predator, 62", 40#@28". Black Eagle Vintage cut 29.5"bop tipped with 135gr Zwickey Eskilites.
(https://i.imgur.com/tn27kj9.jpg)
Back up: '90's model Bear T/D: 62", 43#@28". AD Trad Lites cut 29.5" bop tipped with same Zwickey's.
(https://i.imgur.com/sbYi3Cv.jpg)
I'm gonna string up my old PSE Sable 62" recurve this season. 55# @28", probly a little more at my draw. Flinging Easton legacy 2018s with bear razorheads and adaptors to bring the head up to 175gr. Nothing fancy but it works for me! I may get son woodies put together with zwickey deltas or ace express heads depending on tuning results.
I will stay with my yew Northern Mist Shelton. 68" and draws 53# at 28", but I only pull 25". I shoot POC arrows with 125 grain Zwickey points. I haven't taken anything with it, but it shoots great.
I am hunting with a Yellowstone half Breed 62"46@27.5 Surewood Shaft 60/65 29" Zwickey Delta 2 blade 535gr.
I'll be totin my self made 54" hybrid, S-quad.
52# @ 28" drawn to 29"
Easton 340 carbons with 250gr 3 blade VPAs up front.
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I'll be taking my 3 piece TD longbow , 48@28 , made in my shop, was offered a pretty good pile of money at MOJAM for it but declined. worked so well with me last year, it ain't goin anywhere...
Arrows are GT Trads with 200 VPA 3 blades on the biz end...
Excited to have a widow 60" PCHX on the way that I intend to be my main hunting rig. Shooting for 46@31 with heritage 250 shafts 150 grain woodsmans upfront for around 530-ish total arrow weight. It's coming in September so I'll have a little tuning/adjusting to do. May start the hunting season with my rig from last year a 62" widow SA 43@31 shooting a Similiar weight arrows with woodsmans.
Lots of guys get new bows on a regular basis but I'm not one of them. I recently received a new Kanati as a gift from a fellow Ganger and am proud it will accompany me this season. It's 47@28 and 60". It will be launching 500 Beman Center Shots and 185 gr. Zwickey Eskalites. If I kill one early I want to pop one with my selfbow.
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Cari-bow Amisk, 47#@28" shooting some D&M Black Eagle 500's at 29.5" with 200gr VPA 3 blades.
Either my 58" talltines curve 47@27 shooting Easton axis trad 500's with a 75 gr insert and 175gr vpa
OR
My new 58" 51@28 (drawn to around 26-26.5) primal tech. Once I get it I'll be tuning some 1916's to it.
This year it will be a 51#@ 28"/58" AMO Red Wing Hunter (1960ish Pre-Head) drawn to about 54# (30-1/2" w/31" BOP shafts), Douglas fir arrows and 1960 Mowoc Dot three-edge broadheads.
Seems as if my ILF rig will be at the top this year.. I've heavily been thinking of picking up a new bow before season rolls around in October. Just got that itch that needs scratched.
Hoyt Excel 21" riser. Axiom SF+ medium recurve limbs.
~#45lb @ 27"
Arrows and broadheads are yet undecided. Still shooting some GT Traditional Classics 500 spine with 200 up front for practice, but I've got to buy some more and I'm thinking of completely redoing my set-up.. Bows, arrows, everything..
54" Javaman Elkheart T/D that pulls 50#'s @ 28". Victory RIP XV 500 Elite's with almost 375 grains up front, and a total arrow weight 540-550 grains. UEFOC of 30%ish...
Well as of right now my sas pioneer which scales out a bit heavier than marked so about 56# @27" but have something else coming for me to use thats a bit more suitable draw weight for myself. Arrows will be victory vap 400's with around 300-325 grains out front. Broadheads will probably a mixture of what heads are still useable after the heavyweight broadhead test is done.
To start I'll be using my kempf kwyk styk that's 47@28 and 56" with gt 500's and a 175 vpa on the business end. I'm on the list to get one of Tom's Zippers so hopefully I'll get the chance to hunt with it too.
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[attachment=1,msg2809896]I've found for me a 60"widow PSA in the mid to upper 50lb range really works better than any thing else. So this year I'm using a 60" 58@28 widow SAV with xx75 2020's and either the big 160 gr thunderheads or zwickey deltas for about 635 gr finished weight. This combo has taken a lot of game for me. With that said, later in the season I'll probably use a widow PLV 62" TD longbow that's 55@28 with either 540 gr cedars with deltas or xx75 2016's with deltas
I've been playing around with some ILF rigs this summer and may just hunt with them. One is a 21" Morrison riser with black max limbs which yields a 64" recurve and right about 48 pounds at my draw. The other is a 19" wf-19 riser with black max limbs giving me a 62 inch bow. But I suspect the majority of my hunting will be done with my all time favorite, my old Habu recurve. It's 62 inches and 53 pounds at 28 inches.
Same old 72# Bear T.D. with cedars and Bear Razorheads.
Same old 72# Bear T.D. with cedars and Bear Razorheads.
My 62" 56#@28 Schafer Silvertip will be my companion, paired with FMJ 300s with 75 gr. brass insert and 190 treesharks. Total arrow weight is 675-680 or so.
Can't wait.
Josh
"A" riser bear takedown with "A" limbs. Easton 2018 camo arrows and magnus 125 grain stinger. I've never been a one bow kind of guy but every time I hunted with this bow during turkey season I saw turkeys so I'm hoping that streak continues.
Using my 56" 52@27" Widow PCH Graybark. Arrows are Grizzly Stik Momentum TDT 400's with 300 Grizzly Kodiak broadheads for a total weight of 650g
Black Widow KB-X 56" #52@28
GT Kinetics 400 190gr. treesharks
I dunno. Will be using a J.D Berry Vixen or Misty Dawn longbow for bear in early September. (Takes about six years to draw a permit for a resident here in Wisconsin.) For deer, I'll probably use a J.D. Berry Taipan and/or a Bear TD. All in the 50# range. Life is too short to shoot only one bow. I'll either be shooting Easton Axis .500s or Sweetland Forgewoods tipped with Woodsmans, Zwickey 4-blade Deltas or Abowyer single bevel Brown Bears -- about a 520 grain arrow in carbon, closer to 600 grains in wood.
Going to be shooting my 62" Toelke Whip 52# @28". Dear, Elk, Bear. Went with spruce shafts this year. The doug fir from sure wood is so good and straight but wanted to lighten up. Dropped 70 gr going to the spruce from raptor. 160gr LW single bevel Grizzly on the business end. Also didn't bother so much with painting my arrows. In years previous i went crazy with the crest, but anymore feel its fighting FOC. Just a light coat with the rattle can and called it good.
BigJim 60" Mountain Monarch 55@31
Beman center shots with brass insert , ballistic collar and 300 gr vpa 3 blade head for a total of 690 gr :goldtooth:
If I were heading out tomorrow, 56" 45# Toelke Chinook, GT500's w/100 gr. Brass inserts and 125 gr. Magnus 2-blade Buzzcuts.
This time next year, with any luck, it could be a Big Jim's Mountain Monarch in an as yet to be determined length & weight. 12 months and counting.
These 4. Hopefully each draws blood.
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2 pc Turkey Creek longbow 62" 50@28....500 Easton FMJ's, undecided on my broad heads...150 gr VPA 3 blade or 200 gr. 2 blade Cutthroat's...
I will using 60" Cari-Bow Slynx 49# @ 28"
Arrow....Sherwood douglas fir 585 gr. with 175 gr Grizzly Bruin up front.
Haven't taken a deer yet with this set up but it has worked well on about 1/2 dozen hogs this past year.
I'll be taking my Bear Kodiak magnum that draws 50lbs. at my 28" draw length. The part that will be getting the job done is a GT traditional XT blem tipped with a 160 grain Zwickey eskimo. I've yet to draw blood, but hoping this will be the year. Last fall was my first year hunting without training wheels.
I'll be using my new to me Fox High Sierra recurve 48@28 shooting full length Eason Axis trads 500s with 150gr cutthroats and 75grain inserts. A touch over 10 GPI and right at 20%FOC. Total arrow weight is around 515gr.
I'll more than likely be using my walnut ELB drawing 68# at 27". Shooting a 32" POC shaft spined at 70# with a 160gr ace standard for a total weight of 625gr. I love how light that bow is at only 18 ounces.
Kyle
This will only be my second year hunting with the stick. I'm shooting a Bear Grizzly 50 @28, 400 GT Traditional XTs, with a 175 grain Treeshark. Hoping to tweak my arrow setup to the new AD shafts with a 25-50 grain insert and the 175 grain Treesharks. Had a close call with a spring gobbler but that's it. Hopefully I can change that come October.
Plain ol' Samick Sage & full length GT shafts with Zwickeys.
But I recently picked up a 50" Browning Cobra. It's so light & compact that I'm tempted to get it ready for the season opener here in August. In a bow quiver, a full length shaft extends beyond the limb tips! Thankfully, I've got some shorter shafts that I can tinker with to get them tuned and up to about 600 grains.
62" Toelke Whip 52# at 28". I draw 26.5". Carbon Express Heritage 250's and 3 blade 250 grain Woodsman broadheads.
There are some really nice bows in here!! I hope everyone has some fantastic luck! I am probably going with my Samick Sage 48lbs at 30". Easton 400 traditional carbons and 175 grain broad head.
I, like many, am indecisive about which bow to use!
As of today I will be hunting deer, elk and bears with my 55# Black widow long bow.
But I might use my 54# pronghorn long bow. Na, I 'll use the b/w.
Either way I will use gold tip shafts, 4 4" yellow feathers and 125gr woodsman heads.
(Or maybe Grizzlys)
62" Sunbear recurve. 57#@28" drawn 29. Easton aluminum 2018 wearing a Magnus I W/bleeder. Thinking about using a lighted nock for the first time. Haven't made up my mind yet.
Toelke SS recurve: 64 lbs @ 33", ~675 grain Easton Axis tipped with Simmons Treesharks. :goldtooth:
(https://i.imgur.com/91afdO2l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kUgN0UHl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/t6hHrTJl.jpg)
65 @28" Howatt Hunter , 2117 Easton Gamegetters ( wish they were still green ) and 125 gr Zwickey's
My deer setup will be:
Centaur bow, 43# --
Arrow will probably be GT Velocity 500 with 255 gr up front. Works out to be 11.4 GPP and a touch over 25% FOC -- shoots really well. But I'm still experimenting with some other options.
I really like Centaur longbows.
I'll be using a bow I made. Probably this one it's 62" static tip black and white ebony veneers with cocobolo and macasser ebony riser. It draw 51#@27and shooting 340 axis arrows with treesharks on the end.
(http://i.imgur.com/kGWhMne.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/36skA2C.jpg)
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Early 70's Browning Nomad Stalker I 52"-#45 @ 28. XX75 2215 30" 4" left Helical Zwickey No-Mercy Single Bevel 550Gr. 12.5 gp# 17.5% FOC Homemade belt mount back quiver.
Jennings Black Lightning Warf ILF riser with TradTech 2.0 wood/glass limbs at 42# at my 27.5" draw. XX75 1816 arrows with 125g Woodsman heads.
(https://i.imgur.com/J4gJfeX.jpg)
I'll be toting a Toelke Super D for the first part of the season. 66" 53#@27". Shooting cedar shafts with a 125gr Simmons Treeshark.
(https://i.imgur.com/2VGGTRml.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7k5W3bpl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/89g8XzKl.jpg)
An arsenal of beautiful bows.
Thank you for sharing.
60 inch 56@28 Wild Horse Creek Destiny with some purple heart footed wood and 2 blade Deltas,thinking I will pull an old selfbow put of retirement.The last time the Bois dArc went to the woods she killed a deer 7 years ago.
Terry
Agreed, very nice set ups. All You guys shooting tree sharks, do you have any kill pics ?
Quote from: Dave Lay on July 30, 2018, 09:38:11 AM
Agreed, very nice set ups. All You guys shooting tree sharks, do you have any kill pics ?
This is my first season with them unfortunately..
Quote from: Dave Lay on July 30, 2018, 09:38:11 AM
Agreed, very nice set ups. All You guys shooting tree sharks, do you have any kill pics ?
(http://i.imgur.com/pF3IjVW.jpg) (https://imgur.com/pF3IjVW)
(http://i.imgur.com/0BTqAtw.jpg) (https://imgur.com/0BTqAtw)
62" 55# Tall Tines Stickflinger
with 55/60 Surewood Douglass Fir Shafts. They seem to shoot best right now. I may bump the arrows up to a higher spine depending on my broadhead choice.
I also have a couple of regular longbows that. attention, but so far, I am not as accurate with them.
Second season with the sharks for me, but no kills yet.
Nice, Caleb.. heck of a hole, those have to be a good head, I just worried about sharpening and penetration but after watching some vids the sharpening seems pretty easy. I've always shot Zwickey deltas but did kill a few critters with the old zephyr big Sasquatch. It was a heck of a killing head but unfortunately proved to be not durable enough. I watched a guy shoot the same tree shark into a steel 55 gal drum like 25 times with virtually no damage
Quote from: Dave Lay on July 30, 2018, 09:38:11 AM
Agreed, very nice set ups. All You guys shooting tree sharks, do you have any kill pics ?
First off, go see the broadhead holes thread here:
http://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=56202.350
second, yes. I do have kill pics!(that's the exit hole)
(https://i.imgur.com/somwf5Tl.jpg)
Entrance hole
(https://i.imgur.com/RRE2hGNl.jpg)
and this guy...
(https://i.imgur.com/xFq42xCl.jpg)
Same ole, same ole, for me!
Sarrels Blueridge takedown longbow. 50@29
.400 spine Easton FMJ arrows with a 75gr brass insert and 150gr German Kinetic or Magnus Stinger broadhead. 563gr total arrow weight.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180731/1068aa404a0ac80d1da6ca2ffe90dd58.jpg)
Bisch
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60'' Martin DreamCatcher - 50lb @ 28''
Selway Archery 5 arrow slide on quiver
Arrows are BlackOut X3 Carbon Hunters with 4'' feathers
- 400 spine cut to 31''
- 100 grain brass insert with 150 grain Magnus Stinger 2 blade broadheads
- Total arrow weight is 523 grains and they chrono at 150fps
(https://i.imgur.com/tviC91m.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zz7VsDT.jpg)
Congrats on your first post! :biglaugh: Those Dreamcathers are great bows! I used to have one that was 40#'s and wish I'd never got rid of it. :banghead:
60" JK Traditions Kanati, 44@28. Victory VAP w/Valkyrie Bh or if it gets here in time, 56" Kanati 46@28 with the same arrow combo.
My 64" South West Archery Spider XL 45# @ 28". Being an old fashion guy (I'm 71) I'm going to try to kill a deer with a broadhead that came with my first box of arrows purchased in 1971 a Pearson Deadhead mounted on a bear wooden shaft from the mid 1970s. When that is used up and the deadhead is still good I will mount it on a 2016.
64" Blacktail Elite VL 60 pound at my 30" draw length, D10 SBD bowstring, I shot 31" Easton axis shaft with gold tip ballistic collar, 50 gr brass insert and 200/220 gr BH (220 gr muzzy phantom and 200 gr VPA terminator).
Ill be packing the northern mist shelton. 53#@28" drawing 27" with some 50-55# rose city poc with zwickey eskimos. Complete different setup than ive ever used and my first venture with a hill style and wood arrows. Im about as excited as a little kid the night before Christmas.[attachment=1]
Justin, that should make for a pretty deadly combination! :thumbsup:
My go to for this season will be my Sunbear Longbow 52@27 (from this year's St. Jude auction), shooting fir arrows tipped with Eclipse 2 blades. My backup will be a Hatfield take down recurve 70@28 (won in a PBS auction).
Gonna stick with the bow that has the dangdest mojo of any bow I've ever owned. Dont know what Kegan put in its but it's been awesome!
Omega Native #41@28 Black Eagle Arrows, Grizzly broadhead. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180802/2186c2c274cbc074daca6e45586c1cec.jpg)
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I'm one week out from shoulder surgery. Hoping that by the time the season gets here I'll be shooting my 58", 44@28, Black and white ebony Zipper Zipstick with carbon/foam limbs. It really like ICS bowhunter .500s with 175 up front, more then likely made up of a Grizzly bruin 125 and XL aluminum adapter.
Huskyarcher,
Which Grizzly you shooting and what's your arrow weight if you don't mind me asking?
Be a Smagbow just like the one you got Friend. Have a new static selfbow been looking at me saying "please setup some 650grn missiles with some 185grn single bevels to fly off me".
Smag..a royal beauty you will be toting
Osage selfbow, about 55 lbs at 28 inches. Port Orford Cedars with Zwickey Eskimos.
Quote from: Hoosier_hunter157 on August 02, 2018, 08:10:01 PM
Huskyarcher,
Which Grizzly you shooting and what's your arrow weight if you don't mind me asking?
I've been shooting Left wing single bevels, 200gr. This year I'm going go also give the Bruin double bevels a go. Total arrow weight is around 460gr.
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I think you will like those bruins husky. I have one in my broadhead test this year and so far it has exceeded my expectations. Now if i can just put together another penetration test successfully i think you all would be impressed with how the bruins do.
I'll be shooting my Two Tracks Ogemaw this fall. 55#'s @ 28". I'll also be using Gold Tip 400's with 200 grain single bevel broad heads. Aint she a beaut?!
(https://i.imgur.com/cQ9O04t.jpg?1)
-Jeremy
Another year with ole faithful for me. 72# bear grizzly shooting Easton aftermaths 75gr inserts 75gr steel adapter 125gr Bod-kin 3 blade with aluminum footer. 300 gr total on business end.
Black Widow PMA 45@28
600 grain chundoo arrows
Haven't decided on woodsmans or ribteks so I tuned both (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180804/4c26e7132bfce3dc86d08086174e37d2.jpg)
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Either the widow KBX 60" 51@30 with CE heritage 350 with 175 VPA 2 blade or the big Jim TC 56" 50@30 with CE heritage 250 with the same broadhead. Whichever one I gain the most confidence in will be my choice.