I have seen alot of bows for sale with a rubber arrow holder on them. I'm looking for some opinions on how they work and witch one is the best. I'm looking for something that will work in cold temps. I want to be able to hang my bow in the tree with out my arrow blowing off the bow so I can keep my hands warm.
Travis
Travis,
I started using them a couple of seasons ago and wouldn't treestand hunt without them anymore. They are all not created equal however. I ordered both of the ones that 3 Rivers sells, one that's around $3.95 and the other is $8.95, I believe. The more expensive one is hands down the better choice especially for colder weather. It's called a Kwik Loc by Saunders if memory serves. The cheaper one is solid rubber and didn't function well for me in cold weather. The Kwik Loc has a metal spring steel insert that helps it function well in cold weather. I have never been of the opinion that "more expensive is always better" but in this case, it's true....
Thanks Bob, do they hurt your bow when you remove them?
Like Bob said about the Kwik-lok...I've been using them over 20yrs.....
No they won't hurt the finish when removing...
No, they use a double back tape and you just peel it off. I've moved mine back and forth from a couple of bows with no problems. If it does leave any "goo" on the riser, just wipe it off with alcolol. One other thing I forgot, I did have to trim the kwik loc a little so the base wasn't under my thumb when I gripped the bow.
Yep, Curt's the one that got me using them!!
Travis,
I use one on all my bows for the reasons you discribe. The kwik locs are good and you can remove them if you sell your bow( pull it off and wipe the riser down with goo-gone). You can make your own with some double sided tape,a popsicle stick and a rubber band. I have seen some guys use a toothpick and a rubber band as well.
I buy a 1/8" brass rod from the hardware store and I nock my arrow, put a mark on the riser(belly side) just a hair lower than center in line with your arrow about 1/4" from the side of the sight window. drill an 1/8" hole in the bow where your mark is good and straight about 1/4" deep NO MORE THAN THAT. cut you a piece of your brass rod about 1/2" or little longer (which ever you prefer) sand the end round on the end that will stick out.
Put a little superglue on your brass after you test fit it and glue it in.
Now go to the drug store and get you some pony tail rubberbands (the real little ones, I use black) hook it on your brass pin put it over your arrow and hook it on your pin again.
home made arrow holder works every time.
Some guys may not want to do this for fact of drilling a hole in their bow but it don't bother me and I don't have that thing floppin around when ever I'm shooting stumps or target practicing.
Just a suggestion, maybe some guys will like it some not.
Kris
Saunders Kwik-Lok for 15 years. They are not beautiful, but do a really good job.
Kwik-lok doesn't "flop around" at all.....some others I've seen do though
I have been using the Saunders Kwik-Lok for nearly 50 years. I wouldn't be in a treestand with out it. I have them on many bows.
Jack
I've been using the Sta-Jac arrow holder for more than 30 years. I'm not as old as Jack (L0L) Either slip the mounting bracket under the leather wrap on my longbows, or affix it to the bow with double backed tape.
I use a paper clip twisted around so that the majority of it can be laid flat and taped down with electrical tape against the riser. I then make a loop with a small rubber band and go around the arrow and hook it over one end of the paperclip that is left protruding back past the face of the riser. As soon as you begin your draw it pops off. No fuss, no mess, and virtually no money...and can be removed if needed leaving no trace.
I'm a Sta-Jac fan.
Bob Walker nailed it for me, although I've often thought about doing exactly what Stiks-n-Strings
posted and may well do that also.
I'm another fan of the Kwik-Lok
I got sick of picking my arrows out of the ground and resharpening them everytime i hunted from a treestand. I use the aroholder from 3R you can peel them off after the season and then reuse them with a little two side tape.
Rubber bands and one of the toothpicks I carry in my hat is what I use now. I have used the kwik loc with good success but cant say it was in freezing temps
Kwik-Lock is the one to get.
Thanks guys, I think I'm going to order a Kwik Loc. It sounds like the one everyone likes and if it don't like it I'm only out $8.
Good luck to everyone this fall.
Travis
I do what Stic-n-string does except I am not so exact. I cut a small piece of coat hanger, match it as best I can to a small drill bit and drill a small hole in the back of my riser then glue. I do use the hair tie rubber bands, black. Works sweet and I am surprised no bowyers offer it as an option or something. You only need a little nub sticking out of the riser to hold the rubber band and it falls away when you pull the bow back.
Bob Urban
I like the Sta-Jac. I didn't have to tape or glue it on. I just stuck the bracket down inside my rubber grip between it and the handle and it holds it securely.
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/11-09-09_1920.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/11-09-09_1915.jpg)
Guess I'm a little late here. Heck yes, I use one (Kwik-loc), love it, and even have a back-up available so I'll never be without one.
Wow, I just use my finger.
I've used the Sta Jac since the mid 60's. I didn't use one for a while when I was shooting off the shelf and trying to be "traditional" until I had a 10 pointer show up one afternoon. I reached for my bow and the arrow fell off. Fortunately it did not hit the metal stand but stuck in the ground under the tree stand. The buck looked at it and because acorns were falling I assume he thought it was an acorn that had made the noise. In any event a Phantom thru the heart put him down and that nite I went thru my old stuff and found my old Sta Jacs and one went on my bow as well as Laura's. They have been on the bows ever since then and I really don't know how I did as well as I did without it. They are probably the best "gadget" one can put on his or her bow.
who mounts theirs front vs back? because of my brace height i can't mount mine on back and have to "push" to release. just curious!
Another vote for the Sta-Jac, works better then anything else I have used and stays in place. Mark
Fingers don't work when your bow's hanging on a hanger. My arrows ALWAYS fell off.
QuoteNo, they use a double back tape and you just peel it off. I've moved mine back and forth from a couple of bows with no problems. If it does leave any "goo" on the riser, just wipe it off with alcolol. One other thing I forgot, I did have to trim the kwik loc a little so the base wasn't under my thumb when I gripped the bow.
Well said. I'm using the Kwik Lok and LOVE it.
tooth pick and a rubberband.... (and it doesn't cost $6.00 to ship)
I have been using the Kwik-Lok for at least 10 years and obviously I like it. The reason I wanted to post is to suggest trying it on the front. It is designed to automatically let go when installed on the back; however, if you put it on the front it will not. Now you may say why would you do that, well I have found that it lets go of the arrow to easy for me, when on the front you have to push it off the arrow and for me that works much better.
RayMO
Like PICKNGRIN says Sta-Jac been using them since 1973, I take a knive put 3 slits in the rubber holder, they pop off the shaft with little pull on the string,
QuoteOriginally posted by GMMAT:
[QB] Fingers don't work when your bow's hanging on a hanger. My arrows ALWAYS fell off.
Jeff, I've always held my bow, or it's on my lap when sitting.
I've used several of the manufactured arrow holders over the years, now I use the rubber band method. A #4 finish nail cut short, epoxied into the riser or rest and a bagfull of rubber bands. I stretch the rubber bands over a bracket on my bow and they are always at hand.
Did my son's bow this year, his comment,"About as low tech as you can get."
Years ago, we used to use an arrow holder called a silent partner. You had this long skinny triangle shaped piece of plastic that was about 1/4" thick, with a small hole in the small end. The big end sticky taped to the opposite side of the riser. You fastened a rubber band through the hole. It went around the arrow, then back over the end of the triangle. When you draw back, the rubber band rolls off the end and flips out of the way. Works just like the toothpic thing, but you don't lose the toothpic. We made several from plexiglas, but it's a bit too brittle for cold weather. One good bump could break it. The factory ones were a bit more rubbery.
QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Leemans:
Works just like the toothpic thing, but you don't lose the toothpic.
should be on the ground, right under your stand..... I use colored tooth picks and colored rubber bands
not too hard to locate them when I get down... I will also just take it off and put it in my pocket as I am preparing to shoot.
I've had the same arrow holder on my bow for 10-15 years. I noticed this year it starting to squeek when I draw to release it. Well not dealing with it caught up with me this morning. A mature buck came by chasing a doe and I grabbed my bow and put tension on the string to release the holder, making the squeek the big buck stopped dad in his tracks at 40yds. and looked right up at me. The doe finally caught my thermals and blew. Just a dab of vasaline on a q-tip fixed the problem.
I'm not sure what the type I am using is. I bought it from the archery store in town and it sticks on the riser. I just don't want my arrow clanging around when the bow isn't in my hand.
I used the toothpick and rubber band method for several years and they worked fine, but got tired of loosing, forgetting and poking my self with the toothpicks. One of my selfbow students gave me a gift certificate to 3rivers and being unable to decide which of the three would work the best, I ordered all three (http://search.3riversarchery.com/search?asug=Arrow+hol&w=arrow+holder) so I could compare them side to side for my self. Figured if I chose the wrong one it would cost more in shipping for a second one then to buy all three at the same time. Hands down I like the Sta-Jac the best. However, I do like the mounting system of the other two better. The soft rubber gripper and the ability to adjust and fine tune the Sta-Jac, for me, make it a better product. To mount mine I used Velcro with the sticky the backing (like double-sided tape) so I didn't have to drill holes in my riser and make it easily transferable to other bows.
For me,all three work better then the toothpick rubberband method.
You can't use the StaJac or the KwickLok on the back of the bow because pulling the arrow releases it. On the back you would be continually pulling through it.....don't work 8^).
We sold lots of Sta Jac arrow holders in the 1970's at our archery shop. Folks preferred them of the KwickLock. Everyone has different needs though. I don't use any, but I'm always on the ground.
George,
Just in case it helps someone...
I have two bows on which I placed the Kwik-Lok on the back of the bow because of riser design and low brace height. My fletching touched the shelf on the belly side of those bows, and there wasn't room for the arrow holder on the arrow without interference.
On the bows I have rigged this way, my first move when game comes into view is a slight "push" or bump on the string as I position my fingers. The Kwik-Lok snaps forward, and the arrow is clear for the shot.
Some may not like it that way, but it has worked really well for me for years.
Just another possibility to consider. I've never used the StaJac, so don't know if it work for that...
Daryl