So, I just got two new strings for my Hill-style Whippenstick Classic string follow longbow. I went with 8 strand strings from Flemish Traditional Sports (fantastic strings, btw).

I strung up the bow before work to let them stretch out a little. When I got back home I shot a few arrows with no silencers installed. I was really surprised at how quiet it was. It's pretty much the same level of noise as my old string with string puffs. All I hear is the arrow coming off and a quiet, low pitched hum.

I'm strongly considering just leaving it as is and hunting without silencers. I can see the advantages in arrow tuning because there would be no silencers that can move, nothing to catch burrs and nothing to soak up moisture. I can see where this would give me a more consistent tune in the field and I'm all about simple.

My question is to those of you who hunt with Hill style bows. How many hunt without silencers in the string and has it affected an animals reactions? Just looking for opinions. Thanks.

Chris

I shoot with nothing on the string....love the quiet hum.  I have never spooked an animal because of no silencers and have purposely shot over the backs of deer with blunts to see how they react...they do not move until the arrow passes over them.  From more than a few feet the sound of the string is so quiet that it doesn't alert the game.  And your bow will shoot livelier without anything on the string.

I shoot with nothing on the string....love the quiet hum.  I have never spooked an animal because of no silencers and have purposely shot over the backs of deer with blunts to see how they react...they do not move until the arrow passes over them.  From more than a few feet the sound of the string is so quiet that it doesn't alert the game.  And your bow will shoot livelier without anything on the string.

I just had the same experience.I just received a new to me Howard Hill Cheetah. It is so quiet without silencers that I may not put any on them at all. The only reason I would at this point is because I like the looks of silencers.

I don't use silencers on my Hill, no need too.

Take a look at this thread
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=115572

 

My hearing is not what it used to be....but I think it's still more silent with 2 small wool puffs. I'm shooting a Hill Halfbreed/string follow! You can't be to silent!!

No silencers for me. For those that like the skinny strings, good for you! They are not my cup of tea though. Three (3) bundle, 15 strands of TS+ (if you can find it) with no string silencers works fine. You don't have to build up the loops and serving to make the nock fit.

I like half-whiskers on mine...a bit of insurance that costs next to nothing.  If there's no noise then what you put on the string is irrelevant, but even with my Hills I've never had a bow that made absolutely no noise.  Thus, the insurance.

I like that Ron. I've noticed that older I get the quieter my bow is. I think I'll use that if you don't mind.

I use silencers out of habit, but my Hill bows are very quiet without them.

No silencers for me. Seems just fine without them - but don't take it from me, the Army did a number on my hearing.

I use none.

None on mine.

Nope... don't use em.

Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like plenty of folks pass on using silencers with straight bows. I'm still in the process of retuning with my string. I generally add silencers as a way of getting a stiffer reaction from my arrows so until I dial things in I won't rule anything out.

Good to know plenty of folks are killing critters sans silencers.

my Whippenstick classic  is dandy without them .......
i just posted some pics of it in my NZ thread ... ken builds a fine string eh !

I have a couple with and a couple without, haven't noticed a difference.  I use wood and glass arrows, never got carbons to work right.  If you can find some, Microflites and the other woven glass arrows are really quiet.