are silencers really needed?

[joevan125]

I believe the bow hush system really does make my bows quiter.

[inthere10x]

I use string silencers so I don't have a fellow shooters yelling "Boy that's loud" lol
I also like using the bow hush silencers, but not needed for target shooting.

[Friend]

I always use sring silencers. I don't like wearing ear plugs.

[frank bullitt]

No! Just look at pics of Howard's, Ben's, Freds and Chester's bows!

If your shooting a well tuned bow and have studied the animal you pursue well, knowing when to shoot, is the critial point! Part of the process.

Fred did have brush buttons on his bows.

[owlbait]

Someone else mentioned on another thread: Matthews MonkeyTails. VERY easy to install. I just started playing with them. They are small and seem to stay in place. Don't have enough time with them yet to give a good evaluation on them.

[reddogge]

Fred Bear, Glenn St. Charles and others didn't use them in the 40s-60s on their hunting bows.  I have many bows I shoot 3-D with and I don't have them on and most are very quiet.  I do put on homemade woolies on hunting bows though.

[vernon]

I don't think silencers slow the performance of the bow that much that there is no reason not to use something.  The quieter your bow the better chance of a clean harvest.

[Bjorn]

If you have an ideal set up-really well tuned and combined with an excellent release the noise is minimized but furry ears will still hear it. And if they didn't hear the string for some reason they will hear the hiss of your fletching.