There are numerous different types of arrow rests on the market and while they all work, some will work better for your bow and arrows than others. Finding that combination is not as simple as choosing an arrow rest that looks good and setting off to use it, it may come down to a lot of trial and error.

Part of the process of choosing an arrow rest will depend on whether you shoot with a bow release or with your fingers. Releasing the string with your fingers creates some lateral movement to the string which is the string moving around the fingers. This movement must be catered for by the arrow rest with the appropriate horizontal tension set to dampen the left and right movement of the string and the arrow.

The competition target archer is going to require a different type of arrow rest to the bow hunter. A competition shooter will be more inclined to use a launcher type of rest which provides adjustability for the under-support of the arrow. A bow hunter, on the other hand, is going to require a rest that supports the arrow from all sides as they move around from place to place in a variety of different weather conditions. Not only that, the types of arrows that are used by the bow hunter are heavier and carry a heavy broadhead with larger fletching at the other end. The arrow rest that the hunter chooses is going to be a serious task.

The hunter should be choosing between a number of different styles of arrow rests such as a single launcher, a double launcher, a spring loaded prong or a surround type of rest.

There are a few reasons to like using an arrow which has a light affixed, the obvious is that it is easier to look at the arrow during it’s flight. Therefore the shooter could see precisely how their arrow flies through the air and the light trail which is created will show the path that the arrow took precisely. If corrections are required it’s going to become apparent and this tends to help on future shots.

The light will also provide a secondary benefit to the archer and that’s to stop arrows from becoming lost. Should the target be missed for whatever reason, depending on the density of the foliage, it is very easy to lose your arrow. Sometimes these arrows will be costly and the thing you don’t want to do is have to replace them all every time you go out. The led light on the end of the arrow nock will enhance visibility of the arrow when it lies in the undergrowth making sure it can be retrieved without too much searching.

Whilst these nocks are likely to cost more compared to traditional old plastic nocks they can be regarded as presenting good value for money, especially if you bag more game or retain all of your arrows every time you shoot.

Although I said that it is not an all-out speed bow, it has still been given an IBO rating in excess of 300 feet per second. This is significantly fast although not really in the league of the big hitters such as the Bear Carnage which heads the Bear list in 2011.

When you look at the complete specs for the Assault you can see that there is a lot to like and, over the next couple of years it is almost a given that the price for this bow is going to drop making it even greater value for money.

Bear Assault Bow Specs

Draw Weights : 60, 70 lbs
Draw Lengths : 26-31″
Axle to Axle : 30.75″
Brace Height : 7.25″
Mass Weight : 3.9 lbs
Effective Let Off : 80%
IBO Speed : 320 – 328 fps

This is one of the leading choices of compound bows from the 2011 season and you can get an idea of how it sits by checking out the limited comparison that was done on 3 Bear compound bows here.

Schools from 34 states are expected to be represented with girls and boys as young as fourth grade age taking part. The sport of archery is really experiencing a great deal of interest and the significantly high numbers taking part in this event is a great indicator of just how big it is becoming.

Since it first began the National Archery in Schools participation has grown to something like 9,000 schools with around two million student archer-athletes this year. There is a lot to be said in the initiative shown in bringing this Olympic sport to the schools to help expand the boundaries of what might be considered a sport that is otherwise impossible to take part in.

As far as the size and scope of the event is concerned, the organisers have put together a 1,250 foot indoor range which is something of a world record in itself.

With many volunteers taking part to ensure the event runs smoothly and the support and sponsorship of The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and its Office of Adventure Tourism there is no doubt that the event on the 13-14 May, 2011 will go off without a hitch.

The arrow rest can have an effect on the way the arrow is directed upon release. As a result there have been some varieties of designs that will be suited for different types of shooting and for different disciplines as well. Drop away arrow rests, containment arrow rests and shoot-thru arrow rests make up the majority of different types that you can buy.

They will provide you with a different feel upon release, they are also going to react differently. You may feel as though an arrow rest that does not drop away upon release of the arrow can affect its trajectory and cause problems with your bow’s accuracy.

All of these arrow rests are simple to install onto the riser of your compound bow. As with a bow sight or a stabilizer the standard compound bow is designed to accept an arrow rest and the various makes are all created to be fitted into the available space without too much trouble.

While the drop away rests, or fall away rests as they are sometimes called, have been available for quite a long time, it is only in recent times that they have enjoyed a surge of popularity. This is due to concerns over the clearance of the fletchings as the bow releases the arrow.

Speed and accuracy is everything and the confidence of the archer also comes into play. If the archer is concerned over what the arrow rest is doing to the arrow that is being fired it is going to affect the shot in some way. The Drop Away arrow rest provides you with the peace of mind of knowing that there is absolutely nothing affecting the flight of the arrow upon release.

At some point soon we might take a more in depth look at the various types of arrow rests and the manufacturers responsible for producing some of the most popular in use today.

The TEC riser design essentially takes the standard riser shape and supports it with a truss-like structure that spans the area over where the riser is held on the bow grip. This enables the riser to be structurally supported so that it is far stiffer than other bows. The spanning element directs vibration away from the hand making the bow quieter and smoother to shoot. It also helps with accuracy because the bow is less inclined to torque from the tremendous forces that can twist a more flexible riser.

With all of this talk about the superior stability and stiffness of the TEC riser you could be forgiven for thinking that it must be fairly weighty. The fact is quite the opposite. The design of the riser means that its actual thickness is reduced and this means the weight is minimized. With the development of more recent TEC Lite risers and the carbon compound risers the weight is reduced even further without compromising the bow’s strength or power.

Many of the bows that were produced over the last 15 years have been built around the TEC riser and this is one of the primary reasons why the Hoyt bows are preferred by the majority of archers, no matter whether they are bow hunters or competition shooters.

The bow pictured at the top right of this page is a Hoyt Turbohawk and you can clearly see the structure of the TEC riser and the way that it supports the bow as it spans across the bow grip.

The sport of archery can be a very rewarding one with the use of the compound bow and a few arrows virtually all that is required to succeed. It may take a bow stabilizer to help settle your aim but once you have committed to practicing every day you should see rapid improvement.

The reflex riser positions the limb pocket pivot points further away from the shooter. This means that the distance that the archer has to draw the bowstring is further resulting in greater speed for the bow. In effect the brace height is shorter and this means the bow is less forgiving.

The deflex riser has the throat of the grip positioned in front of the pivot line and this means the brace height of the bow is longer. This translates into a shorter distance for the bow string to be drawn and a bow that is more forgiving. The trade-off is a loss of speed compared to a bow with a reflex riser.

The type of riser you choose may come down to your desire to shoot accurately over the need for speed. A newcomer to the sport would do better shooting a compound bow with a deflex riser while an experienced hunter looking for a power bow is going to go with one that has a reflex riser.

The preferred type of arrow rest for hunting is definitely the Whisker Biscuit for the ease of use. The fact that there are no moving parts appears to be a big plus and when it is compared to the drop away rests those who use both tend to return to the Whisker Biscuit.

There is a small claim that using a Whisker Biscuit arrow rest will reduce the speed of the bow but chrono tests have shown that the actual loss of speed is only minimal. The idea is that anything that touches the arrow is going to affect the speed and the accuracy to some extent. This is certainly true and the delicate touch of the Biscuit’s fibers ensures that any impact on the arrow is only going to be the most minor possible.

Another difference that has been noted between using a Whisker Biscuit compared to a fall away rest is one of noise. The fall away has been noted to make a small amount of sound while the Whisker Biscuit makes absolutely none.

The use of certain archery accessories is always going to be a matter of personal taste as well as a certain level of loyalty thanks to a good experience with a product. The most logical way to decide on a good arrow rest is to buy one of each that you are considering and use them both. They aren’t the most expensive pieces of equipment being sold and at least by doing your own comparison test you will have satisfied yourself that you have the types that will feel most comfortable for your circumstances.

Shooting at turkeys requires a bit of patience but it also requires an ability to shoot from a lower position on the ground. Practice shooting while on your knees or while sitting down. Your practice field should be over a distance of around 20 yards or up to 30 at the most.

Quiet bows are absolutely crucial for any kind of success while hunting turkey. Fortunately there are plenty of bows that have been released in the new year that have gone out of their way to supply the shooter with a solid bow that is whisper quiet. This is going to come in very useful for hunters who are looking to come home with a bird in the hand.

The arrow placement is going to be important and you are going to require a broad head arrow and this is going to be another important choice to make. You will be looking for a head shot to make a clean shot and a larger cutting diameter is going to be very important to how you perform and what type of shot you are going to make.

Turkey hunting provides bow hunters with a different type of challenge and is another test of stealth and accuracy. Enjoy the hunt.

Bow sights come in a range of styles and designs although they all achieve the same thing, they help you focus your aim on the target in front of you. They generally consist of some type of sighting mechanism known as a sight pin and this is displayed in an enclosed display area that looks very similar to the scope of a camera or a rifle. This is to give the archer an unobstructed view of the target that is then lined up with the pin.

Because shooting is done over a range of different distances, often determined by how far away the prey is standing, many bow sights are made with multiple pin sights. These sights may be adjusted or tuned for shooting at objects at specific distances. For example, a 3-pin bow sight may be tuned with the first pin set at 20 yards, the second pin set at 30 yards and the 3rd pin set at 40 yards. This will give the shooter 3 options of known distances that can be used when attempting a shot. Familiarization with the bow and the sights will occur with increased use and the process of gauging distance and altering the exact position of the sight over time.

The type of bow sight that you choose to use may be a matter of preference over whether you would rather see more or fewer sight pins in the viewing scope. The sight pins may be presented vertically or horizontally depending on the brand of the sight and they may be classed as fixed or moveable sights depending on whether they can easily be adjusted between each shot.

One of the more important aspects to using a bow sight is the possibility that it can be damaged while out on the hunt. Crashing through undergrowth and scrambling over rocks and uneven terrain will inevitably lead to the bow getting bumped and knocked around along with the attachments to the riser. Ensuring you have a spare bow sight to replace a damaged one will reduce the chance that your hunt will be ruined due to damage.