First Blood

The season kicked off 2 weeks ago I have not been able to get out near as much as what I would like but I have managed a few sittings.

I have seen quiet a few younger bucks and had 1 mature buck show up Saturday night, sadly he has already broken off his entire left side.

I did have some excitement the other evening, around 30 minutes after my feeder went off, I heard something heading my way.  I stood up grabbed my bow and got ready.

I was really hoping to have a mature buck or doe show up but I will not complain about having a pig show up. 

I let the little guy feed around for a few minutes it was getting dark so I went ahead and decided to take him, he was 22yards when I took the shot, everything felt good being my first shot of the year I was glad to get something on the ground and build a little confidence.

He went about 80 yards, I did not make the best shot and hit him a few inches back of where i really wanted to hit him but managed to take out both lungs.  I used my elite Gt-500 and a 125g Slick Trick Mag, this was my first time trying that broadhead and I was very happy with the results. 

First Go at Video….

In an effort to do a better job at posting I am going to incorporate video.  I shot this last night via my Iphone.

Decent quality considering it was almost dark out, as you can see I had to turn on the light on my bowsite to see my pins.

Stick and String…..Elite Gt-500

Archery Equipment……………

I went through an extensive search 2 years ago for the perfect bow.  During the spring and summer I shot more than I ever shot before and ended up buying and selling several bows, not to count all the bows that I shot at various dealers and proshops.

In the end I decided on the Elite Gt-500.  I ordered up a AT Edition (Powdercoated black riser with Realtree AP Limbs) from Mike at Carter’s Archery.  Mike is known to many as the man when it comes to tuning bows.  I patiently waited my turn and in a few months received my bow and QAD rest.  Mike put a set of his custom strings on the bow and tuned it to perfection, when a bow does through this process it is known as having been “Crackerized”

The exact details of this process are unknown, but I do know that a set of his stings are installed these are made out of the finest BCY fibers, and hand assembled.  Draw Length, Brace Height and poundage are all set and measured, then the cams are finally timed to ensure that they are each timed and in sync with the other.

Does this make the bow that much better? Depends on who you ask.  It adds up to confidence to me.  I just know that the bow is right once Mike sets it up and all the measurements are checked and correct.

I bought another bow from an unnamed shop that summer, After shooting it for a few days I knew something was off, I checked the draw length and found out that this bow was set 1in too long.  The cams were also out of sync and once set properly the bow picked up 12fps.

Arrow

My current arrow of choice is an Easton Axis 340 with a 125g head this set up weight in at 440 grains.  Currently I am shooting this arrow at 296fps.  I use a Battledrum arrow wrap and Blazer vanes.

I don’t have 1 go to broadhead, I am able to shoot multiple heads into the same point of impact.  Currently I have 125g G5 Stiker Mags and 125g G5 Montecs in my quiver, but just ordered a pack of 125g Slick Trick mags as well.

Sight

I am using a Sword Twilight Hunter 6 pin sight.  I have my pins set at 20 30 40 50 60 and 70yds.  My first 5 pins are .19 and with the 70yd pin being .10

Stabilizer

Posten Carbon Woodsmen 10in stabilizer

Release

Scott Wildcat NCS

Final Thoughts

If I had to describe my set up in 1 word it would be Confidence

I received this bow in the middle of Archery season back in 2008, I quickly sighted it in and was able to take a doe with it all within the first 36 hours of be owning the bow.

I prefer a longer axle to axle bow and i like a solid wall, this bow has both.  It is a great shooting bow with plenty of forgiveness.

Currently I am right at 85lbs of Kenetic Energy and have experienced excellent penetration and short tracking jobs on game.

After this archery season I will replace the stings and use it again in 2011, I just have not seen or shot a bow yet that makes me want to hang this one up.

 

1st Kill

Bacon

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