Modern Archery
Posted January 29, 2009
Staff Report
Ultra-Rest LD Arrow Rest
Great Choice for Bowhunters
The Ultra-Rest LD, made by Quality Archery Designs of Madison Heights, Va., is a quality drop-away arrow rest ideal for treestand deer hunting.
You’ll never have to worry about pulling back the bowstring and not having the arrow ready to shoot. Simply nock an arrow onto your bow's string, flip up the u-shaped rest (with top bar) and the arrow is held in place, fully contained. It can't fall off the arrow rest, even if the bow is turned upside down.
When the drawn bowstring is released, the arrow rest pivots forward (and drops away) from the path of the arrow. Since no part of the arrow (or its fletching) comes in contact with the rest as it leaves the bow's riser, the arrow's flight is straight and unhampered. The arrow's cock feather or plastic vane should be positioned up, for best clearance. Spring tension keeps the rest from popping back up and hitting the arrow as it leaves the bow's riser.
The Ultra-Rest LD is fully adjustable for both windage (left and right) and elevation (up and down), and works with both aluminum and carbon arrows of all diameters. A handy feature of the Ultra-Rest LD is that it doesn't fall away if the bow is slowly let down from full draw.
The Ultra-Rest LD, available in black and camouflage, will fit virtually any compound bow sold today, even bows with roller (cable) guards.
The cost is about $120.
For information visit their website at: www.qadinc.com/.
Posted January 29, 2009
By Art Lander Jr.
OutdoorsKentucky.Com
Is It Time For A New Bow String?
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- After a season or two, bow hunters will begin to notice a few signs that it’s time to replace the strings on their compound bows.
The thousands of arrows shot during pre-season practice, and between hunting trips, begins to take a toll on bow strings.
“There’s obvious wear, the fibers start to break down, and peep sights move (out of alignment at full draw),” said Max Maupin, Technical Advisor for Winner’s Choice Custom Bowstrings, of John Day, OR.
Arrows groups may become inconsistent, bows become harder to tune, and seem to stay tuned for a shorter period of time. Rubber parts that dampen noise and vibration on idler wheels and cams may also begin to show uneven wear patterns, indicating that wheels and cams are out of synch due to bow string stretch.
“If you take a close look at the strings on new bows from the factory, it’s like comparing apples and oranges,” said Maupin. “Some are better than others.”
When it’s time for a new bow string there’s several good arguments that a custom string is worth the few extra dollars they cost. “They’re a high quality part that’s usually faster, more consistent and they last longer,” said Maupin during an interview at the recent Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show.
The Winner’s Choice bowstring, an industry leader, has a one-year warranty against stretch or creep. “Less than one percent are returned,” said Maupin.
In the last decade, Winner’s Choice developed pre-stretching technology, a manufacturing process to prevent residual creep regardless of environmental conditions, and an odorless treatment that waterproofs strings, and protects string fibers from abrasion.
For information, and to locate dealers, visit: www.winnerschoicestrings.com/.
Posted January 29, 2009
By Art Lander Jr.
OutdoorsKentucky.Com
New Block 4 X 4 Archery Target Resists Slivering
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Block Fusion is the 2009 version of Field Logic’s award-winning Block 4x4 archery target.
“It’s made from two kinds of foam, with a molecular bond, so the foam layers can’t rip out,” said Jon Syverson, Field Logic’s vice president of sales. “This increases target life by 50 percent.”
Polyurethane and polyethylene are fused together, eliminating the need for internal banding, while creating a target that resists slivering. “Less force is needed to pull arrows too,” said Syverson. “Ease of arrow removal is increased by about 50 percent over previous versions of Block targets.”
The Block Fusion features new faces on two of the four shooting sides – profiles of six game species (elk, deer, moose, pronghorn, bear and turkey) in various sizes, allowing archers to take shots at both short and long distances. The other two sides of the target will continue to be printed with anatomically-correct deer vitals. Another target upgrade is an internal handle.
Available in four sizes, the Block Fusion F-16 is 16x12x16 inches, weighs 12 pounds and sells for about $95. Other models are: Block Fusion F-18, 18x12x18 inches, 19 pounds, about $140; Block Fusion F-21, 21x18x21 inches, 25 pounds, and about $160, and Block Fusion F-24, 24x21x24 inches, weighs 35 pounds, and about $240.
For more information, visit the Field Logic web site at www.fieldlogic.com/, or call toll-free (800) 282-4868.
Posted April 29, 2009
By Art Lander Jr.
OutdoorsKentucky.Com
Ross Cardiac -- Beauty and the Beast
The 2008 Ross Cardiac is a fast, smooth-drawing hunting bow, with attention to detail that has caught the eye of the archery industry.
In a review in Petersen’s Bowhunting magazine, Patrick Meitin wrote “from the get-go Ross bows have exhibited exceptional quality. You can have it all: speed, accuracy at a competitive price.”
The Ross Cardiac has a 33-inch axle-to-axle length, 7-inch brace height, 320 fps advertised IBO speed, and 80 percent let-off.
It’s a beauty too, that’s built rugged. The finish of the Tuff-Tech Fusion Realtree AP camouflage is incredible, and a Winners Choice Custom bow string is installed at the factory.
Other quality construction eye-openers are: fully-machined aluminum riser, narrow glass limbs, string stop, center shot design, a broadhead guard on the arrow shelf, stainless steel stabilizer bushing, sealed bearings in the cam and idler wheels, Teflon cable slide and carbon rod, and an anti-vibration system on the limbs and string.
This bow is a great value for the cost of $730.
Visit the Ross website here.
Ultra-Rest LD Arrow Rest keeps your arrow in place so you can concentrate on making the shot.
Limbsaver Mini S-Coil 3.5-inch stabilizer
Posted April 29, 2009
By Art Lander Jr.
OutdoorsKentucky.Com
Just the right size and weight for hunting bows, the Limbsaver Mini S-Coil 3.5-inch stabilizer reduces noise and vibration as the arrow leaves the string.
It also dampens hand shock, reduces bow torque, and improves balance, since rests and sights tend to make bows top heavy.
Show here in camo (model #3063), but the stabilizer is also available in black (model #3064).
The Mini S-Coil 3.5-inch is 1.6 inches in diameter, and weighs 3.58 ounces. The cost is about $18. Three other lengths (4.5-inch, 7-inch and 2.8-inch extension) are also available.
For more information, and to buy online, visit their website here.
Updated January 23, 2010
By Art Lander Jr.
OutdoorsKentucky.Com
Primos Double Bull Dark Horse Ground Blind Field Test
The Primos Double Bull Dark Horse gets a thumbs up, after what we experienced during Kentucky’s 2009-10 deer season, which ended January 18th.
John and I killed a total of three deer, and had both does and bucks at close range numerous times.
This state-of-the-art ground blind was developed by bow hunters Keith Beam and Brooks Johnson, who have been manufacturing blinds since 1995 under the company name Double Bull. A couple of years ago the company was sold to Primos Hunting Calls.
The Dark Horse is roomy enough for two people, plus gear, and weighs less than 20 pounds, which makes transportation to and from the field easy.
Refinements include: a silent slide window adjustment system, shoot through netting, and a black interior to eliminate "profiling" and maximize concealment.
The Ground Swat camouflage pattern is a non-specific, wide open pattern that adapts to a wide variety of foliage and terrain.
Hunters can see a full 180 degrees from inside the blind, and the opening adjusts from one to 20 inches vertically.
The blind is made from a non-reflective, pre-stretched fabric. The locking hub frame, enables quick and easy set-up and take down, and can be adjusted to tighten the fabric if it gets loose, thus eliminating wind flap.
For more information, to buy online, or watch ground blind hunting video clips, visit: www.primos.com.
John’s 10-pointer, killed on the evening of November 5, 2009 -- his second deer of the season taken from the Primos Double Bull Dark Horse ground blind.
Photo by Art Lander Jr.