Posted August 24, 2009

By Art Lander Jr.

OutdoorsKentucky. Com

                                                           Muzzy MX-3 Broadhead

    This second-generation 100-grain Muzzy broadhead is shorter and stronger, with a wider cutting diameter.

    And in our pre-season test in the backyard, it flew just as straight as the 75-grain three-blade Muzzy we’ve hunted with for years. The test bow was a 60-pound draw weight Mathews single cam bow, shooting Easton ST Epic (400) carbon arrows.

    New in 2007, the MX-3 is made tougher for today’s faster bows. Its three replaceable blades are .005 thicker, and the MX-3 has a 1 1/4-inch cutting diamater, which is 1/16-inch wider than their standard 100-grain three-blade.

    The combination of the shorter ferrule, .025 thick blades, and heat-tempered Trocar Tip, make the MX-3 a formidable broadhead, when it comes to its ability to penetrate thick hide, muscle and bone.

    And it was accurate, too, in our test. Shooting a foam target at 30 yards there was no change in point of impact between 100-grain field points and the MX-3 fitted with practice blades.

    A three-pack of MX-3 broadheads, with includes practice blades, broadhead wrench, and decal, sells for $24.95.

    For more information visit their website: www.muzzy.com

Posted October 7, 2009

By Art Lander Jr.

OutdoorsKentucky.Com

                                   Good Question: Which Plastic Vane is the Best Choice for Hunting ?

    In modern archery today, plastic vanes are by far more popular than feathers, when it comes to fletching hunting arrows.

    But the question many bow hunters are probably asking is, “What’s the performance difference between the four-inch and two-inch plastic vanes?”

    It’s easy to be skeptical of the merits of new gear because the archery industry continually cranks out products, and some new stuff just isn’t really an improvement over what’s being widely used.

    An exception is the high-profile, short fletching, which offers several advantages over the four-inch fletching, now in wide use on small-diameter carbon arrows.

    This is a trend that could become an industry standard, just as carbon arrows have replaced aluminum arrows. The Bohning Archery Blazer Vane is an industry leader, but many companies are now producing high-profile vanes.

    John and I both shoot single-cam bows, Easton ST Epic 400  carbon arrows, and 100-grain broadheads. In casual target practice sessions we noticed some differences between the two fletchings right away. Here are some observations about the high-profile fletchings:

    *Arrow flight is very stable from the instant the arrow leaves the bow.

    *Arrows seem to have a flatter trajectory at longer ranges.

    *Down range arrow speed seems a few feet per second faster. At point blank, a distance of about two yards to the target, both arrows (55 pounds draw weight, 29-inch draw length) registered 240 feet per second on the chronograph.

    *The high-profile vanes are thicker, so they are more durable. The thinner, four-inch vanes wrinkle easy and are susceptible to nicks and cuts.

    High-profile vanes aren’t just a gimmick, they really will give your arrows a performance boost, and who couldn’t use a little more speed and accuracy when it comes to making that all important shot. 

   

Posted November 1, 2009

Staff Report

                                                                          TRUGLO Range Rover Single Pin Bow Sight

           Truglo’s brightest one-pin sight, the Ranger Rover, is a high quality archery accessory.

            The T.F.O. (Tritium/Fiber Optic) model has a green (.040 diameter) pin, which is ideal for low light conditions and large diameter peep sights.

             Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen that glows in the dark. This will provide an aiming point regardless of light conditions. Tritium glows continuously for years.

            The aperture has a 1.8-inch inner diameter that glows in the dark, to help center with the peep sight. The yardage tape also glows in the dark. Yardages should be marked with a permanent felt tip pen.

            The sight looks great (matte finish black frame), and will work on both left and right-handed bows.

            Our only complaints are the sight doesn’t have enough vertical adjustment, and we wish it was possible to make windage adjustments without having to completely loosen screws that hold the aperture in place.

             The Range Rover sells for about $85.

              For information visit their website at: www.truglo.com

Posted October 27, 2009

By Art Lander Jr.

OutdoorsKentucky.Com

    Deer have keen noses. Want to zap your scent as you head into the woods for the best two weeks of bow season?

    Try this four-step process I’ve used with success for years -- wash your hunting clothes, wash your body and hair (if you have any), neutralize the arm pits, and spray down your boots.

    Wildlife Research Center’s line of products are the industry leader in human scent elimination.

    I wash my hunting clothes, including hat, glove and face mask, in their Liquid Clothing Wash, in cold water (to preserve the colors in the camouflage patterns), then air dry outside on a clothes line. Never use a clothes dryer. 

    Their liquid soap works great for washing hair and body. I keep a squeeze bottle in the shower during deer season.

    I top off my shower, with their anti-perspirant and deodorant stick.

    When I’m not hunting I store my hunting clothes in a 22-gallon Sterilite snap-top to protect them from unwanted odors.

    And finally, before heading to my treestand, or ground blind, I spray down my boots with Scent Killer spray.

    Testing at Rutgers University found Scent Killer to be over 99 percent effective at stopping human odor.

    Scent Killer attacks odors at the molecular level. It starts working as soon as you spray it onto your boots and clothing and continues to work for days after drying. Periodically, during the season, treat your hunting clothes with a liberal spray. Scent Killer is effective at stopping both human odor, and many other types of food odors that spook deer.

    Wildlife Research Center products here.