It’s hard to believe, but the first deer whitetail season in the country-in South Carolina’s Lowcountry-opens in just over a month with a number of states’ archery seasons barely two months away. It’s going to be here before you know it, so if you’ve been lax in your practice routine or putting off upgrading some of your gear, now is the time to…well…get in gear. And there are plenty of great new items on store shelves to help you become a better bowshot and ultimately, a more successful hunter.
Here are 10 items that will help you round out your performance beyond the absolutely necessary bows, arrows and broadheads.
Tru-Ball Center X Series
Deadly accurate shooting begins with a smooth arrow release and the first point of its delivery begins with letting the string go. For that reason, hunter’s who prefer precise adjustments for the ultimate in comfort and maintaining good form will want to check out Tru-Ball’s Center X Series of releases. The series features individual micro-adjustment screws for precision adjustments of both trigger sensitivity and travel.
The Center X-S1 and Center X-S2 are connected to the wrist strap via a standard, yet popular nylon web connection, while the Center X-G1 and Center X-G2 attach using a uni-pivoting tubular-style globo-swivel. The S1 and G1 models both employ a forward trigger to actually boost arrow speed by increasing bow draw length. Meanwhile, the S2 and G2 models use a swept-back trigger. All of the Center X Series releases connect to your bowstring’s D-Loop with an open hook-style connector. The release comes with a black anodized head combined with either a camo Velcro strap, black buckle strap or speed buckle connection. ($97-$105; truball.com)
Fuse Ultra Rest
Fuse’s newest, most reliable rest features the company’s Velocity Drop-Away Technology, which allows the rest to drop only when the bow is actually fired. This means until you’re ready to shoot, the Ultra-Rest acts as a total capture rest that will hold a nocked arrow in place allowing you to stalk, move, draw or let down without worrying about the projectile noisily falling off against the riser. Simply #### the rest into full capture position using the extended thumb lever. The drop-away/capture functions operate on the patented cam/brake design.
Available in anodized black or Realtree APG camo finishes. ($135-$145;fusearchery.com)
Archer Extreme Titanium Xtreme
For the archer seeking only the highest-grade accessories for his bow, the Titanium Xtreme may be the sight they want. The bracket is made from precision-cut titanium, as is the 2-inch sight housing, which reduces weight without sacrificing durability.
The Fiber Guard ring system is easily aligned and sighted with the peep, while stainless steel tube pins add strength and protection to the fiber optics fed by the Fiber Harness bracket system. The sight offers second and third axis adjustment, while the pins are micro adjustable for zero pin spacing on truly fast shooting (and flat shooting) bows. ($320; archerxtreme.com)
IQ Sight Light
Need a little light to boost your fiber optics capabilities in bright light-or as it dies out in those final critical minutes of shooting?
IQ’s Universal Sight Light is fully adjustable with the rheostat that allows for precise lighting through an LED. Adaptors on the light fit a variety of threads in order to work with most sight models and bow designs. Sealed electronics protect the lights critical working parts from the elements. Works with both right- or left-handed bows.
The Universal Sight Light comes complete with batteries and a mounting block. ($25; iqbowsight.com)
TenPoint Bednar Perfect Puller
Whether you shoot a compound or a crossbow, today’s arrow launchers send their projectiles sizzling down range. And when practicing on today’s high-density foam targets, let’s face it, removing arrows can be a pain. TenPoint’s Bednar Perfect Puller makes the job easier with grippers specifically designed to grab embedded arrows and give you the traction you need to easily remove them. The pullers come with three interchangeable grippers to fit various sized shafts used for both compound bows and crossbows.
The specialized grippers are made from tough Santoprene for superior grip strength and attach to hunter orange handles made of 50 percent glass-reinforced thermoplastic urethane. ($20; tenpointcrossbows.com)
Outer Limit Blood Vane
Torn, twisted and wavy vanes are a common problem that can destroy an arrow’s accuracy in a second. But refletching is a pain and for some of archers, they’re not even sure how to do it properly. Outer Limit Archery’s Blood Vane makes fletching easy-for anyone-with its one-piece molded design. Simply slide the vane down an arrow’s shaft and glue it in place, putting a drop of glue in each of the external glue holes. The 2-inch high-profile vanes weigh only 31 grains. ($16/6-pack;outerlimitarchery.com)
Rage Cage Quiver
Rage is known for revolutionizing the mechanical broadhead, but they make other accessories that work with their points as well. The new Rage Cage Quiver is a low-profile, ultra-light and compact quiver designed expressly for holding mechanical broadheads. The quiver, made from carbon fiber-dipped polymer, weighs only 8 ounces and holds as many as five arrows. Using a SnapTrap tension adjustable connector, the Rage Cage mounts easily and tightly to the bow’s riser. ($60; ragebroadheads.com)
G5 Vault
The thing looks like a sophisticated cigar carry case, but is designed to protect one of the most critical assets of the archer-his broadheads.
G5’s Vault is made to safely store expandable as well as fixed-blade broadheads when not in use and is compact enough to fit easily in a pack or even large jacket pocket for easy access on the range or field, while keeping blades protected from crushing or dulling.
The Vault’s protective capabilities are found in its aluminum shell. These things make a cool gift for your bowhunting friends, as well. ($12; g5outdoors.com)
GlenDel Buck
An archer has to have something to practice on, and the new GlenDel Buck is made to not only last a long time and provide a safe destination for your fast flying arrows, but will also get you pumped and prepped for the coming season.
The trophy-sized buck boasts five times more core shooting surface than previous models and for the ultimate in mimicking real-life shot presentations, it features a rotating head, 150 inches of antler and has a 34-inch shoulder height. For all of you midwestern hunters tired of training on buck targets that look more like something that stepped out of a North Florida swamp, this target replicates a 200-pound buck.
The insert is made from Block’s PolyFusion, polyurethane and polyethylene fused together, made to handle excessive shots, while allowing relatively simple arrow extraction. ($160; glendel.com)
Xtreme Hardcore Gear V-Loc Ultra Sling System
Balance is critical to accurate shooting and while sights, rests and quivers are all great, they can play havoc with your bow’s balance. Now, the folks at Xtreme Hardcore Gear have introduced a V-Loc Ultra Sling system that provides more shooting comfort with a wide, sure sling, but also allows you to mount stabilizers in a position besides right in the center of your bow. This means you can now use your stabilizer to not only take some of the shock out of each shot, but also to precision balance your bow as well. ($39; xtremehardcoregear.com
