I recently returned from a 5 week trip to Ireland doing ministry work there. It is good to be back in NYS and to my surprise I find that bow season in NY opens on October 1st this year. In the past for as long as I can remember it has opened on Oct 15th.
In light of that I found the Outdoor Life' annual test of compounds and Crossbows interesting this year.They tested 11 brand new compounds and 11 new crossbows this time around and I have always gravitated to their test for any bow purchases at least as a starting point. I think they do a great job and are very thorough and very honest with no partiality.
Their top pick for compounds this year was the new Hoyt Vector 32 with a **** rating. The cam and a half bow tested at 326.8 fps velocity and also registered as the quietest bow of the annual test. The bow is easy to look it with classic Hoyt styling and the grip earned unanimous praise from all the testers. Hand shock and vibration were very low. The bow is NOT cheap at $950 suggested retail, however quality never is.
(4) bows came in with *** 1/2 rating ranging in price from $839 for the Strother Wrath model to $999 for the BowTech Insanity CPX model. Two others in this class were the Matthews Heli-M at $959 and the PSE EVO7 at $849.
The Outdoor Life's Great Buy sticker belongs to the Mission RIOT this year at $399. The bow is QUIET, however it does apparently shake a little with 47.31m/s2 of vibration. It has a 7 inch brace height and lots of adjustability.
Based on OL bow test from a few years ago I purchased their best by rated bow for that year and still own and shoot my Bear INSTINCT and have never looked back. I simply do not shoot enough to warrant a new bow every year and being retired cannot afford the latest and greatest equipment every year.
I do appreciate the staff and the testing methods at Outdoor Life and certainly would look hard at their ratings if I were in the market for a new compound.
I glanced at the CrossBow tests, however until NYS sees fit to allow crossbows during our regular archery only season, I will have to pass on the crossbow fever.
The editors choice for the 11 crossbows tested was the Stryker Strykezone 380 which earned **** award and lists at $749.00. Arrow speed is rated at 375.2fps delivering 119 ft-lb of kinetic energy at 20 yards (KE/20) and 10.6 inches of drop at 40 yards. The bow weighs 8 pounds and surprisingly has a creamy smooth trigger which trips at only 2 lbs 13.1 ounces. It is rated as a quiet bow with low vibration. This is a bow you want to look at if you are in the market for a crossbow.
After getting home two days ago, I made the trip already to Wally World locally and purchased the Super Sportsman's hunting license which includes my bow stamp, muzzle loader stamp and two doe tags for $98.00.
I did a lot of walking and 1600 push ups while in Ireland to help get myself in shape for this year's hunting season. I am LOOKING forward to it and I always will. There is hardly a day all year that I am not practicing with the rifle, or ML or bow or at least reading about the planning for next years hunt. I guess like many of you, it is in my blood and I try to stay in shape enough to climb those hills and be able to hunt every year.
Good luck and good hunting.
Dan
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