2021 Rokslide Cold Bow Challenge

[MC2FS]

This is my second year doing this and am extending my MER this go around. Although, it seems to sneak up on me while I’m still tinkering with my setup! Tinkering with vanes; have been shooting and sighted in for 4-fletch Max Stealth at 1 degree offset. Decided to shoot this challenge with 3-fletch Max Stealth with true helical from the Arizona EZ-Fletch. But I have practiced more with my broadheads than I did last year.
Silverback release aid.
2018 Mathews Triax @ ~70lbs; MBG Ascent Assault Verdict 5 pin sight, Stokerized Stasis stabilizer, Hamskea Trinity rest, Black Eagle Rampage 300, 100gr Ethics components,
And IRONWILL S125 broadhead! (I have been very impressed with their flight)
Max effective range will be 60yds and 7.5-9” hex as vital (mostly hunt elk)

Day 1-MISS
26 degrees, no wind, fresh snow, mostly cloudy. Just rolled out of bed no more than 5 minutes earlier, was feeling some pressure to shoot perfectly and held a little long so I was shaky.

Day 2-HIT
24 degrees, no wind, overcast. Waited a little while after waking up to shoot and it helped. I am considering adjusting my windage some for tomorrow to a account for these unanticipated left impacts.

Day 3-HIT
24 degrees, 1mph L-R wind, clear. I did end up putting 6 clicks of windage on the sight but maybe a bit much however I noticed the pin drift a touch right before the release.

Day 4-HIT
22 degrees, 2mph wind from back, more fresh snow, clear. Did not touch the sight and the shot felt perfect. Was feeling some pressure to make it happen again.

Day 5-HIT
30 degrees, no wind, overcast. Wasn't completely steady and bobbing up and down a little. It would appear that I just needed to work on my zero (but possibly tune).

Lessons Learned: Don't change your gear right before season and triple check the zero with broadheads in various lighting conditions.
Next years goals: Maintain 60yd MER, have setup dialed and sighted in before CBC

THE HARDEST PART IS NOT SHOOTING YOUR BOW INBETWEEN WHEN YOU SEE THERE'S NO WIND OUTSIDE!!!

Thanks again to Robby and all of those involved!

 

[JG636]

I'm using a Hoyt Powermax with a 29" draw length at 68lbs. Mounted on it is a Spot Hogg Fast Eddie XL site, a Hamskea Trinity Hybrid Hunter Pro rest, and a 10" Bee Stinger microhex stabilizer on the front. Arrow is a 30" Gold Tip Hunter XT 300 spine with a 100g Ironwill fieldpoint. Vanes are 3 fletched AAE pro max's.

I'm in Michigan and new to bow hunting, so I don't see myself pushing 40 yards for this season.

This shot(s) was at 7 degree down slope at sunrise with no wind, slight rain showers.


Day two I shot into the sunrise and it’s 42° out. Challenged myself a bit more by running 100 yards followed by 10 jumping jacks to get my heart rate up.

Got the heart rate up again today (forgot to take pic of it) but I’m curious now if shooting low is an attribute to a higher HR. Will definitely keep experimenting with this long after the challenge is over.

Day 4. Increased the HR even more and the shot dropped even more. I’m disappointed in this, but also excited to being working to correct it. I had some gusts to my back for this shot, along with the sun.

Day 5. Happy to finish strong with a “dead deer”. This was a great thing to be a part of and a genius idea. Practical practical practical. I looked forward to getting out and taking my shot each day. Certainly looking forward to next year as well hoping to bring more experience and learned lessons, especially from the last 5 days.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

I’m shooting a Bowtech Realm 70# 29” dl with a code red drop away and hha optimizer 5510. My MER is 60 as a whitetail hunter. Arrows are gold tip 400’s with a 100gr 3 blade head. Total arrow weight is 410g and chronos at 305fps. Day twoDay three.... wheels are about to come off. Rain tomorrowday 4- rain let up and got the target set back up. Clean break in between wind gusts.day fiveended up with a sweet group at about 7oclock. This was a great challenge and I came out of it feeling pretty high and confident in my set up. Thanks to the supporters of this and congrats to everyone that participated.

 

[Archerichards]

My first ever CBC. Happy to be doing it!

My MER: 50 yards

Rig: Matthews VXR 31.5 at about 55 lbs with Shrewd grip and 31" DL. Garmin A1i sight and an AAE Prophecy rest. Shoot a modified Scott Advantage hinge that I have cut down to two fingers. This is a fieldpoint arrow, an Easton Hexx 330 at 388 grains (this is my rig for turkey season....move to 500 grain arrow and 65 lbs in the fall) with Heat vanes in a four-fletch. Target is simply a 3" stick-on spot at fifty yards. I am not sure I should call that my MER, but that's what I will be aiming for as I do this. Fingers crossed. Shooting in my backyard here in Charlotte NC.

Good luck to my fellow CBCers out there.

Archerichards


Below is CBC shot #2. MER 50 yards

Got lucky. I also added a 9" paper plate to dress up my target a bit (went to Walgreens and bought the biggest paper plate they had so my result would look better!). The Flo Orange spot is 3" diameter.

Beautiful day here in NC to be out. Very little wind and maybe 65 degrees. I'm a Hoyt man, but I sure do like my little VXR 31.5 "backup" bow.

Not expecting to keep this up.



So, my luck is holding...for now. Here below is CBC shot #3. Mighty close to shot #2 and uncharacteristic of me. MER is 50 yards. You can look at my target and see my usual spray.

Shooting the Garmin A1i, with which I have a love/hate relationship. It is treating me right today though!

Lovely day here in Charlotte this morning, at fifty degrees, partly cloudy and very little wind. Hoping to have another good shot tomorrow but not holding my breath...


CBC Shot #4 below, at my MER of 50 yds. I'll take it and run.

Another beautiful spring day here in Charlotte. Probably helped that I made my CBC shot BEFORE my second cup of coffee this morning.



CBC shot#5 below. Frost on the ground here in Charlotte this morning and a little breeze from the Southwest.

I am pleased with my shooting and have enjoyed the contest. But I never shoot this well when an in-the-flesh whitetail buck is in front of me, nose up, testing the wind, and at hair-trigger to bounce out of sight. Its been good for my shooting though. Thanks, guys, for putting it on.

 

[Broken Compass]

2021 CBC.
This year I’m going to shoot at 62 yards. Shooting the same Prime Rival @62 lbs./ 30” draw. Arrows are gold tip pierce platinum with a bohning heat 4 fletch and a Wacem’ 100 gn. 3 blade coming in at 450 grains total arrow weight. New this time I’m shooting a hotshot thumb release. The chalk circle is 8” just because that’s the 10 ring of the target. I’ll be hunting high county mulies and the ever elusive spike elk this fall
(Also using the new fulldraw 4 RF which I’m pretty stoked about)

Shot at 9:00 am. 36 degrees outside. Sun at my back with no wind. Shot felt better than arrow indicated.
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Second shot was two days later at 6:00 pm,52 degrees, calm again. Wasn’t perfect but I feel like the arrow hit where the pin was when the shot broke.

Day 3, it’s been 3 days since shot #2 (leaving for work before light and coming home after dark sucks) shot was about 9:20 am 43 degrees, overcast but calm again. In past CBC’s I’ve struggled to find times to shoot when it wasn’t too windy but that hasn’t been the case this year. Shot felt pretty good aside from some shoulder pain I’ve been dealing with lately. Impact was a little high left but well inside the circle.

Day 4, 3:00 p.m. 59 degrees. Pretty windy today but I waited for a calm window. I had to take a different shot angle today because someone set up the trampoline in my shooting lane. (It was me) still 62 yard. I actually felt like my pin was in the kill zone when I shot, so I was surprised to see my arrow about an inch above the circle. Super disappointed especially considering I assumed moving up to 62 yards would ensure success. But I guess that’s the point of the exercise.

Day 5, 6:00 p.m. 45 degrees. Gusty winds and on and off sprinkling. I totally blew this shot, the wind got in my head. I was at full draw for 5 seconds with my pin blowing all over the target, then the wind died down and my pin settled on the spot. So naturally I jerk the shot. I wouldn’t have been surprised if I missed completely on this one but somehow it landed closer than Day4’s arrow.
Lots of work to do before August. Luckily I’m signed up for 2 TAC events, and will be shooting hopefully all the other local 3Ds over the summer

 

[Travis Hobbs]

Such a great way to practice!!! I learn my maximum effective range isn’t as far as I think. This year I’m going for 55 yards.

Mathews Vertix, 75 lbs shooting some 595 grain logs w/ IW heads.



Day 1, weather was about as good as it can be. I blow it



Day 2, calm, 20 degrees way better than day 1 although I’m still shooting a little left



Day 3, wind, 90 degree angle, I’d like to blame wind, but I think I’m shooting left. Another gut shot deer I’m going to have to track



Day 4- breezy, rain... still left



Day 5- pouring rain, cold, windy, decided to hold to the right to make up for my left drift. Slightly low.



This was awesome and I’m going to try and continue this at least 3-4 days a week, one shot until hunting season. I feel like practicing 30-40 arrows a day with field tips does very little for me as I get lazy and don’t make every shot count. This was the worst I have shot in the cold bow challenge, not shooting since last December was really highlighted

 

[RockyMountainThunder]

Mathews Vertix 75# 27.5" draw, shooting Carter 2 smooth release, MGB Accent Verdict Assault 5 pin, QAD Mathews Integrate rest, 10" Beestinger Microhex Stab. 450 grain Gold tip kinetic pierce 300, ironwill S100, gold tip components with weights for 150 grains up front. MER 70 yards prefer 10 ring but will consider 8 ring in the vitals. Shooting a Rinehart 1/3 elk, so about the size of a Coues.


Recurve is an Indian Archery Deer Slayer 45#, shooting off the shelf, Beman bowhunter 300 spine at 530 grains, with a 100 grain muzzy phantom broadheads. MER 20 yards.



Day 1
12" fresh snow, 20 degrees calm with clear skies. Compound had a clean shot and hit slightly left. Recurve hit low right but still in the vitals

Day 2 32 degrees, light snow flurries, and 5-10 mph wind right to left. Compound shot felt good but I pulled it left a little bit. Recurve shot was completely botched and pulled it hard left.
Day 3
24 degrees, cloudy skies, calm.
Left and right was better today, but was a touch high into the 8 ring. Still in the vitals though. Recurve is a continuing struggling and hit in a less than ideal location.

Day 4
36 degess 5 mph wind right to left. Shot felt a little shaky but impact was good. Recurve is still not good, hit low. Let's just say that animals are safe if I'm in the woods shooting the stick.

Day 5
46 degrees gusty winds.
Was having some pretty good pin float and hit high. Would be a spine shot but considering it a miss sice it's outside of the 8 ring. I would not have taken this shot on an animal with the winds.
Recurve shot was completely botched. There is a ton of work to be done with it, both my form and bow tune.

 

[Dennis]

2021 Cold Bow Challenge - Good luck to all
40 yard MER -
Target is elk size kill zone the white area and is 10" tall by 13" wide
Mathews V3 31" at 65 lbs. at 29.5"
EZ V Sight, Hamskea arrow rest, Nock 2 It release
Victory VAP TKO 300 spine at 29.5" four fletch feathers
50 grain outsert with 200 grain Cutthroat single right bevel broadhead 554 grainsView attachment 283564

Day One - 41 degrees 12-16 mph wind with snow on the ground

Day Two - 31 degrees with 14 mph cross wind with fog


Day Three - 25 degrees 4 mph wind new snow



Day four - 33 degrees windy at 11-16 mph





Day Five - 35 degrees 4 mph wind

Lessons learned
I was not quite ready to start this year (weather delays and a new set up) so I dropped my MER to 40 yards and hoped. My final group size was 7.25" and a sight adjustment is needed along with more practice. Thank you Rockslide for setting this up.

Day Six - Doesn't count for anything but was the 6th shot fired with no practice since challenge started

 

[Loco4dux]

MER 50, shooting for vitals on Rinehart deer.
RX4 ~63lbs, 26in T rex arms
FMJs with Ironwill v100s


#1 - last night, 75 degrees calm, will shoot #2 sometime today
#2 I’ll take it... 90 degrees and sunshine in CA only a small breeze

#3 post workout shot today

#4 post workout again, should’ve let down and didn’t panicked and punched. No unfriendly environmental factors to blame it on.

#5 weather a non factor, mind wasn’t right and flat out forgot to dial. Have to stay focused! Cool challenge thanks Robby and rokslide for putting it on!

 

[Johnson27]

1st shot today. Hopefully I'm not too late.
Hoyt RX3 Ultra, 60# 29.5" draw
5mm Easton Axis with 50 gr HIT
100 gr G5 Montec
MER 60 yds, small block target at the bottom right of farthest target with a 7" plate
1st shot - in my best Bob Uecker imitation "just a bit outside"

First day was 50 degrees and no wind.

Second day was 41, breezy and light rain. No excuse for this shot. WIFFFFFF.
Hold and release felt good, but that THUD on impact told a different story.

At the rate I'm going, I'll be able to use the same plate next year.


Well my paper plate survived another shot. The bottom of my block target, not so much.
0/3 on the plate.


The plate survived again, but at least I hit the block target this time. Thankfully there is only one more day of this humiliating display of archery.

Finally hit the plate on the last try - barely. This has been one heck of an eye opener. I'm like others and was probably unrealistic with my MER. It's amazing how you can nail a target during practice and then only hit 1/5.

 

[lak2004]

2021 MER is 40 yards. Haven't shot much in the last 2 years since my wife was pregnant and son was born. Also put a single pin sight on last fall after season and only barely had it sighted in. Wanting to keep my shots within an 8" circle (double the circle size on my tablet about) and hoping to at least have my elevation good.

Bow is a 2017 Hoyt Pro defiant set at 60lbs and 27.5 draw. Shooting a ripcord code red rest, easton axis match grade 340 spine arrows cut to 28" and 100gr field points. Scott little goose release; black gold pure 75 single pin sight.

40 yard target


Day 1- slight breeze and sunny, temp around 50. Shooting for top right circle. Was pleasantly surprised but also sure that I got lucky. Bow was freezing cold from being in storage and I was having trouble staying steady at 40 (and seeing the target well).

Day 2
About 60 degrees and a slight crosswind. I'm amazed I hit this close, but the shot actually was one of those that felt good on release. I'm looking forward to getting through the 5 days though because this sight is noisy! It needs some love and so does my bow.
I'll take it, but I don't have faith it will continue.


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Day 3
Wind in my face at about 15mph (been a really windy spring here in SW CO). Shot felt tough because of the wind and having to tighten up my grip. I need to go back to blindfolded shots up close to work on my form after this. Pulled a bit right, but still within an 4" radius of my aiming point.

Day 4
Windy again today, mostly a head wind though. Had trouble keeping my pin floating where I needed it, but the shot was decent. Also, my aim point is the middle of the 4" upper right circle on my target and I drew a circle that is about 8" around it. So far I have been within the 8" circle, I'll take it! Can't wait to start shooting more and fine tuning!

Day 5
Snuck in a shot between snow, wind, rain and more wind. I started paying more attention to my grip during this challenge and I think it has really helped me maintain more consistency. I'm both sad and glad this challenge is done so I can really start putting in some tuning time. I'll probably do my own 5 day challenge every couple off months and work towards a MER of 60 yards. Thanks rokslide and sponsors!

 

[BAP]

I'm 11 so please don't laugh at my MER, first year doing the CBC with my dad and one day I'll hunt bears with my bow like he does.

Bow is a diamond atomic, 21.5" draw length pulling around 23lbs. Shooting some of dads old target arrows at about 405 grains, using a hot shot hinge release and a 5 pin sight. I practice out to 20 yards but I'm not consistent enough yet so doing the CBC at 13 yards with an 8" target this year. Wish me luck!

First shot felt good, the hinge clicked early so it was a true surprise release when the shot broke. Sunny day and basically no wind.

Second arrow didn't feel great. I started weight training this year and did this shot after a full body workout, we'll see how tomorrows goes when I'm sore

Third arrow felt good but low again, I need more practice with my pin gapping.

4th arrow felt ok but still low, I'll try aiming a bit higher tomorrow for the last one. Almost there!

Last shot felt good but it was low too. At least I was consistent, just need more work with my pin gapping. Funny how I was shooting low and my dad was shooting high! Thanks for putting this on, me and my dad had fun shooting.

 

[robby denning]

I'm 11 so please don't laugh at my MER, first year doing the CBC with my dad and one day I'll hunt bears with my bow like he does.

Bow is a diamond atomic, 21.5" draw length pulling around 23lbs. Shooting some of dads old target arrows at about 405 grains, using a hot shot hinge release and a 5 pin sight. I practice out to 20 yards but I'm not consistent enough yet so doing the CBC at 13 yards with an 8" target this year. Wish me luck!

First shot felt good, the hinge clicked early so it was a true surprise release when the shot broke. Sunny day and basically no wind.

We don’t usually let people comment on this thread, but I personally wanted to welcome you to the challenge, that was a great shot and a perfect MER for a boy just starting out! Good luck on the other 4 arrows @BAP


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[BAP]

We don’t usually let people comment on this thread, but I personally wanted to welcome you to the challenge, that was a great shot and a perfect MER for a boy just starting out! Good luck on the other 4 arrows @BAP


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Thanks Robbie, my dad says your the mule deer champion so means a lot coming from you!

 

[robby denning]

Thanks Robbie, my dad says your the mule deer champion so means a lot coming from you!

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[bjfoxhoven]

Windy today in SD....again. So I’m embracing it. Went to a road without any cover and Made my shots with an almost direct cross wind. 15 mph with gusts above 20.

switchback XT, BG 5 pin slider, whisker biscuit rest. Scott release. BE rampage arrow tipped with slick trick standards. I canted the bow to accommodate for the wind for my 40 yard MER shot. Wind wasn’t gusting at the time so I only held 1/2 bubble off or so. Punched the trigger though. I will be honest, I first shot my compound two days ago... been too into trad lately. Not great shot though, just on the edge of the kill area.

Using a 19” satori riser with springy rest, long Trad tech carbon/wood limbs making a 64” bow. 46lb at my draw. Black eagle instinct arrow. 100gr collar/insert system and 125 gr thunderheads (turkey set up). I will shoot 25 yards this year. I will say I just got some new limbs a couple weeks ago, and tinkering with them has really opened up my initial groups since it’s messed with my point on. I plucked and maybe short drew a little at the shot. Accommodated for the gusts well at the time. Just low though.

For reference, this is a 6” hexagon I’m shooting at on this block target.


CBC day two. Winds from the 8 o’clock position. Compound shot with the red fletch heat vanes felt good, floated the pin well and just squeezed off the shot. But the hottom edge of the kill zone. Hit almost the exact same spot as the previous shot...bow tune may be off a little, we will find out after the challenge is done.
I did a lot of “mental reps” before my trad shot, and I think it only made me have more target panic... anticipated the shot, made the release happen, and plucked the string causing the left hit out of the kill zone.

Winds for shots on day three we again strong left to right. Made a cleaner release with my recurve today and finally executed a decent shot. Had less in my mind other than focusing on tension in the right direction, and the spot. Also made a decent shot with recurve too with the wind blowing me around in the wide open.
gusty winds again from right to left. Trad shot felt decent, hesitated on the shot a bit though and it went a tad high because of it. Right outside the edge of a kill area. A strong gust came up as I squeezed off the compound shot. Lucky it stayed on the target, but at 40 yards it should. Both shots were affected by the wind. I continue to hit a few inches low with compound. String must have stretched a bit making tune off a little
Day 5 CBC.
embracing the challenge of the wind has been difficult...but that’s hunting and life. I need to continue to play more with the can’t method of dealing with the wind with my compound and broadhead set up.
made a good shot with a poor release with recurve even with the strong gusty winds. I had terrible winds with the compound shot. Had to let down a couple times because I couldn’t keep the pin on the target, just goes to show how tough it is. Hit just outside of the kill zone.

 

[damxam]

Just spent the last two days hunting... didn’t fire a shot. Got home this afternoon set up my kill zone, outer edge of the tape is 11x11 so anything inside is golden!
MER is 70y
Bow - Elite impulse 34, 75lbs and 29.25” draw
Arrow- Easton axis 260 total weight is hair over 500grains
Broadhead - 125grains, Either exodus or iron will
DAY 1.
Exodus head. Standing level ground
Kinda a stiff breeze from left right, I held pin about 6” left and was very nervous about missing first shot of CBC 2021


DAY 2
Same arrow and broadhead and again standing on fairly level surface. Cold out but absolutely no wind. Pin was
Floating around a bit but shot released well.

We’re in! maybe 4” high from center
Here’s the view from shot to target

DAY 3
Same arrow, but with an Iron Will S125 and again standing on fairly level surface.
Beautiful evening out, wish I could keep shooting my bow!

Good shot! Tomorrow I’ll shoot kneeling and try to keep it in the zone.

DAY 4
Same arrow and broadhead as day 3. 5-10mph wind left right. Shot kneeling. Pin was wobbling all over and knew upon release I blew it. My knees were too close and I was not steady, should have let down. Need more kneeling practice...

Pretty damn bad, about 9” off center.

DAY 5!!
Different arrow and topped with an Iron Will 125grain wide blade. Dead calm(reason I tried wide blade). I was kneeling again and this time took my time to get in a soild stable position. Pin was floating a bit too much and release felt like off. BUT results say otherwise!

Inch or so low and right! Best shot of my CBC
Here’s the big slice

4/5 at 70y, not bad...
Well that’s all folks! Thanks to everyone involved, I always enjoy the CBC!

 

[Zdub02]

First year here. Going to set 53 yards for MER. Shooting a NoCam at 28" 66# with Axis 300 at 518 gr with 100 gr QAD exodus heads and 4 fletch tac driver 2.25. Kill zone is a 6" circle AKA coffee can lid.

Day 1: no wind. Didn't shoot my pin gap correct and shot 4.5" off the bottom of the kill zone





Day 2: 60 degrees with a 3mph wind. Settled in after a long day and got the top of the kill zone.






Day 3: 9mph quartering head wind blowing a storm in. No good excuses; just a rushed shot after a workout. (Thank goodness for backstops)




Day 4: 46 degrees and 6mph wind today. Back in the kill zone with a solid breaking shot.




Day 5: 10mph left to right wind and 57 degrees. Solid shot into the kill zone to wrap up my first CBC.

 

[chasewild]

Elite Energy 35.
66lbs at 27" draw.
484 Grain Easton Axis 340 with 50 grain brass insert, 25 grain IW collar and 100 grain A-Tac.
Carter Squeeze me (tension activated release).
62 Yard MER at 11 degree decline shooting across the fall line.
7x7 Square (mule deer)



Day 1.

Day 2
5-7 MPH wind. Clear.

Day 3 was rough. Cross wind was bad. Bubble was bad. Shot was bad.

Day 4. Clear, shot broke perfectly.

Day 5: windy, bright, touch low.

I'd say my MER is still 45 after shooting this year.

 

[BowTrout]

40 yard MER. Misting rain but no wind.

Mathews Monster Chill R 70 lbs. 3 pin Tommy Hogg sight, hamskea rest, Gold Tip Hunter arrows.


Day #2
64 degrees and no wind. Perfect shooting conditions but the release went off a bit too quick.

Day #3
Weather was upper 60’s and no wind. I almost waited too late in the evening and had a face full of sun.


Day #4
Slightly overcast 48 degrees with a 15 mph wind. Hit high yet again.


Day #5
Height was pretty good but the cross wind was pushing a bit. Mid 40’s with 18 mph winds.