2023 Cold Bow Challenge

[robby denning]

We're back! This is 7th year of our annual Cold Bow Challenge

We love to publicly embarrass ourselves and members!

This challenge is designed to test your realistic Maximum Effective Range (MER). The Challenge will start Saturday, April 29th AT 8:15 AM MTN TIME on this thread.

You shoot one arrow each day of the challenge with no warm up or follow up shots and no practice between days, hence the name, Cold Bow Challenge.

Below are the entry rules. READ THEM ALL OR DON’T PARTICIPATE (they’re long because Roksliders are pro’s at finding loopholes)

We delete ineligible posts without notice. If you have questions or comments, post those on the Q&A/Comment thread here so this thread stays clean.

1) Please shoot in real time! Start a post in this thread (one post per shooter) on your first shooting day (you don't have to start on day one, but you do have to be done within 4 weeks (May 27th) or within a few days when 100th shooter finishes to qualify for prizes). No reserving post slots! Start your post once you start the challenge. Most years, you need to shoot within the first week to have an open slot.

2) Call the range that you think is your REALISTIC maximum effective range (MER). You must shoot your personal MER, so if it’s 60 yards, you can’t shoot 20 because that's all you have in your backyard! Push yourself and make the effort--that's the spirit of the challenge.

3) With no warm up shots, shoot one arrow at your MER (you do NOT have to shoot 5 days consecutively, but there is NO PRACTICE between shooting days.)

4) Post a photo of that arrow's placement on a target that represents the kill zone size of your intended species. It's a five-day/five-arrow challenge, so post a photo each day in your original post so all five arrows appear in one post. (Just use the "edit" button—bottom of your post on full-site, or if on Tapa Talk, hold your finger on your post for a few seconds to see Edit option)

5) Be sure and mention the conditions, wind direction, and it’s fine to call your shot (“pulled left" for example) and give us a quick summary on your equipment. This is a gear site and we all want to know what our buddies are shooting.

6) To qualify, you must be a member posting on your own account. If you want your kids to shoot, they need to post on their own account. (Sorry, just too messy for the judges to figure out what’s going on.)

All Traditional and Compound shooters are welcome (but there will not be separate divisions). You can shoot both Traditional for five arrows and Compound for five arrows to double your odds, (put all 10 arrows in one post and it's OK to shoot both bows on the same day—this is the only exception to the “1-arrow/day” rule )

How Points are Counted:

--Every qualified participant shooting field points gets ONE name in the hat

--Every qualified particpant who shoots broadheads (fixed or mechanical) for all five arrows gets TWO names in the hat *note that practice heads for mechanicals are counted as field points. Shoot your mechanical if you want to qualify for broadhead category

--For every member who has at least 300 posts (on the day we qualify you), we'll give you THREE names in the hat for field points, or FOUR for Broadheads --it pays to be an active member!

This is not a competition, but because we're generous and we have some great sponsors, we’ll be DRAWING for some killer prizes for our qualifying members (Rokslide staff, family can shoot but can't win the prizes).

Our staff will be watching the thread to make sure entry rules are followed. If you don’t fix your post in a reasonable amount of time, we’ll delete it (sorry, we don’t have time to chase!)

We will draw from those who complete the challenge according to these rules posted above

@Travis Bertrand @realunlucky @mtnwrunner
Here is the Winners list

Package		Winner
Iron will package		Cjdewese
Mtn Tough		NPhunter
Phoneskope		Jlw0142
Pyro Putty		Wicked_redemtion_calls
Vortex crossfire 1400		BRtreedogs
ONX elite membership		AW Copeland
Argali		CMF
Black Ovis		Jstumbaugh
Crispi		H2s04
SKRE		Doverpack12

@cjdewese @nphunter @jlw0142 @Wicked_Redemption_Calls @BRTreedogs @awcopeland @CMF @Jstumbaugh @h2so4 @doverpack12

Congrats to those archers! Please hit me at [email protected] by June 9 or we could draw for an alternate.

Thanks everyone for supporting the challenge. Our hope, along with our sponsors, are that it makes you an all around better hunter capable of making better shot decisions—the animals deserve it.

6/8/23 Update:
Thanks to @CorbLand for compiling the data from the qualified shooters in this years CBC. Listen in on the June 13 Rokcast as they will be discussing these stats more in depth.

 

[robby denning]

Prizes will be posted as I’m updated by sponsors:

Iron Will Outfitters is on the board:

6 Pack of Custom Machine Built Arrows, including:

1. Easton Axis 5mm Arrows
2. 3° helical machine fletched Iron Will Hybrid Hunter vanes.
3. AAE IP Nocks
4. Iron Will HIT Inserts, fully installed with epoxy
5. Impact Collars
6. Iron Will Field Points,

OR

6 Pack of Iron Will Broadheads Including Waterproof Broadhead Case



MTNTOUGH putting up a 1-Year MTNTOUGH Subscription + Merch Package (shirt, hat, hoodie, gym flag)!


Phone Skope is always a big supporter of the CBC: This year they're offering a Phone Skope Bundle valued at $140:



Pyro Putty is in for a $50 firestarter package:


Vortex is in with the Crossfire 1400 Rangefinder:

Crossfire HD 1400

HCD Corrected Shoot-To Range Reticle

vortexoptics.com

@onX Hunt is in for an Elite Membership:

onX Hunt: #1 Hunting GPS App

try.onxmaps.com

Argali is in:

High Country Pack: https://argalioutdoors.com/collections/argali-ultralight-game-bags/products/high-country-pack


MOB Pack: https://argalioutdoors.com/collections/argali-ultralight-game-bags/products/m-o-b-pack-game-bag-set

@ktowncamo just emailed me these:
Black Ovis is in:

A Dozen Custom Arrow Build in Arrow ID https://www.blackovis.com/arrow-id
&
Camofire putting up

The Black Ovis Field Pant https://www.camofire.com/Product/blackovis-3d-field-pant

 

[robby denning]

@ktowncamo also put in for Crispi





The Attiva Shoe for everyday https://www.crispius.com/attiva-trail-runner

SKRE coming in hot with this setup:

The Elite Starter Bundle:
Hardscabble Jacket
Hardscrabble Pants
Kaibab 150 1\4 zip top

Elite Starter Bundle

The Elite Starter Bundle is made up of some of our best sellers and designed for the ultimate start to your layering system. Try risk free for 14 days!

skregear.com

 

[robby denning]

MER 55 Yds (pin gapping)
Vital is center module (8’x9”) arrow must break the line to count

Mathews Phase 4, 29” @65lbs
-Bridge Lock Fixed 5-Pin site
-Bridge Lock Stabilizer
-Bridge Lock Ultrarest
-Bridge Lock 5-arrow Quiver
-Arrow: Gold Tip Kinetic Pierce 300 spine, 445 gr, 16% FOC
-SEVR 1.5 Ti broadhead
-Carter Quickie Release

Day 1: (light wind)

Day 2: (light wind)

Day 3: (light wind, shot evening, so 36 hours between shots)

SEVER bounced out of Matrix (it was in practice mode so it’s made not to penetrate.) Consulting with the rules and our mods, need to repeat day 3 tomorrow


Day 3 (repeat due to equipment failure) (stiff east wind today, had to hold a long time—20 seconds—before I the pin settled. Didn’t break the line but still glad I shot in these conditions as it was a challenge for sure.
Cold Bow Challenge Day 3 (repeat)

Cold Bow Challenge Day 3 (repeat)

Due to a target/broadhead failure on day 3, per the rules, repeating day 3

youtu.be

Day 4 (light winds, sorry about the white legs—long winter)

Cold Bow Challenge Day 5! Challenge over! (10mph tail wind)

So dropping two arrows of the 5 puts me at 60%
Again, gotta shoot year-round pretty much, and a new bow can’t make up for missing that.

 

[jlw0142]

MER 60 yards
Vital is center circle.
Mathews V3X, 26" @65 lbs
-350 Easton Axis Long Range arrow
-QAD Exodus 100 gr swept blade broadhead
-Stanislawski Xtinction 2 release

Day 1:
No wind, high humidity, pulled left and slightly low.

Day 2:
14 mph wind left to right, also pushed right…I am already seeing that my archery needs some work

Day 3:
Light right to left wind, slightly pulled left.

Day 4:
Tough wind, 15 mph left to right. Felt like a pretty good shot but sure didn’t look like it…

Day 5:
Very slight right to left wind, definitely pulled left pretty bad…gotta get back to practicing, yikes.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

MER 60 yards. I’d been shooting a lot and was going to stretch it to 70 yards, but had a back injury 3 weeks ago and has put a hamper on things…. Getting old sucks!
Going to alternate bows

Bow 1:
VTM 34
30”/75lbs
Fast Eddie 5 pin
QAD integrated rest

Bow 2:
PSE Mach 34
30”/75lbs
Hamskea Epsilon
Fast Eddie 5 pin
Spider 12” stabilizer

RIP TKO w/ HIT insert/IW collar and Sevre broadhead- 505g

Day 1:
Using VTM, shooting at vital insert on Rinehart caribou. Solid shot today, had some helpers
80 degrees 1000% humidity, no wind


Day 2:
Mach 34. 75 degrees, 10-15mph gusty day


Day 3:
Shooting VTM. Sprinklers kicked on as I was releasing and I jerked surprised I stayed on the target. Not exactly something that would happen in the woods but one arrow, those are the rules!


Day 4:
Mach 34, 80 and still, pulled the arrow a bit


Day 5:
VTM, 75 degrees and breezy. In there but barely. New hole in target is from digging out my insert/broadhead from previous days shot. First one I’ve had come out.

 

[Swampcruiser]

The cold bow challenge again!
This year- 65 yard MER
I am aiming for the vitals area and the heart specifically
PSE Mach1 68# 29” ,PSE QAD, BG 3 pin slider, GT Velocity arrows 300 spine, Slick trick 100, 3 fletch blazers
Day 1 - Drizzle, light rain and a 5-10 mph wind in my face. A touch low.

Day 2 - pouring rain, an ugly day in good ole Michigan. Wind in my face from the east…I guess I underestimated the rains effect on yardage?

Day 3 , a beautiful day in Michigan. Winds calm and shot broke great.

Day 4- beautiful day, winds 10 mph from the south (right to left) pushed me a little but still in vitals.

Day 5: Final Shot, 10mph East wind in my face. Made the vitals but just missed the heart. Thanks for putting this on again-Always fun!

 

[sndmn11]

100 yards and I'd like to be in the ten ring (8" diameter )


Elite Omnia (review teaser here) https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/elite-omnia-test-and-june-review.303214/

Bow is named Odie
-70lbs 30.5" 550gr Gold Tip Pierce with Ethics half out system at about 282fps.
-Hamskea Epsilon and Raptor peep
-CBE Trek Pro 5 pin
-Quivalyzer 8 arrow
-Catfish Custom Bowstrings Vec99


Day one = 6.5" from 12 ring center-> about 1.5" outside the goal.



Day two = 7" from 12 ring center-> about 2" outside the goal. The missing vane came off in impact as it was right below the arrow and didn't have any affect on the shot/flight.

Day three = 5" from 12 ring center -> 1" from goal.

Day four = 5" from 12 ring center -> 1" from goal.

Day five = 12 ring. I thought through the previous four days and felt like my shot execution was alright. Looking at the pictures I felt my arrows were hitting closer to my pin than where the 12 ring is. The problem seemed to be my aversion for trying to put an arrow on where I perceive the shoulder and vitals for this target. So, I made a conscious effort to aim further forward than my instinct tells me for this last arrow.

Field points

 

[BigWoods]

Glad to be back in this for my 5th year running! Thank you to all the staff and sponsors making this happen!

Bow: Mathews Traverse at about 63lbs, 29". MBG Mountain Lite 3 pin sight, 15” AAE Mountain series front stabilizer with an 8" back bar, Mathews Arrow Web quiver, Integrate Rest. Whipper Snapper release....and my little hunting buddy for good luck.

For Arrows, I have Beeman 300 spines with a VPA 100 grain broadhead out front, total weight around 510grains.


My Target will be the 8” black circle on the target, with my primary species being whitetail deer.
MER this year is 50 Yards. That’s in a bit from last year but I’ve not been shooting the bow as much this spring and have just gotten back to it the past few weeks. As a bit of a wild card, I have an out patient operation Monday which will have me away from the bow for at least a week. I'm going to start today, shoot tomorrow and hopefully Monday and then finish days 4 and 5 a week or two from then.

Day 1: 55deg and light breeze. Release felt pretty good and results are acceptable.


Day 2: 45deg and light rain. Bit of a breeze from my right. A little high, but I'd call this a good shot at the end of a good but long Sunday (I'm a pastor).


Day 3: Cool and misty morning. Light variable breeze. Release felt good. Arrow flew a little funny but hit the mark.


Day 4: First arrow since May 1st. I had 5 kids running around behind me
and recovering still but all things considered I'll take a cut the line hit.


Day 5: Gusty winds from behind...had to pick my time to draw but then was waiting out a gust. Should have let down and redrawn...but let it fly with expected results. Thats going to be a long track job.


Thank you admins for putting this on another year (and to all the rest for your patience). It's always serves so well to motivate shaking off the rust and getting back at it.

 

[doverpack12]

Day 1
MER is 60, center module is my vital for elk with 25% or so margin for error to account for nerves with a real shot. Module measures 8” flat to flat and 9” point to point.
Changing to my 80 pound backup bow for the challenge this year. This bow doesn’t see much use or practice and if called into duty would be very much realistic of the CBC.
2012 Elite Answer 80#
Black Gold ascent 3 pin. 20/30, 40, 50 pins and I dial with the bottom pin past 50.
Spot Hogg whipper snapper 3 finger
Hamskea drop away
Arrows are 300 spine axis with SS half out and standard HIT in the shaft behind them.
Shuttle T broadhead




Day 2
Far from my best shot. I was all over with my pin and decided to pull through and let it go anyway. High and a little right. Barely touching the module line with the shaft. I still call that in but it’s as close as it gets.
About 45, sunny with a slight breeze right to left



Day 3
Sunny 45-50 slightest breeze right to left
Living at the top edge, one blade and shaft cut the line. Better shot execution than day 2 but in reality not a good shot process



Day 4
Shooting in the evening instead of morning. 3-4 mph downdraft right to left, cooling down but 75 ish still
Better feeling shot today.



Day 5 shooting 1/2 hour before dark. 5 mph right to left wind. 50 degrees.
Good shot execution, pulled through and it broke clean right away. I was holding just a little right for the wind. Impact right of center in the zone.



I’m calling 60 a true MER with this bow, had a couple days on the edge but in. Figured out how to put the images inline from my phone so fixed that after shot 5

 

[ColoradoV]

33 deg today at least yesterday’s snow melted..

Hoyt rx-4 ultra
Kill zone is the heart shape on block target
31.5” gold tip arrows
True ball release
Sever 125’z
Option site = I am not gap shooting
No stabilizer
Camo by rust-oleum
aae drop away rest
54 yds as I will not shoot at a buck further than that and represents the longest shot I have killed a deer at.




Today or d2 was warm 42 deg w 0 wind.


Doubt my 2nd shot would have been as good so fair to say I’ll take this one!



D3 shot later in the day it was 60 deg, windy, and they type of wind I just don’t like.. At my back or thing’s usually don’t go right if the wind is at your back…

Wind was kinda right to left gusting at 15-25mph. Felt pretty darn good about the shot even though I missed the kills zone by just a bit.



D4 was overcast 55 deg and the wind settled down just in time for me to take my shot.




D5 not a bad shot to end it. Almost no wind 65 deg.




Finally a pic of where I shoot.

 

[Mikemadsen6]

New member here, heard about this from my brother @CM. This will help me see if the hours hiding from my wife shooting my bow has paid off!

Matthews Traverse
SH Fast Eddie 2 Pin
Hamseka Rest
GT Kinetic Pierce 250 Arrows (500 grn total weight)
sevr 1.5

MER 82 YDS - killzone 8 inch paper plate
Elk & Mule Deer

Day 1- 5 MPH Wind, sunny. Arrow buried fletch deep top left of plate. May be time for a new target.


Day 2: 15-20 MPH Tail Wind. Missed high. Field I have been shooting in flooded with 2+ ft of water… breaking the waders out for the next 3 days.

Day 3 - Sunny, mid afternoon. 5 mph headwind. Fixed my pond problem by building up a stand to shoot 82 yds from my neighbors yard..

Day 4- No wind, clear skies. Best shot so far.



Day 5 - 10 MPH Headwind, defiantly punched the release. Better to be lucky than good I guess.

 

[CorbLand]

MER of 43 yards. Aiming for vitals represented on the target.
Field points
Bear Authority
Black Gold 5 pin
FMJ arrows

Day 1. Beautiful day. 46 and sunny. Hard not to want to keep shooting. Noticed I was consistently shooting left the other day but didn’t have time to play with my sight before this started. Will hold a little right from here on out.

Day 2. Same conditions as day 1. Definitely wish I had this one back and said that the moment the arrow left the bow.
Note that my wife’s cats think what ever I am doing is pretty interesting.

Day 3. Sunny, warm and a wind right to left. Looks like I am compensating too much to the right.
Day 4. Similar conditions as all other shots but less wind today.

Cats were more interested in food today.

Day 5. Hopefully I don’t have to take more than 4 shots at an animal because it all goes to shit on number 5. Don’t know what happened here other than I may have dropped my bow and not followed through.

 

[yoopshoot]

MER 70 yards
Hoyt nitrum Ld 31.5/79lbs
Gold tip Pierce 250 spine 500 grain taw
125 SB iron will
Goal aim point is within the outlined vitals on the glendel insert.

Light breeze, 45 degrees . Couple inches left- I’d consider this a miss since it’s outside the vitals.

Day 2. Calm wind. Shot broke and felt perfect .

Day 3. Snowy morning, 10 mph winds . Good way to start the morning .

Day 4. Cold, 28 degrees this morning , very little wind.

Day 5. 65 degrees , light winds. Felt really good this week shooting .

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheCougar]

Thank you to @robby denning, all the moderators, and sponsors for hosting the Cold Bow Challenge again! I promise not to post any memes…
Mathews VXR, 75# draw weight, 29” DL. With Catfish strings, Hamskea rest, Black Gold 5 pin slider. The arrow I’m shooting is a Black Eagle Spartan, 250 spine, with insert weights, AAE Stealth Max Vanes, and exodus 125gr broadhead. Total arrow weight is 482gr, right around 290fps. This is the same setup I’ve shot for a couple of years.

This year I am trying something new…. I’ve always shot an index release - Wise Guy, which is the best index release made, in my opinion. This year I’m trying an Ultraview hinge. Because of this, I’m moving my MER down to 55 yards. I will be gap shooting at 55 with my fixed broadheads.

The target is the vital insert on our 3D target. I’ll be shooting with my son, @Bunny Thumper, for his first ever Cold Bow Challenge!


Day 1: AM. No wind. Good release, no issues. Not a bad way to start out!



Day 2: well, I took 5 or 6 days off to take the family on vacation, and it showed. Beautiful day, calm, in the 60s. I had terrible pin float. It was a good release, but the pin just wouldn’t settle down. I guess that’s technically a heart shot, or I was biasing low for string jump… or it was just a poor shot!




Day 3: AM, calm weather. Shooting with my son. Much steadier hold and easy release. I can typically hold a softball sized group at 50 yards, so this was a nominal result.


Day 4: AM, calm, 70 degrees. Almost an identical result as yesterday. Good release, and it hit where the pin was…





Day 5: AM, 55 degrees and light rain. When the shot broke, I told my son “that was perfect” and it just about was.



That’s all folks! 5 days, 4 good shots and 1 marginal shot, but all within my target zone of the insert. Now to try and tune my bow properly, because the BH and FP aren’t hitting together!

 

[BigSkyHntr]

Excited to do this for the first time!
Shooting a Hoyt Rx1 Turbo @72 lbs. 28.5” draw, with about 150 shots on new ABB strings.

RIP TKO arrows with field points and stock vanes. (I do plan to refletch with more helical, just haven’t got it done)

SH Wiseguy release. SH Fast Eddie double pin.
QAD rest. Fuse stabilizer. Apex quiver(I shoot quiver off).

MER 60 yds. Like most of you my MER depends a lot on conditions of each day etc. but it’s what I’m going with for this! I’m lucky to be able to shoot out to 130 in my back yard. The goal is an 8” plate.

Shot#1 Success! Beautiful morning in Big Sky country! No wind, 45*
Shot#2 Just in. Same conditions as yesterday, a little warmer.
Shot#3 In again, barely an inch from day one. Sunny, a little breezy. Looks like I may need to adjust down a hair. (I skipped yesterday because of the wind)
Shot#4 Missed by an inch I think hitting a little high the previous 3 days got in my head and I held a little low and shot felt rushed..
Shot#5 I haven’t shot in about a week because i am a proud new Dad! (Baby girl was born last Thursday) But I took my final shot of the challenge last night. Missed just high. Shot felt good, not sure what happened.. overcast 50 degrees, no wind.

Thank you to all the sponsors and Staff for putting this together!!

 

[Backcountry_Preacher]

MER 100 yards. 8” Vital Zone

Mathews TRX 38 (70/28)
Fast Eddie XL
Hamskea Primer
Option Archery Quivelizer
Easton 4mm axis
Grim Reaper Hades Fixed broadhead

Day 1(Picture 1): sunny 70 degrees no wind
Day 2 (Picture 3): sunny 70 degrees little cross wind from left to right. I don’t know if it was the lighting due to me shooting at an earlier time or the fact that I rushed my shot or both. Missed the zone today.
Day 3 (Picture 4): sunny 67 degrees light head wind. Felt I rushed my shot but still hit the mark.
Day 4 (Picture 5): sunny 65 degrees light head wind. I was really satisfied with my shot execution today and feel blessed with the results! Great day!
Day 5 (Picture 6): Windy! Had a difficult time getting the pin to settle. Had to let down once, the second time I got close and punched it. Not the greatest execution but still in the zone.

 

[nphunter]

Compound; MER 80 yards, plate 8.5”

RX4 Alpha subalpine
72lbs, 28” draw
CBE Trek Pro 5 pin slider
QAD Integrate micro rest
Tight Spot 5 arrow
Crossroad adjustable stabilizer
New two weeks ago Park-n-sons strings buckskin
G5 peep and nose button

Arrow; 492gr TAW

RIP TKO 300’s
IW 100gr insert
IW 10gr collar
AAE PM2.0 6 fletch
5” reflective wrap
X-Nock
Rage Trypan 100gr broadhead
Nock-2-it release

Day 1- perfect conditions, shot broke super early, just settled in and started pulling and boom.



Day 2- After the shot breaking super early I feel like it got in my head and I anticipated this shot slightly. About 4.5” high of center, barely off the plate.


Day 3- I should have skipped today, stressful day at work with a lot on my mind, rushed home to shoot knowing I had to take my kid to basketball camp, he called while I was shooting ready to be picked up. 6” high 6” left. Would have still killed a deer or elk but not happy with the shot.



Day 4 - 20mph cross wind, I held dead on wanting to see how much my arrow actually drifted. With a strong steady wind I only drifted about 8” left which would be super easy to compensate for. I’m standing behind the shed so the wind isn’t blowing me around.

Day 5 - Swung by the house to shoot while running to get parts for work. Was talking on the phone while shooting and totally blew the shot. Probably shouldn’t be talking on the phone and shooting or at least I should have had ear buds.


Recurve; MER 20 yards, paper plate 8.5”(haven’t practiced with the recurve in 2yrs MEA when I was shooting a lot was 40 yards.

TBOW (satori clone)
Uukah limbs 40lb ish
Flemish Twist string
Finger tab, 3 under
Steel clicker
Shooting off shelf instinctive

Arrow 580gr TAW
RMS Cutthroat 200gr single bevel broadhead

Day 1- perfect conditions beautiful day, shot felt great, eyes in the black tape right of target, shooting instinctive.



Day 2- Missed high with both, I continued to pull after my clicker on this shot. Should have let down. About 6” high of center and 1.5” over the plate.


Day 3- I was already frustrated after a poor shot with the compound and totally blew the shot with the recurve. Would have been a clean miss on a deer at 20. I should have skipped today all together instead of shooting while rushed, lesson learned. 12” high



Day 4 - I’m pretty happy but a little surprised on how much the wind carried the trad arrow, it was about 8” left pretty much the same as the compound even though it was 1/4 the distance and a heavier arrow.



Day 5 - OK shot arrow went low, was still on the phone, defiantly need to shoot the recurve more.

 

[TX_Diver]

Recurve at 20 yards and compound at 51. Going to shoot from a different position each day for the compound.

Compound - PSE EVL 34 at about 67lbs or so drawn to 30.5" - 5 Pin MBG Mountain Lite sight - Hamskea Hybrid Hunter rest - Quivalizer - Nock 2 it. 300 spine axis cut to 29.25 w/ 50gr brass HIT, 100gr 3 blade cutthroat from RMS gear, 10gr IW collar, 3 fletch IW hybrid vanes, and an AAE IP Nock. Flew home with it last weekend and pulled it out of the travel case this morning before shooting.

Recurve - White Feather Lark Essential 19" riser - Tradtech BlackMax 2.0 Long Limbs - 30lbs (64" bow) w/ a TTT string and a thunderhorn quiver. Gap shooting 3 under w/ a Bateman tab. 500 Spine black eagle outlaws (uncut so ~32") w/ a 50gr brass insert. 3 fletch 3" feathers (Normally shoot 4" feathers but no idea where I put those arrows...) 100gr 3 blade cutthroat and an AAE IP Nock.

I'm not sure how big the plate is but I'll measure it tomorrow. Thinking 9-10". Edit - Day 4 and I finally remembered to measure the plate. It's 9".

Equipment & Target

Day 1 - Kneeling w/ the compound. Both knees on the ground. Off to a solid start with 2 misses. Both shots started out good w/ establishing an aim then starting to pull through. Then I hammered the trigger and shanked both

Day 2 - Didn't think it'd get much worse but it did. Cold, windy, and rainy. I don't think I would have sent that shot on an animal as I was all over the place. Figured for the challenge I'd give it a try. Hammered the trigger again on both which didn't help. Seated cross legged w/ the compound today. Clean miss with both. Also switched to trad vanes today w/ the recurve due to rain. Cutthroat broadheads look perfect still though!

Day 3 - Extremely windy today (20 gusting to 30-35). I turned and shot so the house was blocking me and making for probably only 1/2 or 1/4 value wind coming from the left and behind. I was standing just infront of my garage so it wasn't windy where I was at either. Pulled the recurve shot a little but much better than yesterday. Compound shot was standing and felt good. You can see how much of an angle it entered at though. Still beats the last 2 days. Better conditions forecast for next 2 days!

Day 4 - Conditions were not as nice as forecast yesterday. Maybe tomorrow. Shot the compound from the beach chair seated. With both bows I waited out a few gusts at full draw and managed to make a decent shot still. Shooting mostly into the wind today. Wouldn't have made either shot with a crosswind.

Day 5 - More shame today. Figured I'd shoot sitting again as I completely blew that shot on Day 2. Nice conditions, just a light breeze today. Executed the shot okay enough, but hit just outside the "vitals". Figured I'd get some redemption on the recurve shot and then forgot about everything as soon as I hit anchor and blew that one too. 4/10 total on what should be pretty easy distance. Only redemption is that I shoot a lot more through summer so I look forward to improving again!

 

[BunnyThumper]

Hello, this is my first Cold Bow Challenge. I will be shooting with my dad, @TheCougar.

I am shooting a Diamond Infinite Edge bow. I think my draw weight is about 30 pounds. My dad put on a Trophy ridge 4 pin sight and a QAD drop away rest, tuned my bow, and that really helped my shooting. I’m shooting Gold Tip arrows and 100gr broadheads. I will be shooting at 30 yards. My goal is to build up to 45 yards next year and be able to pull 45 pounds so my dad can take me archery elk hunting. We will be shooting the insert on our 3D target. I am excited to be part of the contest that I see my dad do every year! Thank you to the sponsors.









Day 1: morning, no one wind. I thought it was a good shot. Especially with my dad talking trash the entire time.


Day 2: AM, I shot with my dad before church. I did what he always tells me not to do. I yanked the trigger and had a bad result.



Day 3: morning, calm. My dad talked me through the shot and it was a much better shot. I almost hit in the exact same spot he did.

Day 4: morning and raining. I thought it was a good shot, but it was low. My dad said I was about a yard or more behind the line, and at the speeds I shoot thag may have made the arrow hit lower.



Day 5: AM, no wind and too cold for gnats! My dad wasn’t here for this one. I made a good shot!


I ended up with 3 good shots, one okay shot, and one miss. I’m glad I got to do this with my dad. He says it’s good practice for the real thing.