Cold Bow Challenge 2020!

[robby denning]

Welcome to the 4th Annual Cold Bow Challenge. This challenge is designed to test your realistic Maximum Effective Range (MER). 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. 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.

Here are the rules:
(If you’re new to the challenge, please watch this video, it’ll save you a hassle from the mods!)

1) 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 6 weeks or when the 200th shooter finishes to qualify for prizes). No reserving post slots! Start your post once you start the challenge.

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 a bit and make the effort--that's the spirit of the challenge.

3) With no warm up shots, shoot one arrow a day and only 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.

5) It's a five-day/five-arrow challenge, so post a photo each day in your original post. Just use the "edit" button (bottom of your post) so all five arrows appear in one post.

6) Be sure and mention the conditions, wind direction, and it’s fine to call your shot: “pulled left" for example.

7) Give us a quick summary on your equipment. This is a gear site and we all want to know what our buddies are shooting.

8) 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.)

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

--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 that has at least 250 posts (on the day we qualify you), we'll give you THREE names in the hat for field points, or FOUR for Broadheads (fixed or mechanical, must shoot broadheads all five days)--it pays to be an active member!

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)

@Travis Bertrand and I will draw from those who complete the challenge according to these rules (after that, you can enter the challenge, but there won't be any prizes awarded.)

Here are the prizes we'll be drawing for:

 

[robby denning]

Grand Prize:
Zeiss Harpia Victory 85mm including eyepiece valued at over $4,000!!!!!!



Next up in the prizes:

Sitka Apex Hoody valued at $219!

Premium Membership from onX Hunt valued at $100

Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler, valued at $349!!!!

Maven C.3 Binocular in 10x50 or 12x50, valued at $400!!!

Camofire just put up the Stealth Cam G45NGD valued at $159, and a $50 Gift Card

S&S Archery just put up the Ultralight Carbon Lite Backcountry Trekking Poles, valued at $144.95

@Bill V from Ironwill just put up a 3-pack of the new Wide Series Broadheads

Crispi Boots stepped up with a $250 Gift Card and a pair of San Juan Socks

Black Ovis is in with an Arrow ID on dozen arrow custom build valued at up to $225

PhoneSkope and Pyro Putty just joined in to offer up a complete PhoneSkope System valued at $99, a Mega Inferno Ferro Rod valued at $30, and a Compact Inferno Ferro Rod Valued at $20




More prizes!!! Initial Ascent offered up a 4-Pack of their Pack Sacks valued at $55!


Marc Muleyslayer Smith (Post #5) paired up with his favorite bowstring company to offer up two sets of GAS strings values at $150 each.


Longtime Sponsor Tyto Knives just put up a Tyto 1.1 Cerakote Ultralight Knife
valued at $83


New Rokslide Sponsor SPORTSMAN'S FINEST just offerred up a Tight Spot 5 Quiver, valued at $149! Nice!

@SportsmansFinest

Utah Hydrographics is part of the PhoneSkope crew. They wanted one lucky winner to have a $50 Gift Certificate for participating in the Cold Bow Challenge! They have many patterns including First Lite and Kryptek

 

[randyulmer]

HOYT Redworx, 70 lb, Easton FMJ, SEVR, Option Sight, AAE Pro Drop Rest, AAE Max Fletch, AAE stabilizer, Winner’s Choice BCY Strings, Carter Release.

Vital is 8-ring or less for good tight kill zone

MER 60 yards

Day 1:

no wind and lots of luck!



Day 2:
Wind 5-10 mph

Day 3:

No Wind

Day 4:

Whoops! 15-20 mph wind

Day 5:

Wind 5-8 mph

It was great! Thanks for including me!

 

[Tony Trietch]

Welcome to Rokslide Randy! So many of us have learned from you over the years and it's an honor to have you here.

2020 is proving to be pretty challenging for us all and my current shooting situation is no different. I am not afraid to admit that I have fought target panic for years and I am in the midst of the battle now.
I have been blank bailing, drawing without releasing the shot and switching up release aids. My shot feels pretty good and I will continue to work towards keeping that pin on the target.

I am shooting the new Hoyt RX-4 Turbo and loving it. I have been trying lots of different arrow shafts and right now I am shooting Victory Vaps with the Iron Will inserts. I will shoot the CBC with an Iron Will V100 as well.
My bow is 71.8lbs bow @ 29.25" with 517 grain arrow @ 281 fps. I will shoot the CBC at 80 yards and I am using the center module of my Matrix target as the kill zone.

Day 1 is cold, 26 degrees and I would guess 10-15 mph wind. I didn't bubble or adjust for the wind and she pushed my arrow over a few inches but I am still in there. This is the main reason I shoot small diameter shafts.



Day 2
Feels like spring today. Low 50s and calm. This shot felt great.

Day 3. No wind and mid 40s. I’m starting to think I need to adjust my sight to the left.

Day 4. Got out early this morning because of a storm rolling in. It’s cold wet and windy. I am looking forward to finishing day 5 tomorrow so I can move my sight housing left a couple clicks.

Day 5
26 degrees no wind

 

[Muleyslayer1]

I added the above pics to show my shot. I wanted it as realistic as possible. I put the deer down through tunnels where the light changes multiple times and The deer is in the shade all day long, there’s no visible aiming dot so I absolutely have to focus on a kill area. Just something to really spice it up! I went with 66 yards ,I decided to do an uneven yardage to work on my pin gapping technique. The heart of the GlenDel Full Rut Buck is the intended target area. No wind 56 degrees and like Randy said “A lot of luck”
My setup: Mathews Traverse 70# 276 fps
GoldTip Pierce Platinum .300 spine arrow
AAE Max Stealth Vanes
Muzzy 100 grain Trocar
Hamskea Hybrid Pro rest with Acculaunch blade
Option Archery Quivilizer
Scott Longhorn Hunter release
GAS Strings
SpotHogg Grinder 7 pin sight

Day 1:






Day 2:
Had a 10 Mph wind (straight from me to the target) I used a little more of the 70 yard pin than I should have, dead deer but a touch hot!



Day 3:
Happy Easter Everyone!!!
Wind out of the south (left to right) about 10mph. One blade caught the heart, I’ll take it!

Day 4:
It was a little brisk for this thin skinned Texan this morning. Stiff 15 mph wind out of the North and 30°
Got him tho... one more day to go!

Day 5: 0 wind 65 degrees.

 

[280Ackley]

Elite Energy 32 Easton 340 FMJ 100gr G5 Stryker.
MER will be 45 yards since I just changed arrows and my sight.

Day 1 5-10 cross wind 65 degrees


Day 2 windy and 40 degrees punched it early and low.



Day 3 perfect day no wind, sun out!



Day 4 45 degrees sunny 5-10 mph wind
Not sure what happened on this one!



Day 5 cloudy and no wind



All done!!!!

 

[MTSabo]

Bowtech BT MAG X, 68 lbs, 32.5 in draw, black eagle carnivores at 495 gr with 100 gr SEVR heads.
Intended species is whitetail, the inner green circle represents the kill zone. MER is 60 yrds.

Picture of my home range at 60 yrds. I can stretch it out to 115. Any wind swirls next to my house where I shoot from.


Day 1 was gusty, partly cloudy, and a bit chilly.


Day 2 light wind, sun glare was pretty bad this morning.



Day 3 light rain and wind.


Day 4 Moderate rain with periods of heavy rain. steady 5-10 mph wind.


Day 5- 23 min before sunrise, slight breeze


I think my sight needs bumped over, all but my first shot were a few inches right.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I wasn’t sure I could get 50 in my yard, but after some hedge trimming, I got it. Excited to participate, thanks for putting it together fellas, awesome prizes. I’m shooting broadheads with both compound and traditional. Shooting at 3in sticker.

Compound MER- 50 yards
Easton Axis match grade 260
29.5” w/HIT 50g brass insert
IW stainless collar and broadhead (100s)
Wraps, 3 fletch AAE max stealth vanes, x nock
Total arrow weight- 533 grain arrow

Hoyt RX-3
30” draw/80lbs at 80% LO
QAD hdx drop away
Spot-Hogg fast eddie 5 pin slider
Nock 2 it release
284-286fps

Recurve MER- 15 yards
62/55lbs Samick Phantom
Goldtip Traditional XT
Magnus stinger 2 blade 150g
Total arrow weight- 526g

 

[GIS]

Bow: Hoyt Pro Defiant, 65 lbs, 28.5" draw, Scott shark release, Smackdown Pro rest, Spot Hogg Hunter 5 pin, Tight Spot 5 arrow quiver, Crossover stabilizer.

Arrow: 300 Goldtip Hunter XT, 50 gr inserts, 125 gr field point, Blazer vanes.

MER: 50 yards. Elk intended species. Second to last ring on target is 12".

Day 1

Overcast
Temp: 59 F
Wind: slight breeze from 2 o'clock.

Day 2

Rain
Temp: 44 F
Wind: slight breeze from 3 o'clock.

Day 3

Snowing and cold
Temp: 21 F
Wind: 16 MPH gusting wind from 3 o'clock. Had to hold for awhile waiting for a lull between gusts.

Day 4

Sunny and cold
Temp: 15 F
Wind: slight breeze from 1 o'clock.

Day 5

Sunny and cold
Temp: 14 F
Wind: None

 

[Gorp2007]

Shooting a Mathews Traverse, 65# and 28.5" draw. QAD drop away, MBG Ascent and 340 Axis with stock inserts, 100gr Magnus Stingers, and 25gr Iron Will collars. I picked up a fancy new Nock2it two weeks ago and I'm getting much better with it, but I'm shooting my old TruFire Edge because it's what I'm most consistent with.

Every playset needs a bow hook.

Theoretical Pig Sticker

For my MER I picked 6" at 30 yards because I've never actually killed anything with a bow yet and I want to err on the side of caution. Figure that's very conservative for squirrelly Texas whitetails and wild pigs.

Day 1 : Weather was perfect, 70 degrees and no wind. Felt rushed for no reason other than I wanted to just get it over and done with. Turns out rushed shots aren't great shots, but still inside the MER.

Day 2: Zero wind, 64 degrees. I've been playing with my grip for the past week and with this second shot I'm a little low again. So now I've got 24 hours to debate switching up my grip, holding high, or realizing I probably shouldn't make changes based on a dataset of 2.

Day 3: 74 degrees, sunny and no breeze behind the playset. After considering all my options, I dialed my sight for 33 yards and went out to try and execute a shoot while not envisioning sending an arrow high out of the vitals. Got my pins on target and let loose a little soon, but the pin adjustment seems like it was the right move. Only two more shots, right?

Day 4: Cold front moved in and pushed the temps down to a brisk 67 degrees, 10 mph winds. Feeling good about the sight adjustment and liking my left-to-right on shots 2-4. One shot left!

Day 5: 60 degrees and a little breezy. Since it was my last shot, I decided to better simulate a hunting situation and put on a backpack and shoot from my knees. Backpack actually helped me feel a little steadier and pins settled right in.

 

[skyler_2010]

I am shooting a 2013 Hoyt rampage with a QAD drop away rest, cobra 3 pin sight, fuse quiver and limb saver stabilizer 30 inch draw and 60 lbs. Arrows are Gold tip hunter pro 340 uncut with an unknown broadhead, 4 Fletch blazersMER is 40.Calm wind today about 40 degrees. Nerves were high today at the draw but when the shot broke it felt good. Shooting an 8 inch circle.
Shot number 2 didn't go so well. 10-15 MPH wind left to right was just enough to blow me off. Wind has never been something I am comfortable shooting in but I figured this is all about getting out of your comfort zone right? Lesson learned today. Let down take your time.
Day 3 cam wind 30 degrees pulled right. day 4 nice calm wind again 30 degrees and overcast. These one shot days are killing me.
Day 5 slight tail wind and 20 degrees. Missed right again and I can't figure out why.

 

[mtnkid85]

Whoop whoop. Headed out the door to shoot my arrow now.

Welp, I think I just stuck an arrow right in the shoulder of a monster buck.
Hopefully my arrow build of a, Easton Injexion with 65gr Ethics Al insert/outsert and 125gr Magnus Broadheads for a taw of 516gr, will have punched through the scapula. He was perfectly broadside at 50 yards, which is abount the max I will shoot, but the conditions where perfect no wind, he was calm and looking straight ahead, so I felt comfortable letting it fly. My Bowtech Realm X set at 65lbs felt good, as I pulled through the shot with my Nock2 it release.

I didn't want to push him so I backed out. Ill go back in tomorrow and see if I can recover him or if need be maybe get another arrow in him.

Day 2.
Well, I went back in and glassed him up. Out in a well manicured field chasing does, he seemed to be completely uneffected by my previous days shot. A little squall blew threw today and I never got the opportunity I was looking for to take another shot at him.
Day3.
Today I got out to look for my Monster buck again. Glassed him up again, I really have this buck well patterned he was right where I saw him last. Again I was only able to sneak into 50 yards of him, given the favorable conditions of just a slight left to right breeze I let it fly. I just snuck it in behind the scapula. Pretty sure I got into top of the lung. Shot felt good, but still seemed like the arrow fell a little right of my aiming point. Will update once we go back in for retrieval.

Day 4

Well this is just getting embarrassing. Shot felt good, conditions good. Arrow flight looked like a boomerang... Maybe hand torque?

Day 5

Clipped the top of the lungs, after yesterdays shot Ill take. I dialed one yard too much don't know if that fully accounted for the high hit or not. Shot felt good, arrow flight looked good too. I payed extra attention to my bow hand to ensure I wasn't applying any torque, maybe that was what sent yesterdays shot wild.

Day 6
And thats all she wrote. Would have liked to have ended better, but there she is. Im going to really look at my tune and Ive already got a few different arrows without the Ethics outserts that Im going to try. I spun my broadhead arrow that i shot for this and it already has a wicked wobble to it. Going to try a different build and More practice!

 

[bsnedeker]

That is awesome that Randy kicked this off! Worth the wait for sure!

I'm using 60 yards as my MER on an elk. I think it goes without saying the stars would have to align for me to actually take a 60 yard shot on an animal (i.e. perfect broadside opportunity on an elk that has no idea I'm there), but that's what I'm going with. I'm using the foam insert of my Rhinehardt target as my target area so if it doesn't hit the insert it's a fail. Here is my setup:

Hoyt Defiant Turbo at 70 lbs, 29.5 inch draw, shooting a 635 grain Day Six 250 arrow with a 125 grain RMS Cutthroat broadhead (+100 grain outsert) at about 265 FPS. Hamskea Trinity rest, Spott Hogg Hoggfather sight, bee stinger counterslide stabalizer, Tight Spot 7 arrow quiver.

Day 1: 4/10/2020 46 degrees, overcast, no wind. Shot felt good but ended up a bit high and left but is within the insert so it's a hit!



Day 2: 4-11-2020

Ok, so I'm fudging a bit today in that it is SO windy that I would never have taken this shot on an animal. It was around 34 degrees with wind gusts from left to right in the 20-25 MPH range. I had to hold at full draw for about 60 seconds waiting for the wind to slow enough for me to take this shot. I think I got really lucky on this one because I felt like I punched the trigger in order to get my shot at the right time. I'm within my kill zone though so I'll take it!



Day 3: 4-12-2020. 30 Degrees and sunny. Ouch, this is a tough one! Couldn't ask for a better day to shoot. Anchor was good but I completely screwed up the release. I knew this was bad as soon as the shot broke...felt left, looked left, ended up high and left. I was REALLY focused on hitting the center of the center since it was such a nice day that I think I mentally screwed myself up. Oh well, that's what this test is about so I have to be honest with my results!





Day 4: 4-13-2020: Well I'm back in the money! 32 degree, sunny, slight breeze. Just relaxed on this one and let fly. Shot felt really good and I'm happy with the result. My 3-year old wanted to get out and "eat some fresh air" and wanted to be in the picture...who could say no? This is her camera "smile"!



Day 5: 4-14-2020. 46 Degrees, sunny, 5 MPH headwind. This shot felt pretty good so I'm glad to be ending the challenge this way. Overall my 5-arrow group is not good and that one arrow out of the target is killing me, but I'm not too surprised considering I flung about 6 arrows at my MER before this challenge started and almost no other practice this winter. I'm glad to be able to get into full practice mode now so I can bring that group size down by September.



And just for fun we'll throw the recurve into the mix as well! I'm a couple of years away from hunting with this thing realistically but I enjoy shooting it. With this guy my MER is only 15 yards although I might stretch it to 20 by the end of summer! It's your basic Samic Sage takedown with 50 lb limbs (I think?) shooting gold tip trad arrows with the same RMS Cutthroat 125 grain broadhead. Ignore the sight on the bow...I shoot canted so it does me no good. My wife put that on there when she used to shoot and I just haven't taken it off since I upped the poundage on the limbs.

Day 1: Same as above. Shot actually felt really good, hit a bit high which is pretty normal for me.



Day 2: Same as above

Not too bad...it's nice that the recurve doesn't act like a wind-sail like my compound does!



Day 3: Same as above. I just BARELY got this one in there. I guess I'll take it. I really need to figure out my up-down with this bow!



Day 4: Same as above. Aimed a bit lower today and I'm pretty happy with this one as well!



Day 5: Same as above. Really happy with this one! Great way to end the recurve challenge! I'm going to be shooting this a lot more this summer for sure...I seem to always forget how fun a recurve is to shoot!



Good luck to everyone this season, and another thanks to the RS staff for putting this together!

 

[BigWoods]

Bow: Mathews Traverse at about 63lbs, 29". MBG Mountain Lite sight. 8" front, 6" rear stabilizers. Arrow web quiver. Integrate Rest.
Arrows: Beeman ICS 300 at 510gr. 100 grain VPA 3 blade broadhead.

Target species: Whitetail deer. Target has an 8" orange ring that I'll call a hit.

MER: 45yds. This is 5yds less than last year, but I did that with mechanical. Intermittent hand torque issues will send arrows up and right a few inches (see day 1).


I'll be shooting with my PhoneSkope/AGC chest pack received as a prize from last year's CBC. Loving this thing and did all my hunting with it last fall.

Day 1: 8" of fresh heavy snow under foot. Slight breeze from 7 o'clock. Release felt ok, but results show some torque. An inflamed rhomboid has had me away from the bow for most of the past week and a half (good reintroduction here). Right on the edge of acceptable.


Day 2: 30° Light wind coming from behind. Shot felt good. Pre coffee!


Day 3: Calm & 50° f. Stomach full of Easter ham and au gratin potatoes while still waking up from a nap. Torque doesn't seem to have been an issue and shot felt pretty good; I must have been holding a bit high to put it just outside the 'vitals' dangerously near no man's land.


Day 4: Rain, 45° and blustery wind from 4 o'clock. Comped the slider a bit because of the high hits and evidently over did it a bit. Still in the zone though.


Day 5: 40° with a blustery wind from behind but I was mostly protected from it by buildings..but this might have drifted the arrow a bit left. Shot felt ok, maybe a bit rushed, but a surprise release. I set my sight right back on the 45yd mark and it went a bit high (for some reason, I think these broadheads are going a bit high of my field points ). I believe the arrows were kicking right due to too much facial pressure and that's mostly been sorted out.

 

[robby denning]

Shooting at 55 yards: Athens Convixtion @ 68lbs, Gold Tip Kinetic Pierce Platinum, Ironwill 100 gr broadhead, Tight Spot 5, Carter release.

Day 1 is in the video, but if you don't wanna watch it, here you go:

No wind. Standing. Held for like 15 seconds. Any self respecting buck prolly would’ve just walked away.

Day 2:

40°, 5 mile an hour wind at my back. Kneeling. Man I wanted to punch that trigger so bad (same emotion I get when drawing on a buck). Finally got settled down. I still feel like this was a little bit of luck.

Day 3:
Cold today! 30° with a 16 mph wind out of the north, quartering into my face.

Standing. This was my toughest shot yet, praising God that I pulled it off. Like yesterday I wanted to punch that trigger so bad but I just kept letting it settle and kept aiming. I knew when the trigger broke I had it. This one’s for Jesus!

And I just got a commitment from @Muleyslayer1 that he’s gonna video his last arrow. He’s 3-in as of today and nailing it. Pressure’s on buddy. I say two cameras so you got one for Roklide and the other on Instagram live. Do it!!!

Day 4:

Read it and weep. Wind was nearly right to left today for the first time(and I had to run gloves with the 25 degree temps). Just as trigger broke, I lost my adjusted windage and was holding right on at release. Wasn’t really surprised where it hit. Gotta track this buck.

Day 5:

Moved my target to some mule deer country east of town. So glad I made the effort!!!! Big confidence booster. 10-15mph gusts from left to right--had to take my quiver off to get steady.
Here's the pic if you don't wanna watch the video.

I'm really glad I stepped down to 55 yards this year. Felt more in control and although I dropped Day 4 arrow, I still shot my best broadhead group of all the challenges going back to 2018, I believe. And this year I had tougher conditions with the wind and cold than previous years.

Thanks to all who participated and to the Rokslide sponsors!

 

[sndmn11]

Overall I am happy with the results. Although we practice some in the cold, the challenge highlighted that there is some sort of fatal flaw in my cold weather shooting. Without the one-a-day challenge, it is easy to discount a bad cold weather shot in a set of many. I think the flaw is clothing related. I hadn't shot my recurve in about ten months, and after shooting it some, really miss it. This challenge will give me something to work towards.

73 yards for the compound, field point.
Day 1 compound

Day 2 compound, I keep forgetting a measuring device, I am 3-4" high the first two days.

Day 3 compound, 20 degrees, highlights what I think is the spirit of this exercise and I am glad we committed to shooting in any weather. In learning and defining "maximum", there are some conditions when that is too much just like i didn't drive the speed limit getting to the range on iced roads. I missed, but the boy had fun searching for the arrow after we pulled his mom's arrow and my recurve shot.

Day 4 compound 20deg again

Day 5 compound



40 yards for the recurve, field point. (I originally thought this was 35 until the last day)
Day 1 recurve

Day 2 recurve, horrible back tension and horrible result...got him on the bounce.

Day 3 recurve, skipped it up there again

Day 4 recurve

Day 5 recurve


Compound:
Bowtech Reckoning
~72lbs 30" "Performance
29" Gold Tip Pierce 250 with Ethics 110gr insert/outsert 125gr point, (3) Rapt-x 2" Vanes around 540 grains total arrow tunes up perfect with a Cutthroat broadhead
Hamskea Trinity
Hamskea Raptor Peep
Spot Hogg Fast Eddie 5 pin
Tight Spot 7 arrow
12" Bee Stinger Microhex
Tru Ball Max Pro+

Recurve:
Rose Oak 58" Puma
53# at 28" Drawn to ~30.5"
31.25" Gold Tip Pierce 250 with Ethics 110gr insert/outsert 250gr point, (3) 4.5" feathers around 680 grains total arrow tunes pushes some momentum into a Cutthroat
American leathers big shot elk shooting 3-under

@robby denning @Travis Bertrand please let myself and @KickinNDishin (post #19) know if we checked all the boxes to qualify or if we overlooked something.

 

[SHoug07]

Shooting 50 for my MER on 8" zone.

Bowtech realm x, 29.5 draw, 70lbs , tight spot quiver with 5 arrows in it, hamskea rest and black gold sight.
Day six 300 spine with 50gr outsert, 125 iron will solid broadhead, wrap with 4 fletch aae hybrid vanes.



Day 1: 65 with little to no wind


Day 2: 53 light wind on my back. Not a great shot but I started having my girlfriend video. I probably should have started that a while ago.


Day 3: 62 no wind. I seem to be favoring the left side. I knew this was a stretch for my MER but worth a shot.

Day 4: 60 no wind. Finally had a good release or maybe luck!


Day 5: 60 no wind. 3 of 5 in the 8 inch circle. I have some things to work on. First time doing the cold bow challenge, and am glad I did. Thank you rockslide, moderators, and sponsors for putting this together. Good time to push myself and learn those weaknesses.

 

[Bowhunter50]

MER: 50 yards
Kill zone: 8.5 inches
Bow: Elite Synergy
Arrows: Easton axis
Broad heads: Sevr
Rest: QAD
Sight: Black Gold 3 pin Slider
Stabilizer: 8” beestinger
Quiver: Tightspot

70 lbs 28” ~500 grain arrow at ~265 fps

I’m shooting down a steep slope in some hills near my house. Makes for great practice for spot and stalk muleys.

Day 1:
Slight breeze right to left

Day 2:
Wind blowing towards me. I ended up drawing an 8.5 inch circle on the target for my kill zone. Also included a photo of my broadhead.

Day 3:
Wind left to right (yeah I know the deer vitals are backwards. I’m more focused on the black 8.5” circle)

Here’s a view from the shooter’s perspective

Day 4:
Probably the windiest day so far. Wind was swirling quite a bit. Iffy conditions to shoot in. Decided to mix things up and take this shot from my knees. Just barely made it in the kill zone

Day 5:
Slightly quartering away shot. Stiff wind from left to right. I was standing in some rocks on the side of the slope I’ve been shooting off with my right foot at about the same height as my left knee (I’m a right handed shooter). Hit a little to the right but still inside the kill zone. Should exit through the center of the vitals with the quartering away shot.

Thanks Robby and everyone else involved for putting this challenge together. I had a great time. I’m planning on doing this challenge again a little closer to season and boosting my MER to 60 after shooting a bunch over the summer. I definitely felt like doing this challenge with broad heads with a 3D target and down hill in weird feet positions or kneeling was great practice and a confidence booster.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KickinNDishin]

I am @sndmn11 's wife. I picked up archery less than a year ago because I thought 3d targets would be a good way to help me learn where to aim from different angles with my rifle. Last fall was my first hunting season.

I chose 30yards, our range doesn't allow broad heads outside of designated supervised days so these are field tips.
First day

Second day

Third day

Fourth day

Fifth day


Bowtech Eva Shockey
~49lbs 25" Performance
25" Gold Tip Pierce 400 with Ethics 170gr insert/outsert 125gr point, (3) Rapt-x 2" Vanes around 505 grains total
Hamskea Trinity
Hamskea Raptor Peep
Spot Hogg Fast Eddie 3 pin; 20/30/40 and my bottom pin can slide to 61.
Tight Spot 5 arrow
10" Bee Stinger Microhex
Tru Ball Champ

 

[as.ks.ak]

First timer at the Cold Shot Challenge! Excited to test my MER in this fashion! I’m self taught and only been regularly shooting for two years. I’ve learned a lot thus far and I’m sure have lots more to learn.

Because of where i live in SE AK I have to do all my own bow work. So of course I dove in head first-have a press, draw board, vice, jigs, the whole works.

I’m shooting an RX-3 at 73.4 lbs. 28” draw. QAD HDX drop away rest. Black gold 5 pin slider. Still using the Hoyt stock stings. Have a tight spot 7 arrow? Quiver with 6 arrows in it (hunting scenario). And a SS one Carbon stabilizer.

I wanted to shoot broadheads for the challenge but am a bit underspined currently. So long story short, I have new arrows on the way but they didn’t get here in time for me to be able to shoot the ironwills I plan to use this fall. Therefore I’m only shooting fieldpoints. Easton Axis 5mm 340s cut at 29” with 125 gr. Up front. 3 vane fletched right helical.

Shooting a “the wise guy” index release.

I picked 50 yards as my MER. I plan to hunt black and brown bear, caribou, moose, sheep and goats all with my bow this year...so we’ll say my kill zone will be the 8”x8.5” front square that houses the big circle on my Rinehart foam target. Here goes nothing!

Day 1 -
Temp: 44 degrees
Wind: R to L at 10 mph.
Thoughts: Shot felt great, tad high.

Day 2-
Temp: 28 degrees
Wind: Calm
Thoughts: This shot was a good reminder when checking my peep alignment, to not forget about my top and bottom alignment. I think I get caught up in working L to R and forget to match up the entire peep. Because when i go through my process I set bow hand, draw, anchor, then check bubble which is a L to R eye movement for me. I think I’m subconsciously replicating the same movement when I check my peep, then go into my pin float and then slow slow slow, shot.

Lesson learned. Hopefully I can correct tomorrow.

I am happy with my center of target consistency though. That’s a good improvement for me.

Day 3-
Temp: 30 degrees
Wind: 4 mph tailwind
Thoughts: I feel much better about my day 2 shot now. I shot at a downhill angle today. Went through my process and everything felt AWESOME. My consistency high at 50, tells me i need to make a pin adjustment. But I won’t make that adjustment until after the challenge is over. I’m going to continue to aim center of my “vitals” and see if I can keep my group as tight as it’s been thus far. Prior to this challenge I had not shot at 50 regularly more than a few times...I viewed this challenge as truly testing my MER. Turns out, I need to hone in my pin gaps.

Day 4-
Temp: 43 degrees
Wind: L to R. sustained @ 16 mph. Gusts of 35 mph
Thoughts: shot felt great, again. Watching it fly I thought I was a bit high, which I was. But after the last 3 days and realizing my pin need adjusted, I’m still super happy with my grouping thus far and honestly I’m excited to shoot my last arrow tomorrow so I can get my 50 yard pin dialed in. If I’ve learned anything thus far, it’s that I shoot better under pressure when I focus on my process and slow things down. Sending each arrow with purpose, and taking the time to work through my shot slowly as well as giving each arrow the intent and conviction it needs is going to make me a WAY better archer. This has been a great reminder of QUALITY over quantity for me.

Day 5-
Temp:47 degrees
Wind: 14mph right to left.
Thoughts: shot felt great again...this time
I took two days off before I shot my final shot....cannot say how happy I am with my group!! I think it’s time for me to work back to 60,70,80 and stretch my legs. This challenge gave me SO much more confidence in my abilities!

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