Hunting with no stabilizer

[roosiebull]

So im out tonight doing my normal 30-60 minute shooting session and my shots are all wack dont know whats going on was having awesome groupings from 25,35, and 40 just yesterday so now im getting annoyed and start messing around with the bow to see if anything maybe felt better or made shooting easier and the first thing I did was take off my front 8" stabilizer.....

Honestly the first thing was obviously the weight difference in the bow but for some reason it felt more secured in my hand I didnt feel as much shake and my first 4 shots were so tight I almost broke my 3D target pulling the arrows out..

Does anybody else shoot with no front stabilizer or am I the only dumb lookin ****** out here?

just slapping stabilizers on doesn't help and often makes a bow hold worse.... just putting a front stab on will likely not help... stabilizers make a bow hold better if the shooter understands the goal, and takes the time to really dial things in.

i don't have stabilizers on most of my bows, i hate back bars on hunting bows, and it's just not necessary for the hunting i do at all. i had a counterslide on my mach 1 this season, and though it improved the balance at full draw a little, i don't think it was more forgiving, it just settled a little quicker at full draw.

if you are going to have stabilizers, make sure they are doing their job, just screwing a stabilizer on will not help unless you get lucky, you will need to shoot a lot with different configurations and weight on your stabilizers, you'll most likely need a back bar as well to dial things in.

most bows are not going to shoot better by screwing a random front stabilizer on.

 

[awildswanger]

I don’t use stabilizers on my bow or bubble levels on my sight.

I can see not using a stabilizer, could you explain why no bubble level? Thank you

 

[N2TRKYS]

I can see not using a stabilizer, could you explain why no bubble level? Thank you

One less thing to have to look at when it’s killing time. I never pay them any attention.

 

[JasonisSalty]

yeah ive been shooting without my 8" in the front for the past week or whatever (still have 6" on the back) and my groupings have been tighter more consistently. I think im rocking the no stabilizer this year. May try the 8" in the back after season and see what that does.

 

[JasonisSalty]

One less thing to have to look at when it’s killing time. I never pay them any attention.

im pretty spot on having the bubble level when I draw back but I do check mine before I release.... maybe thats another trick ill try in the offseason

 

[Waltwittman]

I’ve been shooting without a stabilizer for years, but can’t imagine not having a bubble?I suppose if you’ve got the muscle memory down you wouldn’t need one

 

[ahlgringo]

Yeah, not ditching the bubble. I usually am pretty close on flat ground and only have to tweak a tiny bit to center it up- but man shooting steep ups/downs/sidehills I have been repeatedly amazed what level actually is.

 

[PNWbowhunter]

I ditched my stabilizer this year. I got tired of it getting caught in everything when I have my bow slung over my back.

 

[SuspiciousFish]

just slapping stabilizers on doesn't help and often makes a bow hold worse.... just putting a front stab on will likely not help... stabilizers make a bow hold better if the shooter understands the goal, and takes the time to really dial things in.

i don't have stabilizers on most of my bows, i hate back bars on hunting bows, and it's just not necessary for the hunting i do at all. i had a counterslide on my mach 1 this season, and though it improved the balance at full draw a little, i don't think it was more forgiving, it just settled a little quicker at full draw.

if you are going to have stabilizers, make sure they are doing their job, just screwing a stabilizer on will not help unless you get lucky, you will need to shoot a lot with different configurations and weight on your stabilizers, you'll most likely need a back bar as well to dial things in.

most bows are not going to shoot better by screwing a random front stabilizer on.

100% this. Bow stabilizers are to balance your bow and need to work in conjunction with how your bow naturally cants. For instance, I run a 12'' stabilizer on my PSE BowMadness Extreme and a back bar as the bow naturally likes to fall forward. The back bar helps to keep the bow balanced back and forward but the angle it faces out helps balance out the weight of the quiver and sights.

The trick is to hold your bow at the grip with your thumb and middle finger on either side. The bow should slowly rock forward. If the bow rocks backward you need a front stabilizer, if it rolls forward quickly you need a back bar stabilizer. Your main goal is to have a balanced bow so if you close your eyed and draw the bow it will be completely level without any inputs. Remember, any force you have to put on the bow to make it level will affect accuracy.

 

[Tandin93]

I haven't removed my front bar, but I did remove my back bar from my hunting rig. It is slightly out of level with my quiver on, but the weight loss was worth it. I think I shoot this bow better without it.

 

[Bowhuntr64]

The only reason I hunt with a stabilizer is to mount my GoPro Or also if I’m taking really long shots. But I can shoot just about as good without it.


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[PiTaLin]

I don't notice the difference with it on/off. I like to have it for the extra marginal weight it adds when carrying the bow. I'm thinking about taking it out next season.

 

[Noogman]

I've run it during the season in both configurations, stabilizer and no stabilizer. I do like a stabilizer when I'm shooting longer distances as it tightens my pin float, but taking off the extra weight is always a plus.

 

[Nick Muche]

No stabilizer for me, but not a chance I’d ditch my bubble.

 

[Dos Perros]

You fellers ever considered turning your quiver into a stabilizer?

 

[silasbowhunter]

You fellers ever considered turning your quiver into a stabilizer?

Yes lol I wish it I’d have invented it about 2 years before Dan did! I love my quivalizer


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[nphunter]

They do make a difference if they are heavy. I have a telescoping one and it makes a big difference at 60+ yards shooting targets. I mostly hunt without it, I put it on depending on the hunt I'm doing, the last couple of bulls I've killed have been with no stabilizer. I also use a quick disconnect and the bracket keeps my wrist sling on, if hunting something like open country mule deer or antelope I will put the stabilizer on because the likely hood of a long shot is higher. Backpack hunting I don't want the extra weight, honestly, I really think one of the quivers that double as a quick connect stabilizer would work well in this application.