|
|
Stabilizers, Quivers and Wrist Slings
Stabilizers, Quivers and Wrist Slings
by Brian Wensel
 Bow Stabilizer
I’ll keep these relatively simple. The stabilizer has a dual purpose, to provide weight to the front of the bow to help balance the bow when in your hand and to help absorb shock and vibration when the bow is shot. For a hunting stabilizer I do not recommend exceeding 10 or 12 inches, and I do recommend purchasing a stabilizer that provides some sort of vibration dampening material. A stabilizer should not be purchase until you have decided on your bow so you can test out the level of hand shock and how well the bow balances with the chosen stabilizer.
 Arrow Quivers
Quivers come in all shapes and sizes; hip quivers, 2 piece quivers that are not removable, one piece removable quivers, and all of the afore mentioned come in a variety of sizes from 4 to 6 to 8 or more arrow configurations. I prefer a 2 piece, 4-arrow quiver that is always connected to my bow, and I often only take 3 arrows into the woods. This option is small, lightweight, out of the way and come on… do you really need more than 4 arrows on a single hunt? If you do you should be spending more time on the range, and less in your tree stand.
Bow Wrist Sling
 The final bow component is the wrist sling and I hesitate to recommend this piece of gear because it is often misused. The wrist sling is often made of braided cord and is used to prevent the shooter from dropping his or her bow after the shot. It is a security blanket that allows archers to keep a loose grip on the bow during the shot. It also comes in handy when sitting on stand and holding your bow for several hours.
The reason I am hesitant to recommend one is because many shooters wear the wrist sling too tight, or make the mistake of wearing it loosely while practicing in warm weather but then forget to loosen it up when gloves and heavy clothing become a factor. The sling should be worn loosely when the bow is shot. A tight bow sling can cause unnecessary torque to be placed on the bow, negatively affecting your shot. This is amplified when it is worn loose during summer practice but then is tight when hunting clothing is added. The result is often accurate practice, but hunting shots that are off due to torque from a tight sling. If you choose to use one, do it cautiously and ensure it hangs loosely on your wrist when at full draw.
|
|
