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What did you buy today?

Spent a good hour at the toy store picking the owners brain on many things. Have decided for now to keep my current bow and instead decided to try a thumb release and picked up an Apex Surge 4. I liked the positive feel of having a separate set lever yet the Apex only costs $100 compared to $200+ of the other set lever-style releases.

I got home and tried it out in my indoor range. First 4 were wide right but on target as I was getting use to it. Here's shot #5:
IMG_0098.JPG

A few adjustments to the release...along with some caulking to the exterior siding yielded this:
IMG_0099.JPG
 
MNFarmHunter said:
Spent a good hour at the toy store picking the owners brain on many things. Have decided for now to keep my current bow and instead decided to try a thumb release and picked up an Apex Surge 4. I liked the positive feel of having a separate set lever yet the Apex only costs $100 compared to $200+ of the other set lever-style releases.

I got home and tried it out in my indoor range. First 4 were wide right but on target as I was getting use to it. Here's shot #5:
View attachment 59923

A few adjustments to the release...along with some caulking to the exterior siding yielded this:
View attachment 59924
Click to expand...
Good penetration though!
 
MNFarmHunter said:
Spent a good hour at the toy store picking the owners brain on many things. Have decided for now to keep my current bow and instead decided to try a thumb release and picked up an Apex Surge 4. I liked the positive feel of having a separate set lever yet the Apex only costs $100 compared to $200+ of the other set lever-style releases.

I got home and tried it out in my indoor range. First 4 were wide right but on target as I was getting use to it. Here's shot #5:
View attachment 59923

A few adjustments to the release...along with some caulking to the exterior siding yielded this:
View attachment 59924
Click to expand...
I take it you didn't have that nice of a group with your old release?
 
MNFarmHunter said:
Spent a good hour at the toy store picking the owners brain on many things. Have decided for now to keep my current bow and instead decided to try a thumb release and picked up an Apex Surge 4. I liked the positive feel of having a separate set lever yet the Apex only costs $100 compared to $200+ of the other set lever-style releases.

I got home and tried it out in my indoor range. First 4 were wide right but on target as I was getting use to it. Here's shot #5:
View attachment 59923

A few adjustments to the release...along with some caulking to the exterior siding yielded this:
View attachment 59924
Click to expand...
 
DroptineKrazy said:
I take it you didn't have that nice of a group with your old release?
Click to expand...
This isn't a fair test as it's only 10 yards but is comparable to my wrist release. What I have found so far with the new release is that it's easier to find my anchor point. With the wrist release, it took more adjustments to get my hand where I wanted it. That's the biggest reason why I wanted to try a thumb release, solid and repeatable anchor point from odd hunting angles.
 
DroptineKrazy said:
I have been thinking about trying a thumb release lately too.
Click to expand...
I've shot about 30 arrows with it today and here's me thoughts.
- Definitely not as easy as a wrist release. There are more mechanics involved as opposed to simply pulling the string back with your arm (wrist).
- Definitely touchier than a wrist release. Some of this is simply getting use to it but there is more of a surprise when firing as compared to the longer, deliberate trigger pull of a wrist release.
- Anchor is more solid as compared to a wrist release. After only 30 shots, I can close my eyes, pull my sting back and be completely lined up.
- Accuracy seems to be better but this is also TBD. Not making this a brag post, but I can typically do better than 1" per 10y if I do my part which takes a fair amount of thought into my anchor point. The thumb release thus far seems to be more intuitive on my anchor point and when I had a flyer today, I instantly knew my anchor point was off.
 
Dang near had to buy a new bow.

My son and I were at the shop today using their indoor range. I'm still trying to get use to the thumb release and was so focused on the mechanics of it I didn't even realize I had failed to nock an arrow. My mechanics felt good, my anchor points felt good, my sight picture was good then SNAP. Immediately, everyone at the shop said "who dry fired?" in unison.

I jumped the cable off my top cam and pushed by string stop in about 1/8". Thankfully, the pro reset my cable and no damage anywhere. I'm still a new archer and only shooting archery for about a year but after close to 1500-2000 arrows, this was my first dry fire.
 
MNFarmHunter said:
Dang near had to buy a new bow.

My son and I were at the shop today using their indoor range. I'm still trying to get use to the thumb release and was so focused on the mechanics of it I didn't even realize I had failed to nock an arrow. My mechanics felt good, my anchor points felt good, my sight picture was good then SNAP. Immediately, everyone at the shop said "who dry fired?" in unison.

I jumped the cable off my top cam and pushed by string stop in about 1/8". Thankfully, the pro reset my cable and no damage anywhere. I'm still a new archer and only shooting archery for about a year but after close to 1500-2000 arrows, this was my first dry fire.
Click to expand...

I've been bowhunting since I was 14 and I am 54. I dry fired a bow for the first time about 5 years ago under similar circumstances. I got a new sight and was going back and forth adjusting my pins after each shot. I was so consumed with the sight, forgot to nock an arrow and boom, dry fire. Kind of scary because it is loud. Glad you are OK.
 
MNFarmHunter said:
Dang near had to buy a new bow.

My son and I were at the shop today using their indoor range. I'm still trying to get use to the thumb release and was so focused on the mechanics of it I didn't even realize I had failed to nock an arrow. My mechanics felt good, my anchor points felt good, my sight picture was good then SNAP. Immediately, everyone at the shop said "who dry fired?" in unison.

I jumped the cable off my top cam and pushed by string stop in about 1/8". Thankfully, the pro reset my cable and no damage anywhere. I'm still a new archer and only shooting archery for about a year but after close to 1500-2000 arrows, this was my first dry fire.
Click to expand...
Don’t feel bad, it happens man. I was getting an arrow cutting measurement for a customer at an archery shop one time. Shot the bow into our wall right in front of them. Destroyed some sold cams we had. Felt pretty stupid.

Also Ik a guy who shot a semi pro level idk the class. He was shooting in a tournament. Shot an arrow and for the life of him couldn’t see it in the target. Keep in mind standing in a line like the pros do. Pulled his binoculars up and everything, couldn’t see the arrow. The guy next to him kindly leaned over and said “hey man you just dry fired your bow”
 
I picked up a thumb release this past summer, Hot Shot Vapor. I really like how it takes away my shot anticipation issues but don't feel bad, I went to let down and the darn thing went off and I put an arrow through one side of our garage fridge!!!! Luckily it didn't hit anything inside:fearscream::fearscream:. I must have, (in letting it down from full draw), accidentally hit the thumb release part. I'm not sure what happened which is worse and so It spooked me so much I went back to my caliper for the rest of the season. This year; however, I am totally committed to start again now with this. What kind of suggestions do any of you experienced thumb release users have for those using caliper style releases for decades????
 
woodsdog2 said:
I picked up a thumb release this past summer, Hot Shot Vapor. I really like how it takes away my shot anticipation issues but don't feel bad, I went to let down and the darn thing went off and I put an arrow through one side of our garage fridge!!!! Luckily it didn't hit anything inside:fearscream::fearscream:. I must have, (in letting it down from full draw), accidentally hit the thumb release part. I'm not sure what happened which is worse and so It spooked me so much I went back to my caliper for the rest of the season. This year; however, I am totally committed to start again now with this. What kind of suggestions do any of you experienced thumb release users have for those using caliper style releases for decades????
Click to expand...
Following
 
woodsdog2 said:
I picked up a thumb release this past summer, Hot Shot Vapor. I really like how it takes away my shot anticipation issues but don't feel bad, I went to let down and the darn thing went off and I put an arrow through one side of our garage fridge!!!! Luckily it didn't hit anything inside:fearscream::fearscream:. I must have, (in letting it down from full draw), accidentally hit the thumb release part. I'm not sure what happened which is worse and so It spooked me so much I went back to my caliper for the rest of the season. This year; however, I am totally committed to start again now with this. What kind of suggestions do any of you experienced thumb release users have for those using caliper style releases for decades????
Click to expand...
Caliper style thumb release.
 
I picked up a jacket and bibs from Cabelas. Redhead Silent Stalker Elite house brand in a camo pattern. I have a set of these in blaze orange, and when the camo ones went on sale at 30% off, no shipping costs (store pickup) I figured I would get them for bowhunting in 2022.

I have a fair bit of FL base layers and their Foundry Corrugate pants, but those are more for warmer weather. The Cabelas stuff seems pretty good for the price compared to FL, Sitka or ScentLok. Waterproof, windproof and quite warm, and about 1/5 the price of the name brands....maybe not quite as premium or high tech (eg. no scent absorbtion), but my bank account isn't crying uncle either. LOL

And the jacket I'll wear all winter for walking my dog in the forest across the road.
 
This weeks pack includes g hooks for my leg straps. Can’t believe I haven’t replaced the cam buckles yet. Also some 6mm sterling friction cord, rope end caps, hulk carabiner ….will it ever stop? 2 weeks ago is was 35’ of resctech. Now I’m looking at throw lines and a 500’ roll of paracord ……….yeah that
 
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