2023 Equipment Journey

This year was a was a level setting year to become a better archer and make my way into competitive shooting. It was an investment in equipment and time (practice and research) that greatly improved my confidence and made my time out more enjoyable. In my first three shoots I missed a few targets, lost an arrow and broke two more (read on because breaking two was a feat!). I am not the best at taking pictures or cataloging them for future use, but I will do my best to find some. 

While researching the different club rules and ASA rules as I prepared for the season, I decided I was going to stay in the the Hunter and Pin classes. I keep my stabilizer under 12” and now switch sights/scopes to be compliant with the shoot rules. 

Up front disclaimer and level setting statement. I liked the bow set up I started the year with. It was my second Hoyt. I harvested deer, squirrels and rabbits with the set up. I am not the type of person that chases the newest shiniest technology upgrade.(which is too bad because the Mathews Lift looks good!) I bought my first Hoyt in 2005 the second in 2013 or 2014. This recent upgrade  was needed for several reasons such as technology and I have a 30.5" draw. I changed to Mathew's simply because the bow shop I trust and rely on is a Mathews dealer.

I didn’t think to document the dates of the specific upgrades, but the below list is a great representation of the tweaks and changes that were made. 

Hoyt Charger

• 29 Draw
• 70lb draw weight
• 4” Stabilizer
• Trophy Ridge Sight 5pin fixed
• Whisker biscuit 
• Wrist release
• Easton XX75 Gamegetter 340, Easton X7 Eclipse 2512

Upgrade #1: New Rest and CBE Stabilizer System, 12” Stabilizer, 8” back bar

Upgrade #2, 30” Draw module

Change: decreased to 60lb draw weight

I want to discuss the improved results I had with the small upgrades to the Hoyt. Understand that the course lay out changes between shoots, but the Club shoot on 4 March and 8 April were at the same location. It was also the first and last shoot with the Hoyt. My score improved 15 points and I didn’t miss a target or break an arrow!

After only a month-ish of 3D competitions, I knew this would be my new hobby and to make it more enjoyable, I needed a bow that was fitted to my size and would be better suited for both competitions and hunting. While I intended to the upgrade to happen at once, due to my mistake in remembering rules and some parts delivery issues, it took some time to get to this final set up. 

Mathew’s Phase 4, 33

• 30.5” draw length
• 61lb draw weight (65lb module)
• CBE Torx micro hunting Stabilizer System, 12” Stabilizer, 8” back bar
• QAD Ultrarest HDX
• Spot Hogg Fast Eddie XL dual pin with 4x magnification
• HHA Terre 4pin sight with 6x magnification and peep verifier
• T.R.U. Ball Rave thumb release
• Gold Tip arrows X-cutter Pro (with 100grains added to the arrow tip)
• Gold Tip arrows Pierce250 platinum 

My final comparison demonstrates improvement from both equipment and practice.  Admittedly, it feels a like a stretch to compare these two events, but the set up was the most similar. The two Arkansas Bowhunter Association shoots,  my draw weight was 70lbs. The March shoot was with the Hoyt, accompanied by a 5pin sight with no magnification, a wrist release and Easton Arrows. The September shoot was with the Mathews Phase 4 with a CBE 4 pin sight paired with 6x magnification, a thumb release and Gold Tip Pierce250 arrows. There was a 25 point improvement! I lost points at the September shoot by making mental mistakes, the biggest was aiming with the wrong pin. I still earned a solid score with several 5’s and 8’s. I am  still not a advocate for buying new equipment every year, but an believer in upgrading when the situation is right and beneficial to a goal.