If a draw cycle feels somewhat tough or aggressive during the warm summer months, imagine what it will feel like after you’ve sat motionless in a treestand for hours on end and then must come to full draw. Personally, I look at how a bow will perform under cold hunting conditions. You have to decide if that sort of rig is right for you and your hunting style. Having said that, there are still aggressive bows with short brace heights and aggressive draw-cycles being produced today.
Pictured here is the Mathews NOCAM System. The only way to find out is to shoot several different cam systems for yourself and then decide. Maybe an aggressive cam system is for you. Since the arrow leaves the string quicker, there is less time for the shooter to mess things up. Bows with longer brace heights are viewed just the opposite. The long-held theory regarding brace height has been that a bow with a short brace height was/is harder to shoot more accurately because the shooter has more time to screw up the shot with hand torque because the arrow is on the string longer. Check the Bow's, Brace HeightĪ bow’s brace height is simply the measurement from the bow's grip to the bowstring in the relaxed position. However, there is much more to consider before a final decision is made. That really is the only way to determine which bow you shoot best. Obviously, if you’re in the market for a new bow, then you owe it to yourself to shoot as many different makes and models as you can. It is often the year’s latest and greatest model, the one their buddies swear by, or the one their favorite celebrity hunter uses. I’m constantly amazed at the bowhunters I met who are dead set on purchasing brand “X” bow before ever having shot it. Shoot as Many Makes and Models of Bows as You Can It would help if you found the bow you shoot best. If you’re currently on the hunt for a new compound bow, you need to know how certain bow characteristics will affect you when you’re in a treestand and not on the sales floor. Don’t make a decision based on what the media tells you or a close friend. However, things get complicated when beginning (or even veteran) whitetail hunters head to the bow shop full of preconceived ideas regarding performance and shoot-ability based solely on someone else’s opinion or, as in most cases, a ton of marketing dialogue.Ĭhoosing a new compound bow is a very personal thing.