Front of Center - Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole

By Greg Tubbs | PUBLISHED August, 31st 2021

How do we get started: Part II 

If you genuinely want to go through this process the right way. It will require some significant effort on your part. You are starting with your bow being completely in spec. With a compound bow, there are a few things that need attention.

Your bow has got to be in tune!

First and foremost. The cam timing must be set perfectly if one of the cams is rotating around before the other. Your arrow won’t leave the bow correctly. This may be happening already, and you don’t even know it! Somehow, you may be compensating for it with another adjustment in your sight or your rest. Cam lean can also create issues with flight. A good archery shop will be able to go through your rig and get it all back to spec. They may even recommend replacing the string and cables if they do. This will add another step to the process.

New strings on a compound bow require a break-in period. Most need around 200 shots or so to stretch them out. Currently, I am dealing with this part of the process. My Mathews, Halon 32, is four seasons old with thousands of shots through it and one derailment of the string. It’s due for replacement before something happens.

A trip to the archery shop is needed!

After you get through the break-in process, have your bow set to the draw weight you want to shoot and keep it there! Get your rest centered. Suppose you shoot a drop-away rest. Make sure it’s in time, along with the cams. This is all necessary for absolutely perfect arrow flight. I know… This seems like an awful lot of effort to shoot some deer. Suppose you want to have an ideal arrow flight. This is a significant part of the process. Spring is the time to do this! After your bow is back into spec. It’s time to start tuning the ammunition.