Good Group of Arrows
"I'm sighting-in two bows and would like to know what's considered a good three-arrow group from 20-50 yards. I'm using 100-grain Muzzy broadhead target tips and am one of those guys who must feel completely confident in my gear and my shooting before hunting. I believe that extra confidence will bring me increased luck." –Richard Darner/Wailuku, HI
I believe a bowhunter should be able to keep all of his or her arrows inside a 4-inch diameter circle at 20 yards, a 6-inch circle at 30 yards and an 8-inch circle at 40 yards. Now remember this: A bowhunter with this level of target accuracy has no business shooting at deer-sized game at 40 yards. As a rule, your maximum effective range on deer-sized game should be the distance at which you can place every arrow inside a 6-inch circle, and for most bowhunters that distance is approximately 30 yards.
Even though you might be able to stack arrows into a 6-inch bull's-eye at 40, 50 and even 60 yards at the range, an animal doesn't need to move much while your arrow is in flight to result in a marginal hit. It's better to be safe than sorry.–Dave Maas
What's the Deal with Bowstring Wax?
"I've been around archers nearly all my life, and I've seen some who use bowstring wax and some who don't. SHould I be using bowstring wax? And if so, when and how often should I apply it to my string?" - John Rhubottom/College Station, TX
I can make this answer short and sweet: Yes, use bowhunting wax and use it often. That said, you should wax your string and any cables constructed of string material often enough to prevent fraying and wear. Bowhunters who practice several times during a week and hit the fields as often as time allows during hunting season definitely fight string wear. You can easily see string wear-and-tear through fraying or "fuzziness" on the string. When your string exhibits tiny strands of stray string, it's time to wax it.
Visit your archery pro shop to purhase a high-quality bow wax. Companies such as Bohning and Winner's CHoice offer bow wax and string conditioner products to ensure the longevity of your string and its top performance. After applying a coating of string wax, make sure to rub it in, using your fingers or a smooth piece of leather. As you wax the string, inspect it for broken strands or other damage that could cause the entire string to break and make for a really bad day in the woods. - Mark Kayser
Binocular Quest
"I'm in the market for new full-sized binoculars. Most of my bowhunting takes place in the Midwest, primarily for whitetails and wild turkeys. What do you recommend?" - Chris Gulden/St. Michael, MN
Recently my dad, brother and I field-tested 12 full-sized binoculars ranging in price from $290-$1,650. Our test took place on the farm fields of Wisconsin, and we rated each bino for daylight clarity, low-light performance, center focus adjustment and overall comfort. We glassed whitetails from long range, both before and after sunset.
The model receiving the most first-place votes was the Zeiss 8X42mm Victory. At $1,500 the Victory certainly isn't an inexpensive purchase, but I can guarantee you'll be blown away by its performance. Surprisingly, the model that took second place was the least expensive model in our test, the Nikon 8X42mm ATB. At $290, the ATB performed on par-or even better-than binos costing twice to three times as much. - Dave Maas
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