OFF THE RADAR
Q: I've been shooting 100-grain Satellite Titan broadheads for a long time with excellent results. My problem is that Satellite archery products have disappeared off the radar. Did they go out of business?
Did some other company buy them out?
-Wade Karnes/ Grand Rapids, MN
A: The Bear Archery Company was making Satellite broadheads several years ago. I researched their information and they currently don't have them listed. I did, however, find them still listed for sale at archerycountry.com, wolfarchery.com and several other Web sites. My good friend Bob Foulkrod, who has worked with Satellite broadheads since their inception, updated me on what he knew about the fate of the company. At present, they're not being manufactured by anyone, but there's a company that's in the process of getting something very similar on the market in the future. Keep a watchful eye in hunting publications for a possible return. In the meantime, check eBay in addition to the sites I mentioned above and squirrel away enough for several seasons. Good hunting.
-Judd Cooney
DETERMINING DRAW LENGTH
Q: How do you determine the draw length of a release shooter? I've gotten two different measurements from two different pro shops. My bow feels comfortable to shoot, but when I look through my peep sight everything has to be just right or it blurs. I discussed the matter with my pro shop where I bought the bow originally and they said it sounds as though the string has stretched.
-Henry Karl/via e-mail
A: Shooting a bow with an improper draw length is one of the worst things you can do. There are many ways to measure draw length and most pro shops can do it for you correctly. The best way I have found is by using a low-poundage bow and a marked arrow shaft, which tells you exactly what the proper draw length is. One key here is to get measured using the same release aid you'll use while hunting. That's because each release is a bit different in size and this can affect your anchor point. While it's possible that your bowstring did indeed stretch a bit, thus moving your peep sight, most top-end bow makers use strings that stretch little, if at all. Still, before I serve a peep into any new bow, I like to shoot at least 200 arrows through it. This gives the string a chance to stretch and allows bow parts to settle in place. Only then do I serve a peep into the string. Also, when you add a peep sight, the proper place to do so allows you to look through the peep and see your sight pins without bending your head when you draw and anchor the bow. Keeping your head erect is an often overlooked accuracy key.
-Bob Robb
THE ADAMS HIP QUIVER
Q: I've discovered that my compound bow shoots tighter groups with my quiver off the bow than it does when attached to it. I want to switch to a hip-style quiver that'll hold carbon arrows, and I'd like to find one similar to the quiver Chuck Adams hunts with. Do you know where I might be able to purchase one?
-Corey Van Bronckhorst/Raymond, WA
A: If I remember correctly, the once-popular Chuck Adams Hip Quiver hasn't been produced for years. That's the bad news. The good news is there are several topnotch substitutes that you should check out. The adjustable and camouflaged Rustler Hip Quiver from Vista holds six carbon arrows securely within its rubber shaft clips and foam broadhead cup. For safety, there's a hard plastic liner. Quivers are reversible and can be worn on the right or left hip. There's a tie-down leg strap to hold the Rustler securely in place, and the price tag is about $40. For a few dollars more, there's the Tarantula Hip Quiver. It holds up to eight aluminum or carbon arrows, adjusts to be worn on either hip and has a string loop that allows the quiver to be hung when the wearer is in a treestand. It also comes camouflaged.
Pick up the latest Bass Pro or Cabela's archery catalog, or go online for ordering details at basspro.com or cabelas.com. And if you've got about $60 to spend, take a close look at the tanned leather Broadhead Hip Quiver available from 3Rivers Archery. This adjustable model, like Chuck's original hip quiver, is a high-quality product. It features a foam insert, reinforced body, leg tie-down and securely holds six aluminum or carbon arrows. Check it out at 3riversarchery.com.
-M. R. James