Clicker for AK backpackhunt

[Zbearclaw]

I had some demons driving me nuts and put a clicker on my BW, demons gone with authority...

But, is this gonna work for true backpack hunts?  I cut my teeth hunting whitetails in SW GA so I mean no offense to my tree climbing brothers, but is a clicker durable enough for wilderness hunts?

I am shooting as well as ever, but am also going to be on Kodiak Island in less than 90 days.  I can't risk practicing with something breakable if ya know what I mean.

So my question is two fold, how many hunt backpack hunts with a clicker and how many folks bailed on a clicker b/c it was too fragile?

[ncsaknech1ydh]

Hi BearClaw:

I used a clicker for a few years climbing up and down tree stands with no problems, they are built pretty darn sturdy, although it is like anything mechanical, if you get it hooked on a branch or something it could get damaged.

Lucky for you it solved your problem, for me it didn't help alot and I took it off after a few years and continued to struggle until I found tradegang back in November and started reading different posts and put some suggestions together that have allowed me to break my target panic, please let me share with you my shooting process, it might be worth a try and then you would not have to depend on the cliker or worry about having something break on it.

No matter how hard I tried in the past, I could never quite get to full draw and the arrow would be gone, sometimes I was better, sometimes worse, but always had a short draw, and affected where my arrows hit because I was never even close to the same draw length 2 times in a row.

Now I draw and hit anchor, without any thought of the release at that point what so ever, I then hold for a few seconds, and not until I complete expansion (for me that means tighten my back muscles while drawing a hair more, which I can feel in my shoulder blades, almost like you would squeeze an egg between you shoulder blades) which increases my draw by another 1/4 to 1/2 inch (I have had my wife watch the tip of my arrow many different times and is how I know how much more my draw increases) and not until that time in my head when I complete expansion do I realese the arrow, I have been doing this for about 6 months now and it is very automatic, and was very early on, within a few days. Also I think it is agreed by most if I understand correctly that a relese while you are still drawing is a good thing as opposed to a dead release. In my opinion I think either would work depending on the situation, proof in that is that there are top archers out there winning tournements doing it both ways, but with severe target panic the 'never stop drawing' approach is the one that I need to use. I need something in my head that says, O.K., now its time to release. If I were to try a dead release, I would be right back to my target panic.

This works in any situation, If I would have to release on an amimal because it is moving through brush, I could do it as soon as I hit my anchor, I would just complete expansion at that time, but if I had a buck hang up behind a tree with his vitals covered just as I was at my anchor, I could hold until he stepped from behind the tree, then complete expansion at that time, when I release is now up to me, and I practice just that senario.

I hope I didn't throw a monkey wrench in, just something you might try, it is wonderful to be in control of my shot, and again, I have tradegang to thank as I have been reading different ideas and posts for a long time learning different methods and ideas of shooting.

I even had a fellow pm me his phone number the other day to go over his methods with me, this is a great site and a great bunch of people. DK.

Hope that helps. DK.

[cch]

You shouldn't have any problems with the clicker but should carry an extra just incase.  If you have a high anchor on your face you could try the feather to your nose trick. Just set your feather up a 1/4 " or so from your nose and keep pulling just like you would with your clicker and when it touches your nose let it go just like your clicker. Works great especially in tournaments where clickers are illegal. Good luck on your trip and stay away from the bears.

[Zbearclaw]

DK, my shot process is similar to yours both with and without the clicker.

I was shooting perfect until March or so when my draw had lengthened to the point that the back of my broadheads would occasionally tap my riser as I came to full expansion and released.

While I was awaiting new arrows I developed a "tick" where I would look at the arrow tip before release to make sure I wasn't going to pull the arrow off the string and dry fire.

Once I lengthened my arrows I couldn't stop.  I am shooting great but just unsure of the reliability of a mechanical device made of sheet metal and a thin rope.

Thanks guys, I hunt my bow hard but also protect the string even on very rigorous hunts, so I think I can make it last if I keep that up.

Worse case scenario is that I bust t and shoot without.

I believe it has helped me enough that I can lose it if I wanted too, but will keep it for now.

[ncsaknech1ydh]

Good luck Zbear, just in case I think cch had a great idea in taking a spare, thats alot of prepreation as far as going to Alaska to chance anything, but than again, my wife always gives me crap, I always have to have a spare everything, and on some things even a spare for my spare!  

[ncsaknech1ydh]

Hey Zbear: I did some digging around, if you want to send me your address, I found the clicker I took off of that bow, if you want it, its yours, you would need to put a new backing on where you stick it to the bow and it would need a new string as I had to cut it off where I tied it to the string, but other than that it would work just fine. DK.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Your going to have to work pretty hard to bust a clicker.  Take along some extra cord / string for it incase you tear that up.  That and take along an extra just in case and you should be in good shape.

[Steve O]

Z,

Use some 90# Spiderwire or the smallest dia climbing accessory rope for the clicker.  Bulletproof.  Been on many tough western hunts with both setups.  Running the clicker out towards the limb tips like they do not recommend keeps it out of the way when you are stalking most of the time too...

[2Blade]

You shouldnt have any problems breaking the clicker unless your are intentionally trying too!! I "Bomb Proof" mine first I get some compound D loop material and run that through the clicker burning the back so it mushrooms. I then hit the mushroom with some super glue so it cant move or pull through. I also run black tape around the base of the clicker so it cant pop off.

If you worry alot about your stuff like I do I even wrap black tape around the part that screws in to the clicker so that cant come loose. I have had ZERO problems with my clicker setups I even took mine through heavy brush chasing rabbits and thought for sure it would get hung up but never once did.