arrows, do you use what you like or what WORKS the best??

[Fletcher]

Bowhunting to me is accepting the limitations of my equipment.  If I limited myself to only the "best", it would have to be a compound or scope sighted HP rifle.  I've spent 25 years studying and learning how to make good wood arrows, and have absolute confidence in my quiver.  I feel the only thing I give up with wood over carbon is a bit of durability, time and effort.  The personal satisfaction I gain is more than worth it.

[lpcjon2]

My arrows don't have to match ,they have to hit the mark! Its no longer the high tech fashion show for me.  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

All spring and summer I mess around with wooden arrows. They are a romanic piece of archery that I love.

But about this time of year, I start getting my bow/arrow/broadhead combo PERFECT. And I always fall back to aluminum or carbon.

When it comes down to making killing shots, I use the best shaft possible. Sadly that is rarely wood.

My issue isn't really the shot.....it's the durability that a long, wet, cold season requires.

A few years ago I killed a doe with carbons, and the next day, from the same tree, killed another doe with a wooden arrow. It was almost an identical shot on a similiar sized deer. both had complete penetration, the deer died just the same. The only difference is that the wooden arrow broke, which I do not consider a negative. I rarely use a kill arrow again.

[Bowjunkie]

I'm with Fletcher 100%.

I shoot what I want... homemade wooden bows and arrows. For me it's more about the journey in making the best wooden bows and arrows I can make, shooting well with them, and dealing with their real bowhunting challenges in pursuit of prey. In all honesty, I don't feel 'handicapped' at all by my equipment. It suits and serves me well, and I'm perfectly content with it. I'm an effective bow-weilding predator as it stands. No other hunting equipment(or their advantages, real or perceived) interest me in the least.

When I started making and hunting with them, my effective range was much less, but I accepted it as a matter of course and never reached beyond my capabilities. My range has since grown with hard-won learned and honed skills, no yardage 'bought'. I don't care what others do, but for me, this is 'best'.

The farthest I've taken a deer with wooden bows and arrows was just over 25 yards... perfect dead-center lung shot, complete passthrough. That's MORE than far enough for me. What more is a carbon arrow going to do for me? Allow me to shoot farther? Why would I want to do that? Is that 'best'? In my mind, if I can't make an effective killing shot beyond 25 yards without a carbon or aluminum arrow... then I must get within 25 yards. Simple.

I accepted long ago that getting within pouncin' distance is a basic, defining bowhunting challenge, skill, and part of the journey. As a competent bowhunter, bowyer and arrowsmith, wouldn't I do myself a disservice to use what OTHERS deem 'works best'?

If someone uses stone-age tools to make a primitive bow and arrow, and uses them to effectively hunt prey, at even just 10 or 15 yards or less, who am I to tell them they didn't use what 'works best'? Why would I... I don't know, I guess I just don't understand the whole point of it.