Hey Chris, great to see another KY guy on here! I have a buddy who has a sage, with a bear weatherest and a D-97 flemish, 14 strand string it is a hammer. We got the brace height to 7 and 3/4 on his, put in some wool puffs, whisper quiet and shoots like bows costing hundreds of dollars more. The Dacron string that came with his was way too short, sounds like yours is also. If you need a string, holler back.I wouldnt hesitate to take it hunting. What part of Ky do you live in, maybe we could get together sometime.Sam.