Lets debate if quiet is really important

[amicus]

Can't go wrong with quit. Every deer I have shot has gone down within 30-60 yards. I feel that part of the reason is because of a quite bow. There is almost no effort and cost in getting a bow to be as quiet as possible not sure why any body would not want quiet.

Gilbert

[Kamm1004]

Well... man kind survived with the bow and arrow for thousands of years before using silencers so obviously it's not essential. However, any advantage that will allow us a more ethical kill is an advantage we should take

[bgremill]

Amicus, GREAT point!  I always tell compound and gun hunters how much shorter my blood trails are since switching to trad.  In fact, i have seen every deer and hog go down in sight.  In fact, many dont believe me but i had a witness of one hunt that i stalked a feeding hog to 8 yards.  The shot nicked the back of the heart and the two blade slipped betweenthe ribs on both sides when it passed through.  The did not even stop eating acorns, he literally feel over dead while chewing!  He acted like a sand fly or a mosquito bit him then feel over. That was a really cool feeling.  My cousin who witnessed the stalk from pirougue bought a long bow the next week he was so impressed!  Converted just like that! Haha
BTW whats the deal with the thumbs down on the thread?

[njloco]

How about pondering this, how much speed is lost when putting on silencers of some kind, versus just using a heavier arrow ?, and thereby making the bow quieter, and probably more stable.

P.S. I do use some kind of silencer.

[RC]

I like a bow that is fairly quiet but don`t sweat it. On pigs and Turkeys it don`t seem to matter I hit where I`m looking. Nearly all the deer I shoot at squat and I shoot for the squat. Our deer are hunted hard and for a long season here in Ga.....they are wired. Point is I want the deer to squat because thats what I shoot for. A little noise makes them all squat and I`m looking in the white hair at the crease of the leg almost under the body. I hit most mid lung and hear them fall. RC

[nineworlds9]

Originally posted by Kamm1004:
Well... man kind survived with the bow and arrow for thousands of years before using silencers so obviously it's not essential. However, any advantage that will allow us a more ethical kill is an advantage we should take

Interesting point kamm, but how can we be sure they didn't use silencers??  wonder if some cro-magnon guy figured it out way back then?  silencers aren't something that would survive archeologically...just a brainstorm

[Brock]

I think quietest bow I own is a vine maple John Strunk bow with B50 and beaver fur silencers shooting about 11gpp.....  

Even though I stated I think it is movement during shot on alert deer that causes them to JUMP STRING (never seen a deer that was unalarmed and not looking at hunter jump string with trad bow).....I put new string on my Sparrowhawk and after setting brace height and shooting 50 arrows through it with nothing...and hearing the twang of skinny strings on a D shaped bow....had a set of catwhiskers ready to put on when I came indoors.

I gotta have silencers even if no reason but peace of mind.    

[Bowhunter4life]

Simple answer from me after not reading any of the posts... Yes, there is nothing but benefit from a quiet bow!  

Can it be done with a loud bow?  Sure!  But I'd bet it happens way more often with a quiet bow...

[Kamm1004]

Originally posted by nineworlds9:
 

Originally posted by Kamm1004:
Well... man kind survived with the bow and arrow for thousands of years before using silencers so obviously it's not essential. However, any advantage that will allow us a more ethical kill is an advantage we should take

Interesting point kamm, but how can we be sure they didn't use silencers??  wonder if some cro-magnon guy figured it out way back then?  silencers aren't something that would survive archeologically...just a brainstorm [/b]

Maybe they did maybe they didn't. I was specifically stating my opinion based on photographs of native Americans we have where there are no silencers on their strings. Also most paintings of various archers from around the world do not depict the use of silencers. That's not saying they didn't have them though.

[Stone Knife]

Not if your taking closer shots.

[Longbow917]

To me there is something very alluring about the whisper quiet rapport of a longbow or recurve.  It adds to the attraction of traditional equipment.  Like many have said, I am sure it can be done with loud equipment, but it is personally a distraction when a bow has a loud twang.  Makes me feel like I don't have things dialed in right.  When its whisper quiet, well tuned and throws a quick straight shot, I just feels right!  I prefer as quiet as possible! And not with rubber mushrooms stuck all over the limbs and quivers either   :eek:

[xtrema312]

I look at sound much like sent.  The deer in the areas I hunt are use to some of both in the areas I hunt. When relaxed, they are not bothered by a little of either.  But a big dose of one will get a reaction. I don't need to have a bow so quiet the deer hats nothing, but I don't want to drop a fire cracker on them.

I see no down side in a quiet bow unless you kill the performance to much and get to much arrow drop at your effective range.  That is not an issue for me most of the time.  If my arrow does fall short,  I would rather the deer was still standing not alarmed.

I doubt the performance level of most bows used by hunters long ago shooting stone points was such that they needed silencers. Many modern long bows don't need them.

And, who says all the glass bows in recent history were that loud? I have some old glass recurve bows I hunted with 35 years ago.  With original strings and no silencers, and wood arrows from the time,  they are as quiet as any modern well tuned recurve with fast flight string,  silencers,  good weight arrow,  and good tune. I never used silencers in those days and would hunt with those bows without them now.

[Danny Rowan]

I get all of my bows as quiet as possible. Bow hush and hush puppies set at the 1/4 marks on the string and a heavy arrow. The places I hunt in Texas, even with my quiet bows and a relaxed deer, 9 times out of ten they will duck, you have to aim low or you will shoot over them because they come unglued at the shot, not sure what they hear but it is not my bow, and I use 4" 4 fletch so I do not get much noise from the fletch in flight, I have heard 5" fletch arrows and they make some noise, ask anyone who has ever hunted central Texas deer at Solana. If my bow was loud I would never hit a deer I do not care how low I aimed. Quiet works.

[CRS]

I think quiet is important as it helps to reduce extra stimuli from the game we are after.

Heightened awareness of wild animals.  Motion from the hunter, bow and arrow.  Noise from the hunter, bow and arrow all contribute to the natural instinct to flinch, duck, crouch or whatever you want to call it.

We have all experienced it ourselves.  An insect buzzes our ear, or something thrown or falling off a shelf.  The first reaction is to flinch, or duck.

I do everything I can to decrease the motion and noise from myself, bow and arrow.

When it all comes together, you are shooting at an unaware animal, that doesn't know what just zipped through it's vitals and goes down in sight.

[LimbLover]

Quiet is usually the result of a well tuned, well tillered bow from my experience...though I'm a longbow shooter. I'm not a recurve guy.

I got 2 shots at a Tom today because my bow is so quiet. I love a quiet bow.

[gordydog]

Really nice when you pass an arrow through a deer and there is no reaction from the animal. Nothing. Just stand or continue walking until they stumble sideways and fall.  Combination of a few things, such as a quiet bow, quiet arrow, broadhead, no bones being hit, animal alertness......Love a quiet bow and quiet arrow.

[RecurveRookie]

I like my bow quiet, I think people can take anything to the extreme (usually speed).  I really need every advantage I can get!

[Kris]

Agree with all who have responded "love quiet".  If nothing else, to me it represents a well tuned & balanced setup.  It's what I seek and enjoy shooting.  

Kris

[Sixby]

I'll answer like I feel the value of the thread topic is. I put fancy fur silencers, Prefer mink, or Beaver, ect on my strings simply because it looks so cool. I would not feel real trady , is that a real word? without them as a finishing touch.
Is it necessary? I could say my bows are so quiet I don't need silencers. Oh , I have said that already . but If I didn't have them fluffs on there then my bow would feel undressed and how could I tell which way the wind is blowing .

Someone said a relaxed animal won't jump the sound. Hmmm. I had a bull elk with his head turned away from me at 10 yards jump at the shot so fast I thought I had hilled him. Found my arrow in perfect alignment sticking in a dead log in back of where he was standing without a spec of blood on it. I was already tasting the steaks. I followed him about a quarter of a mile but not one drop of blood. This happened so fast it completely fooled my eyes. You could not believe an animal could move that fast.
I then walked back to the spot. Sat down wondering how that could happen and killed a huge cow about 15 minutes after the experience with the bull.

God bless you all, Steve

[Easykeeper]

I like my bows as quiet as I can get them for me, any benefit in a hunting situation is only a side benefit.