String Trackers

[Autumnarcher]

Just wondering if anyone uses them? All the time, or in certain situations?

I have one I use if I'm hunting rainy weather, or in certain areas of particularly nasty thick cover.

I find it doesnt effect arrow flight much, but I do limit shots to under 15 yds when I use it.

Curious if anyone else uses them. Or if they're considered trad taboo?

[rastaman]

click here  

No they aren't taboo.  Here's a String tracker how to by Guru.  He uses them turkey hunting.

['46]

For turkeys they are outstanding!

[MJB]

Yep Curt uses um  

[Night Wing]

I don't use them since I don't bowhunt in the rain.

If it's not raining, I don't care how thick the cover is, I like to track animals the old fashioned way, with a blood trail.

[Big Ed]

Contact GURU he is the man with string trackers.

[lpcjon2]

I personaly think it would be to much like bow fishing, but to each their own if it helps you and bring comfort or confidence than use it.

[grizz]

I used one back in the eighties, shot a big bear, kept trying to "set" the hook as he ran off, pass through, had a "double" string to a dead bear! worked great.

[Autumnarcher]

I have mine attached directly to my bow with the strap on bracket I use for attaching a bowfishing reel. It works great and does not adversely effect the bow or arrow flight.

I don't use it in all hunting but if I find myself sitting in some of the nastier areas of the property i hunt or if its starting to rain I may use it. I hunt adjacent to some areas so thick you can hardlyvcrawl through and thats usually where deer will go once shot. It really helps to get you to first blood when they dive in there then head off in a different direction than what you may think. I prefer to bloodtrail too, but have had a tough go of finding that first blood in the gnarly thickets where I hunt.

[Gray Buffalo]

I had the same experance as Grizz and had a "double" string to a dead bear.

[Swamp Yankee]

The idea of a string tracker is interesting, especially the idea of opening up hunting in the rain, but I just can't imagine how it works without the string eventually hanging up on brush and breaking off.  Anyone care to enlighten me?  I'm not knocking them, just curious how they work.

[JamesV]

I looked at them back in the 80's and the string reminded me of dental floss, Never tried them but friends say they work. I don't hunt in the rain and most of may arrows don't stay in the deer.

[limbshaker]

If it helps recover ONE animal that would have been lost without it, it's totally worth it in my book. Sounds like a great idea to me. I respect anybody's effort in helping recover game, no matter how they do it.

[Autumnarcher]

Ideally I would love to get a bloodtracking dog, but we have 2 dogs now, and the wife says one has to go if I do that. Naturally I offered up her little yapping Corgie, which got vetoed immediately. Which would mean I would have to part with my golden retriever, who's my buddy and follows me everywhere. So, the tracking dog is gonna have to wait. Unless I craft a plan LOL.

I would say I use the string tracker on less than 10% of my hunts. I've enjoyed a double string to a dead critter before, and I've also had it get snagged in brush and break off. Inthat case though, it was a ways dowmn the trail, and I had blood by then to assist. They are especially helpful in situations where you're not getting a lot of blood- high entrance with no exit, etc. Deer can often cover a good amount of ground before they start leaking, and if they are running full bore across an open area, graassy field or plowed crop field, you're in  trouble. Tracks are great, but throw in a lot of tracks from other deer as well, and again the situation can end poorly.

I will say going back and gathering up 100 yds of string after recovering a deer can be a headache, but its important so other animals don't get tangled up in it.

I first started using one after a hunt in Indiana years ago. Heavy overcast morning, had rained all night. I got into my stand, and shortly after daylight I shot a spike buck, hitting a little far back, but still a good hit. He ran into this ungodly tangle of flora rose, they had tunnels through it. After the shot I hung my bow on the hook and prepared for the usual wait before taking up the trail . Literally within seconds of hanging up my bow, the skies opened up a deluge. No sprinkles to warn of pending rain. It just opened up.

I immediately got down from my stand and started looking, and while i had a bloodtrail, I was wathcing it wash away before my eyes. It poured like that for the rest of the morning, and we searched and searched, ut the buck had vanished into the tangle or thorns. My partner suggested usingthe string tracker,as he does when the weather threatens rain. I now keep one in mygear, and if rain is in the forecast, it goes in my fanny pack. I can throw it on my bow in a few seconds, and be good to go. If it starts raining hard, I go in. I dont like sitting getting soaked, and frankly I would have a hard time taking a shot in a steady rain anywy, knowing its not conducive to recovery of game. The tracker is kind of a backup insurance. Its not foolproof, but it sure helps in some situations.

[Guru]

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
I personaly think it would be to much like bow fishing, but to each their own if it helps you and bring comfort or confidence than use it.

That's a rediculous statement   :rolleyes:

[swp]

They are the bomb for turkeys! Never have used them for anything else but I couldn't see why they wouldn't work just as well.

[Onestringer]

Never used them for deer.  But on turkeys like someone else said they are great.

[lpcjon2]

Originally posted by Guru:
 

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
I personaly think it would be to much like bow fishing, but to each their own if it helps you and bring comfort or confidence than use it.

That's a rediculous statement    :rolleyes:  [/b]

Whats rediculous about using a string on an arrow to recover what you shot. the only difference is that one swims and the other runs. If it helps you recover what you shot then thats cool, I just dont like the idea for deer. The thats the beauty of opinions.  

[riivioristo]

Hi !

I would be curious to try a string tracker, but how come I have not found it from any shop - does Three Rivers sell it - or someone else?
Thanks!

[El gran J]

I had one when I used one of those wheeled things...it worked for the most part but in thick brush they will snag and break. Depending on how far the animal got before it broke the only good thing about that is that it will give you a last direction travelled??