Among the many perks that stabilizers offer for bow hunters is their flexibility. Depending on the construction of the bow itself, you can choose from several spots and directions to attach and orient that tool. Even further adjustments are available, giving people a better chance of creating the right hunting bow stabilizer setup for their needs.
The potential problem with all that freedom is that having so many options can feel overwhelming. How can you know which of the countless combinations of elements and aspects comprises the best setup? There is no need to fear. We will share our advice, drawn from years of experience, to help you out.
Learn How You Lean
Before you start thinking about where you will place any stabilizers, we ask that you close your eyes. Then, pick up the bow and pull the string back to full draw. When you open your eyes, check the bubble on the level, which may be on your bow’s sights or elsewhere on the body. Is it dipping or rising? Is it leaning to the left, to the right, or just swaying in the middle? How easy is it to rotate?
This is how you identify your bow’s current weaknesses. Your stabilizers should be attached in strategic areas and oriented to offset those natural inclinations. If your bow falls forward, a back bar might weigh down the other side. If you added several accessories that are now weighing down the bow’s right side, counter it with a stabilizer sticking out from the left.
Get Your Sights Right
Imbalance on a bow will affect more than just how steady you can hold it. If you want evidence, just try looking through your sights while shaking the body. Even tiny movements will seriously shift what you can see through the scope, and too much movement will make it impossible to follow moving targets. Even when the bow as a whole seems unwavering, the sights can still feel jittery.
On the plus side, stabilizing the bow also improves your ability to lock on with your sights. You can use that latter tool’s sensitivity to your advantage. As you adjust the balance of your instrument, feel free to look through your sights. Once you can track an object or organism in motion without difficulty, you know that you have fine-tuned your hunting bow stabilizer setup.
Choose a Comfortable Length
Size matters when it comes to stabilizers. We do not mean this in the sense that longer ones are always better than shorter ones, or vice versa. We mean that a stabilizer’s length can affect your performance. You just need to find the length that is most comfortable for your needs. That may change depending on the situation.
For example, longer stabilizers weigh more. They require less weight to balance the bow, which can save you some time and effort. With that said, these protrusions may just get in the way when you are perched in a position with limited space. Hunters who intend to use stands or lurk behind cover may prefer to swap their front and back bars for shorter models.
Weigh Down the End
Rotation can be just as much of a problem as learning. The difference is that the latter refers to the direction in which your bow moves as you hold it. The former describes how it twists in your hands, clockwise or counterclockwise. It can be just as much of an issue, especially when you pull back the drawstring and try to keep a bead on your target.
Many believe that evenly distributing a few ounces of weight all along the stabilizer’s length is the right idea. They are right, but there is a better approach: concentrating the extra weight at the way end. We cannot get into the physics of how that works in this short space. Just trust us when we say it makes it much more difficult for the bow to rotate on its own.
Watch Out for Obstacles
When you have the perfect hunting bow stabilizer setup, you should maintain it throughout your hunting adventure. The slightest contact risks offset that carefully composed balance. That can be unfortunate for anyone whose trek will take them across dense woodland. As you navigate the terrain, be careful with any protrusions and obstacles that may nudge your various stabilizers. Otherwise, they may alter angles and weights with unfortunate results.
Of course, some collisions and encounters cannot be avoided, especially in the heat of the hunt. For that reason, we recommend investing in hardy materials that offer firm attachment. They may come with a higher cost than more basic products, but the decrease in hassle may be worth it. Just ask yourself if you would prefer cheap stabilizers or stabilizers that do not come off easily.
Experiment Constantly
If we seem rather vague in describing the ideal hunting bow stabilizer setup, that is because “ideal” is not universal. We do not know your situation, your archery style, your bow, your abilities, or your exact needs. The arrangement that works for us may not work for you. All the tips above should be seen as more of a baseline to help you find the best setup for yourself.
As you practice using your bow, experiment with different adjustments to different aspects of your stabilizer setup. Ask yourself questions like “Does angling the back bar down ten degrees help?” and “What happens if I put this stabilizer here instead?” Keep careful notes as well, or you risk forgetting the positions you like. Soon enough, you will come across the ideal setup for your needs — and bow hunting will never be the same.
Build the Best Hunting Bow Stabilizer Setup with Our Help
No hunting bow stabilizer setup will satisfy your needs if you use inferior products. Here at Stokerized Stabilizers, we offer high-quality examples of these tools that allow for extensive adjustment in weight, angle, location, and more. Visit our store today and discover what we have to offer for you and your setup.