Q
I'm in the market for a bow vise and was wondering which one you use on your TV show. Thanks.
--Paul Bacallo, via e-mail

A
We've used a number of ex-cellent bow vises on our program, including those from Sure- Loc (www.sureloc.com) and Apple Archery (www.applearchery.com). During "Tech Talk" segments, I've used the R.S. Bow Vise (www.rsbowvise.com) and the Pro Bow Vise (www.ram-products.com), which I have in my shop. The R.S. Bow Vise is quicker, but the Pro Bow Vise is more adjustable. Either works very well for most any need. Hope this helps and thanks for tuning in.
--Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
I'm trying to find a mule deer hunting video from the early 90's with Dwight Schuh and Larry D. Jones. I can't remember the name of it, but I do remember they used llamas to pack in and out. Keep up the good work.
--Robert Poor, via e-mail

A
That was Buck Fever, with Larry D. Jones and me in Nevada. It was produced by Wilderness Sounds. If you go to http://www.jonescalls.com/catalog_2008.pdf, you will see it listed in the Jones Calls catalog. My daughters, who are now 28 and 30 years old, are looking a little younger in that video. It brings back good memories.
--Dwight Schuh, Editor

Q
When switching to a short axle-to-axle bow, how do you choose a stabilizer? Soon I'll be switching from a Mathews Switchback to a DXT. Are there any differences in stabilizer performance when moving to a shorter bow?
--Marc, via e-mail

A
Stabilizers are sort of an enigma and they have several purposes -- to add weight to a bow, to balance a bow, and to reduce vibration and noise. Some perform one of these tasks, others perform all three. Most hunters use stabilizers to reduce vibration and game-spooking bow noise.

Some stabilizers absorb vibration with mass weight alone. Others do it through proprietary materials inside the stabilizer, or they're built with vibration-dampening materials such as LimbSaver's Navcom. Still others combine technologies. I cannot predict which stabilizer design will perform best on your DXT.

I suggest you take your bow to an archery pro shop and shoot it with various stabilizers attached. Some bowhunters say they see no need for a stabilizer. Most, however, do find a benefit. My best advice is to avoid the extremes -- radically large, small, light, or heavy. You might find the stabilizer on your Switchback will work just fine on the DXT.
--Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
I am a young bowhunter and have had no one to teach me the tricks of the trade. I've seen a lot of deer in the area where my stand is located, but no deer have come closer than 70 yards. How can I get the deer in closer?
--Jared Jobe, via e-mail