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A New Bow Can Bring Fresh Perspective

You may find it difficult to retire your favorite bow, but don't worry — there are plenty of opportunities ahead with your next one!

A New Bow Can Bring Fresh Perspective
My trusty Mathews Monster Chill — bought used in 2014 — performed flawlessly, in all kinds of weather, during the best eight seasons of my bowhunting life. It was very hard to say goodbye to a rig that was part of so many memorable hunts.

In the iconic baseball movie The Natural, protagonist Roy Hobbs shatters his beloved bat, Wonder Boy, fouling a pitch down the first-base line. Upon returning to the plate and realizing that the bat, crafted from a tree on his family farm, had been broken, Hobbs was crestfallen.

This was exactly how I felt as I ran my finger down the bottom limb of my bow — a Mathews Monster Chill I had used for eight seasons — and felt the splinter dig into my glove. I had bought the bow used, and after painstakingly setting it up to my liking, enjoyed the most successful eight seasons of my life. I realized at the time that even though I could probably replace the limbs of my “Old Faithful,” it may be a sign to move on.

First things first; if you didn’t get my connection to The Natural, stop reading and go watch the movie right now! So, let’s discuss the benefits of using a bow you are intimately familiar with while also acknowledging the fun and benefits of upgrading your rig.

A Familiar Friend

Most bowhunters would like to have the newest flagship bow from their brand of choice each year, just like the “pros” do. Given the price of today’s top-end bows and accessories, however, this simply is not an option for most of us. Silly as it may seem, I made a pact with that Monster Chill that if it held up its end of the bargain and continued to kill deer each year, it would earn its right to participate the following season.

On Oct. 30, 2022, my “outdated” bow did just that, helping slide an arrow right behind the shoulder of a good Northern Michigan whitetail, resulting in a 40-yard death run that ended within sight of my lofty woodland perch. The Chill had punched its ticket for the 2023 archery season. However, just a week later as I was sitting in one of my favorite rut funnels, I ran my finger down the limb only to get my glove snagged on some fraying fibers. It was a sad moment indeed, but much like Roy Hobbs, it was time for me to find a replacement and move on.

Hunters and their chosen weapons often develop an interesting kinship. I have had my favorites over the years, but this Chill was by far the best bow I had ever owned in regard to the number of memorable moments recorded and animals taken. I can still think back to the first bow I bought with my own money. I worked at a restaurant specifically to buy a used bow. Every dish washed and bathroom cleaned had the goal in mind of becoming my best version of Fred Bear. I loved that bow; even though its overdraw made it very unforgiving and it didn’t truly fit my shooting style. I don’t believe I even killed a deer with that bow, but I spent hours and hours in my yard honing my craft. This experience ultimately led me through my journey of multiple bows until I landed on the Mathews Standard — the first Solocam bow ever!

This bow was top of the line at the time, and even though I bought it used, it was a true archery innovation during the early 1990s. Those were my formative years as a successful bowhunter. I will never forget the first decent buck I killed with that bow. I had only killed does up to that point and had some random misses on small bucks, but I finally connected on a “good one.” From there, I progressed through multiple Mathews bows over the next couple decades until acquiring the aforementioned Chill in 2014.

bouchard-new-bow-bear
In 2018, I took this Michigan black bear with the Monster Chill, my “Old Faithful” as I called it.

From an opening-day Michigan doe on Oct. 1, to a great Michigan 8-pointer on Oct. 17 to a beautiful South Dakota buck on Dec. 9, the Chill and I got off to a fast start that fall. I even had a chance to chase a Michigan bear with that bow and was lucky enough to connect with a great bruin in September of 2018. That bow traveled with me several more times to South Dakota and on countless hunts in my home state of Michigan. We were a well-oiled machine, to the point that the bow became a proverbial “extension of my body.” And yet, as much I loved the Chill, I also knew that years of technological advancement had gone by in the compound bow world and that meant, sooner or later, it would be time to level up.

Change Is Good

I know I am far from the only hunter who gets nostalgic when it comes to hunting gear — especially gear that has played a pivotal role in so much success. How many hunters look at grandpa’s old rifle as the “holy grail” of their firearms collection? At the same time, I bet most of those same hunters grab a different rifle from the case when opening day of deer season rolls around. Why? The answer is simple; whether in firearms or archery gear, there are many advantages to be had in upgrading to the latest and greatest gear. For me and my bowhunting, that meant staying on the Mathews train and getting a Phase 4. For the first time in my 45 years of life, I actually walked into a pro shop, plunked my money down on the counter and purchased a brand-new, flagship bow!

So, why should you upgrade? Well, for starters, new stuff is fun! I loved opening that box and seeing the new bow in all its glory. Let’s be honest; I know performance is the key to getting the job done, but you can’t deny that some of the new bows out there are just so cool-looking. This aspect alone is enough to promote more practice. I know having a new bow has encouraged me to shoot more. Of course, it takes a while to get used to the new setup, but it is also just fun to try something new. Like getting a new car, it always feels like you just learned how to drive again when you hop in for the first time. There are a new look, feel and variety of new accessories that take some time to get used to. The bow offers so many advantages over the 10-year-old model it replaced, but that is just the start.

bouchard-new-bow-deer
On Nov. 4, 2023 — after I finished writing this article — the Phase 4 and I punched our first tag together. This fine Michigan buck was cruising through a swamp looking for a hot doe when it passed by my stand. The Phase 4 and I both performed flawlessly, picking up right where the Chill and I left off!

Upgrading to all-new accessories was something I decided to do as well. This again has created a much more interactive off-season for me. As mentioned earlier, having new gear requires some getting used to it, but it also creates interest in trying new things. I have discovered a sight that I prefer much more than the previous sight used. I have also found a stabilizing system that is much sturdier and more user-friendly. A new nose button has found its way onto my string as well, providing a more efficient method of double-checking my anchor point for repeatable accuracy. This has made this off-season a very enjoyable experience, resulting in tighter groups and more joy in archery.

Time Marches On

The big question — I’d argue even bigger than our gear — is, “How will WE perform this season?” Good bowhunters have intimate knowledge of the equipment they use. I believe it is because we have to get intimate with the animals we pursue in order to make a shot. Oh, I know long-range shooters also have this intimate connection with their rifles and need to know every aspect of their chosen rifle; however, we as bowhunters provide the energy for the bow. Without us using our strength and transferring it into that arrow, a bow is nothing.

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I also realize some hunters have bows much older than my Chill and that I am being a little overly dramatic in regards to the “Old Faithful.” Still, in terms of archery technology, it is old! I was recently at a yard sale and found an even earlier Mathews model I owned back in the day. Handling it, I could vividly remember back to the day when I dreamed about owning one while staring at an advertisement in Bowhunter. Now it sat next to an old blender like a forgotten, old relic, available to anyone willing to cough up a couple bucks and take it off the homeowner’s hands.

Time marches on, and so should you. Upgrading is fun. If done properly, it can provide a significant boost to your shooting enjoyment and effectiveness. With each incremental improvement in your gear and your technique comes more confidence. And with more confidence comes more success. All good bowhunters know that when the moment of truth arrives and you draw that string back to the corner of your mouth, you don’t want any doubts in your mind.

This is why I was so hesitant about my recent upgrade in the first place. I had the utmost confidence in that old Chill and didn’t want to start over. I now realize that was just useless worry, because I have done nothing but enjoy the new experience with the Phase 4. It was a great excuse to consume gear reviews from magazines and online videos, conduct my own trial and error experiments and gain a better understanding of my equipment and how it works. Returning to Roy Hobbs from the beginning of the article, when confronted with the disaster that had just unfolded with his reliable Wonder Boy, did he panic? No, he did not. He looked at the bat boy and uttered the famous words, “Pick me out a winner, Bobby.” The rest is cinematic history.

When it comes time to retire your trusty, old bow in favor of a newer model, don’t fret. Every new bow is an opportunity to add additional chapters to your personal bowhunting history. I for one can’t wait to see what’s in store for my Phase 4 and me. Maybe its history will be even richer than that of the Chill. That is a story yet to be written…




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