This is my first post here, so forgive me if I ask the same questions that were answered last month. I'm looking for a really good Bow hunting rig. I just bought a 2008 Bowtech Commander that should be arriving in the next week or so. I will primarily be hunting from a treestand in Alabama. The Bow is pretty long at right around 37.5", but should be a little more forgiving and will work out nice if I get involved with 3d after hunting season. But again, the bow will be set up for deer hunting from a stand. Anyhow, I looking for a really good set up, one that I won't want to replace with something nicer in a few months. I figure if go ahead and spend the extra money on some top of the line components now, and will cost me less in the long run. The bow will pretty much need everything (sight, rest, release,etc). Right now I'm thinking about a G5 XR sight, but I'm not committed yet. Can you guys please give me some opinions on the best Bowhunting Rig? Thanks for your time in advance-----Chris

Chris,
I am not sure anyone can define what is the best but I can tell you what I use. I too have a commander and it works out great, as for the legnth just check all the limbs in the tree before you hunt and make sure you have plenty of room and trim as needed. The commander is the best feeling bow I have put in my hands in 14 years of bowhunting, it is quiet, plenty fast, produces plenty of KE without any hand shock. I took two hogs with it a couple weeks ago with some very large mechanical heads and got complete pass through's on both hogs and one of them wasa pretty big boar, you should be very pleased with this bow for sure....
As for equipment:
Sights- Trophyridge 5 pin with a light, I went to these when they first came out and I truly like the fact that it has vertical .019 pins, it really opens up the view through your sight window, I have these on both of my bows..

Rest: I am using the trophyridge drop zone, I bought this bow early this year off this site and this rest was on it. I have always been a bodoodle shooter but I have been really impressed with the dropzone, simple design, zero noise and it has yet to fail to work and I have also replaced the bodoodle on my other bow with the drop zone....

Release: I have shot a scott for about 14 years now!!!

I also have a mean-v string supressor...

Quiver: I bought the Alpine soft-loc and I am on the fence with this quiver as of right now. I have always used a quiver that only has one set of arrow finger, I will use this one through the rest of this year and decide if I am going to keep it or not. I have noticed that I am having a hard time getting arrows out quietly having two sets of arrow fingers, maybe I will get used to it, if not I willlook for another for next season...



Again, I am not saying that this equipment is the best out there by no means, this is what I shoot and I tried to give you a couple reasons why I like them but not everyone will like every piece of equipment out there the same..Ultimately, the decision comes down personal preference...Congrats on a heck of a bow and happy shooting....

Firstly welcome to the board.

Why a Kanga Custom Long Bow of course.

But in all seriousness there is no best bow for everyone, what might be the best bow for me might be a crap bow for you.

The best thing you can do is make up a list of what you want in a hunting bow. Once you have that list make up a list of bows that have the critera of what you are looking for then go and shoot them, one of the bows on your list is going to jump up and say " Hey baby I'm for you"

Just dont buy the first bow you shoot because you will only start second guessing yourself if indeed it is the right bow for you.

Kanga, I think the kid means the set up and not the bow, he's got a commander on the way.
But like Kanga says, it come down to simple pointers, what you like and what you can afford.
I can give you some advice the people on the HNI gave me and were helpful to me;
Sight;
bright thin pins, with easy adjustment, like the G5 optix range ( the light come in handy, even at the range sometimes )
Rest;
dropaways are the way to go, so anything with full containment or not, like the much adored limbdriver rests of the QAD ultra rests.
String suppressor;
this is one piece of kit you won't think of needing but when you have one, you'll never want a bow without one. You can ask MeanV or go to his website.
They work great.
Stabilizer;
this in addition to a Stringsuppressor will make your bow dead in your hands, shockfree and more quiet.
Quiver; two or one piece, depends on if you want to detach your quiver and hang it in your stand with the arrows in it. Quickee or Octane maybe...
release;
try one with symetric jaws and adjustable strap on the head and around the wrist, try to stay away from velcro cuz' it's noisy sometimes.
Arrows;
this depends on personal preference, I shoot Easton full metal jacket Axis arrows, I don't like carbon because you need to check them after you hit something, they can splinter or break and give nasty injuries. Just make sure they are properly spined for your bow and cut at the right length.
Broadheads;
same here, depends on what you wanna wack and how much you're willing to spend. Some namedropping; Muzzy's, Slick Tricks or mechanicals, like the Rage Bheads. I can say that the Slick tricks fly like fieldpoints.
Vanes;
I prefer the blazer vanes above all, if you want broadheads that'll fly straight.
You could try and fletch yourself, it's not that difficult with the right tools.
Some small things you'll need, stringwax, gorrillagrip tool and an arrowpulling rubber.

any other questions, feel free to ask and welcome to HNI.

Frank
Belgium