Setting up a Bowhunting Rig

By Outdoor Life Online Editor
August 25, 2008
To efficiently set-up a hunting rig, it's advisable to use a bow vise. Our new bow is clamped into place in a table mounted vise. Now we have a steady platform to work from.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The arrow rest is assembled and installed onto the bow's riser. Gus snug's it down but does not tighten it completely.Outdoor Life Online Editor
With the rest installed, a small 360-degree bubble level is placed on the bows cable slide. The bow is then leveled in the vise assuring all the important components are installed plumb.Outdoor Life Online Editor
With the bow perfectly square in the vise, the bubble is next moved to the arrow rest. The arrow rest is now leveled.Outdoor Life Online Editor
A laser is rigidly mounted on the bows riser in the tapped sight mounting holes. The laser provides positive proof that all of the components are in line with each other.Outdoor Life Online Editor
An arrow is placed into the arrow rest; its purpose is to help set the bows center-shot.Outdoor Life Online Editor
A nock loop is tied on. Note that only the top half of the loop is tied for now- allowing us to position the loop in the perfect place on the string. Correct nock positioning is critical to a good shooting bow.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The laser is shot down the length of the arrow shaft and the arrow rest is adjusted so it is in perfect alignment with the string. When correct centershot is achieved, the rest is tightened.Outdoor Life Online Editor
A bubble level is placed on the arrow shaft.Outdoor Life Online Editor
Gus reads the level and adjusts the previously installed nock loop. He adjusts the loop so it is just a bit nock-high for good arrow flight out of the bow.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The lower side of the nock loop is tied and the loop is tightened using a pair of needle nose pliers. A tight nock loop insures it doesn't creep while shooting.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The laser is removed and the sight is installed in its place.Outdoor Life Online Editor
Gus lines the sight pins up with the bows string. In essence, this is the same as bore sighting a rifle- its gets the bows windage (left and rights) relatively close.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The quiver mounting bracket is installed onto the sight bracket.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The bow sling is placed onto the stabilizer mounting threads and is threaded into the bows riser. Both are snugged down to prevent the sling from moving or the stabilizer from vibrating.Outdoor Life Online Editor
Gus adjusts the length of the sling to fit the customer's hand.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The last step is to serve the peep sight in. Gus uses a bow press to simplify to process.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The bows limbs are pressed until there is no tension on the string.Outdoor Life Online Editor
The bow string is separated directly in the middle. The peep sight is then slipped into the newly formed opening.Outdoor Life Online Editor
With the peep installed, it is served into place to ensure it doesn't move.Outdoor Life Online Editor

Bow expert Gus Edwards, owner of Autumn Sky Outfitters walks us through his routine for setting up a tack-driving hunting machine.

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