ARROW BUILDING 101 : Does your fletching fly off when you take a shot?

Your on the line in a tournament, drawn back, locking down on the target, taking the shot only to watch  your vanes disconnect from your arrow and scatter all over the place. Or even worse, having the perfect kill shot in the field and having this happen to you. Most archers blame the vanes and the glues and sometimes that may your issue. But generally I have learned that a dirty arrow is most likely the culprit.

Today I would like to explain the importance of proper shaft cleaning for vane adhesion.

A lot of archers don’t understand that cleaning the arrow shaft prior to fletching is the most important step in arrow building.  It’s like washing your hands before eating dinner. You should always clean the arrow shaft before fletching your vanes.

First, start by scraping off the old fletching and glue residue from the shaft.

            - scrub the arrow shaft to take off all of the stubborn glue.

You can simply use ajax and a scotchbrite pad. Being sure to rinse the residue clean.

AAE manufactures a products called ‘Max Clean’ which is an eco-friendly arrow rinsing solution, it removes dirt, oils and grease from the arrow. You will still need to scrub it with a scotch brite pad when using Max Clean.

Let the arrow AIR DRY.

*some paper towels are chemically treated to make them softer and a regular towel may have laundry soap or fabric softener residues in it. Which will put oils right back onto the shaft you just cleaned. It’s a vicious circle.

Also, most vanes come “activated” from the manufacturer and do not require any type of other cleaning or additives (except putting the glue on)

I strongly discourage using alcohol or acetone! These chemicals immediately strip off any activator the manufacturer puts on the vanes.

Be sure your glue and vane material work together. You can’t just use any old super glue to make the vanes stick to your arrow.

For example: AAE Plastifletch vanes and Max Bond Glue are specially formulated to work together. The high viscosity liquid is easy to work with and penetrates into the Elastimax material. It’s best to find glue that is formulated for the specific plastic material of the vanes you are using. Each adhesive on the archery market today is completely different from the next. There are literally hundreds of different Cyanoacrylate adhesives available.

You may have to experiment or simply follow the manufacturer recommendations on which adhesive works best with each vane. After fletching you should be able to tug on the vanes and they will not ‘break off’ or disconnect. This is how I personally check my arrows before I shoot. Starting with a clean arrow shaft makes for better vanes adhesion and gives me more confidence when taking a shot.  

-A. Hudson

http://www.arizonaarchery.com/

Ellison Takes Second World Cup Final | News | USA Archery

Ellison Takes Second World Cup Final News USA Archery

6 tips when Bowhunting Elk

To Harvest Elk successfully, you must have a plan to outsmart them and you should practice, often.

Location:
When picking a hunting location, you want to make sure your stand has some of the several necessities. First you need to be able to access your stand without spooking the elk. This is one of the harder items to accomplish. One way to help accomplish this is to cut a path to your tree stand during the summer. You also will need at least two stands for different wind directions. Also, you will need a location where elk will pass within thirty yards of your tree stand during shooting hours.


Pack Light:
Another tactic is packing light so you can do more stalking and still hunting. What you need for this set up is a light tree climber and the minimum of gear so you are not dragged down during your hunt. To be successful you need to hunt slowly and patiently so you do not spook or miss elk. Dress accordingly for the weather.

Safety:
The little things add up to be very important and can be the difference between a shot and staring at a shadow as the elk stampede away from you. First thing to do once up in your stand is check your safety harness and your bow to make sure they are functioning properly and that you can make a complete draw and release without getting caught up on the tree.

Scents:
Smells go a long way. Elk can smell you, your body odor and your gear. They heavily rely on their sense of smell, it is their best defense. You should utilize scent elimination sprays, soaps, deoderants, etc. You should also shower, bottom line. You cannot go on 2 week hunt and not wash-up. Elk also give off a musky odor themselves, if there is a herd nearby you will smell them too. Try putting your nose to the wind and walking into into it.

Know the Land:
To be successful every year, you have to know every foot of the land you are hunting. This allows you to be able to change your plans quickly and to be to know where the most likely places the elk will be during a certain time. To do this you have to be able to observe elk and the signs throughout every season.This knowledge will enable you to be more consistent during the hunt in the coming season.

Start Early:
Trimming shooting lanes and putting up stands several months before the season will help let elk settle down after you disturbed their peace. Also, while you are trimming and setting up stands don’ t forget to make a path to your stand so you can get their quietly. I have seen times when a person does all the work for the season a week before and they don’ t see anything because they have spooked all the elk. Being a successful hunter is not all about luck, it is about the preparation and practice you put in before the season. So, practice, be smart, and harvest an elk this season.


Educate yourself and go into the field with a good understanding of what has worked for other hunters. Bow Hunting season may only be open for a couple of weeks but the hunt goes on year-round. Familarize yourself with the area, the weather, the herds, the water. The more you know, the higher your chances are of being able to choose which Bull you take, not just settle on the only bull you have seen all week.

You should enjoy the experience and also be successful. Its best to maximize your time in the field and increase the quality of your hunt. 

If you are prepared and use good judgement you will be sucessful.
Good Luck!

Hosted by AAE  http://www.arizonaarchery.com/

Elk Hunting In Arizona

The statewide 2011 archery hunting season for Elk opened September 9th. Arizona Hunters must posess a Big Game Hunting License issued by the State and awarded on a lottery system. With the hunt in full swing and Bulls in the rut, we hope to see some amazing animals harvested this year. The hunt is open for 2 weeks.

Elk Facts:
A large bull can weigh up to 1,200 lbs. but usually will range from 600 to 800 lbs. Mature cows will range from 450 to 600 lbs. Elk evolved as distance runners. Elk can approach 40 mph for short periods and nearly 30 mph for longer periods. They are strong swimmers, even calves can swim over a mile. Elk can jump vertically 8 to 10 feet.