Have taken many pretty nice Roosie's through the years and have never missed one because of mechanical failure until this year. I also never really used much mechanical crap on my bow just because if this reason. Last year I went to a release for the first time ever and a drop away rest.
On the last day of the season, in September, I was hunting back home, in Forks, and was in my typical spot. Had a bull bugling So I went after it and, eventually, cow talked it in to 30 yards. I had to wait about 15 minutes for him to turn broadside, and then let 'er rip. Nothing. The bull ran off over a little knoll, about 15 feet from where he was.
I waited. About 5 or 6 minutes later, he came back out about 5 yards further away. I had time to range him as he was not looking at me. 35.6 yards. I waited as he was now behind a little tree. After about 20 minutes he turned back around and walked through a big opening. I let out a little grunt in my throat and he stopped and looked at me. I drew back, aimed carefully, let go thinking that this time, for sure, that I would here the definite sound of elk body. Instead, I heard nothing.
The bull went back over the little knoll and bugled. I was perplexed. I just stood there not knowing what to do. I have taken 10 5 point or better bulls and this is the ffirst time that I never new what to do after a shot. He finally walked off all full of himself, bugling and being an elk, and I just watched him go knowing that something was wrong.
Been practicing with my other bow for the late deer season, and never took this bow out to see what was wrong. Actually, over the last two months, I convinced myself that I just screwed up. Tonight, finally, I decided to shoot this bow and see what what would happen. At 30 yards I shot 2 1/2 feet high and 1 foot to the left.
Started checking my bow out, just like I did in the woods that day in September, sights all tight, wth? Looked at the rest and wow! It was just hanging there, nearly completely off of where it mounts
The rest is a G5 Expert II. I really like this rest, well, I did like it. Now not so sure. On the pivot, where it screws to the mount, there is a screw that runs through the internal spring, whch activates the fall. This screw was nearly out. I took it in and tightened it and then my fall away would not fall. If I keep it back out a bit it works, but the screw is loose
.
So, thinking what I should do, I grabbed my wife's bow, which has the same rest, and guess what? Same friggin thing. The screw is nearly out.
Now, because I love this rest, I am going to try to put it back almost tight with some loc-tite and hope for the best.
I missed a nice 5-point that would have been pushing 270 P&Y, wide open, twice, and well within range all because I went to mechanical crap.
I probably should just put my Whisker Bisquit back on
This does, though, confirm to me that I hope this state keeps mechanical broadheads illegal. I am sorry to be like this but I truly feel that when things get to complicated, they just tend to mess up more, or at least, have more of a chance to mess up. I just consider myself very lucky that I did not wound that bull and he walked away unscathed.
