elk hunting bow?

I am going to be replacing my hoyt trykon xl this year as I just found out I drew the breaks in Montana for elk this fall for the second time and I need a bow that is lighter to carry around and easier to shoot at long distances. I have only had 3 bows and they have all been hoyts so I am partial to them but am open to shooting any brand. I am looking for feedback as far as pro's and con's of the new bows that are on the market...I will take the time to shoot them all and realize it will simply come down to which one feels better when I shoot it but any help would be appreciated. thanks, Adubs

I've had some very good success with a switchback xt the short length is extemely nice as most of my hunts have been spot and stalk,nice soft backwall for all the draw and letdown ,then draw again etc.. situations.....no jerk, no sharp break, just smoooooth.....still my go to bow

Congrats Adubs. My arrows will have Slick Tricks on them as well this Sept in CO. Hoyt makes a darn nice bow, you should have a bunch of good years with it. Good luck on your trip!

well I picked up my new hoyt vector 32 last night! shooting the easton axis fmj's out of it with 100grain slick tricks. Should be a great combo for our elk hunts and couldn't be more excited about it. I shot the pse, bowtech, heli-m, and the carbon element and at the end of the day it truly came down to my comfort level with the hoyt grip. All of them (shot back to back to back to back at the same shop and same time) were smooth to draw, great back wall, quiet and of course fast. I would have been happy with any of them but I just couldn't give up the hoyt name after all, it's what I've hunted with for the last 18 years. Just couldn't justify the extra $450 for the carbon element! Nice bow but not that much nicer than the vector.... Hopefully I'll have a picture of it laying on a rib cage of a big ol' wapiti in the middle of september! Adubs

A 12" stabilizer still does not stick out as far as your arrow before you draw. Most bows weigh within a pound of each other so by picking lighter accessories you will keep your overall weight down. Longer stab is where it's at for stability.

I can certainly understand the benefits of a long stabilizer, although while in the field chasing elk, (crawling/shooting around and under tree limbs, etc.,) the less "stuff" hanging on the bow, the better. I wouldn't worry too much about a pound or two difference. As I said below...shoot what works best. As you know Adubs, chances of having the "perfect" stance and position is very unlikely when it's go time!!

So whats the point of buying a light bow if you have to add weigths to hold it steady. Why not just buy a heavier bow. Or am i missing something?

Adubs...I don't have much to add regarding what bow to buy because you pretty much summed it up by trying several, then go with what feels best. Most of the new bows out there right now are so close, it's really up to the person shooting. I think there's too much hype anyway regarding new technology, etc., I know you're a seasoned "hunter", so don't go down the rat hole of chasing what bow is best on the range...the one in the field and the one you shoot best is the right one. Best of luck Aaron, and congrat's on the draw!!!

drummer & catchin' Thanks for your feedback and to a certain extent I absolutely agree with you on the heavier bow not moving as much but it's also a little bit slower shooting around 280fps... I already own a good eberlestock pack and it's great for gear and meat but I want my bow accessible and in my hands if I slip and fall. It has the ability to strap into my pack but I've never felt comfortable strapping it in. I would like a bow that is a little lighter and just as importantly faster for those longer shots. It's not that I want to stretch my distance out further, it's more about less drop at the current distances I shoot b/c even with a good nikon range finder sometimes they move quickly or it happens fast and a guy needs to have a little room for error on the distance... As for the unit, we hunt the 600's north of fort peck lake. Thanks again, Adubs

i'll second that drummer boy, stick with the heavy bow you are now using,having also done a fair share of bow elk hunts myself I'll add get a decent pack that will handle a bow,Eberlestock has several for this purpose, some being use rifle/bow...good luck... bow hunting rut crazed bulls is a adrenalin trip

What unit did you draw, back in the 90's i had 4 trips out there for elk.Now I take a boat out there and rifle hunt for deer.As far as a bow, I understand wanting a light bow because of the walking you have to do out there.But light bows are generally not as easy to shoot at long distances,they just do not hold as well especially in the wind and there always is some wind out there.I personally would get a longer bow that would weigh a little more and just carry it over my shoulder.What ever you decide to do Good luck.