As I’ve walked the path of a bowhunter gear has always been something I’ve paid close attention to. If I don’t have trust in my tools then my confidence tends to crumble and it’s not a pretty place to be mentally. Release aids are no exception to this and for most of my bowhunting journey, I’ve been a fan of the index-style release. To be fair, I still am. They’re incredibly practical for bowhunting. Both time and experience have a way of changing things though. Sometimes, for the better. Since then I’ve tried thumb buttons and hinge release aids too. All have taught me something.
If you clicked on this article, you already know that I switched to a hinge release for bowhunting. I want to tell you why, though. The best way for me to start that process is to briefly tell you about how I’ve come to use certain releases through time. These previous experiences are what I’ve built my decision on today.
Like most folks out there, my first archery release aid was an index release. I had great luck with this and the transition from using a gun to using my bow was an easy one because of this style of release aid. The problem was, I never truly learned the proper way to use an index release and, because of that, developed a pretty nasty case of target panic.
In order to beat the target panic I tried all manner of things that lent towards me still using the index. I could not break my mind though. This led me to change the entire process and switch to a thumb release. Only this time, before I ever used it myself, I got some coaching on how to do it properly. I experienced a lot of success with a thumb release until breaking my front teeth with it. My d-loop slipped between the tooth and body of release and the button hit me square in the teeth. The button still has a white mark on it and it rests on my desk.
After the dental visit, I committed myself to learning how to use an index. Because of the mental foundation I had built via the thumb, I was now able to achieve this. For many years I felt automatic with an index.
Throughout this entire time, I did play around with a hinge release every now and then. I loved the mental side of the hinge. With both the index and the thumb I shot with a surprise shot. So, a hinge was fairly easy for me to use, but I never thought they were practical for bowhunting. I felt I had to intentionally think about hooking it to the d-loop and I couldn’t set it to hang from the d-loop either. Plus, the click. Sheesh, I really hated that thing, so I tried without a click, but would always end up at full draw way too long. This all changed recently.
Evolution Outdoors came out with the Ibex Hinge Release in late 2023 and my mind started to race. The features of this hinge dispelled all of my worries about using a hinge release for bowhunting. You can lock it on the d-loop. Hooking to the d-loop wasn’t a process I had to really think about. And the click? With the Ibex, it’s inaudible, so it didn’t make me flinch. And I could even rotate back over it should I want to reset my shot. It’s like it was made for me. I could benefit from the mental side I love about a hinge without any of the worry I previously had for using it while bowhunting. My commitment to switching began.
The first reason I switched to a hinge release for bowhunting is the consistency with shot execution. Because, of the “click” I know that I am starting from the same exact position every time at full draw. This allows me to perform a much smoother and cleaner shot process, even with it being a surprise shot, which I prefer. It’s how I hunted with an index and thumb, so this side of things is no different, other than the fact I have much more mental clarity behind the Ibex.
Another reason is accuracy. My accuracy via a hinge is so much more consistent, so why wouldn’t I want to take that into an archery hunt? It doesn’t make sense not to and I reaped the benefits of that accuracy this past January in Arizona. At 45 yards I absolutely dot-shot a Coues buck and he made it 23 yards before taking his last step. Accuracy is my number 1 thing when it comes to my bow setup.
The features of the Ibex were a selling point on their own, but another reason I made the switch to a hinge, in general, is the natural feel it gives. I’ve always felt much more natural at full draw with a handheld release as opposed to an index. A handheld allows me to anchor more comfortably and open my hand a bit more, which feels much more natural.
To be stuck in your ways is to turn your back from evolving your skill. I’m not saying you need to jump on every new thing that comes your way, but I am saying to have an open mind to things. I used to say I’d never use hinge release aids for bowhunting and here I am. At the end of the day, I want to be the best bowhunter I can be. In light of that, the hinge will be at my side along with a boat load of confidence for the moment of truth.
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