Shoot Through Mesh Question

[jerp]

I don't use it because I don't see through it very well - messes up my depth perception for some reason. May just be my aging eyeballs.....

[SaltwaterSlick]

Back when I shot feathers for fletching, I shot several animals through the mesh, one being my second largest buck. Shot numerous turkeys through it. However when I switched to blazer vanes, I tried it a few times, and it just did not work for me... poor arrow flight... The feathers would just collapse easily, but those blazers are pretty stiff and when they hit the hole the broadhead made (using big snuffers), it made the arrows start to fishtail badly and fly far off target so I quit trying. I would think a low profile broadhead would cause you problems if you shoot vanes. That would mean the vanes would have to tear through the mesh and that can't be good for down range arrow flight.

[TB80]

As others have said, I don't shoot through it due to not wanting to take the risk. I just take the mesh down in the areas I need to view.

One thing I would recommend is wearing a black top and black facemask. You will blend in better.

[Kdub]

I have been shooting fixed blades thru it for years with no ill effects. I shoot slick tricks and blazer vanes. I have had problems with the morning sun glare with them from time to time. I like being able to move around a little without being seen.

[grizzman]

As long as I'm using Fixed BHs I'm fine. I have killed deer shooting through mesh.

[rladner]

Generally, I pull it down for deer and hogs, just because, one less thing to worry about. But with Turkeys and their eyesight I shoot through it and so far have had zero problems. They have all been with fixed broadheads though.

[WolfKat]

I've never had an issue with shoot through mesh, but I'd recommend taking a few practice shots out of the blind just to give you peace of mind.

[Shane]

I've never had a problem shooting through mesh. Knock yourself out.

The main thing to remember, especially if you are going to peel the mesh off and shoot through an open window, is that you need to spray paint the window flaps black (flat black paint). If you leave the window flaps camo and then you show up to hunt and open them up, the deer will freak out when they walk up and see a big black hole that they never saw before. You need to get them use to seeing a black hole where the windows are. If you paint the window flaps black, it doesn't look any different when you open the windows. Problem solved.

I like to paint the mesh black too, as that cuts way down on the glare that the camo mesh has in sunlight. If you're going to peel the mesh down anyway, you don't have a glare issue. But you still want the windows to be black all the time, not just when you're hunting.

[Slick8]

I'm going to give it a try after what happened last year. This was a bad spot for me where mesh may have helped.

I was 08:00 with the morning with sun shining directly into my blind. The deer heard my arrow squeak on the launcher, mesh wouldn't have helped that. What I feel mesh would have helped is in the following seconds. I believe that I came to full draw with the bow near the windows edge was the issue. He could then see my hand and bow right in the window with direct sunlight on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75dmmM4pZuA

[BrianL]

Ive shot several critters thru it with slick tricks. The only problem I had was when I was looking into the sunrise thru the mesh at a big fella. Couldnt see him well enough as the sun hit it and had a bad glare. When I went to move it down, an unseen doe spooked. Game over.

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312673&highlight=glare

Paint the inside of the mesh. It helps a lot.

I have shot thru the mesh many times with FB and never an issue. I wouldn't suggest it with MB though.

[Horitexan]

I use shoot through mesh a LOT, personally. Many of my clients are scared/skeptical of it but it's unnecessary, IF:

1. Your bow is properly tuned and shoots bullets through paper
2. You use a fixed blade.
3. The mesh is taught - if it's loose and flopping around it doesn't work well
4. Your fletchings are glued down properly - especially at the front ends. I use a drop of glue on the leading edge of each fletching. This also helps fletchings stay in place on pass through shots.

The advantage is what you can get away with in the blind. Even with a hole or a corner folded down, when you move into that hole to take a shot you're movement will be MUCH easier for the deer to see.

The drawback is that it will cut about 10 minutes off the first and last shooting light. To compensate for this, I will cut a 3.5" square into the window; but I cut only the top and 2 sides of the square, leaving the bottom intact. This makes a flap that flops down and I can keep it up, and in place, with a sewing pin or clothes pin. I can open this hole very quickly and totally silently. It's plenty big for me to cover a large amount of my shooting lane for a last minute shot when i can't see well through the mesh itself. I've rarely had to use it.

You DO NOT need to replace mesh after every shot. I can place a LOT of shots through a single piece of mesh. Just move your chair an inch or so and start shooting through different parts of the mesh. About the only time you will shoot out a mesh window is practicing or after multiple seasons. If you want to practice, use a rear window that you will probably never shoot through in the field anyway.

Once you get used to the mesh you will love it and will miss it any time you don't have it! Getting used to it is no big deal and not nearly as hard as learning to shoot from a tree stand properly.

When we filmed an episode of Bow Madness last December I made them shoot through mesh, that they were very skeptical of, and they were shocked at how well it worked. Try shooting through an open window or big hole in the mesh with 15 deer standing in front of the blind within 25 yards! Pretty durn hard. With mesh, it was easy!

[RonaldB]

Yep we shoot all of ours through it. Never had a problem.