String Tracker? Are they still around

[tx_poptart]

exactly like that! I think I am going to give it a try and see what I think. I guess you just have to buy replacement spools to put in there after every shot? Wonder if the animal gets to the end of the string on a dead run if you should just hold on for deer life or let go of the bow and watch it drag.

I think there is enough string for a couple of shots, as long as you don't have a long track job...And I don't think when it gets to the end that it will jerk you outta your tree stand....

[Codie]

I think there is enough string for a couple of shots, as long as you don't have a long track job...And I don't think when it gets to the end that it will jerk you outta your tree stand....

I know, I was just funnin around. I am sure the string would just break loose from the spool and you would have to go find the string at that point if the deer traveled farther than the length of the string. Do you know who makes this model string tracker

[tx_poptart]

It was originally made by "Game Tracker" I don't even know if that company is around anymore.......

[TX_Kevin]

Wonder if the animal gets to the end of the string on a dead run if you should just hold on for deer life or let go of the bow and watch it drag.

No, you just reel him back in!

[cheez]

I tried one once. If I can find it you can have it but I'm pretty sure I tossed it in the trash. I shot a buck and he took off like a scalded cat and never slowed down. The string was whizzing out of that thing like you wouldn't believe. The deer never slowed down but the string finally snagged on something and broke. I thought it was a good shot but never found the buck

[Cotton]

I played around with one 5 or 6 years ago. I think they would work fine with a 500 grain arrow shooting less than 200 fps much like the bows that were used when this product came out.

Shooting a 380 grain arrow at 280 fps I hit at least a foot low at 20 yards on my first shot. Using the same spool my second shot hit 10 feet in front of the target, the string came out in clumps.

IMO they were not designed for the speed of today's newer bows.

Buff sang the praises of the Bow Bug as best I can remember, maybe he'll pipe in.

[huntinfool]

I have one still in the package sitting on a peg in my shop.

[IDAHO_BOWMEN]

Codie I had a guy out about a month ago and he had one. He shot a couple hog with it and it worked great, made my job easy. I think he had one made by Eastman.

[Bisch]

I have used one many times with traditional bows hunting pigs at night. It worked great for me. I still lost a few pigs with it because of bad shot placement or the string breaking or both. I believe that shot place ment is the paramount thing to animal recovery. A bad shot with a string tracker is still going to end up with a lost animal. I also believe that shot placement is often not exactly where we think it is when we see the shot. If you start filming animals shot with a bow and use the slow motion you will oftentimes see things that you could not see when you took the shot. No one likes to lose an animal less than me. It burns me up, esp. if I know it was my fault. I also think that sometimes the animal can do you wrong. By that I mean that you can do everything right, and every once in a while the animal will do something to mess things up. Any way, losses are part of bowhunting. Your job is to do everything in your power to make everything right to keep losses to a minimum.

Bisch

[Hughiam]

String Trackers

We swore by them up North especially for bears or hunting deer on rainy days with no snow. Up to 30 yards they do not affect arrow flight provided you buy the correct model. Get the one that has the dog leg in the rod and holds the spool above the arrow. I used them many times on deer in the swamps of Michigan and just followed the string to the dead deer. Or at least it would get you pointed in the right direction. They are not good for stalking as you would catch your string on everything. I shoot a 475 grain arrow at 256fps with fixed blade heads and have not had prblems.

You can get two different sizes one is 1000 feet and the other is 2500 feet. You can shoot them several times before they run out.

Hugh

[Draco]

I've used them for thirty years and have had no problems when using them in a stand. They have saved me plenty. I don't notice any drop or arrow flight problems to about 25 yds. I have shot deer to 32 yds. with the string. My friend Andy shot a doe in the liver last year and she took almost all the line and died out in a 57 acre field that was head high in hay grazer. Put his hand around the string and walked right to her. With turkeys and hogs they are the thing to have. If your hunting out of a stand, you can't go wrong with one in my opinion.

Some advice. Always buy the 2500'. You get more shots out of a spool and it's still 17# test. Always buy the white. The orange sticks a little and doesn't shoot as well. The white looks like a white lazer in the moon light and late in the evening. You will know where you hit as the string is coming out so easy, a wad shows up on the animals side for a split second before they leave.

[rocky]

Codie, I still have 3 in the package at the shop.
Eastman Gametrackers ( same company as Carbon Express)
I think it has 1700 ft of 17 lb test and works by the string coming off the spool internally I think?

[Ricky T]

Good report, Draco. Very informative.

[helibow]

I have both the bow bug and a string tracker... Cody, PM me, if i've still got the string tracker i'll mail it to you. The bow bug in the early days had it's issues, I have it and have used it a couple of times with moderate success. What it helps me really do is cut down on the 3 miles of zig zag and gets me on a straight line to the pig... or the transmitter. I"ve never found just the transmitter though - it gets you in the immediate area.

[Draco]

Another thing the string tracker does is tell you where the deer goes to feel safe, usually back the way they came to your stand.

I shot a big nine point in the lower front leg one time and he took almost all the string out, about 700 yds. He traveled up a little rough draw and topped out on a little ridge. When I got there he slipped off the other side. I put a ladder stand at the head of that draw and went back there a week later and killed him the first time I sat it. That string told me his evening travel route.