Hooked Up

What release aid should I choose for bowhunting? It's a question I'm often asked. My answer is never definitive, as release aids are possibly the most personal and subjective items in one's bowhunting arsenal. Fit and feel seem to be different for everyone.

Therefore, I tell my friends to use whatever feels best to them. However, if they use a bow equipped with a D-loop string attachment, I do guide them toward one feature I've found particularly helpful. I tell them to try an open-hook design before moving on to others. The reason I prefer an open-hook design is simple -- I can load it onto my D-loop without having to take my eyes off the target. The ability to do so eliminates movement and allows me to stay focused on my quarry's body language.

Both are big bowhunting benefits. For the last couple years, the open-hook release aid I've preferred has been the Silverhorn from Scott Archery. Now, a new release has me thinking about switching. Like the Silverhorn, Scott's new Rhino XT features an easy-to-load, open-hook design with an extreme forward trigger to maximize draw length and is available in Scott's solid, four-hole connection system or the micro-adjustable NCS Nylon Connection System.

The big changes come by way of the Rhino XT's new, spring-loaded hook and single-sear trigger mechanism. Most open-hook release designs require the shooter to re-engage the hook after each shot. The Rhino XT does not. The spring-loaded hook system automatically re-engages following each shot for even quicker and easier loading.

The single-sear trigger mechanism is similar to the system used on most back-tension release aids, creating a clean-break feel with little or no trigger travel. Hooking up to your bowhunting rig should be quick and effortless, and it is with the new Rhino XT.

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Contact: Scott Archery, 101 Tug Branch Rd. Clay City, KY 40312; 606-663-2734; www.scottarchery.com