Im wondering how many hunt without string silencers on their bow? What are your thoughts about this?

It's looking like very few, if any.

I think the Native Americans hunted without string silencers.  They did pretty well for themselves.  Robin Hood too, I would imagine.

Personally, I like as light a puff as I can get.  Less weight less speed reduction.  I'm currently using paracord sheath material, 4x2" at @12-13 grams.  One top and one bottom.  Do a search I've posted it before.

Never found them necessary on my ASL's. Recurves yes I 've used several  kinds.

I had a Hill Redman 70" bow that was so quiet, I never put string silencers on it. Sure wish I had that baby still!

Quote from: McDave on January 26, 2023, 03:48:05 PM
I think the Native Americans hunted without string silencers.  They did pretty well for themselves.  Robin Hood too, I would imagine.

They got by without a lot of things that we find useful.

Don't use them. I do use a heavy string, which does absorb some vibration. They should not be necessary unless your string is slapping the limbs. I always like the idea of a fast bow, with skinny string and a couple of heavy wind socks to deaden the sound

I usually use string silencers on most of my bows, not necessarily to dampen string noise, although that too but because I think they look cool. Not only on my wood bows but also on my Treadway R/D longbow and my Jeffrey's T/D recurve and a few other glass bows I have. 

I like to use silencers for bare shaft tuning, if i am showing a slightly weak or slightly stiff shaft, i can move them closer to the center of the string to stiffen the shaft or away from the center to weaken the shaft. [that's if you get that particular when tuning]. using lighter or heavier silencers can stiffen/weaken a shaft also.

I agree with Pat. I use 1/4" strips of rabbit fur wound just under the splice of  a Flemish string. Jawge

Muskrat, beaver, mink, otter and my favorite, belly hide from a wolf. I don't know if they make much difference at all- I just like the way they look on selfbows!
Honest Jon[attachment=1][attachment=2]

Nice bows, Jon. 

Very nice Jon.

All of my bows wear them, the few fps loss is not a big deal for me. I want my setup as quiet as possible for the hunt.

This guy and others like him, never mentioned anything about lose of fps [attachment=1]

To me it's a risk reward situation. To me they offer more than they hurt so why not. I make my own and try to make them as small as I can. My longbows are so quite and to me that's all I care about. Plus I dig the look of them. Lol.

Agree Tim
My Longbows are VERY quiet properly tuned without any silencers , but....no bow is natually dead quiet without some string silencer of some sort eating that little bit of unused energy .I've never owned nor shot a bow that didn't advance in quietness with the usage of some type of silencer.   

I agree with "seeing no reason "not" to use them". I have used wool-wool blends-catwhiskers-all types of fur-leather-and many other materials over the years.  I prefer fur like muskrat-beaver , but it really doesn't matter in the Big picture.The bow and setup will tell you when you hit the sweet spot ....

...My brown Montana Longbow "Rose" was sporting neon green kitty whiskers this year . Dead quiet Worked just fine..... 

What ta....Who's  that "Old Man" in me pictures ???