So I just got an email from the good folks at Bob Lee that they put my Blackhawk with newly fitted CobraCurve limbs back in the mail to me. Bow will be 60" and 48#. Looking forward to shooting it early next week.
So then I looked at the bow rack during lunch and realized all the pegs were taken. In order to free up space for the Bob Lee recurve, I needed to move one. As I was checking out the bows I haven't shot in quite awhile, me eyes fell on the Back Widow PSAX (62", 46#) that I had unsuccessfully posted in the Classifieds for some time. Got to wondering how it had become a "Rack Queen" pretty much since I successfully hunted with it back in January 2019. Before breaking it down to store in a bow case, I took it out to the driveway for a dozen shots or so. As it always has, the bow performed exceptionally well with wood arrows. So well in fact that I have to replace some nocks this evening. Even shot a pair of broadheads and both found their mark at my typical hunting distance (17-18 yards).
So I got to wondering. How did such a nice bow that I shoot so well become a rack queen? There's no obvious answer. Sometime stuff just happens. And then I got to thinking, is it me or is this a common problem among guys who have multiple bows? I can probably understand a 3-bow rotation (hunting, 3D, indoor target) where the requirements of "the game" lead you to shooting different bows optimzed to the particular situation. And maybe you can justify a couple different styles of hunting bows (ASL, hybrid, recurve) if you're really fickle, but after that, as my wife reminds me, you're really just a hoarder. I try to tell her I am a "collector" but she doesn't buy it.
Okay, so if you're still with me at this point, the question on the table is - What is your favorite "Rack Queen" and why don't you shoot it or sell it?
Hey rob . Your right . I haven’t bin shooting her . Seeing your post I strung her up and took a couple of shots. Surprisingly my shoulder can handle 45 pounds so I think I’ll keep her for a while if I do sell it you’re the one. 👍
It’s a Dave Schulz natural longbow. Beautiful but way too heavy for me it was supposed to be 51 but it came in at 61. At 27
I too am a hoarder! I look at the ones in the closet and think “I need to sell some of those!” Then I look again and say “Nah, I might need them one day!”
As far as rack queen goes, I don’t really have one. I’m a one bow at a time kinda guy. Even for 3D, the two that aren’t my “one bow” at the time only get shot at the shoots and never get practiced with.
You need to bring that Bob Lee with the Cobra Curve limbs to LOR so I can shoot it!
Bisch
About a baker's dozen in possession right now. The "rack queens" are there for typically one of two reasons; either sentiment or one particular case of limb twist that I just don't trust to use or sell with good conscious. Should probably just trash it but that seems as sacrilegious as burning books.
I have a few. My HHA Wesley Special pulls 65# and is just too strong for me now. I also have a HHA Cheetah pulling 55# that doesn't get attention these days, either. They are all great bows. Lastly, I have a R/D Deathwish by Steve Welty at 59# that I've never hunted with but used to shoot 3D with it. I have no good reason for not using them other than I just enjoy my 53# Northern Mist Shelton bows..
Nice looking bows guys. Unfortunately, my favorite isn’t a rack queen by choice. I injured my shoulder about 1.5 years ago, and sent this Kramer Big 5 to a reputable guy for a weight reduction. He called me with some bad news after he started working on it. Something happened and now it won’t stay strung. I’m not blaming him, stuff happens, but I’m obviously bummed because it was one of my favorite bows. Happy hunting everyone!
I might add that the bow doesn't have to actually be hanging on a rack. All those bows some of you have stashed underneath your bed clearly qualify as rack queens.
I think I might propose a test. Try listing the bows you own by make and model without looking at the rack. Then go check your work. Any ones you miss are clearly contenders for the rack queen designation. Or maybe you'll discover a favorite old bow or two that will once again become a regular shooter for you.
I have one. I haven't shot it over a year. Since I have several, I see this one as too pretty to scar up, so she's a fair-weather, just for the fun of it, bow. In truth, however, every bow I own without a straight grip has been relegated to the rack. I blame Nate Steen. 😉
My Bear wood riser fits the definition of “rack queen “. I don’t use it that often, I usually use my Mag riser. My issue is bow weight, i am more comfortable with my 45# bows. The others will slowly go to new homes
Hmmm. Good question. Can't say as I have one right now. Do have one that's a bit on the heavy side for me. Had a Hill that I thought I never would sell, but at the same time, I didn't shoot it that much. Do have other ASLs as well. Anyway, I did sell that bow last year, and now I wish I hadn't. I know the fella I sold it to is really enjoying it though.
Had a few rack queens up until a little over a year ago, when I sold about half my "collection." It was beginning to look like hoarding. Only a dozen or so left now. That can't be considered hoarding, can it?
Just thought of one that might be considered a rack queen. It's a Bighorn TD I had made for me back in '87, I believe. The first custom I had made for me. Shot that bow for about 20 years before it got too heavy for me (60-inch, 65#). However, saw it for sale a couple of years ago with shorter, lighter limbs (56-inch, 54#), and I bought it back. Riser was pretty easy to identify with my name on it. I took the limbs down further to 45#. I do use it for turkey hunting out of pop-up blinds, but it does mostly sit on the rack the other 10-11 months of the year. It's a good shooter. I just prefer a longer bow for most of my hunting and target shooting. Always on the lookout for a lighter set of 60-inch limbs.