Your plains Game Archery set up for 2025

[Adipose]

If you are going to Africa in 2025 what is your planned Archery set up?
For 2024 I used a Matthews 29.5 lift. It was an outstanding bow and the best set up I have shot to date. In saying that, I think all manufacturers have improved year over year in what they offer.
For my hunts in 2025 I have ordered the new Matthews Lift RS. I love short bows, and this one is a bit shorter at 27.75. I am really impressed with the Arc7-limb and the Limb shift feature. This should make a breeze for paper tuning and micro adjustments. the speed is a bit faster at 363 and the weight is a little less at 3.92#. I also ordered the new Bridge lock UV slider. No tools and bigger knobs to tune horizontal or vertical instantly.
Half the fun of any safari is the planning and preparing, so I am anxious to get this bow in to try it out. I only held the demo one a couple months ago at my local dealer, and ordered the new one instantly. So when it comes in, I hope I love it as much as I think I will.
What bow set up will you be using this year?

 

[Joey17]

That RS looks sweet but I’m no good with a real short bow. I’m sticking with my Ventum pro 33 with a UV slider - third sight I’ve had on it but I’m settled for now. And while it’s a bit heavier bow, it does the job for me when I do my part, and is currently sitting around 67 big game harvests for me - use it for all hunts, 81lbs at 30”. Will take quite an impressive new bow development to pry this one from my hands..!

 

[Adipose]

That RS looks sweet but I’m no good with a real short bow. I’m sticking with my Ventum pro 33 with a UV slider - third sight I’ve had on it but I’m settled for now. And while it’s a bit heavier bow, it does the job for me when I do my part, and is currently sitting around 67 big game harvests for me - use it for all hunts, 81lbs at 30”. Will take quite an impressive new bow development to pry this one from my hands..!

I love the short bows for hunting. In the trees, small blinds etc, and certainly better to carry on a stalk. I have a short draw length, 28" so I think that makes a difference. It funny, I think in over 50 years of shooting a bow, I think Hoyt is the only one I can think of that I have never owned. No special reason, just happened that way.
I even brought a Liberty bow over one year as a second bow just to try out and shoot. I guess I just like new toys.

 

[Joey17]

I love the short bows for hunting. In the trees, small blinds etc, and certainly better to carry on a stalk. I have a short draw length, 28" so I think that makes a difference. It funny, I think in over 50 years of shooting a bow, I think Hoyt is the only one I can think of that I have never owned. No special reason, just happened that way.
I even brought a Liberty bow over one year as a second bow just to try out and shoot. I guess I just like new toys.

I can certainly see the allure of the shorter bow for the stalk - thing is, even if I did get the short ata bow, my arrows would hang well beyond the limbs and cams. Weight still a factor, but I don’t like the arrows(either quiver hood or nocks) hanging out for me personally

 

[Adipose]

I can certainly see the allure of the shorter bow for the stalk - thing is, even if I did get the short ata bow, my arrows would hang well beyond the limbs and cams. Weight still a factor, but I don’t like the arrows(either quiver hood or nocks) hanging out for me personally

Yea my arrows are longer on one end than my bow also. For the most part that is only a factor when stalking as I always remove my quiver on stand. I also have not had an issue with these smaller plastic vanes, certainly a lot better than the old days with the longer feather ones.
What are you shooting for broadheads?

 

[Joey17]

Yea my arrows are longer on one end than my bow also. For the most part that is only a factor when stalking as I always remove my quiver on stand. I also have not had an issue with these smaller plastic vanes, certainly a lot better than the old days with the longer feather ones.
What are you shooting for broadheads?

I’ve gone to never removing my quiver, just going for max consistency. If I were to build a new bow today I may even do a 2 piece.

I’ve used a wide variety in my life, but I’ve returned to almost all fixed blades. Once I got it dialed and tuned (and everyone should, even if shooting expandables…), I find them super quiet, sharp, and impeccably reliable. I’ve had great success with the QAD exodus(incredibly cost effective and reliable, very sharp out of box as well), Kayuga Pilot cut gen 2(my go-to for heavy stuff, but with the wide bleeder it’s a great head for PG, whitetail, etc), and Iron Will(pricey but very good - took a kudu at 70 and a zebra at 71 with wide single bevel 150gr this past year). I like strong, non-vented, sharp heads that spin perfect.

I rarely use them but I’ve never had an issue with the g5 megameat and love that head - almost all other expandables have left me less than thrilled at one point or another. If I were to be shooting an expandable that would be my call - I just don’t see the benefit to them really once I get good fixed flying just right.

 

[Adipose]

I’ve gone to never removing my quiver, just going for max consistency. If I were to build a new bow today I may even do a 2 piece.

I’ve used a wide variety in my life, but I’ve returned to almost all fixed blades. Once I got it dialed and tuned (and everyone should, even if shooting expandables…), I find them super quiet, sharp, and impeccably reliable. I’ve had great success with the QAD exodus(incredibly cost effective and reliable, very sharp out of box as well), Kayuga Pilot cut gen 2(my go-to for heavy stuff, but with the wide bleeder it’s a great head for PG, whitetail, etc), and Iron Will(pricey but very good - took a kudu at 70 and a zebra at 71 with wide single bevel 150gr this past year). I like strong, non-vented, sharp heads that spin perfect.

I rarely use them but I’ve never had an issue with the g5 megameat and love that head - almost all other expandables have left me less than thrilled at one point or another. If I were to be shooting an expandable that would be my call - I just don’t see the benefit to them really once I get good fixed flying just right.

I am a fixed blade guy also. I can say I have never actually even shot an expandable out of my bow. I switched to Iron will and few years ago and have never looked back. I know there is a few good heads out there, but when something works I stick with it.
My wife used expandables in the crossbow she borrowed in Africa last year and they worked extremely well. She did take an elk and a couple deer this fall with my iron wills when we got back, but I think we are going to keep her with expandables this year in Africa. She is shooting a Ten Point 515.

 

[Joey17]

I am a fixed blade guy also. I can say I have never actually even shot an expandable out of my bow. I switched to Iron will and few years ago and have never looked back. I know there is a few good heads out there, but when something works I stick with it.
My wife used expandables in the crossbow she borrowed in Africa last year and they worked extremely well. She did take an elk and a couple deer this fall with my iron wills when we got back, but I think we are going to keep her with expandables this year in Africa. She is shooting a Ten Point 515.

Marc, you always struck me as someone with excellent judgement, so the IWs are no surprise to me if I had to pick just one for all time, iron will would be my choice.

My old man is handicapped and shoots a ravin crossbow - he shot expandables for a bit but once I got him on QAD exodus and even slick tricks, he’s never looking back. Perfect accuracy and full pass throughs, gotta love that x-bow

 

[mdwest]

I’ll be sticking with my Hoyt axius ultra for now… will probably stick with my Easton arrows tipped with crimson talon cleavers as well… that combo did a serious number on the last blue wildebeest I took with it.. I’ve got full confidence in the rig…

 

[rookhawk]

If you are going to Africa in 2025 what is your planned Archery set up?
For 2024 I used a Matthews 29.5 lift. It was an outstanding bow and the best set up I have shot to date. In saying that, I think all manufacturers have improved year over year in what they offer.
For my hunts in 2025 I have ordered the new Matthews Lift RS. I love short bows, and this one is a bit shorter at 27.75. I am really impressed with the Arc7-limb and the Limb shift feature. This should make a breeze for paper tuning and micro adjustments. the speed is a bit faster at 363 and the weight is a little less at 3.92#. I also ordered the new Bridge lock UV slider. No tools and bigger knobs to tune horizontal or vertical instantly.
Half the fun of any safari is the planning and preparing, so I am anxious to get this bow in to try it out. I only held the demo one a couple months ago at my local dealer, and ordered the new one instantly. So when it comes in, I hope I love it as much as I think I will.
What bow set up will you be using this year?

I see you're chasing speed a bit. The best videos I've seen on this topic are the Dries Vissers archery safari videos. They do an excellent job showing thousands of shots, identifying where you should aim, and the outcomes.

A critique of those videos: The majority of Americans in those videos had "speed bows" that used weak broadheads at high speed. As a fellow American, I'm embarrassed for the clients. They didn't get pass throughs as often as they should have. (e.g. 99% expected, way lower realized)

My everything non-dangerous game NA and Africa setup is a 650gr total arrow weight with around 23% FOC, cut on contact iron will 150s, single bevel, no bleeders, ethics archery inserts/outserts.

My young son's setup when he did spot and stalk in Africa was 585gr, same stuff as my setup above for blades/inserts, and he was drawing 42lbs and 22.5".

The thing you must realize is that speed bows are loud. African game is fidgety and will jump the string, especially when drinking. You give away a lot of power from your bow in the form of noise rather than energy on the arrow. If you up your grain weight and FOC, you quiet your bow, you increase your momentum, you get more pass throughs. Errant shots break bone rather than lead to a fracas.

 

[FlyGuy]

Same setup since 2004…

Mathews Switchback
29” Draw
70#
Spot-Hogg Hoggit sights
450gr Carbon Express arrow
125gr G5 Striker or Striker V2
Speed is around 270fps
Shot everything from Springbok to Eland
Works every time

 

[ACE (in CT)]

Took an old Mathew’s Ovation in 2023, I shot Slick Tricks 100 gr (and didn’t even get pass through on an Impala hit just right). I upgraded to a Mathew’s Lift 33 for 2024 and decide to go with Iron Wills 100 single bevels (no bleeders). Shot through an Impala, a Warthog and a Gemsbuck. Both times I was pulling 58ish pounds.
My 2025 set up will be the same. Might up the arrow weight, but I’m generally a stick with what has worked well kind of guy.
My girlfriend shot her LX with Muzzys in 2023, this June she’ll bring a new Mathew’s IMAGE shooting Muzzys most likely, she’s at about 50 pounds.