DubTee

You can put a spacer between the soft lock and your sight to get it away from your rest. I use the soft lock on my x-force and although it didn't touch my rest it was darn close, buddy showed me how to space it just in case. I just love the soft locks because they are so easy to take on and off if you are doing a lot of stand hunting.

I saw a darn good goat in 5BN last year on my elk hunt, in the juniper country just like the pic. I was driving to a tank for an evening hunt and the sucker wouldn't leave, just kept following the truck about 90 yards away.

Great review everyone. I too have close set eyes and looking through swaro 15's absolutely drives me nuts, settled for the 10's in EL because of that. Nice to know I have a reasonable option for quality 15's.

Pretty neat idea, like the illusions in some magic tricks. Be kind of cool to be sitting in one of those and have a deer/elk walk right into it.....maybe that wouldn't be so cool.

This bow has been sold, thanks for the looks.

Picked up my '09 yesterday, so I'm putting the '08 up for sale. Thought I might try here first before I post it on AT to help out my fellow left handed AZ bretheren. I have an '08 PSE X-Force Dream Season for sale. All the bells and whistles, STS string stop, Sims S-Coil stablilizer, Rip Cord drop away rest, Copper John 3 pin sight, G5 peep, braided wrist sling, and loop. Put brand new custom string and cables on it about a month ago. Specs are 27-31 inch draw, 60-70 lbs, 7 inch brace height, and I believe 32 inches axle to axle. At a 31 inch draw and 65lbs, it shoots a 375 grain arrow 325 fps, my first pin will stay in the kill zone out to 40 yards. It's a killer too, been used one hunting season, 1 turkey, 1 bull elk, and 1 eastern whitetail buck. The bow is in immaculate condition. You can PM me or email me at jurban1000@yahoo.com for any other questions if need be. Asking $625.

I haven't taken her outside yet, I did put the swaro's on the tripod and was glassing the park across the street. That 701 is SMOOTH, the 190 tripod will be perfect for me. I then slapped the claw on her and put the 17 cal in it (only gun I had around) and messed around a bit. I am excited to say the least to get that thing in the field, if you stay light when you get into the gun to aim, you can virtually eliminate any movement, except for that micro-movement that the claw guys describe. I was in NM on Friday looking at some property because of a bunch of landowner elk tags and we came across a prarie dog colony that looks like it needs eliminated. I have a feeling my 17HMR, bullets, tripod, and claw are going to be that colonies worst nightmare.

I am in the market for a new tripod and head. I have been doing some research on it but would like to get some feedback from all the experience that is around on this site. I have been upgrading my equipment, and now is the time for the tripod. I barely got by last year with just a cheapo aluminum tripod that came with our video camera, it was however extremely light and easy to use. I would like to mention that I am very tall (6'7'') and do all my glassing while sitting down as most tripods will not get tall enough for me to see through my glass without hunching over. I like the looks of the Jim White head as I don't like the pistol grip, but was wondering if the JW head is a fluid head and how important is a fluid head for that matter? It seems the manfrottos are the most popular, do they make a model that is medium heighth and light, but also sturdy enough for the claw I bought and would like to try out on it? Thanks for any and all replies.

That was hilarious, here I was thinking if I drew 13B I'd only be thinking about mulies, nice to know it's one of the top 10 whitetail units in AZ according to this dude. I want to look at his top 10 elk units now, oh let me guess his #1 unit for elk is 36B

With 11 points averaged between you guys, you are getting darn close to be able to draw those higher profile units, like many will tell you all the units up there have good bulls, some more elk than others, terrain style differs, etc. What I like about the higher profile units is usually fewer bull hunters and cow hunters to compete with, again it's all about what you guys prefer. 5BN and 5BS, units right next to each other, each holding good bulls. I believe 5BS holds more elk, 5BN has a bit more terrrain style differences with some more open juniper flats and it just seems flatter overall to me. This year, 5BS cut their tag numbers, both bull and cow tag numbers went down considerably, I don't know why the G&F did this, but assuming herd numbers are relatively the same, that could be a good hunt with the less pressure and one I would consider if I was in your shoes. 5BN on the other hand has increased tag numbers over the past few years. I held an archery bull tag last year in 5BN (got lucky and drew with 2 points), I really didn't know the unit at all, nor with work I wasn't able to do much scouting. Having said that I had a good hunt, bulls were bugling, passed up a lot of rags, blew a stalk on a 320ish bull, saw some good bulls and a monster in the junipers, ended up killing a 265ish 6x6 late in the hunt, in the pines on the southern part of that unit, I know of a 410ish bull killed on that hunt. Really didn't run into too many hunters, but if I had your point numbers I would not put in for this unit unless you absolutely had a secret area with several good bulls that you know you could hunt. I would sit down with your partner and go over all the variables, style of hunting you want to do, terrain you are most comfortable with, camping options, scenery, other hunting pressure (bull and cow), schedule, expectations, road access in the unit, etc. Since this will most likely be your only tag for a while, I would leave nothing out to consider. Good luck on your quest!

I have not shot the regular GX or the 6 incher. I have a long draw length so I knew that I would be pushin around 330 fps with the 7 incher, so with speed not a problem I figured I would take the bit of forgiveness the Dreamseason offers over the regular GX. I know plenty of guys who shoot the 6 incher and love it. Good form and follow through is a little more important with any shorter brace height bow, the 6 should not be any less accurate if you shoot it correctly.

308, I think C n' S was being sarcastic.

Didn't Couesfan take his buck on the late 12AE hunt? 308, you could always get your point this year and talk one of the local coues experts on here to put in with you on the same late coues tag for next year's hunt assuming most here have already put in this year. You get to raise their points possibly into the max pool in return for their local knowledge. I know there are other variables to deal with if you go that route, but it's just a thought. Possibly hunt some leftover's/archery in the time being.

I finally took the plunge today on a new head and tripod. As suggested, I went with the 701 hdv, decided myself for a bogen 190xv tripod. Found what I thought was a pretty good deal on a camera site out of NY, $225 after rebate for the combination, no tax, free shipping. Got an extra plate for the claw, looking forward to getting her out in the field. Thanks for all the help and suggestions everyone.

Thinking hard about a bitz, just knocked another fletch off tonight. I'm thinking I didn't use the right glue when I set these up, although my arrows are stacked when one pops off, they just seem a little fragile this time. That is a G5 June, like you said I'm not sure how much difference a peep can make. I bought one a few years back and put it on my old rig, just wanted the 1/4'' option and the G5 is what I saw first. No problems with them.

Finally made it down to Tucson yesterday and picked up my new rig from Chapman Archery. Tinkered with her a bit today as well, trying to get felt in all the right places. Shot her a bit yesterday, looking to head out tonight and do some more, the X-Forces sure are shootin sob's. I've got it at 67 lbs, shooting a 385 grain x-weave at 325 fps. Aybody tells you that speed bows or short brace heights hinder accuracy, I've already knocked three fletchings off my new arrows, these bows can flat out group. Also, anybody down in Tucson who hasn't been over to check out George Chapman and the little bowshop he runs, you are missing out. George is retired from PSE, been in the industry for 50 some odd years, he was buiding bows in a garage with Pete before PSE ever came out this way, George flat knows his stuff! Here are some pics of the new rig: '09 PSE X-force Dream Season Phantom Drop away rest Sims S-Coil Stabilizer Copper John Sight

I believe he is asking $100 for it.

Good post bobbyo, thanks for the review. I bought the claw, have not used it yet. I am thinking it will be a valuable tool to sight in with, especially at longer distances. Also, it would be nice to have if you have an animal bedded and you are waiting on it to stand up, we all know that can take a while sometimes. I wouldn't want to depend on it for all my shooting though, I would think a lot of shots would still come quickly after a stalk or a quick spot and I would still want the ability and confidence to get on the nearest rest and make the shot. I have also helped out on hunts where the hunter (usually inexperienced with inferior equipment) just simply cannot pick up the animal in their scope, cannot tell you how frustrating that was. It would be nice to throw the claw on and help them out. I am looking forward to using it in the future.

Wouldn't it just depend on who and how many send their harvest card back in, and even then, did they fill it out honestly? Just the reason mandatory check in would help out immensely.

This looks like a very useful product, I will be purchasing one in the near future. I would think high on the opposite shoulder you would have no problem with shooting a bow. In fact that reminds me of a buddy of mine, we were treestand hunting in the midwest several years ago and we used to wear those older headsets for our raidos so we could talk to each other if we got bored. My buddy had that wire hanging out a little too far when he shot at a deer, said he went blind, deaf, and dumb for a minute when that string yanked everything off his head, needless to say he missed a chip shot and we got a good laugh.

Good post.

Thanks for the offer. I know George Chapman has one on hand in Tucson which I have yet to get off my duff and get over there to shoot. I mean he's only 5-6 miles away... and yet I still haven't found the time to get over there. UGH. cmc CMC, I'll be down to see George in a week or so, I can check on that rig for you if you need, actually wouldn't mind shooting it myself. I am also one of us gifted ones (left-handed), I know bows are hard to come by sometimes, just like my quest to find a particular rifle with a left-handed action. George has been setting up my bows for years now, he said my new x-force is just waiting to be shot, can't wait to get down there.

Been checking out some tripods on ebay just to get a feel of what they look like. Anybody have an opinion on the manfrotto 190cx3, it is carbon, comes in around 2.9 pounds (no head)? I know it only gets up to about 58 inches, but in my situation I don't think any of them will be tall enough and if they can, they'd be too heavy/big to pack around all day. I'm thinking the 701hdv on the 190cx3 might be the combo for me, any opinions are welcome, thanks.

My wait has begun, jumping from some late coues hunts that I could probably draw for sure in a year or two to north of the ditch. I'll wait it out for up north, I want to do a 13's hunt at least once. Maybe do a leftover for coues if possible, there's always an archery tag to help get my fix, plus my annual trip to the midwest for some big whities always helps as well. Good luck to all!

Man, I read this a couple of days ago and couldn't believe it. I sure hope he pulls through this and comes out o.k. I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding this guy, but Tred seems very honest and shows things how they really happen and I believe you can't fault a guy for that. I've always loved his show, the first episode I saw was him solo fishing for tuna, I thought who in the heck is this crazy dude, but man I couldn't wait to see another episode. We are always talking about doing things the "Barta way" around camp when something seems to go wrong, we always get a good laugh. You da man Tred!