Try a Thumb-Trigger Release
By Mark Melotik
Were you happy with your bowhunting accuracy last fall using a standard index-finger release aid? If not, I have a suggestion: Try a thumb-trigger release. This has been my hunting release of choice for the past 15 years or so, and right after the switch from my previous favorite index-finger design, my confidence, accuracy and shooting consistency improved greatly. I haven’t looked back, and the decision helped me take my bowhunting accuracy to a new level.
Many bowhunters struggle with good form, and by using the right release, both your form and in-the-field accuracy will improve. The difference, as noted, can be huge. But keep in mind, you the shooter are most responsible for your form; even the best release aid won’t make miracles on its own. Changing to a radically different release is a big deal, but now is the best time to begin figuring it all out, especially if you have easy access to an indoor shooting range. With every passing month, your new release regimen will become more ingrained into your subconscious shot preparation, and by late summer (even much sooner), it will become near-automatic. That is the goal.
I found one of the biggest benefits of a thumb-trigger release is it virtually cured my previous struggles with target panic. Now, if you’ve ever suffered from this mental malady or done any research, it seems to affect individuals differently. As a result, solutions that might work for some are not the answer for others. That said, for me, switching from triggering my release with my ultra-sensitive index finger to my far less-sensitive thumb was the answer. It might be yours, as well.
Thumb-trigger releases are handy for hunting because many models allow you to clip the release onto your string loop and leave it hanging there until you are ready to make your shot. I prefer a model that comes with a wrist strap, which I believe helps my shooting confidence. Not only does the extra power and security of the wrist strap help me draw my bow smoothly — even in extreme bone-chilling conditions — there’s even more good stuff at play. My confidence throughout the shot cycle has never been higher, because I know that once hooked up to my string loop, the wrist strap means there’s no way for the release to slip out of my hand — or for me to otherwise mess things up, even in extreme cold, wet or sweaty conditions.
Maybe you shoot just fine with an index-finger release and your accuracy in high-pressure hunting situations is consistent. However, if you believe there is room for improvement, now is a great time to give a thumb-trigger release a try.