In this article we will review the types of releases available on the market and how to choose the best release for bowhunting. Ultimately, this decision will come down to personal preference, but we will lay out some of the things to consider when making your decision.
Trigger Release
A trigger release is what it sounds like – a release that uses a trigger mechanism to fire. This is the most common type of release for bowhunters.
Trigger releases come in two main types. An index release, which has a wrist strap and an index trigger, and a thumb button release, which is a handheld release that fires using a thumb button trigger.
Index or wrist strap releases are incredibly popular. They are simple to use, and once you have them strapped on, it’s very hard to misplace or leave in the truck.
The thumb button release has gained popularity in the hunting world and presents a best of both worlds option – a trigger still allows you to execute shots on command but the position of the thumb button trigger lets you activate with back tension.
Triggerless Release
A triggerless release is a handheld release that uses back tension (or a combination of back tension and hand movement) to fire. Common types of triggerless releases are back tension releases and hinge releases.
Back tension releases are popular among competition archers due to the “surprise” release execution. This type of release is activated by increasing the pulling pressure of the release jaws until a certain threshold is met and the release fires.
A hinge release operates with a similar mechanism but requires a slight manipulation of the hand (sometimes changing pressure from your index finger to your ring finger) in order to fire.
How Do I Choose?
So, with all that said, how do you choose which release is right for you? For most hunters, an index release or a thumb button release is the best option. These are the most simple to use and provide the most control.
If you are working on your form or trying to improve your shot execution, you may want to consider a triggerless back tension or hinge style release. This will force you to pull through your shot and avoid “punching” the trigger (which can cause errant shots).
Ultimately, you should try several releases and shoot the one that works! It’s hard to argue with good results.
Be sure to check out the rest of the Bowhunting 101 series to help you navigate outfitting your archery set up.