Mathews Creed XS vs Bowtech Carbon Knight vs Mathews Creed

     Two weeks ago I ordered my brand new 2014 Matthews Creed in Crimson.  Notice I left out the XS?  Well, it's finally arrived.  I will start my review by saying I used to shoot a Martin Prowler...  A great bow but it was a 10 year old hand me down, and things went to hell last year after I got it restrung.  Long story short, I had to find a new bow.  One that shot excellent, had a lifetime warranty, and would see a lot of use.  I started my search online and saw the 2014 Matthews Creed XS in crimson.  It looked amazing!  And its a Matthew's, it has to shoot good right?



  2014 Mathews Creed XS
     So I went to the local Mathews dealership.  The 2014 Mathews Creed XS was on a rack, and the salesman was trying to show me it, along with a Mission bow.  While looking them over switching between the Creed XS and the mission bow down the rack I actually started picking up and looking at "youth bows".  It's hard to tell the difference!  The dealer actually recommended the mission if that means anything.  The speed on the Creed XS is nothing to go crazy about but it will get the job done  no doubt.  The draw...  When you get it back it tends to have a lot of creep.  By this I mean it wants to shoot, it wants to lurch forward from your draw, or anchor point.  Which may cause issues if your not used to that, shoot a couple hours a day, or haven't shot in some time.  I just didn't like that. The release is pretty smooth, but not the best of the bows I tested.  The Mission was almost exact but had a little vibration after the shot which I attribute to the lack of a stabilizer on the one tested.

2014 Bowtech Carbon Knight
     It's light, looks mean, and is fast as hell, what more could you want!?  Let me just sum this up with a few quick  points, and I have no bias.  It was my least favorite bow to shoot.  The Carbon finish left a bit to be desired but at 599$ what the heck, lets shoot it!  Shoot we did.  The draw back was ok with a little valley that had a nice let off and actually hit a nice back wall.  The release was unimaginable.  This light bow felt really violent immediately after I hit the release, and it jumped out my hand wildly.  I didn't like that, so much I didn't give it much chance after just a couple arrows.  It may be an accurate bow, but some of its standard accessories seemed a little cheap, and the wicked shot was enough for me to hang it back up.  It only weighs 3.2lbs.  Maybe if they added some weight it would settle down some.

2014 Mathews Creed(Crimson shown)
     The 2014 Mathews Creed was my favorite overall to shoot.  And in appearance was almost the same as the Creed XS, just 3 inches taller ATA.  While searching for a new bow, I shot many bows not listed above in the 400-1,000$ price range.  From PSE's, to Bear, Mission, Bowtechs, and Mathews.  I would've shot more but my local dealers did not carry them, and there is something to be said about local service after you purchase a bow.  I plan on owning this bow for years to come...  Now, this is not a "brand new" flagship bow, but this is not a bad thing.  Its been out a couple years now, and I'm sure any prior issues with this model have been ironed out.  It sure felt like it.  This year you also have the option of a few nice color options which, once custom ordered, brings the price to just about the same as the in my opinion inferior "flagship" Mathews Creed XS.  The draw is buttery smooth with a nice, subtle let off at 65lbs.  The back wall is absolutely solid, and while aiming it does not rock longitudinally like the XS has a tendency to do being 3 inches shorter. The shot on the original, even without a stabilizer is absolutely dead in the hand.(I didn't even bother buying a stabilizer)  I shot this bow and my hunt for a quality bow was over.  Video to follow?


    

My first Maryland waterfowl hunt!

     About 2 years ago I had the pleasure to meet Todd. We met at work, and I found out he was an avid Maryland waterfowl hunter.  We became good friends while working together, and he actually offered to take me duck hunting last year.  I had never been.  But I had a little tunnel vision last year.  It was September and deer hunting was the only thing on my mind.  While I was in the bug laden woods of Maryland and West Virginia trying to get that illusive early season buck Todd was nowhere to be found.  He was on the waters of central/western Maryland.  I thought he must be crazy, its deer season!  That was until I went with him a few days ago!  

     

     Deer season had come to an end, and I wanted something to hunt between deer and turkey season! I have shot skeet before, but never any sort of waterfowl..  So I got online, got my state, and federal migratory bird stamp, grabbed my old Mossberg, and away we went.  What a trip!  Although it was late season, and I only managed one goose, it was a rush!  As the sun came up I started to see more ducks/geese in one day than I have in a single day ever!  Flocks of Mergansers, Wood ducks, Mallards, Geese, hooded this, whats-it that.  My head was literally spinning.  A Maryland waterfowl trip is a must for any hunter.. 

     I was trying to take everything in, and maybe even learn a few things.  Every bird that flew by I focused in on waiting to take off the safety. Then we heard that familiar honking sound, it was a lone goose coming in about an hour after sunrise. It started to circle, and my heart started to pound.  It was coming into our decoys! It landed, and got right in line with our other decoys.  After 20 minutes, and no other birds headed our way everyone in the boat decided I should shoot the goose before it took off.  I got my first Goose that day, at about 20 yards...  Now I can't wait to see how it taste!  Oh yeah, I'm headed out tomorrow for another goose hunt......  This can't possibly addictive right!?

Video shot with the Drift HD Ghost.  More on that later...Stay tuned