Elite Hunter Review
from $69.99
Pros
- Very smooth and easy to draw cycle
- Forgiving 7.5 inch brace height
- Silent, shock-free release with no hand shock
- Lots of adjustability 25-30 inch draw length; 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 pound limbs
- Holds very well at a solid back wall
- Unmatched Transferable Lifetime Warranty
Cons
- Not very fast
Video
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Editors' review
The Elite Hunter is designed for just that, hunting. The draw is very smooth with a solid back wall, no creep, and a virtually silent, shock-free release. Elite designed this bow with the simple purpose of being a hunting bow. With a forgiving brace height and a 31.75-inch axel-to-axel measurement, the Elite Hunter is sure to be a great asset in the field, treestand, or ground blind.
Finish
The Elite finish dipping process is top-notch quality and looks great. The available camo finish patterns are Realtree AP, Realtree Max-1, and Realtree AP Snow. Along with this option, shooters have the option to mix any of these patterns with a matte black riser. Those shooters looking to go all black have that option as well.Riser
The Hunter's machined riser comes with some extras not seen on many top of the line bows. The first simple design that makes the set-up of the Hunter a little easier is the flat shelf and back of the riser where the rest will come in contact with the riser. Because these spaces are flat, setting up the bow with a rest is significantly easier. The Limbsaver rear mounting string stop system works well to stop the string and cancel out any extra vibration. There is also a front mounting stabilizer hole as well. The machined cut outs give the Hunter a distinguished look and the Elite symbol is very catchy located where the arrow rests on the bow.Grip
The grip stays with the shape and form of former Elite bows. Most shooters like the feel of the grip and how it sits in your hand reinforcing proper form and hand placement. The grip is not thick nor is it a thin grip. It seems to be a nice combination with a best of both worlds type of feel. The grip is curved and fits nicely with your hand in the proper placement. The wooden sideplates added to the grip give it a nice finished look as well.Limbs
The Elite Hunter solid limbs are very adjustable and should fit most shooters. The factory installed, highly sought after Barnsdale limbs are a great feature adding to the craftsmanship of the bow. The limbs are available in ten-pound increments with maximum draw weights of 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 pounds. Elite is one of the few manufacturers offering shooters the option to select 80-pound limbs. Although 80 pound limbs are not needed to harvest the majority of big game animals, the option is a nice on to have for those shooters wanting a little more kinetic energy and speed. With this smooth of a draw, it would be possible for a shooter to choose 80 pound limbs with the ability to draw the bow without any noticeable struggle.Eccentric System
The Hunter dual cam is one of the smoothest cams you will ever draw. With respectable IBO speeds of 319-323 feet per second, the Hunter will produce enough speed to satisfy most hunters. The 80% let off makes this bow very easy to hold at full draw. Along with this comes draw length adjustability in half-inch increments from 25-30 inches with a cam module. Although shooters can change the draw length without a bow press, they will have to have access to the proper sized module. Each cam is equipped with a draw stop that spins around to make contact with the limbs instead of the string like many bows. The draw stop hitting the limb makes the back wall less spongy and very solid.Draw Cycle/Shootability
The Hunter is arguably one of the most shootable bows made. The draw is unbelievably smooth from start to finish. There is absolutely no creep at all once you hit the completely solid back wall. When letting down, it will almost feel like you are pushing the string forward. The draw force curve builds up fairly quickly which means the majority of the effort is required at the beginning of the pull. This makes for a great valley and an easy draw. After the shot, the bow does have a tendency to fall backwards, however, adding a stabilizer quickly solves the tiny issue. The shot is very shock free as well. After the almost silent shot, the shooter will feel nothing in the hand in terms of vibration, which is a great thing.Silencing Package
Elite comes with Limbsaver dampening accessories. Aside from the Limbsaver string stop system, limbs are equipped with a solid limb dampener. In addition to this, the strings are equipped with limb saver string dampening devices as well. This bow is quiet on its own. Those shooters wishing to add more dampening devices will struggle to get the bow much quieter than it already is.Elite Hunter vs. Elite z-28
| Bow | Elite Hunter | Elite Z28 |
| Version | 2013 | 2010 |
| Picture |  |  |
| Brace Height | 7.75 " | 7.75 " |
| AtA Length | 31.5 " | 32.5 " |
| Draw Length | 25 " - 31 " | 27 " - 30 " |
| Draw Weight | 30 lbs - 80 lbs | 60 lbs - 90 lbs |
| IBO Speed | 323 fps - 326 fps | 316 fps - 320 fps |
| Weight | 4.3 lbs | 4.0 lbs |
| Let-Off | 80% | 80% |
| Where to buy Best prices online |
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Elite engineers decided to take their popular Elite Z28 and make some changes to produce the Elite Hunter. The Z-28 is 3/4 of an inch longer axel-to-axel measurement and comes with another 1/4 inch brace height. The Elite Z-28 is also a few feet per second slower than the Hunter. Despite only minor differences between the two bows in terms of specifications, most shooters who have shot both bows will notice the largest difference between the two bows in the cam system upgrade. Shooters really enjoy the Hunter's cam, which is a great combination of smooth and fast. Although both rigs are very well received in the hunting community, the only real deciding factor is the shooter's preference.