From bow to broadheads, here’s the complete build Trail is taking into elk and antelope country this year.
Trail is gearing up for a busy season with elk tags in Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona, plus an early August archery antelope hunt. With that much time in the field ahead, his bow setup has to be reliable, tunable, and built for both precision and durability. Here’s a full breakdown of what he’s running this year.
Trail’s foundation is the Mathews Lift X33, the longer axle-to-axle option in the Lift lineup. At his 30-inch draw length, the 33-inch platform gives him a better string angle and added stability when holding on target.
The bow also features Mathews’ Limb Shift Technology, which makes tuning simple. Instead of putting the bow in a press and swapping top hats, Trail can make quick left/right cam adjustments with a twist. The Lift X33 is fast, quiet, and stable, which is everything Trail wants for a season focused on elk and antelope.
Trail’s running the Ultraview Slider 2 in a three-pin vertical stack but is switching to a five-pin housing before season. He prefers having multiple fixed aiming points for quick shot opportunities without moving the dial. The bottom pin will still act as a slider for longer follow-up shots.
At just over nine ounces, the UV Slider 2 balances lightweight design with durability and smooth micro-adjustments.
For his arrow rest, Trail chose the QAD Ultrarest Integrate MX2, a cable-driven, drop-away model that integrates directly into the Mathews riser. It’s simple, reliable, and easy to tune.
One tip from Trail: the launcher arm can feel stiff when new. He breaks his in by clicking it repeatedly before installing it on the bow, which ensures smooth function once it’s time to shoot.
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This year Trail added the new Mathews Bridge-Lock stabilizers, running a 15-inch front bar and a 12-inch back bar on a Shrewd Atlas V-Bar Bracket. His setup includes 4 ounces up front and 8 ounces in the back, with rubber dampeners to balance vibration.
One field lesson is that the rubber dampeners can pop out, so Trail suggests super gluing or tying them in with serving thread to keep them secure during hunts.
For grip, Trail swapped the factory Engage grip for the Mathews side plates and added a layer of Lizard Skins bat wrap (0.5 mm thickness). He wraps it upward into the palm for a more repeatable feel. The combo is inexpensive, comfortable, and helps him maintain consistency on every shot.
Trail replaced his stock strings with a set from Apex Custom Bow Strings, built by Jessey Smith in Idaho. After months of use on hunts and target sessions, the strings have shown no creep or timing issues. Trail notes they’ve been rock-solid and highly reliable.
Trail runs a 5/32-inch Radical Archery Designs peep, which aligns nicely with his sight housing. With some astigmatism causing blurred pins, he’s considering experimenting with a smaller size to sharpen focus. For now, the 5/32 strikes a good balance between visibility and light transmission in low-light conditions.
His arrow build starts with Ultraview 1K shafts (built by Victory). These 300 spine arrows come pre-fletched with Ultraview’s molded vanes and include a 75-grain stainless insert. Trail likes their quiet flight, consistency, and durability.
Finished weight is around 470 grains, and out of his Lift X33, they fly at about 292 feet per second. That’s plenty of speed and momentum for both elk and antelope.
Trail chose the SEVR Hybrid 1.5 for his hunting broadhead, a mechanical with two main blades and two bleeder blades. It’s earned strong marks in independent testing for accuracy and aerodynamics. Trail’s had great luck with it on elk and plans to run it on antelope as well.
Trail’s release is the T.R.U. Ball Executive hinge, designed in partnership with world champion archer Christopher Perkins. Its adjustable shank makes it easy to fine-tune his anchor without cutting and retying his D-loop.
For added security, Trail attaches it to a Darkstar Archery wrist tether, which keeps the release handy and reduces the risk of losing it in the field.
Trail’s setup is built for balance, with stability, tunability, and the right blend of speed and momentum to handle anything from pronghorn to bull elk. As he heads into a packed 2025 season, this bow is tuned and ready for the hunt.
Have questions about Trail’s build or want to dial in your own? Reach out to him or GOHUNT’s archery experts. We’re here to help!
