Bright Colored D-Loops
by Zane Graham
As bowhunters, many of us use a release that attaches to a D-loop on the bow string. I think the color of the D-loop is often overlooked, but is important. We pay close attention to the main components of the bow such as the sight and arrow rest, but not so much to the D-loop. In my opinion, the color of the D-loop could determine if you go home with an empty tag or a filled one.
In 2011, I was sitting in a brush blind one evening bowhunting for an 8-point buck I had captured on trail-camera. That day, I saw several deer, but not the 8-pointer I was looking for. It got too dark to shoot, so I began packing up my stuff. As I did, I caught a glimpse of movement and to my surprise, I saw a mountain lion walking in front of the feeder. My adrenaline kicked in and all I was thinking about was getting a shot off at it. I tried to hook my release onto my D-loop, but due to the darkness I couldn’t see the dark green loop, and just like that the lion was gone. If I would’ve been able to see the D-loop, I likely would’ve gotten a shot off at the mountain lion.
Hunting out of enclosed blinds can also make it difficult to see the D-loop due to the darkness inside. It can be especially difficult to see the D-loop when you are in an enclosed blind and it is either the first light of the morning or the last light of the evening. While it is light enough outside to see well, it can be too dark inside the blind. The last thing you want to have happen is to have a trophy buck walk by or in my case a mountain lion, and not be able to see your D-loop well enough to hook your release in time.
I would highly recommend getting a bright colored D-loop, such as white or a fluorescent color. I have even seen D-loops that glow in the dark, which is extremely beneficial. Get a bright colored D-loop for low light conditions–the time when the big bucks like to move.