Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter and Outdoorsman
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Regarding arrow rests, whisker biscuits are the most popular among the hunters and passionate archers. But the question is, can you use a whisker biscuit on a recurve bow?
You can use a whisker biscuit in your recurve bows if you have sight and a cut-out riser. But when using non-cut-out risers, you may not get the best results. So using whisker biscuit, or WB in short, with recurve bows come with a bit of a learning curve.
Even though the WB allows you to have some benefits while shooting, it comes with some shortcomings too. I’ll discuss the pros and cons of whisker biscuits and some important facts.
In this post, we'll cover:
What Is a Whisker Biscuit Arrow Rest?
The arrow rests used for full containment are known as whisker biscuits. It comes in different sizes and wider variations, so you have to pick them according to your bow type.
By using this arrow rest, you can stabilize your arrows while shooting. Besides, it ensures excellent arrow flight. As a result, it is popular among the archers, and they regularly use it on both recurve and compound bows.
Will a Whisker Biscuit Work With a Recurve Bow?
- TRIED AND TRUE: World's most-popular rest sought-out by bow hunters of all skill-levels
- AMBIDEXTROUS: Reversible mount design for use with left- and right-hand bows
- EASY TO ADJUST: Easy corrections with advanced windage and elevation adjustments
- THE ORIGINAL: The world's most-popular arrow rest is the original Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit
- CUSTOM COLORS: Easily replace your old biscuit with a new customized color biscuit
- ANY SKILL LEVEL: The Whisker Biscuit is perfect for bow hunters of all skill-levels
- TRIED AND TRUE: World's most-popular rest sought-out by bow hunters of all skill-levels
- LIGHT WEIGHT DURABILITY: Reduces vibration while maintaining light-weight strength with Ballistix CoPolymer System
- AMBIDEXTROUS: Reversible mount design for use with left- and right-hand bows and high or low anchor points
Last update on 2024-10-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You can put a WB arrow rest on a recurve or a traditional bow. But you may experience a minute decrease in the speed. However, you are less likely to feel it when you are on the actual hunting ground.
Moreover, it stabilizes your arrow to a great extent. So, when standing in a critical position such as a tree stand, put a whisker biscuit in your bow for a better experience.
Now, some archers may say that using whisker biscuits with recurved bows is a bad idea. Even a compound bow user may agree to this fact. They usually think that because of the archer’s paradox.
It means that when you use a whisker biscuit, you won’t be able to flex the arrows around the riser anymore, and the riser allows the archer to make center shots. As a result, the chances of making center shots will be reduced.
Well, it is a real discussion starter and trending content in many forums recommended communities! But don’t worry, you can surely get out of this ordeal!
To be honest, it sounds like a mechanical concern, and you can solve the center shot issue by using a spacer. However, there will be some movement of the string and arrow while finger shooting; when you’re done solving the center shot problem, you don’t have to be concerned about that anymore.
You can easily put it in a recurved bow by making a few adjustments on the WB. To find relevant content regarding this matter, you can go through some forum software dedicated to archery.
I also urge you to use carbon arrows, so you don’t experience anything unpleasant.
Benefits That Come With Whisker Biscuits
Before you start using WB on your recurve bows, you need to know if it’s any good for your experience or not. So, before you commit to this equipment, let’s take a look at the benefits you get from it.
Reduces the Chances of Missing Shots
When you install a WB in your arrow, the chance you miss any target decreases greatly. As a WB doesn’t come with moving parts, you’re less likely to face mechanical faults just like you did with other arrow rests.
Simplicity
Yes, the WB is super easy to use on your recurve bows. All you need is an Allen wrench to do all the fixing.
Quiet Operations
While hunting, you need to make sure you’re as silent as possible because you won’t want to scare your prey away. WB won’t make any noise; you’re getting a quiet operation at the end of the day.
Prevents Arrows from Falling
When you have a WB in your recurve hunting bow, the bristles will be surrounding the whole thing. This prevents the arrow from falling, and you’ll be able to shoot with the highest accuracy.
Ideal for Any Archer
It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced archer or a beginner. Using a WB isn’t rocket science. I’ve already mentioned that it has simple functionality. So yes, even if you don’t have much archery skill, you can easily use a whisker biscuit. However, it is more beneficial for beginners to improve their skills.
Affordable
Among all the arrow rests out there, the WB rest is the most affordable one. Therefore, you can try a WB without any issue when you don’t have much money to spend on fancy equipment.
Shortcomings You May Face With Whisker Biscuits
Even though whisker biscuits can be your best friend when hunting, it might sometimes be a bummer. Here are a few things you may face on the ground when using this equipment.
The Arrow Speed Might Get Effected
WB and feathers don’t get along that well. Using WB on your bow may cause some frictions, leading to wear and tear. As a result, your arrow speed may get affected. Even with vanes, you might experience some loss of speed.
The same thing can happen due to inaccurate draw length, so WB isn’t the only problem here!
Now, if you’re a beginner, you may not feel any difference. But you’ll understand the difference if you are an expert or you’ve recorded any ‘slow-motion video’ of your practice sessions.
Not Suitable for Poor Shooting Technique
Though this arrow rest is easy to use, it doesn’t work with poor shooting techniques. Besides, you need to make sure you’ve installed it correctly. Otherwise, you may fail to have a favorable archery practice.
How Do I Know the Size of the Whisker Biscuit I Need?
When choosing the size of the whisker biscuit, all you need is to consider the arrow measurements. For a better experience, you should choose a WB rest that offers a 0.03 width gap near the top of a few arrows.
If the arrow ends up filling the entire whole, it indicates that the WB is too tight. Remember that you’ll have a better experience using a larger WB.
So while buying this rest, you should go for one size up. This way, you’ll get the best size for your archery setting.
How Do You Load a Broadhead into the WB Arrow Rest?
If you look at the blades of a broadhead extending rapidly toward the center, you should know that you can push the broadhead through the WB.
And while using the expandable broadheads, you should carefully push them through the WB. Otherwise, the “O” ring will get bumped, and you don’t want that.
The Bottom Line
Can you use a whisker biscuit on a recurve bow? Well, now you know the answer.
People use WBs on their advanced or traditional bows all the time. However, you may have to go through trial and error to get a hold of one of these arrow rests, so keep that in mind while picking it for your archery practice.
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.
Sources
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Archery/comments/ef343x/anyone_have_their_recurve_set_up_with_a_whisker/
- https://boardgamestips.com/monopoly/does-whisker-biscuit-slow-down-arrow/
- https://boardgamestips.com/monopoly/does-whisker-biscuit-slow-down-arrow/