The Hunter Spotlight Series | Michael Cruz
- Cliff Cadet
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
This week's Hunter Spotlight Series takes us up north to learn about our Pinoy brother, Mike Cruz.
by Cliff Cadet | Equalized Outdoors Newsroom
Name: Mike Cruz
Hometown: Fishkill, NY
Weapon(s) Of Choice:
Compound Bows
1978 Marlin 336 Lever Action in 30-30
Mossberg 500 12G
When it comes to your bows, do you have multiple setups?
"Yes."
Hunting Rig:
Bowtech Carbon One 70 lbs DW 28.5in DL
Rogue R19 Strings
Black Gold Dual Trac
Hamskea Epsilon Rest
CBE Stabilizers 10 inch/8inch
Easton Sonic 6.0 250 spine 100 gr QAD Exodus fixed blade, 50 gr brass insert, Quad fletch AAE hybrid 26 with white water wraps (490gr total)
Hybrid Rig:
Bowtech Solution LS 70lbs DW 28m5in DL
Rogue R21 Strings
Black Gold Single Pin Pro Sight
Hamskea Trinity Hybrid Hunter
Dead Center Stabilizers 15in/10in
Black Eagle Magnum 27s, 300 grain target points, quad fletch AAE Hybrid 23s with Beiter hunter pin nocks (470gr total)
Target Rig:
Bowtech Reckoning Gen 2 36in 60 lbs DW 28.5in DL
Rogue R21 strings
Axcel AX 3000 sight with Shrewd Nomad 42 scope
Elvish TAC Light
Hamskea Trinity Target Pro Rest
Dead Center Stabilizers 10in/8in
Easton 2712 Aluminums 300gr target point, quad fletch AAE Hybrid 26 with white water wraps and Bohning double lock nocks (710 gr total)
How long have you been hunting?
"3 turkey seasons and 3 deer seasons"
If you're an adult-onset hunter, what got you started?
"My wife bought me a bow as a birthday present and your boy likes to eat LOL"
What's your favorite game to hunt? And why?
"Turkey...it's so interactive. It's hard to recreate that feeling of call and answer and there are more ways to hunt turkey (examples: run and gun, blinds, decoys, etc.)."
We see that you enjoy target archery. Does shooting in competitions help prepare you for your hunting season(s)? If yes, how?
"I think it does. It forces you to really get to know your bow. You quickly learn that the bow is not the problem 99% of the time...it's the shooter. I also believe competitive archery is one of the few disciplines that mimics buck fever. Also, being able to pick out a quarter size target on paper, or foam, is exactly what you are trying to do on an animal. It's the only objective way to measure if you're becoming a more proficient archer, in my opinion."
Any recommendations for bowhunters just starting out?
"Get set up professionally...to a bow that fits your needs and current physical
capabilities. Once getting said bow, shoot the hell out of it before upgrading everything hoping you shoot better.
"Learn to appreciate shooting paper/3D for score. It's a necessary task and we owe it to the animals we hunt to be the best shooters we can be."
That was this week's Hunter Spotlight Series. You can follow Mike's hunting journey on Instagram: @thepinoyoutdoorsman