You can read all about the specs, technologies and more of the Parker Poison 32 online. And while I will highlight some, this is an in-depth field-test, not a regurgitation of ink you can find on the web. So, let’s dive in.

First Impressions

My first job, when I pull a bow from its branded-box home, is to inspect the rig for damage. I look for obvious machining flaws and simply get a feel for the overall aesthetics of the bow. After a thorough inspection of the Poison 32, I found zero nicks, scratches or obvious machining marks. Though not actual wood, the two-piece G10 grip sports a pair of stylish wood-imitation side plates, and the bow’s Kryptek Highlander dip gives it a great overall finish. Also noticeable was the number of Bowjax Dampeners, one between each split-limb and two on each side of the top and bottom of the riser near each limb pocket. The rig sports six dampeners in total. I’ve been a Bowjax fan for years, and it’s not often, especially on today’s bows, that you see a manufacturer place so much emphasis on creating a hushed shooting experience.

Another hat tipper, at least for me, was the wide, flat arrow shelf. I like a big shelf, as I feel it provides more room to place rest-dampening material as well as an arrow cradle.

Simple Set Up

Bow set up, side of ultra-tight limb bolts that do sputter and click with each turn, was simple enough. Be sure when turning limb bolts to use sturdy T-handle style Allen wrenches. The Poison 32 comes with a pre-installed D-loop, and using the pair of berger holes and my Vista Bow Medic EZ Laser Tuner Tool, centershot was quickly achieved. The bow presses with zero issues, and after just five shots, I was punching perfect tears through paper. I was impressed with the ease-of-tune this bow provided.

On the Range

Moving to my backyard range, I was instantly impressed with the bow’s overall balance at full draw. Set at a 90 percent letoff (I will adjust to comply with state hunting regulations) and 70 pounds of draw weight, this bow pulls like a dream. There are no humps or bumps, and the dual draw stops contact the underside of the top and bottom outer split-limbs with ease. This creates a solid back wall, and coupled with the stable platform, produces an ultra-stable shooting experience. Though only 32-inches axle-to-axle, this bow just feels longer, and I can’t say enough good things about its overall balance.

The grip is thick. There is simply no getting around that fact. Normally, thick/wide grips and I don’t get along. I feel they create torque and rob me of effective downrange accuracy. And while I’m not going to feed you a line about how this grip, though thick and wide, ended up stealing my heart and becoming one of my all-time favorites, I will say that it grew on me the more I shot it. Perfectly angled and flat-backed, the grip felt decent in my palm-swell area, and I did appreciate how my thumb melted into the groove of the composite side-plate.

At the shot, magic happens. This bow is dead quiet and popped forward only slightly into my open grip. It’s obvious that Parker’s desire to create a church-mouse quiet, vibration-free rig was accomplished. I also credit the quietness to the bow’s overall weight. The riser is machined aluminum and the limbs and pockets are thick. Of course, this design adds weight, but this weight also aids in the hushed shooting experience, and in my opinion, helps greatly with the bow’s rock-steady-at-full-draw nature. Total weight on the Poison 32 is 5.05 pounds without attached bow accessories.

Affordable Accuracy

As far as accuracy, I had the Poison 32 dialed to 60 yards in less than 30 minutes, and was regularly producing sub 3-inch four-arrow groups. Works for me.

Though not a barn burner when it comes to speed, this made-in-America rig propelled my 467-grain Easton 6MM FMJ downrange at 269 fps; this was at a draw length of 29 inches.

 A solid hunting rig that is sure to be perfect for treestand, ground blind and spot-and-stalk goers, the Poison 32 is branded with a wallet-friendly $780 price tag and, in this tester’s opinion, will make a great in-the-field companion.

For more information, visit www.parkerbows.com.