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Thread: Bowhunting?

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    Bowhunting?

    Does anyone bow hunt here? I bought a Mathews Mission Riot last fall and have used it a few times, but, I let my younger cousin use it and they dry fired it. Thankfully, only the strings have come undone so I went and got it fixed. I used it once or twice after that before I got into some health complications. I'm now wanting to get back into it and was wondering if I should do anything to my bow before I use it? I don't want it to 'snap' on me tho. Do I need to wax the strings first? How long should it last me too since i bought it brand new?

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    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    I bowfish for Carp and Gar. I would take it into a local shop and have someone take a look at it, just because it has sat for a while. I would expect a bow to last for a very long time, with good care and storage.
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    Senior Dog Jeff's Avatar
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    The bow itself should last forever. The string itself I always change the string yearly. Which is actually way more than recommended but I got in this habit when I was younger as I used to shoot a lot, almost daily an hour at a time, back then I changed every 4-6 months. I used to make my own arrows and things as well so I was a little obsessive compulsive about it, I don't anymore but I still custom order my arrows to my specs. I can tell you though when you shoot a lot, you notice a huge difference with new strings. Its kind of like a guitar. You might play on those strings for a few months or it may sit 6 months before you pick it up again but you notice when you put new strings on in the clarity of the tone and the feel in your hand, having done both, it is the same for a bow. But the strings themselves are pretty durable and strong. They take snow and rain and direct sunshine. Then the other cables every couple years, they are pretty protected plastic sheathed cable. Some say do the cables and the string at the same time. I never did, just the main string was what I changed most of the time and the cables every other year. Your in the mid west so also going to depend where you stored it and how long. I always kept mine in the house in the closet in a bedroom unless shooting or hunting. If you stored in the garage or basement where heat and temps and humidity can go to extremes then I would look at changing the string again. Then again better safe than sorry. I would look at the strings closely if they are chalky and look slightly frayed then I would change them. If not then give them a good waxing and you should be good for a a little while. If you decide you want to get serious with it again then change them out. It will be like having a new bow and might give you a little boost in wanting to shoot more. I would however change before hunting season if you are going this year. The temp changes from house to extreme cold and back again will be what does the most damage.

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    @BaconsMom That's what I did exactly this morning! Haha. Turns out he said it's still in great condition, just needed to wax some of the strings and good to go! Are the bows you use for bowfishing a lot different than the bows used for hunting?

    @Jeff I don't shoot at all right now, just moved and trying to find good nearby areas to practice. But I did talk with a nearby shop owner and he said changing it every 2-3 years is the best bet with waxing every month. I keep it in my room where the temp only really fluctuates from 64-74 degrees. If I kept it in my basement it would be around 60 all year (not sure about winter since I haven't been here for it yet). I'll be practicing quite a bit more before I actually go hunting and plan on taking the hunting safety course in this fall. I'm betting I'd be a bit older (21) going to a course haha.

    Also, when adding on wax, do you just rub it with your fingers? And do you wax everything or just the string areas? I've seen some people use a blow drying and was wondering if I could use a piece of cloth or just my fingers.

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    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Akamichi18 View Post
    @BaconsMom That's what I did exactly this morning! Haha. Turns out he said it's still in great condition, just needed to wax some of the strings and good to go! Are the bows you use for bowfishing a lot different than the bows used for hunting?

    @Jeff I don't shoot at all right now, just moved and trying to find good nearby areas to practice. But I did talk with a nearby shop owner and he said changing it every 2-3 years is the best bet with waxing every month. I keep it in my room where the temp only really fluctuates from 64-74 degrees. If I kept it in my basement it would be around 60 all year (not sure about winter since I haven't been here for it yet). I'll be practicing quite a bit more before I actually go hunting and plan on taking the hunting safety course in this fall. I'm betting I'd be a bit older (21) going to a course haha.

    Also, when adding on wax, do you just rub it with your fingers? And do you wax everything or just the string areas? I've seen some people use a blow drying and was wondering if I could use a piece of cloth or just my fingers.
    You can use a hunting bow for bowfishing, you just need to have an add on package with the line and special arrows. I have a bowfishing bow that is only for that purpose, however Jake uses a bow he used for deer in the past.

    A hunter's safety course is a must! We hunt all game birds, and I can say that hunters safety course is something that I use all the time! Plus, I am pretty sure you have to have it to get a hunting licence (at least here you do). Good luck!
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    Quote Originally Posted by BaconsMom View Post
    You can use a hunting bow for bowfishing, you just need to have an add on package with the line and special arrows. I have a bowfishing bow that is only for that purpose, however Jake uses a bow he used for deer in the past.

    A hunter's safety course is a must! We hunt all game birds, and I can say that hunters safety course is something that I use all the time! Plus, I am pretty sure you have to have it to get a hunting licence (at least here you do). Good luck!
    Gotcha, I'll def. try bowfishing one day, but first I'd like to master normal fishing haha. I'm still a city kid trying to pick up country ways, but thanks to my college being in the Southern and more outdoors area, it'll make it easier.

    It is! It's needed for hunting down here, I already used my 1st Time Hunting License (forgot what it was called) because I couldn't find an open safety course, but now I'm planning in advance.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Akamichi18 View Post
    Also, when adding on wax, do you just rub it with your fingers? And do you wax everything or just the string areas? I've seen some people use a blow drying and was wondering if I could use a piece of cloth or just my fingers.
    The strings aren't your biggest worry, its cracking a limb when dry firing that'll get ya. Good to hear you didn't crack a limb though! Never ever ever draw a bow without an arrow. It can be dangerous for you, also don't draw a compound with just your fingers. People have actually torqued their string doing this which pulled the string off the cams at full draw and the bow explodes in their face essentially.

    Wax the strings and cables but don't wax the servings. Also rub it vigorously to generate heat, it helps melt the wax getting it into the strings. Can use a small piece of leather for this.

    Where in the midwest are you from? If you're from Central Ohio I could send you some areas to shoot at.

    Just realized you said southern so nvm on the last statement lol

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    Quote Originally Posted by teej89 View Post
    The strings aren't your biggest worry, its cracking a limb when dry firing that'll get ya. Good to hear you didn't crack a limb though! Never ever ever draw a bow without an arrow. It can be dangerous for you, also don't draw a compound with just your fingers. People have actually torqued their string doing this which pulled the string off the cams at full draw and the bow explodes in their face essentially.

    Wax the strings and cables but don't wax the servings. Also rub it vigorously to generate heat, it helps melt the wax getting it into the strings. Can use a small piece of leather for this.

    Where in the midwest are you from? If you're from Central Ohio I could send you some areas to shoot at.

    Just realized you said southern so nvm on the last statement lol
    I don't haha. And I'm so glad that a limb didn't crack either. This may sound like a dumb question, but what is the difference between the servings and the strings? How can you tell the difference? When I spoke to the guy at the shop he said it didn't really matter as it wouldn't hurt but he said just do the strings and it'll be fine.

    I'm from IL haha

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    https://omjoutdoors.com/wp-content/up...am-Cable-2.jpg

    The servings are up by the cables and also where you nock your arrow. It's thread(not sure the exact material) that wraps around the string to protect it against abrasion.

    IL eh? Have any farms up there? I'd be glad to drive out and show you the ropes of bow hunting if you do lol

    I typically only replace my strings when the servings start to separate like shown in the picture. You really don't have to replace them much. If you know people with a bow press you can send it to them and they can retwist the string once it stretches. As long as you don't slice it w/ a BH or there's no serving separation you don't need to replace it. Just take care of it and keep waxing it.

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    Gotcha. Are the strings shown in the pic what all the servings look like on the bow?

    I just moved to Central IL from Chicago so I'm pretty new over here haha. I used to go to uni down in Southern IL but then transferred to a Central IL uni. But there are quite a few farms!

 



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