Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: WhistlingBadger on December 15, 2019, 04:27:29 pm
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Evening, all. What are the issues, if any, with shooting a self-bow in cold weather? i generally don't shoot my bow if it's below 20F, just because it seems like the cold would make it brittle and more likely to break. However, that really limits my practice time about three months out of the year, and doggone it, I've got a 3d shoot coming up next month! This is also prime bunny hunting time, and while I have nothing against taking out the old .22, options are nice.
So, what's the going research/experience out there? Shooting selfbows when it's cold--yes or no?
Thanks!
T
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I read an article about a guy who made an inuit bow and shot it in sub-zero (f) temps with no ill effects (sinew cable backed)
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You'll hear that Yew is delicate in cold but I've never had any other typical bow wood react negatively to cold. I'm talking extreme cold too.
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I hunted in zero several times, single digit and teen a lot with no ill effects at least on the bow ;) :)
Pappy
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There is at least one other thread about this somewhere...I would imagine it comes up now and then. I have never had problems, but it seems like others have said the low winter humidity is more of a problem than the temperature per se.
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In my younger days (sigh!) I took a hickory self bow out roving in -3 F. Jawge
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We get a few of these every years. I live in Alaska. I "regularly" shoot my selfbows at 20 below. They pick up draw weight like crazy though... That 45 lb bow becomes a 55 at those temps. I don't shoot my yew below 40 F. I do shoot my guava and my go to is a vine maple.
Right now it is 7 F. outside and I got in about a hundred shots today. I hope this helps.
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Hm, good to know! One less excuse not to practice. :) My go-to is black locust, which is said to be pretty tough in general. Thanks for the info, gents!
T
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most wood bows can handle any temp you can,,
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They always feel much heaver but never really checked one, just figured it was me not the bow. :)
Pappy
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I think a narrow, thick bow, like an elb from yew would be more in danger of breaking, than say a wide yew flatbow. A wide hardwood bow would be safer still.
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I have heard that if they are backed with sinew they can pick up as much as 15lbs.
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when it gets cold,, I eat more and pick up a few pounds too (lol)
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when it gets cold,, I eat more and pick up a few pounds too (lol)
Difference is the bow goes back to normal when it warms up...I take slightly longer.
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I doubt you would get a 15# increae.
As mentioned it is the low humidity you need to worry about not the cold. It is the humidity that is increasing the weight also.
Sinew back your bow and you would never have to worry.
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I have used the same scale for a couple years. New batteries and all. My vine maple bow pulls 54 in the summer. In the January cold, it pulls 66 lbs. FROM MY 2018-2019 NOTES: "August 13, temp 72 f. 54 lbs. @ 28. Humidity 56%. January 11, 2019 temp. -18f. 66 lbs. @ 28. Humidity 18% . ". Bow has no backing. Hits like a hammer though! Worry not.
(https://i.imgur.com/Lt0PqCJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gq8ka5Z.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/iT3Nn15.jpg)
Go forth. Produce food. Loose and lose arrows. enjoy nature all year around.
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Go forth. Produce food. Loose and lose arrows. enjoy nature all year around.
You know, a person could do a lot worse than that for a life-motto.