Bow finish help

[Adge23]

So I am ready to put a finish on my completed hickory self bow and after doing a lot of research I'm more confused than ever. I can't seem to find what will be the best for the use I will doing with this bow.  I plan to hunt with this bow so don't want it super light in color. But I also what something that will bring the wood grain out. Don't want it shinny or to have smell to it.

Am I looking for something that doesn't exist?  
Any recommendations are welcomed

Thanks !

[Zradix]

You can stain it with whatever you want...alcohol based, oil based..doesn't matter.

Then just use polyurethane. Either spray cans of satin, or wipe on satin.
I use minwax brand wipe on...spar urethane if spraying.

Whether you used wipe on or spray can....you can do a finish coat from the can from about 1.5 foot away and get a sort of textured finish that breaks up shine even more.

You'll get a lot more replies if you post this in bower's bench.
There are lots of other ways to do it...but this way works pretty darn well and is easy.

[T Folts]

Use Tru oil. Put several coats on letting it dry over night between.

[nek4me]

X2 on the Tru oil. I use it for gunstocks it was originally designed for. It tends to go on thick and glossy after multiple coats so I cut it 50/50 with paint thinner for multiple thin coats that penetrate better and dry quicker. If too glossy the final coat can be hit with fine steel wool.

[Duncan]

I've made a number of hickory bows and I find water based polyurethane to work just fine. Wipe it on with a clean cotton rag, let dry, light sanding, then wipe on another coat. Buff with steel wool to dull the sheen.

As for stain, nothing beats walnut hulls. Pick up a few walnuts when they drop and crush the hulls while they are green. I just store mine in an tin can and use them indefinitely. They will turn black as they age. If they dry just add water. Wipe in with a rag until the required darknes is aquired.

[NY Yankee]

If it were me, I would use a medium brown stain from Minwax, let dry for a couple days and brush on several coats of Minwax polyurethane with a sponge brush. Better yet would be their Helmsman Spar urethane. The latter may darken just a bit but it is a far better weather proofer. Regular poly is fine with a couple coats of paste wax rubbed in with a 0000 steel wool. It gives a beautiful finish and will bead water off.

[7 Lakes]

Stain it then spray or wipe on a Poly or Spar.  Either of these can be easily sanded off and replaced when those bumps and scratches happen.