New, 30

[NW Jamie]

Now that I have just gotten my first Bear, Kodiak Hunter 72 or 73, I need some of your good advice so that I can shoot it, hunt with it, and respect it
Best way to clean it?
After cleaning, do I wax it or?
If I shoot it everyday, do I hang it strung or unstrung?
There are two small, say 1/8" holes that have been drilled into the back of the riser through the glass, assumed for a sight; how do I fill them?
Any other notes that all of you knowledgeable gents have?

[d. ward]

I gotta stay out of the cleaning shining protecting part sorry but I have a personal intest in bow cleaning products and can not answer that one.
However waxing is good for your bow and will also do almost all the cleaning with a good waxing.Waxing will keep out the moisture and moisture is not good for any all wood self bows or laminated bows.
I shoot everyday and yes I lieve my bow strung at all times and even bows I do not shoot everyday but maybe once a month I also lieve strung.
as for the holes in the fiberglass yes I would fill them again to keep moisture out.You can buy some green artist pegment and add the to some smooth-on epoxy and match the color of the green glass fairly well.I always fill the holes with a wooden plug first even maybe a piece of a tooth pick glued into the hole with super hole lieving the tooth pic just below the glass surface.The wooden plug glued in will keep the epoxy from shrinking later on.Fill hole 90% with wooden plug cap off with then layer of color matched epoxy and sand smooth add some birchwood & casey tru oil over the repair and she's good to go.bd

[NW Jamie]

Quick add on to the post that I started; sorry for the title it should have read "New 30 plus year old Kodiak" and I can not seem to edit post. Thanks BD for your help, a question that I do have is the material on the shelf and side of shelf is pretty bad; just get standard replacement from one of our sponsors or ? Thanks, there will be many more basic questions that I will pose now that the door has been opened. Pretty good, being into traditional bows for over three years and only now getting hooked, by the way the bow shoots so smooth and really fits well!

[jcar315]

Jamie, Welcome! You picked the right place to hang around. Lots of good / expert infor here (not by me though!) Lots of old Bear shooters here so great place to ask questions.