My longbow in the cold?

[Savate]

I'm new to the "care and feeding" of my longbow but am so obssessed with shooting that I want to go out and shoot some arrows today even though there is 4" of snow and 30deg outside.  

I got to think'n that maybe the wood in my bow may react with less "spring" in this cold weather and I'm concerened about cracking or breakage in cold weather.

Is this a legitamate concern?  

I have a Samick Longbow 40#@28" its marked....

[j.j.johnston]

I have shot longbows and recurves at minus 30F with no apparent problems...

[vermonster13]

I hunted with mine in 30 below this year myself and it worked fine.

[mmgrode]

It is a concern with selfbows and backed bows made of yew and some whitewoods, but with fiberglass or other woods/bamboo I wouldn't be concerned. Hunted down to below zero this year w/my BBO- no problems.

[hunt it]

I leave mine in garage all deer season so as to not subject it to drastic changes day in and out.
Never had a problem down to minus 25 or so.

[Savate]

Wow!  Interesting....and here I am at times concerned that mine will snap on me (a fear which has hurt my technique, since it makes me timid to pull to a full draw)

[slayer1]

Its hard to damage a well built glass bow. I think the heat is worse on them than the cold. When I say heat I mean leaving them in the truck during the summer with the windows up. Im like "hunt it" I leave my bows in the garage hanging on the rack strung most of the time. I shoot almost every day, and I have never had a problem.

[Al Dean]

Don't know that it makes a difference, but I like to let my bow sit out in the cold until it acclimates and then shoot.  Just like I wouldn't bring it in from the cold and immediately draw it in the warmth without letting it warm up.  Probably totally unwarranted.

[McGeeM]

I'll be hunting with mine this weekend in Ohio and it's supposed to be in the low teens for both days.

I've done it in the past. The only problems I have had are my fingureson my shooting hand getting cold the bow worked fine.

[Savate]

Originally posted by slayer1:
Its hard to damage a well built glass bow. I think the heat is worse on them than the cold. When I say heat I mean leaving them in the truck during the summer with the windows up. Im like "hunt it" I leave my bows in the garage hanging on the rack strung most of the time. I shoot almost every day, and I have never had a problem.

Good info...I never thought of leaving my longbow strung and hung...that would save some time when I go outside to practice (or if I see some critter I can take a pot shot at!)