longbows, arrows, and changes in altitude

[longbow1964]

Hello to all -
I live in the humid Deep South, and plan to head to northwestern Colorado to hunt elk in September 2013.  It will be my first time up there with bow and arrow, and I have been warned about how altitude will severely alter the performance of my longbow and wood shafts. Any advice?  (This is my first post on tradgang; please re-direct me if this topic has been covered already.)  Thank you.

[will_hunt]

I am from Alabama and moved to Idaho some years ago to hunt. I have never experienced any such issue. I had always used wooden arrows until consistent Port Orford cedar became too cost prohibitive then switched to carbon. If you have a great supplier, you will be fine. Consider this: WORK YOUR BODY TO EXHAUSTION (then shoot a few arrows) FIVE DAYS A WEEK.  This cannot be stressed enough. The altitude is going play far more tricks on your unconditioned body (cardiovascular/respiratory systems) than it will on your equipment. You can blame failure on equipment. More likely it will be the result of your exhausted and famished body, drawing your bow an inch or two shorter than normal. Also, practice (LOTS and LOTS) at distances of THIRTY TO FIFTY yards. YOU CAN DO IT!!! This hunt will be nothing like sitting in a white oak waiting on deer and chances are far more likely you will never see an animal at the magic twenty-yard mark. VERY BEST OF LUCK!!!

I've been elk hunting several times and never noticed any problems either. I do not think it is something you need to worry about.

And Welcome to Trag Gang!

You may also want to get this thread moved out of the "Highlights" forum to a more appropriate forum where you would get more responses.

Bisch

[longbow1964]

Advice heard and heeded. Thank you.

[old_goat2]

next time your at the grocery store get a couple extra of those plastic bags you find in the produce department. Take them with you next time you go shooting, put one over your head and tie it tightly around your neck and proceed to shoot and run from shot to shot to simulate the lack of oxygen your going to feel when you get to altitude!

[John146]

longbow, you are in for a treat! i have hunted in NM,WY and Alaska and  never had any issues. I live near Lafayette so I know about the humidity too. Enjoy!

[David Yukon]

I would replace the plastic bag trick from old_goat2 by a straw... Way safer... and you will have the same feeling!!
Ho and welcome!!

[4dogs]

Didnt Byron talk about having to retune when he went to elevation. Think it was in Becoming the arrow.

[Joshua Long]

When I lived in Ohio, I had to retune my woodies in the fall from the summer humidity.
Moving to a high desert with minimal humidity has made them more consistent for me if anything.

[Oregon Okie]

Oh man I am dying from the bag comment. Can't help with the question but that was funny? I'd go with the straw though...

[wooddamon1]

Never had a problem going back and forth from MI to CO high country, except for the huffin' and puffin'...

If your arrows are sealed well they'll be okay.

Get in the best shape you can and take it easy at first and you should be fine.

[longbow1964]

What kind of camo would CPO Achatz recommend ... for the bag, that is.   !!  Thank y'all for the comments. Heard and heeded.

[Pat B]

I live in an area that is humid during the summer and I hunt with selfbows or sinew backed bows and cane or hardwood shoot arrows. I've been to Colorado twice for elk hunts. I shipped my bows and arrows out two weeks in advance of our hunt so they would be acclimatized for the area. On both occasions I had no ill effects to my equipment.

[rmorris]

I live at  5000' elevation and often go stump shooting around 10,000' elevation. The only lack of performance at the high elevation is my body! When ya get to your camp site take it slow, drink lots of fluids and you will acclimate in a day or so if you are in good health. I hope you enjoy the high country , it is one of my favorite places to be!

[Bjorn]

I live at 450' and often hunt for weeks at 9500' can't say my woodies behave any differently at all.

[JamesV]

The lack of oxygen at 5000 feet will take it's toll on even a young flat land guy. The straw thingey is about right.

[longbow1964]

Thanks again to all.  I will continue training like hell every day.  Actually have already started.  Also read that some athletes do indeed use a straw to train their lungs for high altitude.  Others dose up with ginkgo bilabo or sumsuch.  I've hiked up in the rockies a bunch, but that was years ago when I had time (read, no kids) to wait out the altitude change.  If yall can pass on any tricks, please do so.  However, I'm ready for the fact that it's just something to be pleasantly suffered. Great forum.

[eflanders]

Welcome to the Gang!  What everyone has said about dealing with the altitude as far as conditioning is very true.  But also remember the air is also much drier as well as thin.  So don't forget to pack some lip balm and to rehydrate a lot.  As far as effects on the bow or arrows, I have not noticed any but your depth perception changes so I would spend time in camp practicing and marking different ranges because of this.  While this is always a good thing to do, it is especially important if you are an instinctive shooter and you are not accustomed to shooting various distances in the actual region you are hunting in.

[LKH]

I wish I could shoot well enough to detect a difference if one existed.  

I live at about 400' and regulary hunt at 6-9000.  Never noticed anything.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by 4dogs:
Didnt Byron talk about having to retune when he went to elevation. Think it was in Becoming the arrow.

he said the different hunt environments and its affects on arrows was why he switched from woods to alums.