Bows and cold - how cold is too cold?

[Griffith]

I'm shooting a laminate recurve (Martin Rebel) and live in Minnesota. It's a long winter, but we have a lot of mild winter temps that I enjoy being out in - teens on up.
Other than my own physical tolerance, is there a limit to how cold such a bow should be shot?
What about leaving it in the car in cold temps? How cold is too cold? (I know a hot car is death for a bow).

All clues appreciated - thanks!

[Charlie Lamb]

When I lived in western Wyoming I often hunted in subzero temps. No problem for any modern laminated bow.

[rraming]

I'm not sure if the bow shoots or performs differently, may just be the extra clothes I wear!

[Tom Leemans]

Pretty sure my bow can handle what I can handle. That said, I'm not going out in super bitter cold, just to test that theory.

[longbowman]

When I lived in Montana I shot a buck when the temperature read -18 Deg.s without the chill factor from the wind.  I'm pretty sure if you can take the bow can.

[lablover]

I'm sure my bow can handle way colder than I can. Watched video of several hunters hunting Polar bear and Musk Ox in the Arctic and didn't hear of any problems with bows, again just the cold on the hunter.

[Cory Mattson]

minus 20 is the coldest I hunted well shot well and enjoyed it and bagged big bucks a couple a times. Zero problems w laminated bows - but I am much less flexible shooting - my form has to be correct to shoot well.
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[nd chickenman]

Have hunted winter seasons that were -20 degrees, Never worried about the bow but kept a VERY close eye on the nocks for the arrows! Some nock will lose all flexibility when its that cold and a dry fire could result. I constantly check the nocks for and problems.

[ddauler]

Man yall are tough rascals I can't stand to hunt when it's 20 degrees much less -20! My pals pick on me because I like early bow season in Ga. when it's 85 especially since the Thermacell came along!

[ti-guy]

Did'nt Fread Bear killed a polar bear? My son and me shoot trough out winter...

[Stumpkiller]

I spend hours each year bunny hunting at 20°F or so.  Occasionally colder if I am really getting cabin fever.  No bow problems as yet.

The stumps, on the other hand, eat more arrows when they are frozen solid.

No coincedence Head Ski took over Wing bows at one time - a ski and a laminated bow have a lot of similarities.  A snowshoe is just a self-bow tied in a knot.  ;-)

   

[Hawkeye]

I remember Trad Gang member "wasapt"s Arctic expedition for polar bear and muskox as an exteem cold weather test of man and equipment.  If you have any doubt, you might try a search for that thread from a couple years ago.

[Igor]

I shoot outside in Minnesota winters regularly ....no issues with laminated bows...haven't tried self bows....


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Glenn

[Butts2]

BTB - Big Thompson Bowhunters in Loveland Colorado. First archery shoot I ever went to. Got there it was -18F. I said are we really going to shoot when its this cold. They point at a lone figure setting up the course pulling Foam critters out of the back of a pick-up. He's running the show and he's an ex-Marine......we aren't stopping him. About 25 men showed up that day. When it was over it had warmed up to -1 F.

[Hummer3T]

I have hunted and shot in temps down to -30'C (-22 'F) on many occasions.  I think "my" bow can handle colder than I can. most of our deer season in the rut is -15 to -30

[Jeff Cooper]

-53 F this past January (and -40 or colder many times over the past 13 years). No issues other than not being able to keep my steel blunts attached to my wooden arrows and the occasional shattered HTM rubber blunt!

[Griffith]

OK - Thanks a lot ! I won't worry about the bow!
Thanks for mentioning to check the nocks on my arrows, ND Chickenman  

[Griffith]

OK, Cooper wins!
You guys that hunt/shoot in super cold - how do you manage your bow arm so that you can stay warm enough but clothing doesn't interfere with the shot?