Shooting self bows in cold weather?

[Don Armstrong]

Is there any problems with shooting osage or hickory self bows in single digit tempatures. Probably a dumb question but don't want to have an explosion  :(  . Thanks, Don

[J. Holden]

Hey Don,

It was about 12 today here in Illinois.  Missed all my shots at the pheasants but my red oak board bow did not explode.  Good luck!

-Jeremy  

[vanillabear?]

[Bradford]

I think like any wood, it will always depend on how much moisture there is in the wood.. that is what freezes.. water.

So if you feel your wood was dried well, should be no problems at all!

Bundle Up!

[Art B]

Just one question Don. Do you know the moisture content of your wood bows right now?

Personally, I don't believe cold weather will break any type of wood bows. What breaks 'em this time of year is setting inside very dry/low humidity homes and then taken outside to be used and they break. Even a yew bow, with the proper moisture content, should easily survive a day's use afield this time of year.....Art

[hova]

trees survive it fine most of the time. i dont worry about it , and i noticed on my unfinished bow that it seems a little more snappy on cold days. could just be me though.

[George Tsoukalas]

I've shot in -5 F. Just let the bow settle for 5 mins before shooting. Jawge

[Hermann From Bavaria]

i´ve shot my 54# osage bow several times at about -4 F. there was no problem with the wood, neither with its performance.
but let it settle a bit before shooting, like george said.

greets

[George Tsoukalas]

I've never shot yew below 40 F.  Jawge

[Walt Francis]

With Osage bows, I do not hesitate to use them regardless of the temperatures I hunt.  I have hunted with and shot a couple of deer with my Osage bows when the temperature was between -10 and -30 without any problems.  The temperature was -15 when we started the chase, around zero, when I shot the kitty in my avatar with an Osage bow.

[shortynes]

Shoot a sinew backed mulberry in cold temps often and no problems