Cold Weather

[rock_hunter]

As I've never shot a deer in December, this year I saved one doe tag for the late season.  As I'm in North Dakota, that will mean very cold hunting.  Should I worry at all about my recurve in the cold?  I'm shooting a Samick Leopard take down recurve that I bought new last February.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

it will hold up just fine

[Taiga Recurve]

Hunting in ND in Dec will not have any effect on your bow, your muscles however could be another story. When the shot presents itself after sitting still for a few hours in the cold your muscles tend to be quite stiff. When you can, draw your bow back and hold for a few counts, this will help keep the muscles warmed up and you can practice hitting full draw.
I am actually looking forward to the late hunt this year, with a large precentage of the corn still in the fields here in ND the rifle hunters are having a tough time finding deer. One more weekend of rifle season... then it's time to get back out there.

Your bow will be just fine.

[rock_hunter]

Taiga I hear you, down here there is still lots of corn in the fields.  I think lots of deer are going to be kicking around in December.  I'm looking forward to it.

[Taiga Recurve]

Drop me a line if you want to chase some bunnies or something late season.

[Traditional-Archer]

Just an idea for hunting cold weather,keeping hands warm.
 

[Traditional-Archer]

[Snakeeater]

I do the same thing as Traditional-Archer, but with a tab instead of a glove.

[BrianH]

Taiga,  I have dibs on Jeff's bunny hunting areas down by Kindred, I just need to call him and arrange it. :~)  Of course you know I am just kidding.  Me and Jeff have discussed some rabbit hunts via pm's.  He clued me into the fact that since rabbits are considered non-game animals in ND, us out of state hunters just need a general game stamp.  

Back to the subject, I have bowhunted in -18 degrees with no ill effect on my bow. The same could not be said for me.

[BrianH]

Those flip back mittens are nice, you can put a little heat pack right in the mit.

[301driver]

With a busy fall, I can hardly wait for gun season to end to finally get a chance spend some time hunting.  The snow and cold make it that much more enjoyable.  Those flip back mittens work great with a tab!!

Corn harvest in ND is only about 25% done state wide.  Last year at this time we were 80%+ done with corn harvest.

[akdd]

I have been using wool flip back mittens with a tab. Works pretty good have not been out in real cold weather with them but they have kept my hands warm at 10 degrees.

[Rick P]

Your bow will actually shoot a little faster. Personally I don't shoot mine below -25 had a bow make some awful noises at -30 and hunting looses it's draw at those temps..........time to ice fish  :D  .

[Bowmania]

I used to think it was the stiff muscles that was the problem shooting in cold weather.  Now, I believe it's the extra clothing.  It tends to bind in the elbow of the drawing hand and shoulder area.  If you think of your elbow throughout the draw - it starts out of line with the bow (to the left for right handed shooters) and gets closer to in line as the draw continues, until a line can be drawn form the elbow to the broadhead.  Put on two wool shirts and you can't get your elbow in that plane and that's what makes people think they have stiff muscles.

I don't have a solution, except PRACTICE with the chothes you hunt in.

Bowmania