Knots to know for bowhunting

[jhg]

I grew up with a great Dad. But of his many skills knots were not one of them. He was a square knot for everything kind of guy, the more the better. Trying to untie them was often an exercise in frustration.
So it made a lot of sense to me when learning knots when one expert mentioned a good knot is one thats easy to untie.

So what is your favorite archery knot? Please include those used for whipping strings or other tackle craft, in the field "after the shot" knots or camp knots.

Mine is a double sheet bend. Its great for linking two lines together, often of different sizes.

Joshua

[DVSHUNTER]

the timber hitch is very useful as well as the bowline know.

[KentuckyTJ]

I use a knot to tie on my bowfishing arrows. That's the only one I can think of that I use in bow hunting. I put the line through the slide, then double it on itself, twist a loop in that and pass the arrow back through the loop. Very strong and is not a slip knot.

[Bobby Urban]

Those who cannot tie knots, tie lots?

1. Bowline: creates a single loop that will not slip under strain
2. Constrictor Knot: Creates a viselike grip on a curved object, good for securing bags, hanging tools, etc.
3. Double sheet bend: great for joining two ropes
4. Tautline Hitch: A strong, adjustible loop great for tent guylines, clothes line, etc.
5. Clove Hitch: Attach rope to an object - great for mooring a boat, temporary dog lashing, etc.
6. Prusiks Knot: great for treestand safety while climbing
7. Double fishermans: Another great 2 rope joiner
8. Figure 8:  Great climbing knot
These are a good start - many fall under different names depending on where you learn them but all are useful.  I am a big fan of good knot tying and use.  Good knots hold when they are suppose to and come loose when you are done. Do a Google search on knots and you will find some great web diagrams for all of them.  "Monkey Fist" is another fun one but does not have a ton of uses.  

Bob Urban

[Pat B]

Bowyers knot(timber hitch) is one knot I use on every string I make. For wraps on arrows, bow repairs and nock points on bow strings I use what I think is called a nail knot. Lay the tag end down and wrap towards the end. About 5 wrap before I end I lay a loop under the wrap and complete it. Then put that tag end through the loop and pull it back through. Trim the ends and you have a good wrap with no "knot" visible.
  A bowline is a good all around knot for every day use.
  Somewhere there is an excellent website that shows many knots and an in-motion how to tie them.
  For a complete book about knots look for the "Ashley Book Of Knots". More knots than you can imagine, how to tie them and their intended use.

[jhg]

What is your favorite? One. Just choose one. That way we can see which ones get used the most and others can chime in with theirs.

[GMMAT]

The only ones I use....is a prussik (for my tether) and a Bowline on a Bight (w/my tether, to drag).

I use overhand knots for serving, but they're (OK ALL the ones I use are!) really basic.

[Pat B]

In archery the timber hitch(bowyer's knot) is #1.

[SveinD]

Here is a really great webpage for viewing knots.
It has 120 animated knots, and is real easy to use  

 http://www.animatedknots.com/

Includes info on damage to ropes, tips for what knot to use when etc etc..

[NightHawk]

double bolin for hanging deer, bolin, prussic ,timberhitch. like has been said before timberhitch is the one most used in archery. I also second the clovehitch will never come undone under pressure

[JEJ]

timber hitch, clove hitch, square knot. SveinD that animated knot website is real cool, thanks for posting it.

[LoweBow]

Originally posted by KentuckyTJ:
I use a knot to tie on my bowfishing arrows. That's the only one I can think of that I use in bow hunting. I put the line through the slide, then double it on itself, twist a loop in that and pass the arrow back through the loop. Very strong and is not a slip knot.

I call this one a hatchet knot, cause last time I tried removing one of your arrows...I had to just a hatchet to get it off...  

[LoweBow]

Actually TJ...that's an overhand loop.

 

[Dave Worden]

Bowline.  In making bow strings I whip the serving, so I use that more than a bowline, but bowline is still my favorite because it never slips and is always easy to undo.

[Chris Shelton]

Being the avid flyfisherman that I am I actually know a-LOT of knots, however I dont know names of half of them.  I use the blood knot to attach two lines together, and the nail knot.  The timber hitch, square, ect.  That is seriously a small amount of knots in my arsenal.  I dont like tyin knots, but it is useful, and it was part of my course to get to stage one of my assosiatives builders and contractors level in my course in school.  So we learned knots that will almost never be used in the real world, lol

[lpcjon2]

Bobby Urban has a great list.I would add a two loop bowline,a rescue/rappelling seat,and an in line figure eight.Oh and a hang men's noose for when you mis...LOL (That last one is a joke never try that)

[hayslope]

KNOT MISS WHEN YOU SHOOT.......Woops, wrong KNOT!

All joking aside:

Timber Hitch

and for those who make their own harness ropes (I make mine out of odd lots of mountain climbing rope (dynamic) that you can get pretty cheap)....I'm talking about the rope you tie around the tree to attach to your harness:
Double fisherman's knot and prussic hitch (for tying the smaller diameter rope that goes around the main rope - one connected to your harness strap).  I make several up at a time and give them to friends that are stand hunters.  Learn those two knots and you can make a harness rope light years better than the black ones that come with some harnesses.

[jhg]

In-line figure eight-I'm impressed. Someones had their rescue training??

What knots can you tie in the dark, raining, tired?

I could do a bowlne, a sheet bend, timberhitch, bowline on a byte, maybe a prussik- but I'd have to check it twice!

Joshua

[lpcjon2]

jhg,
I am a FF/EMT/Assault climber (When I was in the Marines) and a high angle rope rescue teacher(back in the day) and I can tie them all in the dark and each one under 20 sec.(thanks to SSGT.Richards).I still use most of them.Its always good to retain what you learn.  

[reddogge]

For bowhunting:
Bowline
Timber hitch
Prussic
Figure 8 loop
nail knot

For camping I use these most:
Tautline hitch (for tent lines)
clove hitch
trucker's hitch (for tying down loads)
half hitch

To relieve boredom:
sheepshank (I've yet to find a good practical use for this knot)

Knots I wish I could learn and remember:
End splice
Eye splice
Bimini knot