Leaving bows strung?

[firsted]

Just curious - Another trad member told me he leaves his bows strung, that he was told more damage happens from stringing/unstringing bows than happens from just leaving them strung.  I have seen limbs suffer damage while being (probably incorrectly) strung.  But, since I'm newer than not to trad, I didn't say anything other than I don't leave my bows strung.  I had a limb that appeared slightly twisted on an old bow & an archery shop guy told me to leave it strung for a week or two to see if it made a difference.  Other than that, I've always unstrung my bows.  Any thoughts on this?

[Bowferd]

You can do a search and find more opinions than you'd be able to read today.
I leave all of the bows that I shoot on a regular basis strung year round.
A couple of older collected bows and my selfbows get unstung after each use.

[Zbearclaw]

My widow has only been unstrung for travel.  I will shoot it less if I unstring it each time as many times I only shoot three arrows, in and out before the wife knows I got away!

I would have trouble hunting a bow that required being unstrung each day, that bow is camp bear and mtn lion medicine on backpack hunts.  I went to a curve because it is less maintenance than wheelie bows.

But to each their own.  I make sure it is never mistreated beyond usual hunting stresses and never locked in a hot car, strung or not...

[cbCrow]

I unstring my bows when I am done with them.     This is something I do from habit and feel that if you use a stringer no harm is done.  

[robtattoo]

[Butkus]

Some folks speak as if stringing or unstringing a bow is traumatic. It is a quite gentle affair with me, taking only a few seconds and putting far less stress on the limbs than drawing for a shot. Both bowyers for my custom bows recommend not leaving strung for long periods. I do use a bow stringer.

[rastaman]

Search 1 click here  
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There are probably 12 or 15 more minimum, but i think you will get a good idea from these.  

[will123]

Just leave you recurve strung.It is proven that bows can handle that for years. As already said most accidents with bows happen when you string it.
However: I unstring my longbows. Don`t know why but that`s just a feeling.

[Bjorn]

I unstring them to replace the string.

[Curveman]

My bowyer has a degree in mechanical engineering and he says it is fine to leave glass and or carbon bows strung. That being said, my longbow is unstrung now as it is in the truck (with the windows cracked so it won't get too hot) as Im planning to shoot on the way home. Just as little extra precaution. I always use a stringer. Err on the conservative side I say!

[KentuckyTJ]

Mine all stay strung (fiberglass bows) in my cool basement. Hang them by two points on the string.

[Orion]

Do what you want.  Really doesn't make much difference.  I've been unstringing mine for nearly 50 years.  Never had a mishap.  Works for me.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Leave mine unstrung for the most part.  Plus I am always switching limbs on them.

[Fred Walker]

Yup leave mine ready to go on a daily basis. Hung on the sting and ready to fire.

[Track]

I know a lot of guys who leave thier recurves strung with no harm. I prefer to unstring mine when I'm not shooting them.

[ronnyg]

If I shoot it regularly, I leave it strung. The rest unstrung, and of course if I leave it in the truck, then unstrung

[tkytrac]

I've heard a number of people say that they leave their bows strung. I never do. Why stress the glue, glass or wood if it's not in use? Just the way I look at it I guess.

[lpcjon2]

We are supposed to un string them       I Leave mine strung and hung on a peg.

[reddogge]

I've been unstringing mine for over 40 years but a couple of months ago I left an old Hoyt Pro Hunter strung for groundhogs 3 weeks and it blew the lower limb off the first shot.  Coincidence?  You decide.  From now on I'll keep on unstringing these old ones.

[stickbowmaniac]

I leave my strung most of the time because i  shoot almost every day.