leave it strung or unstrung

[compound_convert]

i have a martin hunter 55# @ 28'', and im new to the traditional style. my question is what effect will my bow have if i leave it strung, and when should i not have it strung. i shoot it frequently but lately its been 3-4 days since i shot should i then take the string off. any advice will help, thank you.

[Michael K Miller]

I would recommend you unstring it after every shooting session.  I know some folks that leave theirs strung up for a hunting/camping trip, bit this would be the only time I would leave it strung.  If you do decide to leave it strung just be sure it is in a climate controlled atmosphere because the last thing you want is to leave it stung in the "hot" basement or in your vehicle all day and take a chance of it de-laminating.  So if I were you I would take the extra 45 seconds and unstring it.

Michael

[BAK]

Leaving the bow you described strung will not hurt it.  Glass backed bows do not take any noticible set.  Your more likely to damage it in the stringing and unstringing process.

I had a Howard Hill Big 5 that I left strung for seven years.  No issues with it at all.

Now a wood self bow, that's another story.

[Night Wing]

Both of my take down recurves are stored on my wall mounted bow rack. They've been stored fully strung this way for the last 20 months straight.

[Rick Perry]

I agree  ......... there have been more bows damaged while stringing and unstringing than anything else .

Fiberglass laminated bows are not hurt by leaving them strung . I have some recurves that have been strung for 5 years or more and have not lost 1 lb pull weight.

Now having said that.... you do NOT want to leave a strung bow in a hot car or non insulated garage or storage shed . .............. please dont ask me how I know  .... 8^)

[Jake Diebolt]

Don't leave a bow in a hot car period! I've seen some disturbing pictures, and live in fear that some day I'll forget my bow in the back of my car...*shudders*

[Ken Taylor]

An often asked but valid question.

The majority of guys on this site and bowyers agree that it's o.k. to leave it strung... and I do too, while I'm home and while I'm on a hunt.

I have some common sense exceptions though: if the circumstances are such that there is the possibility of extreme heat or extreme cold (and it's not in my hands), if I'm traveling, after hunting if it gets dark and it's the law, if I will not be using a particular bow for a very long time, etc...

[bowmofo]

I like to unstring mine, and use a bow stringer  

[liv'nonaprayer]

I leave the one I'm shooting strung in an air conditioned garage but the rest of my collection unstrung.

[Shawn Leonard]

Leave it strung, keep it out of bad situations like mentioned, ecsp. a hot car. I have owned bows that were strung for 40 years that were made of wood and fiberglass and they never lost a pound of weight. As mentioned above, way more bows are damaged by stringing and unstringing than are left strung. My RER has been strung almost continuously for 5 years and it is none the worse for the wear! Shawn

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Ken Taylor:
An often asked but valid question.

The majority of guys on this site and bowyers agree that it's o.k. to leave it strung... and I do too, while I'm home and while I'm on a hunt.

I have some common sense exceptions though: if the circumstances are such that there is the possibility of extreme heat or extreme cold (and it's not in my hands), if I'm traveling,   after hunting if it gets dark and it's the law,  after hunting if it gets dark and it's the law, if I will not be using a particular bow for a very long time, etc...

Now that's one i've never heard of before.   :confused:

Where is it illegal to have a bow strung after dark?

The only thing i might add to the strung bow thing is to be careful how you hang it for long periods of time without shooting it.

Hanging it on a peg or a nail by one end is ok for short term parking, but I've seen limb twist problems letting them hang like that for longer periods in warm weather.

[billy shipp]

Lots of opinions as you'd expect, so I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. Get a good stringer and learn how to use it. I like, and use a SELWAY LIMB SAVER stringer. If I'm not shooting a bow, it gets unstrung. It only takes a few seconds to string or unstring a bow.I've been shooting stickbows for over 55 years, and I have yet to twist a limb or damage a bow in any way.....YMMV  

[TRADSTYK]

I have the same bow and I leave it strung all the time. As long as you keep it in a good temperature you will be fine.

[bearbowman]

What came first the chicken or the egg?

I have a 1959 Grizzly that has been strung for at least a dozen years. I do keep it in a controlled climate though. I would rather it blew up strung in the corner than while I was shooting it. I would not advise you doing this in a damp basement or a hunting camp that could get hot in the summer or the obvious like in a vehicle.

[Ken Taylor]

To answer Kirkll's question about the legality of having a strung bow:

Some provinces where I hunt (including Quebec) require a bow to be cased after dark, especially when traveling by vehicle before or after hunting hours in an area frequented by wildlife (it is considered a firearm). There are regulations in one Province that are even stricter, but I won't get into that.

Since I can't find a case that fits my longbow with bow quiver attached, (I've been planning to make one for years, LOL) following the advice of a conservation officer, I simply unstring it.

[compound_convert]

thank you every one, the transition from the other type of bow has been a bit drastic, but im enjoying the traditional a lot more. so, im trying to get as much info as possible in order to get the best out of my bow for a long time.