Bear Minuteman Recurve

[ewarshaw]

Hey Folks,

I recently inherited a Bear Minuteman Recurve Takedown that has been sitting in a closet for the last 25 years. It shoots well, and I have it strung for 45#.
My question is this:
Is it better to unstring it between uses (every other day or so), leave it strung, or does it matter?
I also wanted to say that I will be hunting with this recurve and I think I may just sell my compound because this seems like so much more fun.

[jeff w]

I have always heard it doesn't hurt to leave them strung and have never noticed any problems when I left them strung for extended periods.   During hunting season, or when I am shooting alot, I  generally just leave mine strung.   Older bows I guess I am more likely to unstring when not in use as much.  

You are right however, recurves/longbows are a lot of fun.

[Gote Rider]

I never leave my bows strung for long periods of time. After target shooting or a hunting trip I unstring it.

[SCATTERSHOT]

I leave the ones I shoot regularly strung,unstring the rest. I would be more worried about it being stored in a closet all those years. Since the Minuteman is of wood/ glass construction, check for twist on the limbs if it was stored standing upright.

Thise are fine bows, and lots of fun to shoot. Congrats on your find.

[J.D.]

My wife dosn't shoot, but she is a dang good arrow caddy.

[ewarshaw]

Scattershot,
It was stored unstrung and broken down in it's original box. It looks like it could almost be new. I know it was bought new for my brother, and I don't think he used it more than one season's worth of league shooting.
I'm really looking forward to hunting with it. At a 30 inch draw, that should put it just over 50#, I think. Got some Limb Skins coming so I can pretend I know what I'm doing. I even bought some blunt-tipped Flu-Flus because I think I'm going to try and take a few pheasants with it this fall.
Hey, a boy's gotta have a dream, right?

[SCATTERSHOT]

That's a real find. You will be happy with that bow. Good luck!

[VinnieB]

the guy at bass pro told me that if you shoot at least twice a week then you can leave it strung.

[Shawn Leonard]

I have a Pearson Hunter that has been strung since 1966. The only time it has been un-strung was to replace the string. It hung in a guys basement by the string on two pegs for 38 years and than he gave it to me. It has not lost a pound in weight either. I keep all my glass bows strung unless going on a trip. Shawn