Extra bowstring: How many have needed one while hunting

[bro-n-arrow]

AS a new archer in the 1960's I was hunting santa cruz island when I came upon a large boar. I got close as I could and proceded to shoot right over him. Seeing the arrow hit the ground he bolted straight at me! I quickly drew another arrow and all in one motion cut the string right off my bow. I now carry several strings with me.

[Bowhunter4life]

Originally posted by lablover:
Have never needed one but I always carry one when away from home. Better to have and not need than need and not have.

X2

[Hermon]

Never needed one, but always have a couple spares, shot it with silencers and nock point just in case.

[hvyhitter]

Broadheads and strings dont play well together so I always carry an extra string in my pack.......  Have only needed it once after just nicking a string but it saved a day of hunting..........

[lt-m-grow]

I suspect the "need" to carry an extra is somewhat dependent on the type of hunting you do.  If it is in the "back forty" you can always walk back to the house, I suppose.

But if you are up in the mountains, on a elk hunt for example, a busted string could make for a long - useless - walk.

And yeah, I carry one -  now :-)  I actually had a knife get bumped and fall perfectly on my string when getting ready to hunt...long drive back to camp.  Always have one in the quiver now.

[KSdan]

Needed one with an accidental errant movement with a broadhead.  Not sure why we would not carry an extra- they take up virtually no space.  I have had an extra wrapped in plastic and taped to my quiver for 25 years (of course replaced the spare a few times in those years).

[Biggamefish]

I always thought the same thing.  till last year when I was at Ray hammonds.  I had a group of hogs skirt around me so I took off running with the arrow in one hand and bow in the other.  well the feather end of the arrow caught something and the broadhead hit the string and snip went the string.  It was a long walk back to the truck when you have pigs in front of you and no bow.  lol .
  So it is always good to have an extra.

[Rifle River Scout]

One slip with a broadhead and what never happened before, just ruined your hunt.
I always carry one.

[joe ashton]

Never while hunting.... have at a 3D shoot once... so I  always have an extra in my pack...

[bawana bowman]

Have always carried an extra string and wax in the pocket of my quiver. If I don't have a quiver I'll have a spare in my pocket. Have never needed it, but why have to end a hunt just to go get a string. Seems like a waste of time for something which is no burden to carry but can ruin your day if you don't have it.

[Bill Carlsen]

I cut one strand of a string with a broadhead. I just went home and made another. One other time I was crossing a stone wall and the string seemed to just touch one of the rocks and whamo....it broke. Went home and made another.  Now I carry a spare which is usually the last sting I had on the bow before I make a new one in August prior to hunting season.

[ozy clint]

why would you not carry one? they weigh nothing and they take up zero room yet a string is a vital part of the bow. without it you have a club.

[Thumper Dunker]

Always have one. Cut two of them before.

[Rob DiStefano]

never needed to use a spare bowstring, would never hunt without one.

[Stryder]

Never needed one before.  That said, I'm going to start carrying a spare when I head to the woods.

[centaur]

I have never needed it, but I always carry one.

[wasapt]

Yes I have used my spare....day before the opening day Colo elk, taking practice shots, I broke my string. It wore smooth thru at a contact point in the limb tip string notch. I had a spare and gladly put it on. I checked my bow for damage and didn't see any but never got a shot

[Rob DiStefano]

it's also *extremely* important to setup and shoot in a new spare string.  before hunting, and during practice/roving, i'll even swap the strings from time to time to make sure they both work the same.

[Orion]

Can't say as I've ever had a string fail, but I did touch one with a broadhead once (when I was 16 some 50 years ago).  String separated so fast it was almost like the bow blew up. Spent the rest of a Sunday morning trying to find a new string to fit my bow.  50 years ago, you couldn't find bow strings just anywhere.  I've been carrying a spare ever since.

[Hopewell Tom]

To me, it's like buying a snow blower. If I never have to use it, it's money well spent and space well taken up.