carrying bow on pack

[nikonsteve]

being a newbie to bowhunting and getting ready to go on my first bowhunt,I'm trying to figure out how to attach my bow to my pack? Should it be strung or unstrung? I'm hunting with a "badlands" recon pack. It has a place to attach a rifle or bow.

[Steelhead]

If you are going to go low profile and pack in.You might want to consider a 2 piece longbow eventually.It will be small and lightweight and assemble in seconds.

With a treestand and or pack and full length bow I usually just carry the bow.I usually have a  large fanny pack as well for all my other gear.So everything is on my back and waist and my hands are free to carry the bow and manuever it through trees and brush etc.

[Stump73]

I would rather carry it in my hand because I could miss a shot opportunity if it was on or in my pack.

[Matty]

Wouldn't carry it on my lack unless you were going into the back country and weren't expecting a shot. The last thing you want to be doing is fumbling around getting your pack off and your bow out.

[sheepdogreno]

I would want my bow in my hand with easy access to arrows. Unless I'm packing in a long ways well before or after shooting light

[pinky]

I carry mine in my hands. for timber, brush and side-hilling I feel it is better and safer in the hand. It is available for a shot opportunity if it presents, a warm up stump shot or two, and less likely to get hung up and easily maneuvered around limbs and brush not to mention crossing logs and deadfall. The Kuiu poster shot of the fellow climbing a snow field with ice axe in hand and a bow on his pack is a cool picture but, I have had my share of sidehill slips and can't imagine the lower limb of bow faring well when strapped to a pack in such a fasion. A takedown bow situation is different. my bow has always been strung and in hand when i have a pack on.

[pinky]

Here is just another thought about having bow in hand. I use my bow as a prop/tool for catching my breath and shifting the pack load slightly while resting.  My bows are 62 and 64" and I am 5'11". I can rest my lower limb tip on my boot and rest my chin on my upper limb tip and hands while a catch my breath and take a little load off my shoulders for a minuter or two with the pack still on. can you picture it? have many of you done this?

[njloco]

I went elk hunting in Idaho two seasons ago, it was my first, rough hiking in that part of the country, after awhile it felt like I was still going uphill when I was actually going downhill. I used a two piece longbow, very quick and easy to put together and it fit perfectly in the safari tough quiver with the arrows, which was all tied to the side of my pack but easily accessible.

[Stickbow]

I strapped my 60" bow on my pack horizontally when I was biking in Elk country two years ago. Worked so well I have done it a few times since when needing my hands free.

[Whip]

A good takedown bow can be quickly assembled and is far easier and safer to pack.  If you really need both hands free such as riding a bike or using trekking poles that is the way I would go.  

When actually hunting you are typically going to be moving through at least some cover and having a full length assembled bow strapped to your pack would be tricky at best. And I sure wouldn't want it on there if I ever fell.

[Whip]

A good takedown bow can be quickly assembled and is far easier and safer to pack.  If you really need both hands free such as riding a bike or using trekking poles that is the way I would go.  

When actually hunting you are typically going to be moving through at least some cover and having a full length assembled bow strapped to your pack would be tricky at best. And I sure wouldn't want it on there if I ever fell.

[kadbow]

In my hands when hunting, two piece takedown when packing in.

[wasapt]

I carried my bow disassembled in my pack when it was an all day hike upward  into where we would set up camp.  The goat hunt was so steep treking poles were  required so carrying my bow in hand was not an option. However, most of the time I can carry my bow in hand and be ready to shoot if need be

[AkDan]

Personally I wouldn't and don't strap on.

Personal experience (and one seriously chewed up bow) has taught me that by strapping on, which I have done, has cost me critters, and some serious wear and tear on my sticks!  

Have a bow broke down in a pack has cost an a buddy a really good ram a number of years ago.

The ONLY time its in/on my pack is when I take it down.   And that's on the way out or at the end of a hunt.  

The only disclaimer to that is the same experience wasapt mentioned.  On my goat hunt with Steve H. I had the bow taken down in my pack.  You're spending 90% of your time trying to climb, hunting isn't an option.  

Out of curiosity is Robertson still making the hinge?   I have 3 liberty chiefs with the hinge and though its not my favorite its the lesser of evil of the rest of the 2 piece systems on the market.   The not so new hinge system Big Jim Jack Harrison, and Black Widow are doing look nice but I really question those sharp edges on mt hunts in regards to durability when the bow is unstrung.   This style of take down system was written about in the early/mid 90's both with sinew and using a epoxy/fiberglass (think cedar strip canoe here) design on self bows in Primitive archery mag.   My liberty's were built before.

Probably the wrong thread, but I had a 2 piece td bow with a system very similar to the sleeve though using a bolt with a phenolic riser crack just like I was told it would.  to stubborn to believe it I bought the bow and the thing was a shooting machine, until it cracked.   Now its a memento to hunts past hanging on the wall.  I'm eagerly albeit impatiently awaiting reviews on the systems before I decide what I'll be using on the next bow.

I don't think the Robertsons are available in the takedown any longer. The one that I have seems to be holding up fine.  It is my back up bow,  it fits in its socks and tube very safely. Heck of a thing to call a back up bow, it shoots fantastic.

[njloco]

I am pretty sure Great Northern archery makes a hinged lb, shot one a while back, it's on my list !

On the Idaho trip mentioned above, I was using a Jack Harrison two piece bow, hate to say this but even used it as a walking stick held up great, didn't even get marks on the sheep horn tips. It's made of carbon fiber where it separates.

[fisherick]

I have been using a j-hook bow holder from my pack hip belt. My Bob Lee take down bow with quiver rides inverted by the grip and balances just fine. This set up is very accessible and carries well with my Badlands 2800 pack in the backcountry.

[AkDan]

My issue is weight I likely wont carry the tube.  When you're cutting tags, and ditching gear most sane people would take you know you're goofy about it! LOL  I have a good spot in my pack where it can fit, but a fall can be brutal on stuff, the tips are slightly exposed though they're usually in a sock unless its sheep than the sock stays home.   Inside the pack its usually ok.....strapping to the outside was a baaaad move!  A brand spanking new bow look liked it was hit with a geese grater and run over by 18 wheeler!

There was a fella up here who had a site, Alaska string works, who was doing conversions like Jim's doing (sweet vid btw Jim!).  I had hoped to find him but so far haven't had much luck getting a return, and it looks like his site is down.   It's a small town and even smaller trad bowhunting community so I'll likely run in to him eventually if he's still around.  I'm holding off for a bit.  A 1 piece Berry or 3 is on the radar LOL!

I just wanted to mention this as strapping a take down has issues folks don't really think about.   Doing it once or twice you might be fine, doing it on a regular basis creates a hole separate ball of wax.   Nothing wrong or not knocking a system or company, just looking for the best option there is for it.

My buddy uses the metal sleeve system, though I really like the bows (Wes Wallace), I cringe at the thought a fall could have on that sleeve.   Throw out 2-3000 bucks on a bush flight and squash it, you're likely done!  A guy hunting off the road system can get out, still stinks but with a backup at the truck/camp or at least civilization reachable, you have options.

[Burnsie]

Robertons special Wolfer Bow uses the bow bolt system with a phenolic riser and exotic wood veneer scales

[calgarychef]

I take mine down and stow I in the pack when it's hiking in time.  I've wished a couple times I had it in my hand but it really does depend on terrain, some areas we hike into you need hiking poles so that makes the decision for us.