With hunting season rapidly approaching, most serious bow hunters are shooting frequently, if not every day. That means that their bow strings are getting a workout too.
Because of this, I check my bow string prior to every shooting session. I look for fuzzy fibers or frays and broken segments too. If I find the former, I wax the string. If I find the latter, it's time to replace it. I'm paying particular attention to the string grooves at the limb tips in my traditional bows as plenty of wear happens there. On compound bows, I'd also inspect along the cams or wheels as well as the rest of the string. Crossbow users would be wise to check limb tips and wherever the string contacts the deck.
Wax On...
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| Don't forget to wax your bow string to help prolong its life. |
Waxing the string isn't a difficult job but it is one some archers forget to do regularly. That's a shame because it prolongs the life of the string you have.
We each have our own tricks. My way is to rub the wax block (I prefer bees wax for the traditional bows) on the string and then rub the string and wax with my fingers to create enough friction and heat to work it into the fibers. I rub wax in the serving too. On crossbows, it's a good idea to wax the deck where the string makes contact, too.
Keep a Spare Handy
Along these same lines, it's also prudent to have at least one extra string ready to go. You don't want to have to break in a string during hunting season.
I always keep a spare old string handy. The one I use has seen better days but has been broken in and is still in relatively good shape. Around August, I buy a new string and break it in so that I've got a good, new string ready for our October deer season.
For me, that's one less worry.
I've never had to replace a string during deer season but it can happen, especially since that's the time of year where broadheads are routinely out.
Like many things in archery, this is a little detail that means a lot.
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