Introduction
Who hasn’t dreamt of a heavy pack strapped to their back, the weight of thick-set antlers and fresh backstraps putting a strain on every step as they haul that bull elk out from the depths of a backcountry valley? It’s the pinnacle for every bowhunter out there.
To achieve the pain, burn, and strain of packing out an elk you hunted with your bow, takes a great deal of preparation, setup, and maintenance to ensure that when the time comes and you have him broadside at 35-yards, you know your gear will perform at its optimum level.
As the saying goes, “failure to prepare, is preparing to fail.” So we have compiled the sequence needed for setting up your bow and the correct maintenance needed to achieve a successful hunt.
Essential Items
It will take more than just a simple bow and arrow to make it into the world of hunting. Every small component, tool, and accessory needs to work simultaneously and in unison to achieve the ultimate goal. One faulty or forgotten piece and you’ll be left standing in a pool of your own frustration and tears as your dream elk trots merrily over the next ridge and out of sight.
Below is an essential list of the items you need for your compound bow:
- Compound bow with poundage between 65 – 75 lbs.
- Arrows – with correct weight and spine
- Broadheads – mechanical or fixed
- Arrow rest
- Arrow quiver
- 3-pin sight
- Release (trigger, hinge, thumb, tension, personal preference)
- Silencers
- Kisser
- Peep sight
Getting the Right Set Up
A compound bow is a very personal item, not only does it take hours of practice and fine-tuning to perfect the correct technique so those arrows are hitting true and tight, but not any can just pick up a random bow and fire it. The dimensions of your height, arm width, and strength are personal attributes that play a major role in determining the right compound bow for you.
Draw Weight and Length
It’s important to have the correct draw weight and length to achieve maximum performance from your bow. Any local bow shop technician can assist in setting up the correct draw weight and length.
Always remember comfort is paramount when it comes to bow hunting and have the bow setup to match the hunting you will be doing. For example, just because you can pull 80 lbs. doesn’t mean your bow should be that heavy. If your main hunting entails whitetail in the thick timber stands of the northwest, you won’t need more than 70 lbs to effectively kill them. Try holding an 80 lbs draw and waiting on a broadside shot while the deer are feeding and turning, it’s not easy.
Arrows and Broadheads
It’s not the bow that kills, it’s the arrow. All too often newcomers to compound bows become fixated on the bow and blow their budgets getting the latest bow and ultimately neglect the arrows and broadheads.
Again, similar to the setup of a bow’s weight and draw length, it is best to set your arrows up according to the type and method of hunting.
A few factors to consider when selecting your arrows broadheads:
- Arrow spine type and weight
- Arrow length
- Trajectory of arrow
- Broadhead type (fixed or mechanical)
- Fletchings
Sights and Releases
Sights and releases really boil down to personal preference and there is no one size fits all option when it comes to getting your compound bow hunting ready.
There are many great articles with valuable information and valid points that compare 3-pin sights versus single-pin and similarly the different types of releases. One thing is for certain though, regardless of which style and type you choose, no compound bow is complete without them.
Bow Maintenance
Keeping your equipment clean and in working order can amount to 50% of the hunt being successful. Poorly maintained bows, dry strings, blunt broadheads, cracked arrow spines, and similar small issues can all turn a lifelong dream hunt into a nightmare real fast.
Below is a simple list of a few issues to look out for and then we will discuss ways of preventing them from ruining your hunt and equipment:
- Dry splitting strings
- Loose bolts and screws on the bow
- Cracked limbs
- Wear on cams
- Sharpness of broadheads
- Splinters or hairline cracks on arrow spines
- Loose fletchings
- Faulty release
- Loose pin sights
String Care
The string of a bow is the most susceptible component to wear and tear and in my opinion, needs to be maintained and checked upon most often.
The best way to learn about string care is to meet up with a bow technician and have them show you signs of damage and how to prevent them.
Strings can fray where the finer smaller strings begin to separate and break. The application of wax to a string helps it from drying out and keeps the string tight and intact.
Beware though as too much wax can cause additional issues such as collecting dirt, reducing strong performance, and causing blockages in the cams. Bow technicians have a handy trick of using either dental floss or sewing string to remove excess wax on a string.
It takes less than 10 seconds to look over your bowstring, so after every session on the target range or the end of a day of bow hunting, take those few seconds to look over your bow’s strings for any signs of wear.
Replacing a string is a lot cheaper than having to purchase new cams or replacing arrows that have snapped against the frame or gone flying off into the brush never to be seen again. So if you find your string is showing major signs of wear or maybe you have had a particularly hard hunt and your bow took the brunt of it, replace your string as often as you reasonably can.
Arrow & Broadhead Checks
This is the business end of the bow and needs to be 100%, there is no space for shortcuts or complacency when it comes to your arrows and broadheads.
Inspect each arrow, holding each end of the spine in your hands gives it a slight bend to look for hairline cracks or splinters. By bending your arrow slightly you may even hear a crack, in this case, it’s best to discard the arrow completely or use it for target practice, but never use a splintered arrow for hunting.
Arrows should be straight and the length specific to your draw length. While ensuring the arrows are straight and not bowed, the fletchings should also be looked over for any splits or places where they have come away from the glue.
Broadheads should be as sharp as possible and if you’re into those mechanicals be sure to inspect them for any flaws so that they can open smoothly in flight.
Bow Body
The body of a bow, the limbs, and the cams are under immense pressure when firing an arrow and they ultimately generate significant power from that pressure. Therefore, checking on the condition of your bow will not only save you from malfunctions out in the field but will also prevent serious injury.
Before firing your bow, even if it is for target practice, glance over the body of your bow for any cracks, unusual distortion, or loose bolts and screws that may come undone during firing.
Sighting In
Maintenance is not only about keeping your equipment clean and looking for breakages, it’s about ensuring your bow is ready to perform at its optimal level when you need it.
Regular sighting in of your bow will not only ensure your arrows are flying true and hitting tight groups but will allow you to pick up on any flaws quicker, get accustomed to the feel of your bow, and will also highlight any issues that you may have missed during your pre-shooting inspection.
Conclusion
Bow hunting is an art form, it requires a certain type of skill and dedication. However, that determination and passion you have for bow hunting will only take you so far, if your equipment is not well maintained or setup accordingly then not only are you wasting money but you also just got dressed up in your favorite camo and took time off work to go work around outdoors cursing yourself for not taking 5 minutes back at home to check your bow.
Keep your bow well-maintained and you will have many successful hunts, sometimes it’s that simple.
