Trad bows and extreme cold

bowman15 · 01-14-2009, 05:55 AM

Do any of you guys not hunt in very low temps with your trad bows? Tomorrow is the last day of the deer season here in Illinois and I'm really wanting to take my laminate longbow out, but the temps are forecasted to be in the single digits and maybe subzero. Would it be a bad idea?

LBR · 01-14-2009, 06:00 AM

Shouldn't hurt a thing--Fred Bear and Bill Negley both took polar bear with their laminated bows, and Ben Pearson took a bear (grizzly, I think--need to watch the video again) also in extreme cold. Folks in AK hunt with trad bows, as do folks in extremely cold parts of Canada.

I can't speak from actual experience though--it seldom gets that cold in MS.

Chad

Schultzy · 01-14-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Do any of you guys not hunt in very low temps with your trad bows?

If I'm still without a deer I'm hunting In cold weather every year. This December temps were -20 below here In Minnesota. My recurve held up just fine. It sucks pulling a bow back with all that clothing on but man Is It satisfying when you get something.

bowman15 · 01-14-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Schultzy

... but man Is It satisfying when you get something.

This is EXACTLY why I'm going out tomorrow. Double-digits below and a little windy, but if I get one, it'll be worth it!

wabi · 01-21-2009, 07:01 PM

The biggest problem is trying to shoot with all the extra clothing on.
Modern bows are not as subject to extremes in weather conditions, but if the string hits your sleeve on release the arrow is not going to fly perfectly.

Schultzy · 01-21-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: bowman15

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Schultzy

... but man Is It satisfying when you get something.

This is EXACTLY why I'm going out tomorrow. Double-digits below and a little windy, but if I get one, it'll be worth it!

How did It turn out? Any luck??

BobCo19-65 · 01-22-2009, 04:32 AM

It should not hurt a thing. I think sinew backed bows might be affected but not glass. I can't remember hunting below about 10 degrees this yearmyself, but I often practice in sub zero temps if there is not much wind.

bowman15 · 01-22-2009, 04:37 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Schultzy

Quote:

ORIGINAL: bowman15

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Schultzy

... but man Is It satisfying when you get something.

This is EXACTLY why I'm going out tomorrow. Double-digits below and a little windy, but if I get one, it'll be worth it!

How did It turn out? Any luck??

No sir, none at all.

I went to an area where I thought I could expect a 15-yard shot at, but the night before I saw the wind was going to change direction, so I took the compound and went to another spot. I didn't see anything at all. I'm not comfortable with my longbow past 15-yards yet, so that's why I didn't take it.