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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: johnnyc on January 07, 2010, 01:17:00 PM

Title: Shooting older bows in cold
Post by: johnnyc on January 07, 2010, 01:17:00 PM
I'm from Arkansas and we're not used to single digits.  I shoot or hunt at least 5 evenings a week.  I read somewhere in one of my bowhunting books that extreme cold  can be tough on older glass lam bows?  Should I leave my older grizzly and K hunter in the house in real cold weather and use my newer grizz, or do you guys up north not consider single digits too cold for older bows   :)
Title: Re: Shooting older bows in cold
Post by: Grant Young on January 07, 2010, 01:29:00 PM
Johnny, I've hunted in some pretty cold conditions with my one-piece Bears- all forty years old plus or minus a year or two- and haven't had any problems. I've always worried more about extreme heat. Having said that, bows are like anything else in my experience in that they have a finite lifespan and any shot could be the last. Probably even more true with our "oldies". I'd hate to be the guy who told you not to sweat it right before one of your old favorites gave up the ghost. I will say we're having the same weather here in KY and I'll hunt with my '70 Super Kodiak this week. Maybe someone more confident giving advice will chime in pretty soon. For now I'd say, if you are really worried, don't do it. Nobody wants to hunt and worry at the same time. Good luck, stay warm.  Grant
Title: Re: Shooting older bows in cold
Post by: chris amos on January 07, 2010, 01:31:00 PM
I've been shooting my 72 super all winter in temps below freezing, usually for no more than an hour but haven't had any problems, never thought about it. Might be a different story in a hunting situation where we are talking about hours and hours though.
Title: Re: Shooting older bows in cold
Post by: Big Bird on January 07, 2010, 02:59:00 PM
I've never had a problem.I hunt michigan and ohio.temps can get real cold.
Title: Re: Shooting older bows in cold
Post by: BobT on January 08, 2010, 08:50:00 AM
I shot my '58 Alaskan about 30 shots at 6 degrees the other day and had no problems but it was only outside for about 20 minutes or so. I was more concerned with the temperature change going from inside to outside than actually shooting it.
Title: Re: Shooting older bows in cold
Post by: Rick P on January 08, 2010, 11:39:00 PM
I hunt below -30 on a fairly regular basis and have never had any issues with my "older" bows.
Title: Re: Shooting older bows in cold
Post by: myshootinstinks on January 11, 2010, 08:45:00 AM
I've always wondered if there's a risk of delaminating too but then I've always shot them in the cold anyway. It gets cold here, 0 temps common.  No problem thus far.