I have an honest question about nice/new bows.  I look at pictures of them and dream of having one.  My worry is how would I keep it in mint condition?  I am hard on my gear and my old Bear Grizzly has a few scratches on it.  I know if I got a new bow, I would scratch it while hunting with it.  I know some will say that it happens and it add character but how do you keep them looking so nice?

Simply? Don't use them.....

Everyone I know that uses thier bows,takes good care of them!!! However, things happen!!! Slips,Trips,Falls, They get dropped...

They're mean't, to be bent!!!!!  

i am just careful while in the woods with mine. I also use the limb socks.

I think some of the newer finishes are more durable than the gloss on older bear bows.  I'm hard on gear and have had little trouble with scratching on my last several bows (Pronghorns and Morrisons).

there are some spandex or nylon skins you can slip over your bow that might help.

I dab on BriWax and let it harden to a dull, nonreflective coating.  After the season a buffing with a cotton rag gets it back to shiney.  BriWax can be had in many shadex from clear to black.  One that matches the underlying wood fills the scratches and hides them (works for gunstocks as well).

Stalker Stickbows have a textured epoxy finish that doesn't show wear or shine in the light. Pretty cool stuff!

I won't hunt with a bow I can't stand to have a scratch on.  They are made to hunt with!  

If I can't or won't hunt with it ,I won't own it.

QuoteOriginally posted by oldskool:
If I can't or won't hunt with it ,I won't own it.

+2 Dings and scratches just make them look prettyer

On my Predator recurve, I handled it with OFF on my hands and it left my finger prints and some places looked shiny. This is with black glass limbs. I used spray on furniture polish and 99% came out and it was flat black again.

I'm not crazy about real pretty bows. I like dark brown to black, dull finishes maybe with a tent of some kinda special dark color to set them off. Hunting bows.

I'm carefull in the woods with my bows to a point and don't like beating them up, don't push through brairs with them,etc., but like has been said..few old field scars gives them Character.

I don't abuse them...

But I don't baby them either, I bought them to hunt with.

I haven't hunted with any of my bows more than a single season yet, (I change every year).  However, I've yet to even scratch one. I don't throw them on the ground, lean on fences, or bang around on haul lines coming up the tree.

For 45 years I've taken care of my equipment. I won't even lay a bow, quiver side down. I don't want to damage an arrow.

Frankly, I think it is very easy to take care of one's equipment while hunting. I compromise nothing to be careful.  

Of course accidents can happen.

I've had bows that stood up to hunting conditions better than others. The last one I had with Thunderbird finish was probably the toughest I have owned.

Its just the finish. The finish gets nic'd up on any bow that's used.  When I ordered my PCH in 2010, I just went with the basic Greybark. It's in need of refinishing. I've had other bows in "X" woods, they preform the same. I think that it gives the bow personality.  If you don't want to spend the extra money, but like the looks, buy used.

Life is too short to worry about how a piece of wood looks.

I don't. I take very good care of my stuff but I bought it to use. My bow, guns, and custom knives all have minor wear on them. I don't care one bit about it. With that said, I won't abuse my gear out of laziness either.

QuoteOriginally posted by LongStick64:
Life is too short to worry about how a piece of wood looks.

That is a great perspective.  I agree.

QuoteOriginally posted by WESTBROOK:
I don't abuse them...

But I don't baby them either, I bought them to hunt with.

+1