I am scheduled to go on an August antelope hunt in Colorado this summer. We will be hunting in Double Bull blinds. My question is if using a Osage selfbow would be a bad idea due to the heat? I was not planning on using it to begin with but I am shooting it the best of all my bows (incuding my Black Widow recurve). It is not backed because it is such a cool looking piece of character Osage. I would appreciate hearing anyones experiences or opinion on this.
Thanks in advance,
Bic

contact mike yancey of pinehallowlongbows he is a sponser on here ,he has taken animals with selfbows ,he makes em ,he has hunted when its hot.

I'm only speaking on what I've read, not on experience.

I don't think heat itself would be a problem, but the big drop in humidity might make a surprising difference in performance.  If it is nicely tuned (as it sounds that it is) you may have to make some adjustments at the new location to be able to shoot the same groups.  Some bows are more finicky about it than others.  Hopefully a little brace height adjustment can handle the change.

Mike Yancey has killed a lot of antelope with a self bow...and he builds some great ones, so he would definitely be the go-to for questions...    

FWIW, heat is not so much the issue w/ selfbows as humidity.  Colorado at that time of year can be very prone to rain (monsoon season?)...or it can be drier than a popcorn fart.  A selfbow draw weight can fluctuate wildy with the change in humidity.  The guys at Bear Quest have experienced the same thing (though their shots are only around 5-7 yds)  Might be a good idea to pack a glass bow just in case something goes funky...

Good Luck, hope to see pics in August!

 

You will have no problem with an unbacked osage bow on a hunt like that or a sinew backed bow for that matter.Like Fatman and Missagain said, I have taken several antelope with osage bows and about everything you can think of, sinew backed horn and sinew backed as well as glass in WY, CO. and NM. I love the osage bows for antelope.
Here is one that I took in WY last year with a sinew backed osage bow.
Mike

Mike,
Do you keep your bow strung all day when in the blind?     Nice Buck!

Most of the time I will string the bow once I start to see antelope moving in close then leave it strung all day after that. I used to think that the sinew backed bows were affected by the amount of moisture in the air and they are to a point but my bows are way more temp. affected. They will gain as much as 10 lbs. in cold weather and drop as much as 5 lbs. in hot conditions. But I have never noticed any difference in my osage selfbows. If you are shooting your selfbow good then hunt with it and take your Black Widow as a back up either way you are going to have fun as long as its dry.
Mike

I took a nice buck last year with my unbacked osage selfbow from a hidden hunter blind. There were some days I was stripped to my shorts and still poring sweat, other days I had on my extra wool and was shivering, got to LOVE WYOMING. But through it all I leave my bow strung. Goats have a way of sneaking up on you even in that wide open country. I unstring if leaving the blind for lunch or a break. Otherwise strung for the hunt.

I would be hunting with it in a heartbeat! I believe Mr. Yancy is right on point with his comments. I always take a backup bow or set of limbs no matter what bow I'm shooting but I doubt that you'll have any problem with a well built osage bow, and the satisfaction level will be great when and if you do connect with a sage goat. Frank

Hey they've held up just fine on the hottest MOJam years... I'm just sayin'.

Thanks everybody for the advise. It may just be the "One" for the hunt.
Bic

Good luck on your hunt, I have a elk hunt in WY the 8th through the the 16th.of Sep. but will be out there after antelope and mule deer the 5th.
I knew it didn't leave much time for the deer and antelope but I coundn't miss a chance to hunt antelope.
Mike