as i was reading "shooting the stickbow" by anthony camera last night, this topic came up again. as i have heard differing opinions regarding this over the years, and the rationale behind those opinions, i would like to pose the topic here. do you leave your bow (bows) strung or untrung when not shooting them, and why? i currently leave mine strung. thanks for any input.

I leave mine strung and hang them on a peg.I shoot just about every day as well.But this link will give you some other opinions.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=088874#000007

If it is  the bow I'm shooting daily I leave it strung the rest are unstrung...

Strung, unless I am transporting them.

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And if you don't get enough replies, here are a few from the past year or so.  If i'm shooting mine, they stay strung.

for glass backed and faced bows, leave 'em strung forever if need be.

I always, unstring my bows. Mostly habit, newer more modern materials of most bows do not need to be unstrung. If they are stored properly, they will maintain indefinitely.

Both Black Widow and Schafer said you can leave the RECURVES strung for long periods of time. But.. my longbows they suggest that you unstring them after each use because they will over time tend to loose a little weight if they are kept strung for long periods of time. I think its because of the thicker limbs.

The ones I am shooting stay strung until the string needs maintenance and then strung again.

If it was a recurve and prone to twist during stringing...I might would leave it strung if you are shooting regularly. They generally don't have much limb core and shouldn't be altered by leaving them strung if you store them properly (and not sitting catawampus).

For a longbow though, you could prop it up anyway you want to and you wouldn't have to worry about limb twist, but because of the additional core in a longbow I personally believe it is best to unstring them after each use. This is my opinion based upon seeing some deep cored longbows take about 1/2" of backset or loosing a 1/2" of reflex when being left strung up over time.

If your razorback has much limb core to it, as did many of Gary's bows, unstring it when you are not using it.

I keep my Black Widow recurve strung.  For me, I look at the bow ready for use and seemingly eager to go out and play.  My opinion.  I unstring it during hot days for transport.

thanks for the "heads-up" on my moosejaw, lee. altho i shoot it frequently, i will unstring it after shooting now. i had been keeping it strung.    

QuoteOriginally posted by frassettor:
Both Black Widow and Schafer said you can leave the RECURVES strung for long periods of time. But.. my longbows they suggest that you unstring them after each use because they will over time tend to loose a little weight if they are kept strung for long periods of time. I think its because of the thicker limbs.

Thats what I've heard and done.  Recurves strung, Long bow un strung.

well, now that i've heard about unstringing the thicker-limbed longbows from lee, rick (frassettor) and huntin_sparty, i will unstring my moosejaw when not in use. it makes sense when i think about it now regarding a thick-limbed longbow. thanks.  (recurves and hybrids will remain strung)

Unstrung unless it is "in the line-up" to be shot in a few days.  Just the way I was taught and it saves space.

First bow I remember shooting was a lemonwood at Grandpa's.

I leave my hunting bow strung all season so I don't have to worry about the Flemish string stretching in.  And, since I try and shoot every morning year-round, that means one or two specific bows may be continually strung year-round.

I'd contact the bowyer and ask them.  Everyone has a differing opinion so who knows what's correct.  If damage did occur or performance effected by leaving it strung at least I'd want to be able to say I did what the bowyer told me to do.

In the mid-60's a friend owned an archery shop. He left a recurve strung for 5 years, except to change strings. It lost 1 lb in draw weight during that time.

QuoteOriginally posted by Protege Longbows:
... but because of the additional core in a longbow I personally believe it is best to unstring them after each use. This is my opinion based upon seeing some deep cored longbows take about 1/2" of backset or loosing a 1/2" of reflex when being left strung up over time. ...

really?  i've kept short r/d wide-limbed and long straight narrow-limbed "longbows" strung literally for years ('cept for string adjustments or changes).  all were glass backed and faced.  never lost a hint of holding weight nor never took any limb follow through.

QuoteOriginally posted by joe ashton:
If it is  the bow I'm shooting daily I leave it strung the rest are unstrung...

I agree with Joe.  If you are shooting it regulary, leave it strung, and take care how you store it.  Otherwise, unstring and store in bow sock.

I unstring all of my longbows