Cold weather - Bowhunting - Short Drawing Bow

[BobCo 1965]

Does anybody else have a problem short drawing their bow in cold weather while wearing heavy clothes especially while stand or still hunting.

Just wondering what your remedies were/are.

Thanks.

[nutmeg]

I don't draw the bow any differently when wearing my winter because I practice wearing it quite a bit even when it's warm. Try layering with wool or fleece vests so as not to add a lot of bullk to your arms. Practice drawing with your gloves on also. (nut)

[SpikeMaster]

Shoot a lighter bow and/or wear bigger looser fitting clothes.

[Kevin Lawler]

Drop down in spine.

[BobCo 1965]

Kevin, is that what you really do? Seems like an option. Have one set of arrows for warmer temps and one for lower temps when extra clothing is needed.

It seems like the problem is caused by not being able to close the elbow as much as normal on the draw arm. Just think it you have 1" of clothing on, you are then trying to compress 2" when bending the elbow.  

You are correct in the that the arrows are consistantly hitting to the left.

Looser fitting clothing might also help since it may not "bunch up" right at the elbow.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Every 30 minutes or so I'll stand up and pull the bow a few times to keep the muscles loose.
When a critter walks up, i tend to overdraw cause I go into my Charles Manson personality.

[Scott J. Williams]

I use electrical tape to hold down clothing on my bow arm, and around my chest.  Beyond that, I do nothing differently.  

I have found that my bow shoots so similarly in cold weather as it does in warm weather, that I don't feel the need to do anything differently.  

Just my observation from a guy who cut his bow hunting teeth in Michigan's late season..

[George D. Stout]

You can keep warm without a lot of bulk.  Get yourself some wool sweaters and wool undies and you won't have to look like Ritchie on A Christmas Story.  I don't adjust my shooting.

[LATradHunter]

it doesnt get real as cold here in louisiana but it doesnt make me any difference.  I just put wrap paracord around my bow forearm to keep my string from hitting my sleeve.  Im fixing to invest in some wool hunting garb.  Quite expensive, that wool is, but warm and comfortable.

[Biggie Hoffman]

george, some say I already look like Ritchie......

[BobCo 1965]

Originally posted by George D. Stout:
You can keep warm without a lot of bulk.  Get yourself some wool sweaters and wool undies and you won't have to look like Ritchie on A Christmas Story.  I don't adjust my shooting.

That's funny, and sometimes I have thought about that.

I really think the problem is coming from the clothing that I wear. Usually it's a few upper thermals (poly) and some fleece camo. But it does fit snug and I can feel it pinch in my elbow.

I've never tried a wool sweaters before. Any brand recommendations?

It doesn't get much lower then the teens around here. But I like to stay in the stand for a good four hours at a time. Not much room to move around.

[BobCo 1965]

Little update and a thank you. I bought a wool sweater as someone suggested.

Yesterday we had temps around 15 degrees. I wore polypro undies, the wool sweater (got if from army/navy surplus), uninsulated fleece outer layer, sweat pants, insulated bibs, a neck gaitor and a hat. Sat in a treestand from 1:30 to 5:00 and was warm as could be, no bulk.

Wish I would have seen the light earlier!!!

BTW, I asked for a filson fleece vest for Christmas. Can't imagine needed anything else.

[George D. Stout]

I'm the guy in the middle of this photo wearing one of my wool sweaters....a Goodwill purchase for $3.99.  It don't take expensive clothing, just the right clothing to keep warm.  

[No-sage]

You guys don't even have gloves on..... come on, it's really summertime in that pic.