Carrying the bow

[CanArcher]

For those of you who travel long distances for your hunts, how do you carry your bows through the day?
Is it always in your hand, or do you have a sling or harness system for keeping your hands free?

[stickbow2442]

Its always in my hand.

[OS]

I love the feel of my longbow in hand and wouldn't want it anywhere else.  besides that if I spot game I can have an arrow on the string in seconds :-)

[PSUBowhunter]

I made a sling for carrying mine. This will be my first year using my recurve out west and I know that in the morning before daylight, I sometimes have quite a hull, so it will be nice to not have to carry my bow. It will also be nice to not have to lie the bow down to use my binoculars.

[Curveman]

I sometimes have hooked the string over my GPS/carrying case that is on my belt but generally I am with the others who like to have their longbow in their hand. For REALLY long distances, well heck, it's a two piece; I just stick it in my pack!  

[CanArcher]

Thanks for the replies guys.
This is my first year hunting with the bow.
The season opens in the morning, so I guess I'll be carrying it in my hand for now, and devise something if I'm on long hauks and looking for a break.

[Lefty1972]

PSUBowhunter, do you have a picture of the sling you made for your recurve?

[PSUBowhunter]

Here are some pictures. It is very simple to make. I just tied a loop on the quiver, which I made out of leather so that it looked more traditional on my bow. Then I bought two different weights of rope at Lowes. One heavy piece about 20" long that will go over my shoulder and two thinner pieces, about 3' in length. I made lymans climbing rope knots so that I could change the lenth of the strap(you will see in the pictures). You can used any clips you can find to attach the strap to your leather straps attached to your bow.

here are some pictures:

The leather straps on my bow:
 

Here is the strap fully extended:


Here is the strap shortned up a bit.:
 

Here is the strap how I have been wearing it:
 

Sorry about the photo quality, the pictures were taking with my cell phone

[GingivitisKahn]

I put my hand in my pocket and tuck my bow between my arm and my body - no fuss no muss.

[CanArcher]

Thatnks for the great pics PSU. I'll have to give that a try.

[BowHuntingFool]

Always in my hand and usually with an arrow nocked chasing squirrels or stump shooting along the way!

[Apex Predator]

I won't shoot a bow that is uncomfortable to carry.  That's why I got away from the compound device.  My bows weigh just over one pound.

[CanArcher]

My bow is quite light and easy to carry. Until it's been in my habd for 6 hours. Then it's a little cramped.

[ron w]

Walking...in my hand. Sitting in my lap!

[George D. Stout]

In my hand.

[joevan125]

In my hand also.

[straitera]

Hand always. Tooooo often I need it.