 Gazing at the thermometer outside, the mercury registered a chilly -40F. The wind was calm, and though the comfort of the living room felt cozy, I knew there was no way to kill a Dall sheep or caribou from the house. Bundled in winter clothes, I set out, and returned at the end of the day with a nice ram to show for it. Two days later, in -32 temperatures, a bull caribou would complete filling up the freezer for the winter.
Having lived several years in the Alaskan arctic, cold temperatures became a normal routine in everyday life. One year we went 199 consecutive days below zero. If you're a die-hard hunter, this means braving the elements in order to experience what the fascinating world of hunting has to offer — even in temperatures that can plummet well into negative numbers.
For the cold weather bowhunter, dressing accordingly is only one piece of the success puzzle; equipping your bow is another. No matter where you hang the tree stand in search of whopper whitetails this winter, don't let these basic bow-tuning essentials slip by.
Drop Pounds & Length
With today's high-tech bows and iron-pumping hunters, pulling 80 pounds or more on a bow is common. Even though such power-pulling provides flat arrow flight, it's not necessary in order to effectively kill animals.
“By dropping your bow down to 60 pounds or so, not only will you increase your accuracy, but it will be easier to pull the bow in cold temperatures,” shares archery expert Don Fromm, owner of Oak Ride Archery in Kasota, Minnesota. Fromm knows the fine details of what it takes to tune in both hunter and gear in order to achieve near perfection.
“If it gets really cold, I'll turn it down to 50 pounds,” Fromm notes. “The thing is, in really cold weather, it can be tough pulling heavy poundage for anyone, no matter how much weight they can handle in warm temperatures. If you sit in the cold long enough, muscles will tighten, the bow feels stiff and it's simply not as easy to draw.”
Not only will a lighter draw weight help you manage and better handle your bow, but shortening up the draw length itself can also help. “I'll shorten my draw length by 1/2 inch,” points out Fromm. “A shorter power stroke is easier to pull back, and in the extreme cold this can be a real help.” This is especially true if hunters find themselves bound in bulky clothing, where a bent brace arm affords more space for the string to move freely away from puffed-out sleeves and jacket fronts upon release.
Laser Tuning
In keeping up with the fast-paced world of advanced bow inventions, laser tuning is something new to many archery shops in the United States, but not to Fromm. At the time of this writing, reportedly less than a half dozen pro shops were putting laser tuning to the test. Since switching to laser tuning some seven years ago, Fromm has not paper-tuned an arrow.
“I laser-tune all of my bows,” says Fromm. “I want everything shooting perfect. Once you laser-tune a bow, I guarantee you won't see your arrow fly, it's that effective. Laser tuning strings out your string, making sure there is no oscillation in the forward motion. Once the string is tuned, laser-tuning the arrow rest is next. When they are both tuned to perfection, the arrow flight will be flawless.
Fromm points out that as soon as pro shop owners step up and equip themselves with laser-tuning technology, many headaches will be solved. Given the accuracy this method affords, it's no wonder Fromm receives bows from around the U.S. from hunters wanting their bows precisely laser-tuned.
Degreasing & Dampening
When it comes to degreasing your bow, apply synthetic grease in place of standard lubricants. First, rid your bow of any heavy grease that may still be in place from the factory. Thoroughly wipe down limb pockets, bolts and any other places or parts which may harbor grease.
Fromm suggests using only a light coating of synthetic grease, so as to not overdo it. Apply a light coating to axle areas, limb pockets, inside the rocker and where bolts are tightened through the riser. You'll find the man-made grease to be more forgiving in cold conditions, where other greases may otherwise tighten up and even gum up under extreme temperatures.
Stabilizers are another important piece of equipment for taking sound out of your bow in the cold. For this, hunters should take time to find what stabilizer works best on their respective bows.
"Another popular cold weather accessory are Beaver Balls. This product is made of real beaver leather with hair on it, and when placed on your string, does a very effective job of cutting down sound vibration. The great thing about these is they won't slow the string at all, says Fromm"
Arrow Care
Arrows have come a long way in recent years, especially in the carbon realm. While I prefer my Gold Tip Ultralight Pro 400 series for all conditions and all big game, there are certain measures the cold weather hunter can take to ensure the arrows they use perform at the highest level possible.
Since switching to a drop-away arrow rest, my groupings and overall accuracy have tightened up tremendously. In cold conditions, a drop-away makes sense, as it provides 100 percent vane clearance — meaning you don't have to deal with ice-up on the arrow or the prongs of a stationary rest. To go with my drop-away rest, I'll use vanes and set them staggered on the shaft. This step-type positioning of the vanes results in very efficient tracking, and performs particularly well in the wind, especially a crosswind. The low-profile vanes also add arrow speed, something which helps make up for a drop in poundage. Topping off my arrow is a 100-grain broadhead. Many cold weather shooters prefer dropping to a 75-grain broadhead, with good results.
On those bitter days when ice may form on the arrow rest, there are a few steps hunters can take to reduce screeching, according to Fromm. “First, buy an over-the-counter device called Super Slick. This slips over the prongs of your rest and is made of a material that helps prevent unwanted sounds, even in icy conditions. Also, you can put a little moleskin on the prongs, or rub down the arrows with steel wool to get similar results. Stripping electrical wiring and sliding the soft plastic wire insulation over the prongs is one of the best tricks, as it wears like steel and is very durable.”
As for dealing with arrows that might freeze to the rubber grippers on a bow quiver, try equipping yourself with a quiver that prevents this. For instance, find yourself a detachable quiver featuring two snap-in slots. The first slot is larger than the second. When you get into the stand, nock an arrow, then pull one or two others out of the tighter, second slot, and put them in the loose fitting first slot. There is enough of a gap that the arrows won't freeze to the rubber, yet enough pressure to hold the arrow in place. Of course, you won't be shooting with the quiver on your bow, rather hanging it from the tree.
Other Essentials
In addition to hanging the quiver in a tree, it's wise to do the same with your bow, with an arrow already nocked. This prevents your hand from maintaining constant contact with the grip, meaning there's no transfer of heat, thus moisture buildup is diminished. The result is a cold grip, but a dry one, where icing or having your hand freeze to it are not big concerns.
If you use a clarifier in your peep, get rid of it in cold conditions. Condensation from the air, body heat or even your breath can fog up these lenses, rendering them useless. Instead, go with an open peep, so as to allow air flow.
In preparing your string for severe cold-weather hunts, Fromm advocates the use of bow string wax. “Apply the wax on the string, then go over it with a leather glove or patch of leather,” directs Fromm. “The leather allows you to work the wax into the string really good, and it will hold extremely well.”
Without changing too much of the mechanics, using a release aid will also help your cold-weather shooting ability. There are some great finger shooters out there, but for the most part, release shooters have an advantage in cold weather, as there's simply less room for error.
By equipping your bow with the needed adjustments, and fine-tuning it to shoot to your liking, there's no reason to let cold weather conditions keep you cooped up. Practice shooting in the cold, know how your gear performs, then get out there and fill that midwinter tag.
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Sub-Zero Bow Tuning
