Bows in the brush?

[Coastal_native]

Christmas came early for me this year.  I sold my dirt bike and used some of the money to purchase my first compound bow (the Diamond Iceman... after a lot of shopping around and finally taking the advice of Colockumelk).  Colockumelk has also been gracious enough to volunteer as my online archery instructor and advisor, however he lacks a certain level of what I call "westside toughness."  I've since emersed myself in education material and I can easily see myself becoming obsessed.  I've always enjoyed shooting compound bows, but even more so now that I have one of my own that I can shoot in my backyard whenever I want. 

So my question to anyone who might have some advice (besides Colockum) is...How do I protect my bow when I'm crawling, stumbling, falling, climbing through coastal lowland westside brush?  Is there such a thing as getting a bow too wet?

[robodad]

I don't think you can get too wet BUT !! when climbing through our thick brush patches make a serious effort to keep all the pinch points clear of the twigs and sticks leaves etc that will derail your string at the absolute worst time. Keep clear all the places where your string contacts the wheels or cams and also where the string slides together, the crosses and pinch points will collect bunches of crap and it sucks to quit for the week while you go find someone with a press to fit your string on and inspect everything else for damage. 

[Quackin_Archer]

Well. The only thing you can really do is just move slow, keep in mind you have a bow in your hand and keep your string waxed.

[Coastal_native]

Are Cam or Sight covers worth the money? or are those just more accessories that'll hang up on brush?

[JJB11B]

The other guys pretty much have it covered. Once you have gotten your bow soaked, treat it like a rifle and wipe it down with a gun rag so your metal stuff doesnt rust and wax your string

[JimmyHoffa]

Some people will carry the bow in a something similar to a pillow case.  I seem to remember back in the compound days that small stuff would fall into the wheels or wedge into the c-clips, but never really affected shooting.

[Miles]

Well. The only thing you can really do is just move slow, keep in mind you have a bow in your hand and keep your string waxed.

This is very good advice.  I forgot my wax one year in elk camp and crawling through the brush and bushes all week long just ruined my string.  Wax couldn't fix it by the time I got home.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Keep it in the case, and crawl around with a recurve with brushbuttons !! 
I hated trying to sneek through bushes when everything caught on something 
and some of the metalic "twang" when a limb would catch then release.
But then, the new bows might be different, have not carried a c-pound in 9 years...
Shorter axle to axle, more parralel limbs, all the other stuff they have done...
Congrats on a new bow, if I wasn't so attached to the K.I.S.S. theory, I would look at one myself, as I get a lot of 40 yard shots I dont take because my limit is 30....
But when you are in tight in the brush, 25 is perfect, unless you are in a vine maple patch..

[BULLBLASTER]

When it gets real thick I use my bow to push limbs and branches out of the way. Esspeciallyblackberrys or stickers. Hold my bow in front of me and go through as normal. The string wax advice is very important.
Bows are resiliant pieces of equipment and will take a beating and keep going! I have seen ALwine do some crazy things to bows and still kill with them...

[colockumelk]

Well first of all I can give you advice whenever you want and you will like it.   

Second of all this is what I use.  When I am traveling my bow is always in this sling.  It protects the string and the cams.  Best $18 I have ever spent.  The only time my bow is not in this sling is when I have seen something and I am stalking it, when calling for elk and I'm waiting for it to come to me.  Or if I am stopped somewhere watching a trail or taking a break.  It works great.  Easy to use and comes off in a second ready to use. 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Archery/Archery-Cases-Holders/Bow-Slings-Holsters%7C/pc/104791680/c/104693580/sc/104256180/i/103987080/Primos174-Bow-Sling/745620.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fhunting-archery-archery-cases-holders-bow-slings-holsters%2F_%2FN-1100050%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_103987080%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104791680%253Bcat104693580%253Bcat104256180&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104791680%3Bcat104693580%3Bcat104256180%3Bcat103987080

[Coastal_native]

Well first of all I can give you advice whenever you want and you will like it.   

Second of all this is what I use.  When I am traveling my bow is always in this sling.  It protects the string and the cams.  Best $18 I have ever spent.  The only time my bow is not in this sling is when I have seen something and I am stalking it, when calling for elk and I'm waiting for it to come to me.  Or if I am stopped somewhere watching a trail or taking a break.  It works great.  Easy to use and comes off in a second ready to use. 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Archery/Archery-Cases-Holders/Bow-Slings-Holsters%7C/pc/104791680/c/104693580/sc/104256180/i/103987080/Primos174-Bow-Sling/745620.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fhunting-archery-archery-cases-holders-bow-slings-holsters%2F_%2FN-1100050%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_103987080%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104791680%253Bcat104693580%253Bcat104256180&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104791680%3Bcat104693580%3Bcat104256180%3Bcat103987080

So, to clear things up, you're recommending that I use the following list of accessories to proctect my bow:

1. a bow sling

 

[PlateauNDN]

    Sounds like some good advice and better start ASAP on tackling that list before the season comes up.  Congrats on the new bow!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I perform every thing allready stated. Never had an isue. I dont baby my bow. Probably harder on it than most. It is a tool and i use it. I wont mention brand due to the fact that if everybody had it there would be to much competition in the field.

[pianoman9701]

The bow sling advice is good. I use one and it does what Colock says, protects the cams. Different bows, different care. Ask your dealer what the best way to care for your equipment in wet weather is. My Hoyt takes no lubrication. As a matter of fact, if I do lubricate, I can void my warrantee.

Take Colockum's other advice carefully with small amounts of salt. I've found that east side bow hunters are mostly afraid of being in the "real" forests and out in our wet weather. The thickness of our wetside forests scares them and gives them claustrophobia. Also, the size of our Rosies may give them diarrhea and nausea. 

[Coastal_native]

Take Colockum's other advice carefully with small amounts of salt. I've found that east side bow hunters are mostly afraid of being in the "real" forests and out in our wet weather. The thickness of our wetside forests scares them and gives them claustrophobia. Also, the size of our Rosies may give them diarrhea and nausea. 

Nice  :chuckle