Leaving your bow in the cold?

Can anything negative occur from leaving your bow in cooler temperatures? Say if I leave it inside my truck in between hunts. Our average temp this time of year is around 30 during the day and around 20 at night. Is there a certain temp that it becomes too cold?

 

I wouldn't be worried at those temps. Just check cams, rest and any other moving part for ice. I like to bring mine in just to dry it out.

 

ive always been told to be careful of the opposite... if it gets too hot, it will stretch out your string.. though i dont know if the material used nowadays will stretch as much..

i would be observant of moisture, if it snowed on your bow, dropped your quiver in frost, and you put it back in your case... reaches 40 degrees, you have water, sinks to 20 you have ice... and water turning to ice in the wrong areas will leave you up a creek..

although far fetched, it could happen... i'd be interested to hear if the string will shrink with extended exposure to sub freezing temps

 

I think it would be harder on it to go from freezing temps to warm house temps repeatedly than it would to just stay cold.

I did shoot at a jackrabbit when it was -20 in North Dakota many moons ago. (1988?) The teflon bushings in my bow snapped from that shot. (got the rabbit tho') But I think todays bows wouldn't be harmed by subzero temps. Plastic fletch might have problems but the bow, not so much.

 

That was my next question, but forgot to add that. I guess I'm wondering if it is worse to leave it inside my truck, or to bring it in and out 2-3 times a week? I've always brought it in and stored it in my basement which is usually around 55 degrees this time of year.

 

You said 30 to 55 degrees... I wouldn't worry about that small of a difference.

Keep her clean and dry and the string waxed and you'll be fine. The bow will handle much more cold than we can.

 

K12 (carpsniper) tests his bow for toughness by tossing it out of his treestand. Twice so far this year.

 

I've left mine in a tree, before (overnight) in below freezing temps (3-4 yrs ago). I wouldn't think twice about it (barring inclement weather).

 

No. It won't hurt a thing.

 

Tossing is not quite accurate. The first time I fell asleep and it slipped out of my hand because I didn't have a spiffy bow holder. The second time I used a bow holder that was a POS and it dumped my bow. Make sure you do NOT use a bow holder that can pivot without being loosened.
Both times Deb (Ladyforge) saved my bacon by fixing the string that activates the drop away and checking the bow over. Huge thanks to her for that.

 

I sure hope not... I haven't found one yet and if there is I don't want to be out in it!

I just leave mine locked in my vehicle all week in the cold weather rather than bringing it in and out.

 

If you are not concerned about the cold, I'm pretty sure my bow will be just fine.

Thanks for everyones' input.

 

God I hope not, mine hasnt been inside since halloween. It was close to -20 the last 5 nights.

 

it's much harder on equipment going from say 30-70 in a hurry from outside to inside, id rather leave it in a case and inside my tahoe all season long,

my son found out with his expensive guitar put it his trunk of his car all night and day 15-20 degree weather then went to practice and pulled it out of the case and set it in a 75 degree room to play, hour later the lacquer paint has about a million hairline finish cracks. he thinks it's cool ... 18 years old going on 30

 

If Kodiak ain't worried, then I wouldn't be either. I'd rather leave it in the truck if hunting a week straight due to the condensation from bringing it in and out of the cold.

 

soon as i leave the field i'll put it in the case and then in the back of the truck. then when i get home let it sit in the garage for a few hrs, then the basement. so warming it up little by little. i dont worry bout my bow so much, its me in this temp i worry bout! i'll give er a pull once an hr when sitting on stand just to keep the muscles warm just in case the big boy comes by =-)

 

I'm assuming you were hunting the same tree the next day? Or did you have a "moment":p

 

Good post! I have been wondering about this also. It has gotten down to -10 or -20 here at night. I have been worried about shooting my bow in 0-20 degree weather. I have been leaving it in the case in my pick up which I park in the garage over night. I draw it once in a while in the stand just to see if there are any issues.

But if Kodiak hasn't had any problems, then I doubt I will.