Carrying a bow

[JGH]

Last year, spending a week in the woods, as I carried my bow around, I developed a bit of tennis elbow (pain on the lateral side of the elbow).

I held the bow by it's handle most of the time, sometimes by the cables.

And so I'm wondering: How do you carry your bow in the woods?

Do you use a sling? A hook? Or are your elbows just tougher than mine, so you just grab the grip?

[Willie makit]

I use a hook off the belt for carrying most of time, when standing extended periods Waiting on a shot I use the leg holder to support the bow.
It didn't take but just a few all day hunts to apreciate that hip holder.

[Triplebhunters]

I tried a sling and it sent weird sensations through my shoulder like the fibromyalgia commercial. So its gone. What seems to work good for me is resting my stabilizer against my arm while carrying bow, even switching from hand to hand. See what you can pick out of picture to your right.
I use the T design Vendetta stabilizer, and it seems as the T prevents a pierce point.

[pointysticks]

man..i hope my response doesnt come off goofy.

but, you my friend..hit on the Achilles heel of bowhunting for me. carrying a bow for long hikes, days on end..blows. in contrast, a rifle hunter with a sling is walking in pure comfort.

i found a solution (for me). i shortened my stabilizer and chose one with those soft rubber dampeners at the end. i can now hook the bow over my shoulder! my shoulder sits between my bowsight and stab. i simply put my hand on the riser..after awhile you will find the perfect holes in the riser you can stick your fingers thru to make it more comfy.

my second move, i can now do with my Elite bow. i carry it by the bow grip but backwards. string side down. the grip isnt all ergonomic like a mathews grip. holding a mathews like this (with the older fatty grip) was like wearing shoes on the wrong feet. just plain weird.

so i chose a stab, i could hook on my shoulder..

and i carry my bow in my pack as much as possible..i have no delusions that i am gonna jump shoot anything.

[Lark Bunting]

I went through this for the first time last year. I carried every way imaginable! I will be looking into a hip hook for sure this year. The best solution I found at one point was this:

"Hey son, hold my bow for a moment..."

...then, just walk off.

[elkmtngear]

Do you use a sling? A hook? Or are your elbows just tougher than mine, so you just grab the grip?

John,
I picked up a bowhook from Crooked Horn Outfitters and used it for the first time last Season: http://crookedhorn.com/cms_ver_03/store/archery-accessories/crooked-hook-bow-sling-detail.html

It attaches to the front strap on my daypack. I really loved it...no arm or elbow cramps like I used to get. Also helped to keep my hands free when I needed to glass.

Access to my bow was basically instant (I put the hook on my left side so I could just grab the riser if needed)

[tdiesel]

I just carry mine bu the handle swap hands when one starts aching

[atfrith]

I've always switched between carrying it by the handle or the string. But I think i'll have to invest in one of those bow hooks for this season. nifty

[cnelk]

I have one of those bow hooks that mount on your belt.
It works great if your bow is older as the center of gravity is near or at the handle

The newer bows seem to have a more forward center, so if you use a bow hook on the handle, the bow tends to tilt down/forward and not balance.

I also have a bow sling.
I use it when hiking in in the dark for longer distances - either morning or night.
Between the two, the sling is the way to go for me...as it gives the bow string more protection

If I dont use the bow sling, I just strap my bow on my pack for those long hikes in the dark too.

[>>>---WW---->]

I would never spend money on something to hold my bow. It doesn't matter how you hold your bow. By the grip, by the stabilizer, by the string, in the left hand, in the right hand, over the shoulder. On a day long hunt, they are all tiring!

I tie a small para-cord loop through a hole in each end of my riser. Then if you don't already have one, go down to the second hand store and get an old camera case or something similar that has the detachable nylon strap on it with a plastic snap on each end. You just snap it to the loops you have tied on the bow. And most of them are adjustable for length and when not in use, you can roll it up and stick it in your pocket.

[ctdad]

I've used a bow sling the last few years. This last year, I used a pack with load lifters that, when engaged, would push the strap of the sling down onto my neck. I told my hunting partner that I needed a sling for my bow that attached to the shoulder strap of my pack. Just last week I found out that there is one being made just like that. I haven't even seen it yet, but it should get here this week. I'll load my pack with weight and take my bow for a hike as soon as I get it and report back.

[Swede]

I almost always carry my bow by the string. Sometimes I switch hands to give my right hand a break, but it is soon back in the right hand. Fortunately I have had no problems so far.

[JGH]

Thanks for the replies ...

the Crooked Horn hook looks nice, but I wonder about putting stress on the string, rather than the grip.

Any techie guys out there with opinions on that?

[Willie makit]

The best solution I found at one point was this:

"Hey son, hold my bow for a moment..."

...then, just walk off.

Hahahaha, that is classic, but watch out those kids learn quick and what goes around comes around.

[timberland]

Any time a bow hangs from its string there is potential to wear on serving, move or remove a peep, or mess with your nocking point or loop. If the bow catches brush it might slide in the hook and if the hook has any edges it could really damage the unserved part of the string. Most of these issues probably wouldn't happen (except to me 7 miles from the truck).

[mtnmutt]

WW posted an answer that I had been searching for on another thread. A person used a padded luggage strap in their setup with some loops on the limbs to attach it. I will try this setup.

Last season, I could not carry my bow using my bow arm due to 2 torn tendons in the shoulder. It was very awkward carrying it with my draw arm, but that is how I had to carry it. That arm never got a rest from carrying it because my bow arm would get too sore within minutes.

I tried a primos sling, but it takes way too long to get it off, so I stopped using it.

What about going up a hill on all 4s? I did that for a few mornings and could not protect my bow well while doing the climb. It was a short climb so stopping to attach to a pack seemed like wasted time.

[quarbles]

either by the grip or over the shoulder. have a setup on my pack for when biking..... always nervous to hold by string for some reason....

[Buglemaster]

either by the grip or over the shoulder. have a setup on my pack for when biking..... always nervous to hold by string for some reason....

What he said. Mine is resting on my right shoulder 90% of the time if I'm hiking very far. I can be ready to shoot in seconds without having to disconnect a sling. I do have a primos sling that I use if I am reasonably sure there won't be any shot opportunities that pop up unexpected . I also position my bow on my shoulder with the riser bearing the weight & as little string contact as possible. I hate frayed bow strings & if your carrying a bow by the string there will be more wear on the string! Over the shoulder isn't uncomfortable to me in the slightest.

[elkmtngear]

Thanks for the replies ...

the Crooked Horn hook looks nice, but I wonder about putting stress on the string, rather than the grip.

Any techie guys out there with opinions on that?

Most of the time, I hook it where the cables cross. This keeps the bow balanced pretty well, and keeps it from sliding around on the hook

[Elkduds]

Trade your compound for a stick bow. You will never, ever get uncomfortable carrying one.

[G Posik]

Trade your compound for a stick bow. You will never, ever get uncomfortable carrying one.

I will agree with that.

Glenn

[Toby]

I have been using a padded strap from a duffel bag hooked to a couple paracord wraps on the riser for a number of years, it works pretty good. But, it looks like the Primos one carries the bow with the string up giving better balance I would think.

I have been think about making a sling out of paracord, just to jazz the outfit up a little bit.

[Csrbowhunter]

I've used a primos sling and one I got at a deer show. The one I got deer is more convenient because it stays on the bow while you shoot.the draw back of both is you throw the bow on your back to get it out of the way while going threw brush, ect. One hunt I bent my arrow rest because it got caught on my back pack. I didn't use one the last time and my arm was fatigued.

[Washington Wapiti]

Yep, the 'ol left hand/right hand/by the grip/by the string swap-off LOL. The hands and wrist get a little achy. My first year, I rigged it on to my backpack and that worked quite well. I've been carrying it ever since though. Good to know about the sling. I've almost bought one a couple of times. I guess I've been carrying it because I'm afraid of missing an opportunity.

[jedbuzz]

I use this old alum handle, made by apa innovations...

Between that and the stab hanging from my shoulder I have little fatigue...

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1392788776.569591.jpg (191.25 KiB) Viewed 13082 times

[Ridgernr]

pointysticks posted.........i found a solution (for me). i shortened my stabilizer and chose one with those soft rubber dampeners at the end. i can now hook the bow over my shoulder! my shoulder sits between my bowsight and stab. i simply put my hand on the riser.


This is what we do in our camp also works great and you can switch sides, bow is always ready for grouse or whatever.

[stringunner]

Primos sling when walking in the dark, have been using it for 8 years and still love it. I like that it protects the cams and string and leaves my hands free for other use. Over my shoulder or in hand when during day light.

[husky390]

I have the Primos but don't really like it. It's only good for hiking in/out at dark. I also have the bow hook that attached to my pack but found I can only use it if I'm standing still while glassing, that's not a problem for me as that's what I bought it for.

I have been looking into one of the GamePlan Gear Snapshot Bow Slings but right now it's low on my "need to get" gear list. Some guy's on AT have said they've shot with it attached with no problems.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/GamePlan ... lsrc=aw.ds

[zpd307]

I was worried about this when getting prepared for our first hunt to Colorado. so we researched slings and finally settled on one. the only time I used it was on the pack in. we spike camped 2 miles from the truck that year. I never did use it while hunting. I had it in the pack in case I got lucky and had to pack out an elk. I just switched between holding the handle and string and switched hands when needed. once I got into the elk, I had an arrow knocked.

[WindedBowhunter]

Hiking in and out, it's strapped to my pack

My APAs have a built-in carry handle, to make it a bit more comfortable to carry.