Your recurve bow may probably be the most important piece of equipment in your archery arsenal. You’d need to maintain, finetune, and give the right amount of care for this gear! And learning how to store a recurve bow is one of the best steps to keep your equipment in tip-top shape.
How to Store a Recurve Bow - The Essentials
Storing isn’t as simple as placing your recurve bow down in a table or a floor. In fact, the way you store your archery gear may very well determine your equipment’s performance (and lifespan!)! Let us find out more on some essentials you need to commit to memory below!
Always an Opportunity to Inspect
Before storing your recurve bow, take the time to inspect it as well. This way, you’d get to know if there are any issues on the bow that need to be addressed. Also, inspecting your bow is a great time to know more about your gear. And the more intimate and comfortable handling your bow, the higher the chances of you maximizing its potential when shooting!
Time to Clean, As Well!
If time permits, you may also grab the chance to clear your recurve bow. Gunk and other elements may have accumulated onto your bow.
Should You Disassemble Your Bow?
As it is when it comes to all things about archery, every shooter has his or her own unique style. And this also includes on how to store a recurve bow. Depending on your preference, you may want to simply hang your bow. Or, you may want to disassemble it when it is time to store it. Note though that some recurve bows must have their strings removed, otherwise the limbs may twist.
The second reason rings true if you’re the on-the-go type. Probably, you may even be an outdoor marksman who would need to securely keep the recurve bow in place during hunts.
Whatever the reason, choose which is most comfortable for you. Don’t worry, though - we will tackle more about this further below!
Why Learn More About How to Store Your Recurve Bow Properly Anyway?
Simply put - and we’re repeating it again - it is because you care and want to make the most out of your gear! The right mindset you’d need to have is that not only will you bring out the true potential out of your gear through correct storage practices. You will also prevent unwanted accidents to happen. You never want your bow to misfire or get damaged because you’ve left it unattended, right?
Recurve Bow Storing Options
With the essentials in mind, we can now focus on some technical aspects on recurve bow storage.
Using Bow Stands
The main purpose of bow stands are to keep a recurve bow safe from harm’s way. If you plan to keep your recurve bow intact when storing, bow stands can very well be a great storage option to consider.
Actually, there’s also another reason why we’re placing this on top of the list. Bow stands are often unnoticed for their excellent service. Simple in design (it is usually constructed similarly like a tripod, with an arm extended to balance a recurve bow by its riser), this type of storage works wonders when used properly.
In fact, both your bow and bow strings are safe from scratches and other damage with a bow stand. Also, with its simple execution, a bow stand can even be placed within your home without taking up so much space. As such bow stands are a safe choice for storing your bow.
Using Wall Pegs
For an even simpler way to store a recurve bow, wall pegs may just do the trick! This option is basically just two (or more, if you want it more secure) pegs on your wall that you can hang your recurve bow on. Works well for either bows with strings or none!
Wall storage racks are both practical and decorative too.
Using a Hard Case
The hard case option works best If you plan to travel somewhere far with your recurve bow. Or, if you just want an option that will totally protect your gear.
And we say totally, because a hard case may not only protect your recurve bow, but your other archery equipment as well!
Although it does depend on the brand, typical recurve bow hard cases basically address the issue of storing a recurve bow in the best way possible. Also, if you opt to disassemble your recurve bow when storing in, some hard cases do come in slots for every bow part!
Using a Soft Case
If you are considering a lighter approach when storing your recurve bow in transit, then opt for a soft case (like this one) for your gear. Depending on the brand as well, some soft cases come with foam lining to keep your bow safe. And for long-term storage in your home, a soft case will definitely keep your gear from damage and the like!
Using a Backpack
We’re setting this as another category for those who just feel that disassembling a recurve bow during storage is important. Designed for hikes, a specialized backpack that comes with slots for the disassembled parts will keep both of your arms free during your trip!
Storage Caring Tips You Ought to Know!
Check out these tips to make the most out of your chosen recurve bow storage option!
Never Rest a Recurve Bow on its Tips!
Choose not to be lazy when storing your archery gear. Resting your recurve bow on its tips may be a bummer for those who can’t bother themselves to prop a bow up! Doing so will just damage your bow!
Using a Stringer Will Matter...
...even though you are confident enough to string your bow by hands. Nothing sure does beat a safety-first mindset when stringing a recurve bow!
You can find more information on stringing your bow here, and a great stringer here.
String Properly - Never Backwards!
For some shooters, stringing a bow backwards may seem to be a faster way to set up your gear. This means that the string for the recurve bow is on the wrong (front) side of the bow, and when drawing the recurve bow is actually bent in the wrong direction. This also means that these archers can't hold the bow properly as the grip's ergonomic part is pointing away from them.
Well, besides being a strange thing to do, the tension that results from the unnatural stringing may both damage the bow and the bow strings!
Know When to Replace the Bow String
Remember when we mentioned that storing your recurve bow is also an opportunity to inspect your gear?
For this particular point, though, notable or visible damage on a bow string may result to numerous shooting mishaps. The inspection and replacement of bow strings will both save you time when you need to prep your gear!
Also, another important part of the bow string you should always check is the nock. Since this is the spot where the bow string connects with arrow, then you’d want to be sure that it’s good to go!
Dry Firing is Never a Good Practice!
Do not get into this bad habit. Pulling back and releasing a bow string with no arrow will damage your recurve bow. Don’t be tempted to pull on that bow string - it really isn’t worth it if it will cost you your bow!
More importantly, though, dry practice may also result in injury. If you have any kids in the house, then please do not dry fire!
The main reason to avoid dry firing is that your bow may break or even explode. Instead, prepare a target and fire an arrow into it. To conclude:
- Use Arrows - if you really want to test (or just feel) the bow string tension, then please have an arrow handy. Please make sure to use arrows of the similar length or weight. Remember - instead of dry firing, fire into a target. Stay safe!
- Always check the nock’s condition and the arrow itself when testing with arrows.
It is Always a Good Idea to Have an Expert Inspect
Before storing your recurve bow, try to also grab the opportunity to have your gear inspected by an expert. This isn’t just because fixes can be identified or straightaway done on the spot. A bow expert may also be able to determine the state of your recurve bow during the storage phase.
This is great if you plan to store your recurve bow for a long period of time!
Bonus: Elements that Will Damage Your Recurve Bow
We’d also want to quickly list down some of the elements that may damage your gear during storage!
- Tension - this primarily focuses on the bow strings. The reason why you’d want your recurve bow properly stored is because the bow strings need to be preserved. This is also the reason why some archers opt to unstring - you want the bow strings kept in a safe place too!
- Bow Tension - when hanging a recurve bow, always use 2 or more pegs. Using a single peg or nail will warp or even break apart the recurve bow!
- Heat and Cold - neither end of the weather spectrum is good for your bow. Storing a recurve bow on either hot or cold conditions may break your bow. Additionally, extreme weather conditions may also damage your bow strings! Hard cases, soft cases, and specialized backpacks are popular among shooters for the temperature issue alone!
- Direct Sunlight - direct exposure to the sun’s rays may warp some recurve bow models!
Common Questions (and Answers!) on How to Store a Recurve Bow Properly
Let us now answer some of the most common storage questions asked by archers these past few years!
How Long Will My Recurve Bow Last?
It does depend on the storage option. Your recurve bow, however, can last for longer years if stored properly!
Will the Material Used in My Recurve Bow Matter on How it is Stored?
Nowadays, most recurve bows are made out of plastic or hard wood material. Rarely is a wooden bow still used today.
No matter the material used, storing your recurve bow properly will extend its life span!
How Different is it Storing My Recurve Bow from a Compound Bow?
Very much different. Compound bows deal with more shooting parts. Recurve bows, on the other hand, are simpler (yet still effective) in construction. But no matter the type of bow used, proper archery gear storage should always be encouraged!
Hanging, or using wall pegs, is a simple and effective option for compound bow users.
Various (and Quick) Recurve Bow Maintenance Pointers
Inspecting and finetuning your equipment is part of the recurve bow storage phase. As such, we’d now like to share more recurve bow maintenance pointers to help you out:
Check Recurve Bow Size
Knowing your recurve bow size will exactly help you find a bigger hard or soft case (if needed!).
Inspecting the Riser
Another important reason to practice good recurve bow storage habits is to protect the riser. As the place where almost all the action (and drama) is done, checking the bow’s riser will help you shoot better and have more controlled shots!
Let us quickly break down some simple riser maintenance steps!
- Check if there are any visible damages on the bow’s grip.
- Inspect the area where the riser extends towards the bow’s limbs.
- Check the other accessories you may have installed on your recurve bow.
Take these maintenance pointers into heart for better bow storage practices!
Double check the tuning after long storage
If you did not use your bow for a long time it's a great idea to check the tuning and maybe shoot a few arrows for paper tuning to asses your bow's state.
Store Your Recurve Bow Properly
It may seem to be simple, but taking recurve bow storage seriously will help preserve your much-loved bow. The last thing you’d want to experience is to have your recurve bow broken because of iffy storage! And remember, the choices and tips mentioned above are ways to guide you. Everyone is unique in archery!
Read more
- To know more about the downsides of not using a bow stringer check this thread on Archery Talk.
- This Reddit thread explains how you can store your recurve bows for display purposes.
- Get some storage inspiration! This Pinterest post shows what a recurve bow rack looks like!