Updated March 2023

Bow maintenance should be at the should remain at the top of every hunter’s priority list. Bow maintenance is one of the lesser talked about subjects, but shouldn’t be. A bow that is not maintained correctly could keep you hitting the woods or even worst, missing or wounding an animal. You may notice your bow sounds or feels different when shooting and could mean something is wrong or is in need of maintenance.

1. Visual Inspection

It’s a good habit to regularly inspect your bow to make sure that everything looks right. Take a close look to ensure that everything is tight and in place. Look closely at all screws, stabilizer, rest, quiver, etc. to make sure everything is snug. It is also a good idea to check the bow’s limbs and riser for any cracks or damage. If needed, use an Allen wrench tool to snug down all bolts and screws. When shooting your bow, pay attention to any changes is sounds that could be caused by loose for broken parts.

2. Bow String

Your bow’s string is the most important maintenance activity you can do. Over time, strings dry out, stretch and fray. When this happens, your bow string will appear “fuzzy” looking. Regularly applying a high-quality bow string wax helps to keep your string from fraying and wearing out prematurely. Make it a habit to wax your strings after every few shooting sessions, or about every 100 shots. To do this, rub wax on the string and use your index finger and thumb to rub in the wax along the string. When waxing your bow string, it is important to avoid waxing the serving of any knots. Wax in these spots can cause serving separation and knots to weaken.

As a rule of thumb, you should replace your bow string every 2-3 years depending on usage. If you’re unsure if your string needs to be replaced, your local archery shop should be able to tell you how much string life you have left. Similar to the string, it is also important to inspect your bow’s cables for any advanced signs of wear.

Your bow’s D-loop is another component of your bow string that is subject to increased wear. Examine your D-loop material for signs of wear or fraying. Your D-loop is placed under a lot of stress each time you shoot your bow. It is generally best practice to replace your D-loop once a year.

3. Lubricate Moving Parts

Your bow has many moving parts and it’s important to keep them all lubricated. Each draw cycle, both of the bow’s cams turn and rotate back to their original positions during each shot. Keeping your cam axles lubricated prevents any squeaks or noises. A quality bow lubricant is good for keeping this parts working properly and reducing any unnecessary friction.

4. Cam Timing

When you draw your bow, both cams should rotate identically throughout the draw cycle. To check this, use a mirror or have someone else watch your cam rotation as you draw back. Each cam should be synchronized and reach the let-off position at the same time. If your cams are not timed correctly, you will most often notice issues with accuracy and you may notice your bow sounds different when shot.

5. Arrows

Even if your bow is properly tuned, you may still experience accuracy issues if there are problems with your arrows. It is recommended regularly inspect your arrows for any damage. Take a close look at each arrow to see if there are any cracks or splintering in the carbon shaft. This is a sign that the arrow is damaged and should be discarded. For more precision arrow testing, an arrow spinner can be used to inspect straightness of each arrow. Inspecting arrow fletchings for any small tears or rips should also not be overlooked.

6. Check Arrow Flight

The best way to ensure that your rest, sight and arrows are all working in-sync is to check your arrow flight by paper tuning your bow. Paper tuning involves shooting arrows through a sheet of paper to ensure that the tip and tail of the arrow are aligned. If you notice fletchings that are tearing large holes through the paper, this often means that your arrows are not flying completely straight. This can easily be remedied by making adjustments to your rest or nocking point on your string.

7. Storage

This important, but often overlooked aspect of bow maintenance, can make a big difference in prolonging the life of your bow and decreasing maintenance costs. It is important to always store your bow in a protective case when not in use. This helps ensure that your bow is not subject to accidental bumps or scratches. When storing your bow, it is recommended to keep it away from moisture and extreme heat. Both of these can cause a bow to rust and cause the string to wear prematurely.

8. Annual Tune-Up

Finally, it’s not a bad idea to bring your bow into your local archery shop once a year to have a professional take a look to make your bow is performing at its best. Many archery shops will charge a minimal fee to perform a “check-up” on your bow. This is well worth the peace of mind that comes with it.

If you feel inclined to tackle some of these maintenance activities yourself, a few helpful tools to make the job easier include a bow vice, bow press and nocking pliers. As you have read above, there are a number of actions you can take on your own to make sure that your bow is operating at its optimal level. For related articles, check out other posts from Bowhunting Depot!