When the hunting season approaches, every serious bowhunter knows: your bow isn’t just gear it’s your lifeline in the the field. A well-maintained bow can spell the difference between a clean shot and a missed opportunity (or a dangerous equipment failure). In this article, we’ll walk through comprehensive maintenance tips from pre-season prep to mid-season upkeep to post-season care so your bow stays in top shape all through the hunt.
Reliability — A bow in poor condition can fail unexpectedly: a frayed string, loose bolt, or cracked limb can derail your hunt, or worse, create a safety hazard.
Accuracy & Consistency — Maintenance helps preserve tune, alignment, and performance shot after shot.
Longevity — Regular care extends the life of your components (strings, cables, cams, limbs, riser).
Safety — Archery gear undergoes stress. Components under tension can fail if neglected.
In short: maintaining your bow is not optional. It’s part of hunting responsibility.
Pre-Season Bow Maintenance Checklist
Before you head out when the season opens, run through this full checklist to make sure you’re starting from a clean, safe platform.
1. Visual & Physical Inspection
Do a complete inspection of your bow from tip to tip:
Limbs & Riser: Look for hairline cracks, delamination, splinters, gouges, or warped surfaces. Run your hand over the limb surfaces to feel for irregularities.
Cam / Wheel Systems: Ensure cams spin freely and smoothly, without grinding or binding. Look for signs of corrosion or debris buildup.
Bowstring & Cables: Examine for fraying, fuzzy strands, separation of serving, or broken fibers.
Hardware & Fasteners: Go over all bolts, screws, limb bolts, accessory screws. Many will loosen over time from vibration.
Grip / Handle: Check for cracks, looseness, or wear in the grip.
Sight, Rest, Stabilizer, Quiver, Accessories: Make sure all accessories are properly mounted, no cracks, nothing loose.
If you find anything suspect (a crack, severe wear, or damage), don’t ignore it. Take your bow to a professional archery shop for repair or further diagnosis.
2. Clean the Bow
After inspection, clean away all residual dirt, dust, grease, sweat, or grime:
Use a soft, lint-free cloth (microfiber is ideal) — lightly dampened if needed — to wipe down the riser, limbs, cams, and cables.
Avoid harsh solvents, alcohol, or abrasive cleaners, which can damage finishes, adhesives, or coatings.
For tight spots (cam pockets, screw recesses), use a soft brush or cotton swab to remove debris.
A clean bow is easier to inspect, and reduces abrasive wear over time.
3. Wax the String & Cables
String and cable care is among the most important maintenance tasks:
Choose a quality bowstring wax (many archery shops carry good ones).
Apply a thin, light coat of wax along the entire length of the string and cables; work it in gently with your fingers. Over-waxing (a heavy build up) can cause the wax to slip or attract dirt.
The common guideline is to wax every 100 to 200 shots, or every couple of weeks during frequent use.
Some manufacturers (like Hoyt) recommend waxing every two weeks during peak use.
Waxing helps protect the fibers, reduce moisture absorption, and elongate string life.
4. Lubricate Axles & Bearings
If your bow uses cams or wheels with exposed axles or bearings:
Use a silicone- or Teflon-based lubricant — avoid penetrating oils like WD-40 (they can attract grit or degrade materials).
Apply spot lubrication to axle bearings or pivot points (not excessive grease).
For many bows, lubrication every 1,500 to 2,000 shots is sufficient, though in harsh environments (dust, mud, rain) more frequent lubrication may be required.
Keep in mind: too much lubricant can accumulate grit and cause drag, so moderation is key.
5. Tighten (Torque) All Bolts
Because vibration is inherent in a bow releasing, bolts can loosen over time:
Using your Allen keys or torque driver, lightly re-snug all bolts (accessory bolts, rest screws, sight screws, stabilizer fasteners, etc.), but be careful not to overtighten.
Don’t touch limb bolts unless you intend to adjust draw weight—and only do that by turning both sides evenly and consulting your bow’s manual.
It’s usually wise to retighten them periodically, e.g. monthly or before a major hunt.
Even if your bow performed well the prior season, things can shift:
Verify that your brace height remains within spec (manufacturer’s recommended range).
Check draw length / draw weight settings to confirm they’re still appropriate.
Ensure cam synchronization: cams should rotate in sync without timing issues.
If anything is out of spec, do tune adjustments or send to a pro shop.
7. Inspect & Prepare Arrows & Broadheads
Your arrow system is the other half of your shooting setup:
Roll arrows on a flat surface to detect bends or warps.
Check fletchings and vanes: make sure they’re securely attached and not damaged.
Inspect nocks: cracked or loose nocks must be replaced.
Broadheads: make sure they are sharp, tightly fitted, and secure.
Mentally “tag” arrows: some archers mark individual arrows so they can detect flyers (if one arrow consistently performs differently, it may be flawed).
Once your bow and arrows are fully checked and tuned, you’re ready for hunting season.
In-Season Maintenance & Care
During the heat of the hunt, your bow faces tougher conditions: dirt, moisture, temperature swings, rough handling, etc. Here’s how to maintain it through the season:
1. Daily / Every Use Checklist
Quick Visual Sweep: Before every hunt, look over the bow: strings, cables, limbs, cams.
Bolts Check: Give a quick check to your main hardware and accessory screws.
String Waxing: If conditions are dry, dusty, or humid, consider applying wax more often.
Remove Debris: Wipe away mud, dust, or grit after use before it works its way into cams or cable tracks.
Dry After Rain: If your bow gets wet, blot with a towel and allow it to air dry before stowing. Don’t leave it wet in a case.
2. Mid-Week / Weekend Tune-Up
Every few hunts, do a more thorough mid-season check:
Repeat bolt tightening and re-check cam alignment.
Re-wax strings and cables.
Lightly lubricate cams if needed.
Remove all attachments you can (sights, stabilizers) and check their mounting surfaces for burrs or wear.
Clean off any accumulated grease, mud, or residue from cams and limbs.
3. Avoid Mistakes & Bad Habits
Never “dry-fire” the bow (drawing and releasing without an arrow) — it can damage or destroy your limbs or cams.
Avoid over-lubricating: too much grease or oil in the cams/tracks leads to grit accumulation, which accelerates wear. John Dudley warns that over-lubrication can attract debris.
Don’t overtighten limb bolts or torque them haphazardly.
Avoid leaving the bow in extreme temperatures (hot truck, direct sun) — heat can warp limbs or degrade adhesives.
Don’t neglect small damage — even small cracks or chips can grow under stress if not fixed early.
4. Mid-Season Full Inspection
Halfway through the season, when things settle, do a comprehensive inspection like your pre-season check to catch any developing issues before they grow.
Post-Season & Off-Season Storage
Once hunting season ends, it’s time to properly care for and store your bow — this helps it survive months of downtime and still be ready next season.
1. Final Inspection & Cleaning
Do a full visual and physical inspection: limbs, cams, strings, hardware.
Clean your bow thoroughly: remove dust, moisture, grime, fingerprints.
Lubricate cams lightly (if needed), and wax strings & cables.
Remove and inspect accessories (sights, rest, quiver); clean and store separately if possible.
2. Loosen Tension (for Recurve / Longbow)
If you use a recurve or traditional longbow:
Some archers unstring or reduce tension for long-term storage to relieve stress on limbs.
But do this only if recommended by the manufacturer; some modern recurves can remain strung within spec.
For compound bows, do not unstring (you need a bow press) — they are designed to maintain tension.
3. Proper Storage Environment
Store your bow in a cool, dry place — avoid basements with moisture, attics with heat, or direct sunlight.
Use a hard case or quality soft case, ideally padded, to protect from impact, dust, and moisture.
Avoid storing your bow leaning on one limb — use a bow rack or horizontal support system to prevent bending.
Keep arrows stored vertically or in a rack (not leaning) to prevent warping.
For long-term storage, you might periodically (e.g. monthly) check your bow, tighten accessories, and re-wax.
4. Off-Season Maintenance Tasks
Replace old strings or cables if nearing end-of-life. Hoyt, for example, recommends replacing strings/cables when wear is evident or every two years under normal use.
Refinish or recondition wood parts or grips (if applicable).
Sharpen or service broadheads, check arrow stocks for damage.
Plan for a professional tune-up before the next season begins.
Troubleshooting Common Issues & Pro Tips
Here are some common problems you may face, and tips for diagnosing or preventing them:
Problem / Symptom
Possible Cause(s)
Remedy / Preventative Action
String fraying or fuzzy sections
Overuse, lack of wax, abrasion
Re-wax regularly, inspect, replace string if severe
Bolts loosen repeatedly
Vibration, lack of threadlock
Use threadlocker on non-adjusting bolts; retighten periodically
Uneven cam timing / tune shift
Loose cables, shifting components
Check cam alignment, cable stretch, re-tune
Cam drag or rough spinning
Dirt in cam pockets, over-lubrication
Clean pockets, spot-lubricate lightly
Limb delamination or cracks
Impact, heat stress, moisture intrusion
Stop use immediately, take for professional repair
Warped riser / limbs
Storage in heat, improper support
Store properly, avoid extreme temps
Arrow “flyers”
Flawed arrow, nock damage, fletching issues
Mark arrows, test individually, replace bad ones
Pro Tip: Many archers use a cotton ball test: run a cotton ball gently along limb surfaces — if it flakes or snags, there may be delamination or surface irregularities.
Also, mark each arrow (e.g. with colored tape or polish) so you can monitor consistent performance and detect one defective arrow that causes mis-shots.
If you hear a creak, feel odd vibration, or see anything abnormal during shooting — stop immediately and check. Even subtle warnings should not be ignored.
Conclusion Hunting season is unforgiving — your bow must perform flawlessly when it matters. By committing to a proactive maintenance routine — pre-season checkup, in-season care, and proper off-season storage — you dramatically reduce the odds of gear failure, preserve accuracy, and enjoy many more seasons in the field. Remember: the small minutes you spend waxing strings, tightening bolts, or scanning the limbs can save you from disaster in the woods.
