Physical Change
Is there anything that exists that the weather has no effect on? If there is, please drop a comment below. The lowest and highest temps cause a physical change in everything. Again, if there is something that isn’t affected, please let me know.
If the temperatures fluctuate in your neck of the woods like they do mine, on a Tuesday afternoon in January it’ll reach a high of seventy degrees, then on Wednesday afternoon, it may reach a high of thirty-two degrees. How does that affect us? Many of us will find ourselves a little under the weather, quite literally! Does that mean we’re subject to temperatures rising and falling? Absolutely!
Extreme Temps
Let’s get back on topic, this is an archery blog afterall. Do you think a bow will shoot differently in extreme temps? The conversations I’ve had have not led me to any conclusion. Some are sure it has no effect while others are sure it does and it should. You should already know my opinion from the start of this blog, I think everything is subject to temperature, everything!
Is one type of bow subject more than another? If I take a Bear Archery Glass Grizzly Traditional Bow from a seventy degree environment into a twelve degree one, will it experience more effects than a Bear Kuma 30 Compound Bow? Or a compound bow versus a TenPoint Nitro 505 Crossbow? It would only make sense, it would have an effect on all of them in one way or another.
That’s Why I Missed the Buck!
In cold weather things restrict and in warm weather things expand. A restricted (cold) string may increase the draw weight and an expanded string may decrease it. But some say it has no effect at all while others say, “That’s why I missed my target buck! I shot my bow yesterday in seventy degree temps and it was dead on at thirty yards. The temp dropped overnight and I shot right over the deer!”
I’m not asking you to side with me, even though I’m pretty sure I’m right. It would be completely profitable for you and any other archer to practice with their equipment in all conditions to know its exact performance in every environment. Before you begin your practice don’t be daft, there are some important things you need to do first, read this Maintain Your Bow & Arrows Blog and then do it!
I’ll Call That Irresponsible
When it’s cold outside you have a tendency of wanting to stay inside and stay out of the elements. The only time you’re willing to brave them is when it’s time to hit the woods for a hunt and I’ll call that irresponsible! If you know the conditions are going to be drastically different from the ones you practiced in and expect the same performance out of your equipment and yourself, you may be making a huge mistake that may cost you more than an arrow.
A little tip from The Bow Bully, represent the rest of us well and do your best to responsibly practice doing your best and allowing your best to get better!
