Hunting Stores in Ottawa Provide Tips and Training for New Archers
If you’re interested in archery in Ottawa and the surrounding area, you’ll find no shortage of great resources at your disposal. This includes hunting stores in Ottawa, where you can find the latest compound bows and accessories, take lessons, and learn from experienced archers. One of the most important things you can learn along the way is how to take proper care of your bow. After all, archery is not a cheap hobby—it’s a major financial commitment, and so you should maintain your bow as best you can to ensure that it continues to serve you well for years to come. Here are a few tips to get you started, but remember that along the way you will learn much more through practice than through reading.
Examining the String
Without the string, the bow would be useless, and your arrows would never fly. The earliest bowstrings were made from animal sinew, and then woven fibers such as hemp or linen. The modern compound bow may employ a more high-tech bowstring, but they’re not immune to wear and tear. Ottawa archery enthusiasts can benefit from getting into the habit of examining their strings and cables after each use, looking for signs of damage or fraying. If the bowstring is damaged, it should be replaced sooner rather than later—if you’re not yet confident in your ability to do this yourself, you can look to an expert to help you get the hang of it. To keep healthy strings in good condition for longer, pick up some bowstring wax from your local Ottawa hunting store. Clean and wax the bowstring on a regular basis (how often will depend on the conditions you subject your bow to) and the wax will work to keep strands bundled together, preventing fraying and creating a moisture barrier along the way.
Examining the Body
Whether taking it out on a hunt or just down to the shooting range, take some time to look over the body of your compound bow to make sure that everything is structurally sound—at best, any irregularities could affect the quality of your shooting. At worst, they can become a safety hazard. Any cracks, or signs of swelling or warping should be addressed immediately. You should also check the screws that hold the various components of the bow together on a regular basis. Learn to identify when they should be tightened, and how tight they should be made.
Tuning the Bow
As you begin to get the hang of archery in Ottawa, you’ll learn how to tune and retune your bow, and how to recognise that a bow is out of tune. This knowledge will help you make adjustments in your shooting, optimising it for a wide range of applications, from target practice to hunting from a tree blind.
To learn more about how to take care of your compound bow, visit your local Ottawa hunting store.
