This is a time of anticipation and preparation, and nobody knows this more than Andrew McKean (shown below), editor of Outdoor Life. I had the pleasure of hunting with Andrew in Africa and Wyoming, and he knows his stuff between the pages and in the field. Here’s his advice for tuning up:
Montana’s first hunting season, for archery antelope, opens in a two weeks. And just a couple of weeks after that August 15 opener, archery deer and elk season opens, sending hard-core bowhunters into the mountains and valleys of the state for the next six weeks. Are you ready for archery season? It’s a simple question, but I’m betting you are like me: Your mind is more prepared than either your body or your gear. Well, don’t dawdle. The clock is ticking, and here are some of the basic ways you can be in bow shape by mid-August.
Check Your Bow: Sounds simple, but just by inspecting your bow and arrows with a jeweler’s eye you can spot obvious problems that would doom an archery outing if left unattended. Is your bowstring worn, especially where it passes over cams and pulleys? Are the strands of the string frayed or dry looking? The fix is simple: Just wax dry strings. If they’re especially worn, spend a few bucks and replace the string. Is your knock loop twisted, or is the serving (the spot on the string where your arrow is knocked) frayed or tired-looking? If you don’t feel like you have the expertise to trouble-shoot potential problems with your bow, take it to a bow shop and spend $40 or $50 to have it tuned up. That’s cheap for the edge it will put on your shooting and the peace of mind it will give you.
