Be Prepared to Make Quick Fixes During the Season

It was mid-season, and I was practicing on my backyard range when I noticed my arrows were hitting low. I pulled the three broadhead-tipped shafts from the block target, then re-shot two more groups. Same result. As I inspected my bow and string harnesses, I recognized the culprit. Beneath the D-loop, I could see serving separation that caused the loop to move slightly upward.

I felt somewhat deflated, as I’d been shooting lights-out until now. Fortunately, I’d been in this situation several times before. I shrugged off the irritation and went to work. I removed the loop and carefully stripped the ruined thread. Then I installed new center serving using my BCY Bearpaw serving tool. I rechecked the tuning marks I had made on the bow’s cams to ensure the bowstring and harnesses were set at the proper length, positioned the nock height to .0625-inch above center and began shooting broadheads. At 40 yards, my shafts flew into tight clusters, restoring my confidence for the next day’s hunt.

Bowstring Issues

Today’s bows are incredibly tough, but bowstrings and string accessories can be temperamental. Here are some common bowstring issues and how to fix them.

Center Serving: Serving separation can occur at any time, and it seems to happen often just before a hunt! My recommendation is to learn how to install center serving on your own, so you can do it anytime, anywhere, but if this seems too technical, visit a pro shop to have it done. However, pay close attention to how your arrow nocks snap on the bowstring. You’ll want the nock fit to be the same as it was before when the bow was tuned.

Center serving comes in various diameters, so you can use thinner or thicker material to accommodate different nock throats. The .021-inch material seems most popular. As far as brands, I prefer BCY’s 62XS since it’s extremely durable, smooth and grips tight to the string fibers, preventing separation over time. You can find online videos that demonstrate how to apply center serving or tie in a nockset or D-loop. My book, Technical Bowhunting, also illustrates these procedures step-by-step.

Peep Sight Rotation: Repeated shooting can cause bowstrings to creep slightly and alter the peep’s rotation. A slightly out-of-center rotation can be remedied in a snap by resetting the D-loop so it pulls on the bowstring slightly more left or right, allowing the peep to stay centered with the eye. If peep rotation is off by 45-degrees or so, no amount of moving the D-loop will help — not to mention it’ll be way harder to grab the loop with your release aid if it’s positioned way off to the side.

At this point, you’ll need to press the bow and add a half or full twist to the bowstring to bring the peep back to center. A slightly off-center peep not only changes the arrow’s point-of-impact, but it can cause issues with aiming in low light.

Worn Out D-loop: Some release aids are harder on D-loops than others. Be sure to constantly monitor the loop’s condition. This portion of the bowstring receives more use than any other area on the string. Swapping out a damaged D-loop is simple. Undo the old loop material and apply a new one cut to the same length, including the balled ends. Then install the material using two clove hitch knots. Be sure to adjust the nock-height position, using a T-square, to the same height as when the bow was tuned.

I actually prefer to tie in a small nock set (about .0625-inch thick) just inside the loop during the tuning phase. This adds a little bit of downward pressure on the arrow shaft, which aids in accuracy. Once the nock set is in its proper vertical position, it makes swapping out loops easy, without the need of a T-square. Simply remove the old loop and install a new one, ensuring the tied-in nock set hugs the bottom of the D-loop knot.

Damaged Bowstring: Bowstrings receive a lot of wear during hunting season. A slightly frayed bowstring isn’t much of a problem; simply apply wax. But if it looks ultra ragged and irregular in shape, or if you’ve cut the string fibers during a fall, it’s time to swap it out before disaster strikes. Ideally, you should have pre-stretched (or pre-shot) back-up bowstrings with string accessories already installed as part of your archery repair kit. This makes swapping out a damaged bowstring and/or harness quick and easy, given you have access to a bow press and you’ve noted all important tuning measurements.

Release-Aid Problems

A sticky or grindy release presents a major problem. Dirt and dust can accumulate in a release aid’s sear mechanism. The best way to get rid of it is to blow high-pressure air into the region. Use an air compressor or dust can. Then add TRI-FLOW or another high-grade lubricant to the mechanism as recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure to wipe away excessive lubricant to prevent attracting new buildup. Then test the release several times to ensure it is operating properly. It’s also a good idea to keep a back-up release in your hunting pack, just in case your primary release acts up again.

Shooting Trouble

Some archers find their shooting confidence plummeting in the middle of the season. This isn’t good. If you think you’ll miss or make a bad shot, you probably will, and you don’t want that on your mind when you draw on a deer. Quick mental shooting fixes aren’t easy. Adopting solid shooting form can take months of disciplined training. However, here are two methods that may rebuild your confidence when time is tight:

Hook the Trigger Deeply: The tip or pad of the index finger is super sensitive and prone to punching the trigger. For this reason, it’s worthwhile to adjust the release so the trigger rides deeper into the first or second knuckle. This helps create a “hooked finger” around the trigger in a less sensitive region. The shooter can then apply increasing back tension until the entire hand and hooked-finger unit move into the trigger, causing a smooth, punch-free shot.

Change Your Release: For some bowhunters, using a different release aid is the only answer to regain shooting control. I recommend a well-made thumb release (i.e. Tru-Fire Synapse or Ultraview Button) with a trigger lever that can be adjusted so it rests near the base of your thumb and not the tip of it. This allows the pad of the thumb to ride on the release’s handle, while the trigger lever presses into the base of the thumb as the handle rotates slightly down as rearward tension is applied. This technique reduces trigger sensitivity and maximizes shooting control. As few as a couple dozen shots taken with a well-adjusted thumb release can help restore shooting confidence.

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