8 Bow Tools Every Bowhunter Should Own

Proper bow function requires a litany of parts to do exactly what they are supposed to do during every shot cycle. When one piece of the puzzle falls out of place, the entire process is compromised.

We often focus on major tuning issues and perfect bow setup when discussing how to get our hunting rigs into shape and how to keep them there. This is fine for the minority of bow owners who possess a pro shop-grade press and the knowledge to use it.

However, for most bowhunters this is out of reach, and quite frankly, not something they're interested in. Shelling out a grand or more for a quality press and then devoting serious time to learning how to use it is simply too much for most of us, but that doesn't mean that all aspects of bow tuning and setup are out of your grasp.

Every year I encounter fellow bowhunters who have no idea how to tie a string loop, serve in a peep sight, or even replace a nock set. It's not that these folks are incapable. It's that they don't have the simple bow tools necessary and the knowledge to put them to use.

If you're in this category, consider taking a step in the right direction by investing a minimal amount of money into the basics, and then spend some quality time on the Internet watching tutorials on how to perform these simple tasks.

This is a good idea for hunters who never hunt anywhere other than their favorite close-to-home whitetail haunts, and it is crucial for those who hit the road in search of hunting adventure.

It's just common sense that if you're in elk camp and notice your string loop is frayed, that the fix is up to you and only you. I've been in hunting camps with friends who didn't even bother to bring along a set of Allen wrenches. Of course, those homebody hunters who figure they will just take their bow into the shop if something goes wrong can be in for a rude awakening.

Imagine shutting off the alarm two hours before sunrise and getting ready to hunt a stand you've been saving all fall for the rut and the right conditions, only to realize that your nock set is missing.

You might only miss one hunt to get it fixed in a pro shop because it will take them a matter of seconds to remedy the problem, but what is more important is that it could have been the sit where everything was happening and the bucks were chasing does nose-to-the-ground and oblivious to any danger.

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For most of us, hunting time is too hard to come by to miss it over something trivial that you could have fixed yourself in minutes.

It can be intimidating to dive into the world of the bow mechanic, but that doesn't mean you can't pick up a few simple tools and start off by dipping a toe in the waters. It will quickly become clear that simple fixes are well within your reach, and more complicated tasks will soon follow.

Throughout this process you'll accumulate more tools and more confidence to tackle issues head-on when they crop up, often at the worst possible moment. A few tools and some skills can save you valuable hunting time.