Storing a bow so it is ready next season
Notes from the counter at Extreme Archery in Mamaroneck, NY.
Never store it strung under tension long term
Recurve limbs should be unstrung for extended storage. Leaving a bow strung for months takes set into the limbs and costs performance permanently.
For short breaks between sessions it is fine; for a season it is not.
Temperature and humidity
Heat is the enemy of limb adhesives, which is why a bow should never live in a car boot or an attic. A cool interior cupboard is ideal.
Extreme dryness also affects wooden risers and traditional bows.
Wax before it goes away
A freshly waxed string stored dry comes out of storage usable. An unwaxed one absorbs moisture and degrades over months.
This is the single most useful thing to do before putting a bow away.
Support the bow properly
Hanging by the string or leaning a bow against a wall under its own weight both distort it over time. A rack or a case with correct support avoids it.
Cases also stop the accidental knock that cracks a limb tip.
Check everything on the way out
Before the first session back, inspect the string, serving, nocks, limb bolts and rest. Things loosen in storage and the first draw is a bad time to discover it.
A five minute check prevents a wasted trip.
Store arrows separately and flat
Arrows stored loose in a tube get crushed fletchings and bent shafts. A tube with dividers or a flat rack keeps them straight.
Bent arrows are unsafe as well as inaccurate.
Where this sits in the shop
Extreme Archery groups its stock into 5 categories, so most of what is discussed above lives in one or two of them:
- Arm Guards and Protection — 2 items
- Arrows and Targets — 8 items
- Bow Strings and Wax — 3 items
- Finger Tabs and Gloves — 8 items
- Tools and Accessories — 5 items
Browsing by category is usually quicker than searching, because the groups follow how the goods are actually used rather than how a supplier lists them.
The largest group at the moment is Arm Guards and Protection with 2 items, and the smallest is Tools and Accessories with 5. Those counts move as stock comes in and goes out, so they are worth checking rather than assuming.
From our shelves
A few items currently in stock that relate to this article:
- HME Compact Lightweight Hunting Pocket Multi-Functional 14-in-1 Handheld Archery Multi Tool – Wrench/Broadhead Sharpener Combo
- Meooeck 3 Pcs Archery Accessories, Arm Guard, 3 Finger Glove, Hip Quiver
- 4Pcs Archery Protective Gear Bundle for Beginner Target Shooting
- RoundFunny 3 Pcs Archery Bow Strength Trainer 30 40 50 Lbs | Arm Strength Exercise Band, Rubber Stretch Bands Archery Accessories, Bow Practice Shooting Accessories
Across the whole catalogue prices currently run from $4.99 to $37.49, with most of the range clustered around the middle of that span. Stock and prices on the product pages are live, so they are the figures to trust rather than anything quoted in an article.
Ordering, delivery and returns
Free US shipping on orders over $65; a flat $7.50 below that. Orders are picked and packed at the Mamaroneck store on business days, and a tracking number follows by email once the carrier scans the parcel.
If something is not right, there are 30 days from delivery to send it back unused and in its packaging. The full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds pages, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most.
How we decide what to stock
Extreme Archery carries archery finger tabs, arm guards and bow accessories, and the range is deliberately narrower than a warehouse catalogue. A line earns its place by being asked for repeatedly at the counter in Mamaroneck and by coming back without complaints — not by having the widest margin.
When something stops meeting that bar it comes off the shelf rather than being discounted until it moves. That is why the catalogue on this site changes slowly and why the specification tables on the product pages quote the maker rather than our own marketing.
Quick answers
How often should I wax a string?
Every few sessions for a bow in regular use, and always before storing it. A tin lasts a very long time relative to the cost of a new string.
Do you stock left handed guards?
Several arm guards and tabs are sold in specific hands or as adjustable fits. Where the maker states a hand, it is in the specification table.
Related reading
Other notes from the same shelf that pick up where this one stops:
- Finger tab or shooting glove: how to decide
- Arm guards: sizing, fit and why bruises happen
- String wax: the cheapest habit that prevents an expensive failure
Coming to the store
Extreme Archery is at 801 E Boston Post Rd, Mamaroneck, NY 10543. Opening hours are Mon 12:45-19:00 | Tue 11:00-19:00 | Wed 12:45-19:00 | Thu-Fri 11:00-19:00 | Sat 11:00-17:00 | Sun Closed, and it is worth calling ahead on +1 914-777-7500 if you are travelling specifically for one item, because stock on the shop floor and stock listed online are the same pool.
Anything discussed in this article can be looked at in person before buying. If you would rather order online, the same stock ships from this address — nothing is drop-shipped from a third party warehouse, which is why the despatch address on your parcel matches the shop.
Ask us directly
If this has not answered your question, the counter is open Mon 12:45-19:00 | Tue 11:00-19:00 | Wed 12:45-19:00 | Thu-Fri 11:00-19:00 | Sat 11:00-17:00 | Sun Closed. Call +1 914-777-7500 or use the contact page — a person reads it, and you will get an answer within a business day.