The first crisp mornings of September and October mean one thing for bowhunters: the season is finally here. But before you climb into your stand or slip into the ground blind, it’s essential to give your gear—and yourself—a thorough tune-up. Bowhunting is an equipment-intensive pursuit, and small oversights can cost you opportunities at deer.
A preseason bow check isn’t just about performance; it’s about confidence. When you know your bow is dialed in and every piece of gear is ready, you can focus entirely on the hunt itself. Here’s a complete checklist to help you make those final adjustments before your first sit of the season.
🎯 Bow Inspection and Setup
1. Check String and Cables
- Look for fraying, dry spots, or signs of wear.
- Apply bowstring wax if the string looks dry.
- If the string is a few seasons old, consider replacing it now rather than risking a failure during the hunt.
2. Inspect Limbs and Riser
- Run your hands along the limbs and riser for cracks, splinters, or stress marks.
- Even a hairline fracture can spell disaster under tension.
3. Check Draw Weight and Let-Off
- Make sure your draw weight is comfortable for cold-weather clothing.
- It’s better to pull a slightly lower poundage smoothly than struggle with too much weight in the stand.
🔧 Tuning Your Bow Accessories
4. Rest and Arrow Clearance
- Ensure your arrow rest is level and secure.
- Do a paper tune to confirm clean arrow flight.
5. Sight and Pins
- Double-check your pins at multiple distances, especially your 20-yard and 30-yard marks.
- If you’re using a single-pin sight, practice adjusting it smoothly and quickly.
6. Stabilizer and Dampeners
- Inspect stabilizers and string dampeners for wear.
- A loose or cracked dampener can cause noise that spooks deer.
🏹 Arrow and Broadhead Check
7. Spin-Test Your Arrows
- Place arrows on a flat surface or arrow spinner to check for straightness.
- Replace any shafts with cracks or warps.
8. Match Broadheads to Field Points
- Fixed-blade broadheads can fly differently than field tips.
- Shoot each hunting arrow with its broadhead to ensure accuracy.
- Replace dull blades with fresh ones—sharpness is non-negotiable.
👃 Scent and Noise Control
9. Quiet Your Gear
- Check for loose screws on rests, sights, and quivers.
- Add moleskin or felt to areas that might clank against metal stands or climbing sticks.
10. Wash and Store Clothing Properly
- Wash hunting clothes in scent-free detergent.
- Store them in a sealed tote or scent-free bag with natural cover scents like cedar chips or earth wafers.
🧍 Personal Readiness
11. Practice in Hunting Conditions
- Shoot in full gear—jacket, gloves, and even harness—to mimic real scenarios.
- Practice from elevated positions if you’ll be hunting from a treestand.
12. Mental Preparation
- Review shot placement on deer anatomy.
- Visualize drawing and releasing calmly when a buck walks into range.
✅ Final-Day Checklist Before the Hunt
- Wax bowstring one last time.
- Re-tighten all bolts on your bow.
- Check flashlight batteries, rangefinder, and release aid.
- Pack an extra release in your bag—forgetting or breaking one is more common than most hunters admit.
🔑 Final Thoughts
A bowhunting tune-up isn’t something you can afford to skip. By taking time now to inspect, adjust, and practice, you eliminate last-minute gear failures and step into the season with total confidence.
When opening morning arrives, you don’t want to be second-guessing your bow’s performance—you want to be locked in on the deer slipping down the trail. Do these final checks, and your first hunt of the season will start with the best advantage possible.
