Pack An Emergency Bow Repair Kit
By Mark Melotik
The off season is a great time for bowhunters to assemble an emergency repair kit that can thwart some common in-the-field mishaps, and help ensure you’ll make the most of your hunting time this fall. Here are a few of the things I carry with me most every time I travel.
Spare Bow
After bowhunting for several decades, I’m still amazed at how few bowhunters pack a spare bow, especially on out-of-state hunts. Carrying a spare that’s been tuned for your current arrow/broadhead combo renders nearly all other emergency gear unnecessary, but more importantly, also ensures you will not miss any time afield if things go haywire with your primary rig. I use an airline-approved double bow case when I travel — removing included foam layers in favor of using hunting clothes as padding. Smart and efficient.
Shrink Fletch
Repairing damaged fletching, or building up a quick dozen arrows, has never been easier than with shrink-fletch products offered by New Archery Products and some other manufacturers. All feature a plastic tube to which is glued three plastic vanes. Various sizes and designs are available. Simply use a knife blade to scrape off any remnants of the previous damaged fletching, then slide on a new shrink fletch cartridge and dip the works into boiling water. In 10 seconds your arrow is ready to rock again. My kit always holds a three-pack.
Portable Bow Press
My home bow shop holds a full-size bow press, but when traveling I pack an ultra-compact portable press. This compact unit doesn’t take up much space and allows me to install peep sights or string silencers, or even change a bowstring (be sure to bring one) if necessary.
Allen Wrench Sets
I carry at least two of these lightweight, portable sets. One stays in my day pack and I’ll have another in my gear duffel just in case. I use them regularly to ensure my sights, quivers, rests and more remain locked down tight.
Extra string loop material/Lighters
I’ve been on several hunts where buddies have had loops fail. Thankfully it’s never happened to me, but if it does I’ll be ready. My kit includes a few lighters required for proper installation.
Sight pins and screws
Some of these are small, fragile and easily lost when adjusting sights/rests. Thwart Murphy by carrying a few extras.
Bowstring Wax
Thankfully I’ve never had a string get cut while hunting, but friends have had this unfortunate failure, and I have been frightened by the sight of my frayed and fuzzy bowstring halfway through a few backcountry elk hunts. Nothing helps your string last like regular applications of protective wax. I keep a tube in my pack at all times.
Smart Accessories
I also carry Kevlar thread and large needle or two to reattach buttons (carry a few spares) and mend cuts in outerwear, as well as some adhesives (Super Glue gel, two-part epoxy) that come in handy for a variety of gear fixes. Add some do-everything duct tape and extra batteries for headlamps and laser rangefinders, which have a nasty habit of powering down when you need them most.
More smart items include extra broadhead blades as well as a compact carbide sharpening tool that can touch up heads and knives. Also in my pack is a compact yet well-stocked first aid kit, and one of those compact, silver-lined heat-saving emergency bags in case of an unplanned overnight stay in the woods. Stay safe out there.