Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter and Outdoorsman
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If you are a keen hunter, you want to make sure you can sneak up to your prey to take the best shot. However, having a loud hunting bow can be a significant problem. It can startle your elk, deer, and small game, leading to more missed opportunities in the field. But how can you silence a recurve bow?
There are a few different ways that you can quiet a recurve bow. First, you might want to try to make sure that everything is tightened correctly and your bow has been tuned properly. It would help if you also made sure that the strings are appropriately maintained. In some cases, you might want to use a silencer.
As you can see, there are a few steps that you can use to quiet your bow. But how do these techniques work, and which one should you use? Let’s answer these questions and show you the best way to silence your recurve bow.
In this post, we'll cover:
Why Are Recurve Bows So Loud?
Let’s start by identifying the cause of the noise. Once you find this, you can look at the best way to correct the issue.
The Strings
The strings are one of the most common reasons why the bow is making so much noise. When you take your shot, you are drawing back on these strings. When you fire, this energy is released.
In an ideal world, all this energy will be transferred into the arrow so that you can have the mightiest shot possible. However, this isn’t always the case.
In some instances, the string might be loose or poorly maintained. This means that it can reverberate after the shot. This typically produces a vibrating noise. We’ll look at how to take care of your strings later.
Loose Screws
In other cases, the noise might be caused by a free element. If not screwed on properly, the impact can shake the loose part. This can produce a rattling, grating, or thumping sound.
In some cases, it can take a while before you find which part is causing the noise. In this case, you might want to try removing and re-attaching each element. Though it can take a while, this will often solve the problem.
Light Arrows
In some cases, it might not be an issue with the bow at all. You might not be using the right arrows. This is one of the most straightforward elements for you to correct.
When you select a bow, it’s designed to launch a certain arrow weight. If the arrows you’re using are too light, the excess energy will move through the bow, producing a loud noise.
This theory is the easiest to test. Try firing a heavier arrow and see how this affects the noise. If it is duller, you might need to fire heavier arrows.
This can take more physical effort, as you need to put more weight onto the drawstring. In this case, it can be useful to work on improving your strength and conditioning.
Other Noises
In the clear majority of cases, these three issues will be responsible for reducing the noise associated with your recurve bows. Once you spot the problem, you will be able to take action to help solve it.
However, there might be times when you are unable to identify the cause of the noise. In this case, you might want to take it into an archery store. The experts will be able to look over the bow for you and help you find and fix the problem.
Maintaining Your Strings
As we mentioned earlier, poorly maintained strings are among the most common reasons you might have a harsh bow. So, you will need to make sure that you are taking care of your strings.
It would help if you tried to clean and wax the bow every few weeks or whenever you notice that hairs are starting to stick up on the string.
If you notice that they have become frayed, you might need to consider removing and replacing them. You’ll generally have to replace the string every three years.
How To Tune Your Bow
If you notice that your recurve bow is making a lot of noise, you might need to try tuning it. This will allow you to make sure that it’s been set-up correctly. It will also enable you to improve your accuracy. Let’s look at how this process works.
First, you will need to make sure that you are choosing the right bow for you. There are many elements to consider during this phase. For example, you will have to think about your draw length and your preferred style of archery.
Then, you’ll need to make sure that your bow is set up correctly. You might need to adjust the limbs to be customized to your style of shooting. The easiest way of doing this is by using the bare shaft method.
This involves removing the fletching from a few arrows. Then, firing these and fletched arrows at the target. This will give you a better idea of how your bow is aimed. It will also allow you to make adjustments to improve your accuracy. For example, you might need to adjust the spine.
Once you’ve made these adjustments, you should try shooting with the bare shafts again. This will let you see the impacts that your modifications have made.
It’s generally recommended that you complete this process regularly to make sure that you are consistently accurate.
Using A String Silencer
This is a great way to reduce the noise produced and is most commonly used by hunters hunting skittish animals. A string silencer (or bow silencer) absorbs the vibrations on the string.
The silencers (or beaver balls as they are commonly known) are very easy to place on the bow. Typically, they will need to go around one-quarter of the string length when measured from the tip of the bow.
When you do this, make sure that both silencers are attached at an equal distance from each other. It would help if you tried to make these measurements as precise as possible.
Once measured, unstring the bow. Split the strings in the marked area as evenly as possible. Then, insert the silencers. Restring the bow and double-check your measurements.
In some cases, finding the right position can take a bit of trial and error. Once you are happy, you can tie in the silencers. Now you should be able to fire the bow very quietly; using a string dampener can affect arrow speed, but this is typically by a negligible amount.
Removing Vibration In The Limbs
Finally, it might be the limbs that are causing the vibration. This is typically a problem if they are hollow.
To solve this problem, you might want to insert some cotton pieces into the limb risers. This shouldn’t affect the bow’s functioning, but it will reduce the amount of noise produced.
In Conclusion
There are several potential reasons why your recurve bow might be making noise. The issue can be anything from the string to the limbs. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways that you can try to fix these problems.
This can range from replacing the line to tuning the bow, adding silencers, or adding cotton to the limb risers. So, now you will be able to solve the problem and silence your recurve bow.
Should You Unstring A Recurve Bow?
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.