Adverse weather conditions

[Deemon]

Ok, so as we head off into another outdoor season the subject of dodgy weather conditions springs to mind. Last year, during my first proper outdoor wet weather shoot I discovered that rain makes your arrows go low, very low in fact (obvious right!)

SO, in an effort to be better prepared to tackle the elements this year is there anything else I should know that might appear obvious to the experienced archer, but might catch us numpty novices out?

I'd also be interested in any handy hints and tips any of you may have to deal better with extreme conditions on the shooting line - rain, wind, cold, keeping equipment dry? I'm sure you get the general idea.

[Medoc]

I find the following helpful:

Limbs need to be kept dry.
Expansion through the shot helps.
Fitness helps, especially on 2 day shoots.
Failure to plan may lead to poor performance.
Ensure that you concentrate on your shooting only.

Hope this helps!

[Deemon]

Originally Posted by Medoc

I find the following helpful:

Limbs need to be kept dry.

See, I learned something already because I didn't even know you were supposed to keep your limbs dry!

[Evil Bob]

Sounds
Handy
After
Nearly
Drowning
Yesterday

[napolienne]

OK, concentrating mainly on rain here, that's what we get the most of. Apologies if some of it is a bit obvious, I don't know how much you know!

1) Don't skip practice because it is raining/windy/other crappy weather condition. If you never practice in bad weather you're never going to be good when bad weather hits you in competition

2) Try not to care too much about the condititions. If you care, you'll worry, if you worry, then you won't shoot as well as you could. Have the right things ready so that (for example) when the weather hits you can put on your waterproof (which you will of course have shot in before, and will therefore know it isn't going to catch on the string etc) and just get on with things.

3) ALWAYS have a towel, for drying off your equipment and yourself

4) Make sure your grip doesn't become too slippery in the wet

5) Dress properly. Make sure you have a hat you can shoot in that will keep rain and wind out of your eyes. Waterproof footwear is a must, and as many thin layers as you need on the top. For me a thin wool jumper, a tech top and then my club shirt is adequate in most conditions, but obviously that differs from person to person. Don't let yourself get cold. Put on a jacket inbetween ends if you have to.

I may think of others, but number one is certainly the most important.

[moo-mop]

It's water on the string that is the main cause of the bow slowing down and low sight marks.

If it's very showery (ie off on) or only light rain try and keep your bow dry by stashing in in a shooting line tent when you're not actually shooting. If that's impossible then forget about trying to keep it dry and adjust sight marks accordingly. Always ping the string before shooting it to avoid showering yourself with a nasty spray of freezing water as well as to get rid of excess water as much as possible.

Whether you need to dry the handle probably depends on the grip as water can make some grips slippy.

As to clothes, I cannot do waterproofs very well at all with recurve as it's just too close to my body. So I go for the thin layers in synthetic fabrics option (running clothes etc), but it's very much down to your preference.

[Deadeye Doc]

If you wear waterproofs wear a Tubi-Grip around the bow arm over the sleeve in order to keep the waterproof from snagging the string. Most waterproofs get in the way and so one of the real reasons for both the chest guard and the arm guard becomes clear.
On the Texas archery website there's a video - I can't recall exactly where - of a Scottish Championship in Glasgow, showing the shower of water coming off the string as the arrow is propelled forward.

[King Custard]

wet tabs.

whatever you understand by the word 'tabs'...it's definitely a disadvantage and often discomforting to have wet ones. I'm thinking predominently of finger tabs (of course) and the scenario where changing to a nice dry tab...leaves it wet in seconds- necessitating yet another tab.

I have added a pouch to my scope to hold:
a couple of spare nocks- ready ptfe taped
timer
a flannel-small towel
spare finger-sling spare tab
talc
fags and lighter
bucket hat
glasses rag

and a giant chemical handwarmer!!!!
The handwarmer is excellent for just warming through the release fingers in the cold, for drying out the flannel- BUT mostly for drying out the damp tab before reapplying a little talc. The handwarmer doesn't give off a huge amount of heat obviously- but gives enough heat to take the damp off the face of a leather tab between ends.

[Old Bloke]

You see..the thing is...I shoot in the dry and out into the rain at Budleigh Farm..and..the thing is...different types of arrows drop futher or less further in the rain. Over the years, I have been able to quantify which arrow is best for not losing sight mark (percentage wise) because I shoot in the dry and as such, so is my powder. I've often wanted to weigh my arrows when they are wet, especially carbons..but never had the grain scales to do so.

[bimble]

I wear a thin waterproof under a tight jumper to keep it out of the way of the string.

Also, if you're having to aim off to deal with a sidewind you'll also have to aim slightly higher because the arrow is travelling slightly further when you have to aim off.