How To Carry A Bow On Your Back – The Right Way 2023

As a beginner, you might find it uncomfortable to carry around the bow during the hunting trip. It can be because you don’t know how to carry a bow while hunting.

You cannot carry a bow in your hands and walk miles in the woods. But yes, you will need the bow in your hands when you spot a target all of a sudden. Some hunters may carry the bow in one hand. But for long miles or hiking, you surely need to carry the bow any other way.

Don’t worry about that anymore, we have a number of solutions for your problem. There are 5 different ways to carry the bow during your trip. We will discuss each of them in detail to make everything clear for you, and you can choose any one way out of them that you feel will be suitable for you. Also, each of them might be beneficial for you in different situations, therefore, read all of them one by one.

Carrying a Bow on Your Back – 3 Different Ways

Carrying a bow on your back without a sling is possible if you use a cloth or towel. Take the cloth and towel and cover the bowstring with it.

Tie a knot on the end and pull the bow over your head in a way that one side is above one shoulder while the other side is beneath the other shoulder. And the bowstring is on your front side while the riser and limbs are on the back.

It might take some time to get used to this method. So it’s only for you if you are not using any other method of carrying a bow. At Least it would save you from carrying the bow in your hand, and also, your bow will remain safe.

Keep in mind that when you need to take off the bow, hold it from the riser and then take it off. The benefit of carrying a bow on the back is that you can take it off and shoot it whenever you need to. It is almost in your hands during the whole trip.

Now coming to the drawbacks, it might be difficult for you for the first time that you try it and also uncomfortable. Try this method at your home or camp before going out to hunt or hike so that you don’t face any difficulty while out.

Carrying Bow In Backpack

No doubt that carrying a bow in a backpack is the most reliable and easy way to take the bow with you anywhere during the trip. But it can’t be just any backpack. There are specially designed backpacks that you can easily find in markets.

These backpacks have several pockets, out of which one has straps in it to tightly secure the bow in its place. It also has paddings to protect the bow so that it doesn’t break on dropping. You can also keep the quiver inside it.

Don’t use any other backpack for carrying the bow. It won’t fit properly, and even if it fits in the bag, it might break. Also, the backpack for the bow has more pockets to keep other necessities in it. So it will be a complete set for your trip. If you choose any other bag, you might need another bag for other accessories. So the problem of carrying your bow with ease will not be solved.

Even if you don’t want to use a backpack for every hunting trip, a good hunter should always keep a backpack for carrying the bow whenever needed. However, if you use one, you will have to make the following considerations.

Any backpack should have the following features:

It should have sufficient pockets for keeping everything.
It should not be too visible, and the colors of the backpack should be similar to the woods and trees.
As you will have to take out the bow anytime, the bag’s zipper needs to be of the best quality and open without any difficulty.
It should have padding on the inside to protect the bow, and the material of the backpack should be durable.

Carrying a Bow By The String

Before starting, this way of carrying a bow is only for non-professionals or if you can tighten the bowstring again and again.

Why? Because although it’s a super easy and convenient technique to carry a bow with a string, it affects the bowstring and stretches it making it lose. And also, you will still be carrying the bow by hand.

However, it is not as inconvenient as carrying the bow by the riser during the whole trip. But if you don’t want your bowstring to be loosened, try using a sling or a bow case to keep your bow protected at any cost.

I would recommend carrying a bow with the string if you are hunting deer, Birds, or any other small animal that may run away if you make a noise. Aiming at the target when carrying a bow with a string takes less time and doesn’t cause any disturbance as compared to taking the bow out of a backpack or bow case.

Also, you can use a bag or bow case for long trips and then take it out and carry it with the string when you reach near the prey. This will not only keep your bow protected but also not make the animals run away.

Carrying a Bow With a Sling

There are a number of slings to carry a bow over the shoulder or at the back. Don’t rely on a DIY sling if you choose a sling for carrying your bow.

Your bow definitely needs to be protected by a specially designed sling for a bow. You can find differently designed slings, such as wrist slings for carrying a bow wearing the sling on your wrist or a shoulder strap for carrying it over your shoulder. The choice is yours, depending on your need.

Shoulder slings are more beneficial as your hands remain totally free from carrying the bow. They also have straps to make the bow fit more perfectly or change the size. These slings can also be used to carry the bow at the back.

Make sure to get the bow sling that can be attached to your bow and that fits perfectly because there are different designs for different types of bows. Most hunters prefer using a shoulder sling as it is quite comfortable and does not cause any damage to the bow either. Also, it is the best way to carry a compound bow with buckles and straps particularly. So if this method of carrying a bow suits you, go for it.

Carrying a Bow in a Bow Case

You are right; carrying a bow in a bow case does sound the most convenient and reliable way, and no doubt it is. It helps you keep your bow protected even more than a backpack as it is specially designed for it.

A bow case can solve the problem of transportation of a bow as well as keeping it stored when the hunting season is over. It is because you can find two types of bow cases, known as hard shells and soft shells.

As the name suggests, a hard shell bow is more protective and thus suitable for keeping the bow for a long time, while the soft shell case is suitable for transporting a bow in a vehicle. But you can use any of them for both purposes with a few considerations. For example, make sure both have the strap to carry it over the shoulder. Also, a case with additional pockets for keeping accessories is always better.

You can find several models of bow cases specifically designed for your type of bow or a bow case that can be used for any type of bow. So if a case is specifically designed for your bow type and is under your budget, you don’t need to look further for a method of carrying a bow during the hunt.

Conclusion – Carry Bow On Back

All of the methods of carrying a bow are suitable for different purposes. It depends on what is more comfortable for you and your hunting style. Also, some of them are reliable for carrying only one or other type of bow. Therefore, be sure about what to look for. You can also choose more than one method as per your need.

Additional Common Questions

How do individuals transport bows on their backs?

If you’ve ever been hunting with a bow, you’ll know that it can be cumbersome to carry all day. Therefore, the ideal solution to this problem is to utilize a bow sling. A bow sling is a device designed specifically for carrying a bow on your back, and they’re quite easy to find either in local archery shops or online. However, if you’re cut in a situation where you don’t have a bow sling, don’t despair. You can actually create your own makeshift sling using something as simple as a towel. Although it might take a bit of practice to get the hang of, it’s certainly an effective means of transporting your bow whilst out in the wilderness.

What is the correct way to carry a bow?

More often than not, people carry their bows in their hands. When doing this, ensure that the bowstring faces away from the body. This will stop the string from snagging on clothing which could damage the string or cause an unwanted accident. Some people prefer to carry their bow over their shoulder or even in a backpack, particularly for long distances. If you’re hand carrying your bow, always remember safety first. Keep the arrow tips pointed towards the ground to avoid potential injury or mishap.

How should you properly hold a bow?

Is it unlawful to tote a bow around?

In general, it’s perfectly legal to possess a bow and carry it around in public, whether it’s in a case or not. You can even have your bow strung or unstrung, depending on your preference. Of course, you can also shoot your bow anywhere you please. However, do bear in mind, if your bow handling activities pose a threat to public safety, law enforcers might question you. Interestingly, the main legal restrictions surrounding bows are mostly about crossbows rather than traditional bows.