Those of you who have hunted thirty-plus years may already know about these silencers. I do not recall who told me about them in the mid-sixties when I got my first Fred Bear recurve, but they were on that bow. Later, when I regressed to “training-wheels” in the seventies, they worked there also. After much psychotherapy, I found my way to longbows.
Bicycle inner tubes? Yes! Cut a narrow width perpendicular to the tube so that you get a “ring.” Loop it around the string, pass it through itself, cinch it up tight, and you are “silenced.”
These silencers are waterproof, free and easily attached while the bow is strung. Any bicycle shop will have a garbage can full of “bad” tubes. Cut a few extras, and carry them in your pack in case you lose one while hunting. You can also use whole tubes for tie-downs around camp, etc.
I have two beautiful Pronghorn longbows now, 50# and 60#. One has the “way-cool” muskox fur silencers, and the other has inner tubes. I can shoot both bows with the same arrows, either beautiful Whispering Wind woodies or heavy Grizzly-Stiks. The bow with the inner tube silencers is a lot quieter.
Traditional? Well no, but neither are rubber Cat-Whiskers. If quiet is important, and you can live with a bit of bicycle tube on your string, I feel you will be well pleased with the results:silence.
Those are also called “Ranger bands”. Used by (Army) Rangers and others to attach and carry “stuff” that will keep it cinched up and quiet. I never thought of using them for silencers, but will sure try it.
I too have used bicycle tires for many years as string silencers. They work great! Also like the author said I cut them off on both sides of the valve stems and use for lashing my climbing sticks together. I use them to hold my tree stands together. I lash tree limbs out of the way and a ton of different things. I will say the mountain bike tubes are for heavy duty lashing like in your truck and thinner diameter road ties are for every day use.
Dang that sounds cool.
Will try that out immediately 🙂
very good idea gone a try it thanks
You can also split the string as with conventional silencers and connect them as described through the split. You’ll be much less likely to lose them.
Thanks. I was getting ready to change silencers on two longbows. These look like they are 3/8″ wide. Is that about right? Why wouldn’t wide rubber bands do the same trick?
Rubber bands could also work, but they are lighter and degrade faster.
I’m gonna try this for sure. I love innovative ideas and this is one. Resourcefulness at its best.
Great tip, I’m going to try it. Lbhunter’s idea to split the string answers a question I had.
Nice knife, also!
Excellent old school idea. Thank you.
Thank You, I too have used these even though they look a little gadgety, they work.