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Let’s face it: new bows can be very expensive. By the time you invest in a new bow, a quiver, a sight, rest and all the gadgets you need, you can easily spend $1,000 or more. In today’s poor economy, many of us don’t have much extra cash to spend on a new bow. If you fall into that category, realize that you can give your old rig a facelift which can quiet it down, speed it up and make you happy. First, put a new string on your bow. I am often surprised how many bowhunters don’t have their string changed. A new state-of-the-art string can add a few feet per second and prevent bows from breaking down in the field. If a string breaks while a hunter is hunting in the woods, the hunt is over.

Many bowhunters want to add extra speed to their bow. Five or ten feet per second (FPS) can be added quite easily. Nitro Buttons from Pine Ridge Archery slide over the bow string. Each Nitro Button that is added to a bow will pick up a little speed. Depending on the bow, several FPS could be added by adding a few Nitro Buttons to the top and bottom of the bow string. Best of all, they come in a variety of colors so hunters can get the colors that match their bow. Black and red are very popular of coarse, but pink, purple and green are favorites as well.

Other ways to add speed to a bow is by using speed nocks. Several companies make arrow nocks that are designed to come off the string faster than a traditional nock. They might only add a few FPS, but every little bit helps.

Hunters may want to consider buying new arrows. Several arrow companies like Easton and Goldtip offer high speed arrows that are tough as nails but a little lighter than most arrows. Most bows produce plenty of kinetic energy so going to a lighter arrow won’t dampen the bow’s ability to bring down a deer. A light arrow will give you a few more FPS.

One complaint many bowhunters have about their old bows is that they are noisy. Over time, bows start to rattle a little. There are several things that can be done to quiet them down. Several companies including Norway Industries and Athens Archery make string stoppers that have a rubber tip on them that stop the forward motion of the bow string after the bow is shot. One model by Norway Industries is called the String Tamer. By stopping the forward motion of the string, string vibration and noise are eliminated.

Limbsaver and BowJax make a wide array of vibration dampening products from string leeches to limb dampeners and bow shelf noise dampeners. Even mole skin can help quiet a bow.

Adding a new stabilizer can also help reduce bow noise and vibration. Doinker, Sims, Axion and other companies make great stabilizers. Adding a new quieter arrow rest, sight and quiver with few or no moving parts can help reduce bow noise.

Lastly, tighten things up. Bows vibrate when they are shot. As it vibrates, things come loose and make noise. Regularly use a Pine Ridge Allen Wrench to keep things tight and operating smoothly.

With a couple hundred dollars or less, speed and quiet can be added to bows so they will last a few more years. Special note: Over the last few years, new bows typically shoot a few more FPS than the previous model years bow. Lighter arrows, Nitro Buttons, speed nocks and a new string could add 10 FPS or more to your current bow rig.

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About the Author: Tracy Breen is a full-time outdoor writer and marketing consultant in the bowhunting industry. Pine Ridge Archery is one of his clients. Tracy has Cerebral Palsy and is an inspirational speaker who speaks at wild game dinners across the country. Learn more about him at www.tracybreen.com