Bow abuse, and hunting with softwood like YEW

[DC]

A friend of mine had two Harleys. One was all chrome and paint and the other was, well, a bike. He called it his bar bike.

[NorthHeart]

Good points guys.  A functional beauty vs. a dedicated work horse.  Plus the wear and tear does show you actually use it!  Kinda like scars i suppose, each one tells a story and reminds us of our experiences.

[bjrogg]

Exactly. My first hunting bow I retired after I got my first buck. It's all scoffed up with steel wool. Shows a good amount of wear. My favorite thing is several specks of blood that I sealed forever on the belly with a coat of tru oil in just that area.
Bjrogg

[Bryce]

I’m curious why this topic keeps coming up. My yew bows don’t have 1 dent and I rub them through bushes (to simulate elk rubbing) and the ends to sweep the ground for lost arrows. Never once has the wood failed to perform. The bow is a tool. A very beautiful tool. Yes, it’s a good idea to take care of your weapon but is a ‘dent’ something to worry about? Absolutely not.