Learning how to do your own bow maintenance will help you better appreciate your equipment. Tying a D-Loop is one easy way to step in that direction.

[caption id="attachment_6329" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Tying a D-Loop is a simple way to start doing your own bow maintenance.[/caption] I don't know about you, but I've always been a do-it-yourself kind of guy. I figure if you don't like the way something turns out, you've only got one person to blame. Also, when things go good, it lets me know I've done something the right way and I can replicate it in the future. It also helps me to have a better feel for whatever I've been working on. Archery is one area where I like to have a lot of hands-on management. Part of that management is hunt planning and preparation, but another aspect of that management is working on my own gear. Learning how to maintain your own gear is a great way to learn more about archery and the equipment you use. With the rise of modern compound bows we have seen the rise of complexity as well. What used to just be a few sticks and a string has turned into an elaborate hunting instrument with many moving parts. This rise in complexity has created many more areas of maintenance for the modern archer. Some of these tasks are best left to the pros at a bow shop, but lots of tasks can easily be performed easily on your own. Tying a D-Loop is one example of an easy do-it-yourself task. Watch the brief video in that teaches a beginner all they will need to know about tying in a D-Loop. https://youtu.be/4qytQDzWj_A There you have it. Anyone with 5 minutes can most likely have this chore done. D-Loops easy to install and are very inexpensive. It is always nice to have a few extras lying around as well. There are also a few tips I've picked up along the way the fella in the video did not include. For starters, you should always mark your string where the D-Loop needs to return. A silver Sharpie is a good choice, and will ensure you don't change your nocking point by accident when you tie in your new loop. It also is worth mentioning that anytime you have a cutting edge or flame next to your bow string to exercise caution. What your really don't need is to accidentally cut your string or catch the serving on fire. Seems worth a word of caution. Hopefully this brief video and tutorial can offer a advice for an archer who would like to perform more of their own bow maintenance. Tying a D-Loop is a great place to start. Follow the author through his facebook page or on twitter. NEXT: OFFSEASON BOW MAINTENANCE; 3 CHORES