Cass C
Yes it is VERY important to unstring you bow after you are done shooting. If you leave it strung it can permently damage you bow.

jeff n
you should unstring it and lay it flat or the limbs will become warped.

richwho2000
you should always unstring a recurve but i don't think you need to on a compound bow.....1other thing...don't shoot yourself in the foot

jesusownsyourass
when you store it you should loosen it dont instring it it will be a bitch to get it restrung so loosen the draw wieght but dont completely loosen just slightly so the strings are not under great pressure preventing the string from stretching

headhunter
I have a long bow that my wife bought me 20 years ago and have always unstrung it when not in use and to this day that bow is still in top shape otherwise there is little maintenance to them, keep it clean and in a climate controlled area when storing, also keep an eye on the string by keeping it waxed.. Have fun and enjoy it !

targetbutt
Most modern bows, can stand being left strung for a bit, as long as it's in constant use. I have no other way of storing my bow if left strung so I always unstring it. But If you're using the bow daily, you can leave it strung. I've known someone that does this, shoots at home almost daily so the bow is always strung. Then again, as long as you adopt a safe method of stringing, there really is no reason to leave a bow strung. It's not hard to unstring a bow and only take an extra few seconds.

archerdude
Simple "rule of thumb": When in doubt, always unstring the bow when done with it for the day. As "targetbutt" said, most modern bows can take the stress of always being strung, but with older bows (anything older than 10 years) it is best to store them unstrung. You don't have to take the string completely off the bow, just slide one end down a bowlimb (NEVER "reverse-string" a recurve bow for storage, unless you want to ruin the bow). If you're not sure how old your bow is, use that "rule of thumb". When you store the bow (unstrung), put it where it will be horizontal (laying "flat"), not vertical (standing up, as in a corner); it will be far less likely to warp if it is stored horizontal. If you have shelves mounted on a wall with open-work braces, and the bow will fit laying flat, you can lay the bow across the braces with the bow tips facing up or down. Keep it in a "cool, dry place" (out of direct sources of heat/humidity) to help prevent warping and damage caused from excessive heat and humidity; a rub-down with furniture wax once in a while is also recommended to help seal the bow against moisture (let moisture get into the laminations and the bow can fall apart - fast). Always use a bow-stringer, to minimize limb warping and for safety; using what is called the "step-through" method can twist the bow limbs, as well as result in serious injury WHEN the bow slips or breaks (and it will slip eventually, no matter how "careful" you are). The bow may still slip while using a bow-stringer, but at least the bow will not be wrapped around you when it does. I used a bow-stringer with my recurve (when I still had it), and never had a problem with twisted bowlimbs while using it; I now have a longbow, and I still use a bow-stringer. The string should be checked each time you use the bow, before AND after you brace (string) the bow, for wear and loose servings (the wrapped threads around the loops and the area where the arrow goes). A bit of "fuzziness" is okay, but if any strands are actually broken, especially in the loops and the nocking area (again, where the arrow goes), the string needs to be replaced; a broken string can break a bow, and it usually results in injury to the person using the bow. Keep the string waxed at all times, it helps prevent broken strands; there is no such thing as "too much wax" on a bowstring. Another reason to check the string after bracing the bow is to make sure the string is completely seated in the limb nocks (the grooves cut into the limb tips); if they slip, it's just like a broken string. Once the bow is braced, do NOT pull the string back and let it go unless there is an arrow nocked on the string! Yes, it makes a cool-sounding "boing" noise, but doing it can ruin your bow faster than leaving it out in the sun on a hot summer day; it puts far more stress on the bow than the bow is designed for, and can break the string (and we already know what can happen when the string breaks...). And you should already know enough to point the bow down-range when you have an arrow on the string..... I hope this isn't too much information at one time, but I do hope it helps. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask. Good luck with the archery, and have (safe) fun!

searching for friends
all I can add is that Archerdude is correct and he beat me to it !!!