A bow press for use in stringing bows includes a base member and left and right inclined spacer bars adjustably positionable along the base member, each spacer bar supporting a bow limb roller thereon. An upper end portion of one spacer bar mounts a bow limb roller, a pivot connector mounts the upper end portion to the spacer bar for pivotal movement of the upper end portion toward and away from the other spacer bar and a hydraulically operated piston or turnbuckle causes the upper end portion to pivot about the pivot connector toward the other spacer bar, whereby a bow limb of the bow is caused to bend toward the other bow limb to release the tension in the bowstring.