Abstract: A hand-held, thumb operated archery bowstring release has a generally lazy-T-shaped body member contoured as a handhold. A pair of forwardly projecting jaw members retain a tensioned bowstring until released by a single slight downward movement of an associated plunger. Following such release an open helical compression spring acting on the plunger resets the jaw members to the bowstring holding position. To enable a high degree of target accuracy during the use of the invention, the structural members are disposed symmetrically about a vertical plane through the axis of the plunger and the center line between the jaw members, and the small mechanical releasing movements occur along paths of similar symmetry. The plunger has a circular cross section and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced coaxially aligned and small diameter segments and an upstanding conical frustum segment.