dog1

This is in reference to bobcat 10s' question about getting hurt and a question I have about the safe use of crossbows.

About 5 or 6 years back, a member in our hunting club got a crossbow and a permit to use it because he said he could no longer pull a regular bow, because of shoulder problems.

Here's what happened. He was coming out of the woods on his atv and I was going in on my atv. We stoped along side each other to talk, he had his crossbow straped to the rear rack and I didn't at first pay it any attention. During our talk, I realized he had an arrow (bolt) nocked on the crossbow. Because of the way we stoped, the arrow (broadhead) was pointing directly at me, at a height high enough to hit me in the thigh or lower waist.

I cranked my atv and immediately moved out of line with the arrow and gave him a few choice words for his stupidity. He stated that he couldn't uncock the bow and had to wait til he got home and get his wife to help him.

Now I don't know anything about cocking and uncocking crossbows, but couldn't he have at least removed the arrow? This was an accident waiting to happen.

dog1

PABowhntr

Yes, he could have unloaded the bolt from the crossbow. He could have also fired it to "uncock it". Even if he did not want to waste a broadhead he could have put a field point tipped arrow on it and then fired it.

goosie

I know a lot of guys who hunt with a crossbow and 1) the minimum he should do is take the bolt (arrow) out and put it in his quiver and 2) with a little practice, anyone can uncock the bow by themself. Sure it is easier with two, but it is certainly not impossible with one.
I would definitely be giving him a piece of my mind.

Rack-attack

Would you want to unscrew a broadhead from a loaded and cocked crossbow[:-][]

Not me[&:]

if the guy cannot let the croosbow down - then he should not bring it in the woods with him............period

Rack-attack

Double post[>:]

Charlie P

He wouldn't have to remove the broadhead would he? Just carry a bolt with a field tip switch the bolt and fire it in to the ground or embankment.

WalMart

Jeez Dog1, that's scary.

bow_huntr

That is what scares me the most, people not thinking too sharply about safety. I sure would hate to see someone I know get hurt from somebody elses dumb mistake. I think everyone should take a little time to show newer sportsman how to be safe. Actually, that kind of action was just plain stupid, I also would have told him a piece of my mind.

PABowhntr

Ditto on what Charlie said. What I meant was a separate bolt with a field tip on it.

Len in Maryland

There are violations of the Hunter Safety Course abundant in this post. I question whether or not someone being this foolish ever took the course???

1) A loaded weapon is being transported.
2) A loaded weapon is being pointed in an unsafe direction.
3) A loaded weapon is being pointed at someone.
4) The user is depending on a safety (a mechanical device that can fail).
5) In some States it is illegal to have a loaded weapon in/on a vehicle.

I could probably come up with a few more, but you get the picture. It is truly 'IDIOTIC' that the 'thought' of this even came up; let alone that it may be true.

Carry a 'waste' arrow and shoot it into the ground, as mentioned above; or, let it down, if possible. NEVER move around with a cocked and loaded weapon unless it is pointed downrange in a safe manner/direction. NEVER raise or lower a loaded weapon into a treestand.*
*NOTE: We unfortunately had a young 10 year old boy die this year because of this scenario.

I don't mean to reiterate what is taught in the Hunters Safety Course, but some things are worth repeating.