Crossbow question

[powdergun]

When sitting in a stand is it standard practice to leave the crossbow loaded and ready or do you load up when deer are spotted.

If you do leave it loaded how long do you leave it that way and does it have any effects on the bow ?

 

[45ACPKING]

that's a good question...... curious what the answer is.
for me , being a newbie to crossbow hunting. I #### the crossbow once I'm in the stand and keep the bolt at the ready but not in the crossbow itself.

 

[Kenny_G2]

Once the critter shows up you need to minimize movement. So my Micro 335 is cocked as soon as I settle in and my bolt is inserted. Safety is engaged, finger only on the trigger when I am ready to shoot.

 

[Potato boy]

I load up as soon as I leave my quad or truck, while climbing up to my stand I remove the bolt, otherwise I'm locked and loaded at all times, would you rifle hunt with an unloaded rifle? Not this guy.

 

[powdergun]

How long do you leave it that way before taking the stress off the limbs

 

[Kenny_G2]

How long do you leave it that way before taking the stress off the limbs

Sunrise to sunset.

 

[powdergun]

No adverse effects on the limbs ?

 

[Scamaniac]

You can leave an Excalibur cocked for the season with no ill effects. It is considered unloaded once the bolt is removed in Ontario regulations.

 

[Magellann]

I #### and load mine When I leave the truck and walk to the stand, Then remove the bolt and decock while climbing into the stand, then #### and reload again.

 

[Magellann]

that's a good question...... curious what the answer is.
for me , being a newbie to crossbow hunting. I #### the crossbow once I'm in the stand and keep the bolt at the ready but not in the crossbow itself.

Have the bolt loaded ready to fire, just use the safety while waiting for the game to show up.

 

['Boo]

You can leave an Excalibur cocked for the season with no ill effects. It is considered unloaded once the bolt is removed.

In BC you can't have a cocked crossbow in a vehicle regardless if an arrow is on the rails or not.

 

[Lexthedestroyer]

No adverse effects on the limbs ?

Given that most compound bows require a bow press to change out cables/strings, I'm assuming the limbs are under constant load... in my eyes, I would assume that a cocked crossbow is no different? I'm open to correction though...

 

[skidderman]

Have a excalibur 380 and I leave it ready to go for days on end. A crossbow is very noisy to load so if you wait until a deer is at 30 yards you might as well stay home.

 

[TheCoachZed]

Yep. #### as soon as you're sitting. I don't like to haul it up into the tree already cocked, as they're a little more touchy than rifles, in my opinion, and I certainly wouldn't haul a loaded rifle up into a treestand. Hauling a cocked crossbow up on a rope won't shoot an arrow off into the woods if you remove it beforehand, but some series of unfortunate events could set the bow off and destroy via dry fire.

 

[rhino519]

except Excalibur, they are idiotproofed

 

[iggy357]

Loaded at all times except climbing.
Safety ON until the crosshairs are on the game.

 

[PEKS]

Excalibur cocked & loaded, hangs on hook in stand ready to go.

 

[powdergun]

Thats all good info. I have bow hunted but due to age and arthritic joints it is getting pretty tough. I was hoping it was OK to sit with the crossbow ready to rock because the bow zone around here also allows crossbows.

 

[icontact]

I hunt in pop up blinds quite a bit on private property. I leave the tent, chair and field pod at the hunting location. Load xbow when I am in blind and place it in the fieldpod ready to go. Switch broadhead to A field point bolt and shoot into ground (unloading it) before I head back to the truck.

 

[yomomma]

Thats all good info. I have bow hunted but due to age and arthritic joints it is getting pretty tough. I was hoping it was OK to sit with the crossbow ready to rock because the bow zone around here also allows crossbows.

Excalibur is what you want...