Best way to uncock a loaded crossbow after your hunt?

[deer jamie]

That one tip took alot of the anxiety out of hunting with my crossbow. I took one across the fingers when my gloved hand punched the trigger before I had a good hold on the string with both hands. Good thing there was snow around to kill the pain. The rope cocker trick is excellent but as Awshucks says check the setup to make sure.

Dan O.

OUCH!!!!!!!!

[Phoenix_Tom]

Definitely not true, I usually have a blunt with me too, more in season out there then just deer.
You can also carry two bows.

Definitely true. During the deer archery season, you are only allowed bheads in your possession. Somebody brought this up last week and they're right.

Deer season here lasts three months, so for that period you are not allowed to hunt small game with blunts or judo points or which ever you desire????? That's like saying you can't use a combination gun during gun(deer) season, and have both barrels loaded for different quarry. ie. 30-30 and .22. I think so long as you have the licences to hunt the different species you should be ok.

I've gone hunting with a .22 on my shoulder and a .303 on my hands.

The hunting of migratory birds does allow the hunter to carry more than one shotgun but only one may be fully assembled.

Chris;

The original point in this chain started by gogo was regarding archery deer hunting and carrying tips other than broadheads. You are not allowed. If you are hunting small game then you should have a quiver full of what ever you use for small game and you are not hunting deer.

I know people that do what you do and carry one weapon for one game slung over their shoulder while primarily hunting another game with another weapon. My interpretation of the deer / bear / small game regs for Ontario is that you are only allowed one weapon in your possession at a time. Since you think this is all right and you do this, I would suggest that you call the MNR and verify this for yourself before you take any more chances.

I was going to hit "Submit" on this when I remembered I have a copy of the regs here. On the first page of the Deer regs, first para, page 52 it states: " When hunting deer you may use or carry a firearm of the type permitted for hunting deer at that time in that WMU. For example, when hunting deer during a bows-only season, you may use or carry only bow hunting equipment. You may not carry a rifle or shotgun for hunting other species."

I have no idea what the fine is for doing the multiple carry. If you're talking to the MNR about that, could you ask them about the fines and whether they'd confiscate all your gear, your vehicle, hunt camp etc?

In the opening para in the bear section on page 67, they have the same type of language but go one step further and specify that possession includes on your person, in your vehicle or boat.

I can't find the section that discusses only having broadheads in the quiver during an open deer / moose / bear season. But I did find something that was discussed last week regarding number of blades. On Page 21: "Note: The criteria for broadheads used for bow hunting big game and wild turkeys have been simplified. A broadhead used for these species must have at least two sharp cutting edges that are at least 22mm wide." Someone had mentioned last week that two bladed broadheads were now banned in Ontario. This seems to contradict that.

If someone else has the regs and can point out where we can find the section on broadheads in the quiver that would be appreciated.

[Phoenix_Tom]

Time to suck back and reload.

There seemed to be too much confusion (mostly on my part apparently ) over some of these rules so I emailed the Ontario MNR to get clarification.

1. The broadheads in the quiver issue: The MNR has removed the restriction in 2009 that previously required that you only have broadheads in the quiver and no blunts / field points during the deer hunt. The only restriction now for broadheads is that there are at least 2 blades, at least 22mm at the widest part. There is no longer anything mentioning serrated or unserrated blades.

2. The carrying of multiple firearms / bows: You can carry archery gear and a rifle or shotgun simultaneously as long as deer, (or moose depending on what you are hunting), and bear both have open rifle and bow seasons, and you are licensed and have tags for both species. This of course doesn't apply in WMUs that do not have concurrent rifle and bow seasons. But it still doesn't mean you can sling a shotgun on your shoulder for bear during bear rifle season while archery hunting during deer or moose archery only season which I know of some people that do that.

I hope this clarifies things and my apologies to anyone who may have been confused by this. My apologies also to Pydpiper - he was right concerning the broadheads in the quiver rule. Once again it would be nice if the MNR would put in a "What's New for This Year" section in the regs.

[snapperdan]

This is easy!!!Foot in the sturip;grab the string with bouth hands onleft and right side of the rail hold back pull the trigger withthe thumb. let the string down easy!!!!

[kanehill]

I would agree with most that the rope cocker works best. But be sure the rope is in the grove under the safety !