Unloading your bow

Harry Crabtree · Post by **Harry Crabtree** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:36 pm

Folks, being new to crossbow hunting, I hate to ask but when you unload your crossbow, can't you just change arrows out (take out your broadhead and put on a grassgrabber/judo) and just shoot that into the grass somewhere? Or does this not work because this shoots so much faster then my recurves and compounds? Just was curious why this wouldn't work instead of shooting a field point into the dirt and not being able to find it! Thx and sorry for the newbie question.

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:38 pm

I carry an "discharge" bolt in my quiver. This is an old bolt with a target tip on it. At the end of my hunt I discharge the bow using that bolt into the ground.

Regards,
Robin

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:49 pm

Ditto I shoot an old bolt into the ground when I'm thu for the day.

Harry Crabtree · Post by **Harry Crabtree** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:51 pm

thx seems the common method

fletch · Post by **fletch** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 11:38 pm

On Saturday I tried the method that TNHUNTER posted here and it worked great.

The cocking aid works really nice for this. You use it to cock the bow so why not to uncock, same pressure on string and hooks both ways as far as I can see.

Partikle · Post by **Partikle** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:09 am

fletch wrote:On Saturday I tried the method that TNHUNTER posted here and it worked great. The cocking aid works really nice for this. You use it to cock the bow so why not to uncock, same pressure on string and hooks both ways as far as I can see.

I haven't tried it yet. I'm worried about holding back 225 lbs with 1 hand.

wabi · Post by **wabi** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:29 am

I unload mine by shooting an old arrow into the ground most of the time. I have done some experimenting with different points for the job, and usually use a steel (screw-in) blunt. The large rubber blunts work well, but can skip if the hit a hard object and they will travel quite a distance if they skip. The judo type points work well, but they are easily damaged and get to be rather expensive for the job. A field point will sometimes bury too deep in the ground to find/remove easily. The steel blunt doesn't go quite as deeply into whatever you shoot, and it is easier to pull the arrow. Probably the best point for the job is the G-5 Outdoors "SGH" (small game head) a broadhead/blunt hybrid type point. They are tough and grab like a judo and have plenty of surface to stop the penetration, but at $10.00 per point I hate risking loosing one

Nothing is perfect for the job, but I'd rather spend a few dollars over the course of a year to replace arrows than risk injury by letting the string down by hand.

Buck Fever · Post by **Buck Fever** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:21 am

I am going to have to try something because while uncocking this weekend the string slipped from my hands and I had a semi dry fire. I checked it out and everything seemed OK, but I don't want to risk that again. The string slapped one of my fingers and it is still red.

I think I'll try the rope cockind aid way. I don't want to fire a bolt from my treestand because of the noise it makes as well I am leaving at the end of shooting light and finding the bolt may be a problem.

Any other suggestions?

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:25 am

Buck Fever wrote:
Any other suggestions?

Unloading into a huge buck or a nice big doe would be a fine way of unloading!...

I've always uncocked my crossbows manually for 19 years now and I've never had one snap me yet. Gloves helped alot when uncocking the Exomax though...

buckeye · Post by **buckeye** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:07 pm

bstout wrote:I shoot mine straight up in the air while I'm still sitting in my tree stand. I concentrate on shooting as straight up as I can so my bolt will land into the ground next to my tree and I won't have to walk far to retrieve it.

HEHEHE!

Partikle · Post by **Partikle** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:57 pm

LoneWolf wrote: Unloading into a huge buck or a nice big doe would be a fine way of unloading!...

chris4570 · Post by **chris4570** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:18 pm

I now uncock my bow by hand, but another option is to carry a small target in your vehicle and shoot an arrow with a field tip into it when you are done. Pretty much fool proof and the arrow can be used over and over!!

Furor · Post by **Furor** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:33 pm

I unloaded into a tree last weekend, not the best idea I ever had.

patmax · Post by **patmax** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:23 pm

I unloaded into a tree last weekend, not the best idea I ever had.

Shame on you, Furor, "for cutting a tree down".......... and destroying a bolt.

Harry Crabtree · Post by **Harry Crabtree** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:28 pm

Guys, if I try to let the Exomax (225 lbs) down with the puller, that takes both hands so how do you release it? If I had a 3rd hand I could do it but am I missing something? I just don't see how to let it down without damaging the bow and flip off the catch at the same time. What am I missing?