Questions

[chadermaran]

So I have a few questions. First, How many of you actually find your arrow after you shoot a deer? I have shot 2 does in the past week. The first one I was in the air shooting down.It was a pass through and there was a big spray of blood in the snow where i shot it. I assumed that all I had to do was kick some snow away to find the arrow sticking out of the ground. I couldnt find it. Is it possible that the arrow buried all 20 inchs in frozen ground? My other crossbows were 150 pound pulls so I am not sure what the 200 pound bows are capible of. The second deer I shot off the ground so right away I figured I wouldnt find that arrow right now with all the snow we have. Ill go back in the spring to see if i can find that one.
The other question i have is about dryfiring. Id like to get a boo string later when things slow down. Knowing that certain strings are better for dryfires then others I am curious. I bought my first crossbow in 1998. Since then I have never dryfired one yet. I read alot on here that is does and will happen at some point. What is the main reason it happens? Is it people forgetting to put arrows in or forgetting to put the bow on safe? Will the string slip under the arrow? this is the first bow i have had that has a manual safety so it has taken me abit to get used to putting it on after i cock it.

[saxman]

Welcome
I have found all my arrows so far.I don't know about it going through snow and ice being from down here.

For me,the dry fires happen when I'm testing stuff and sometimes praticing.
I just forget to put the arrow on.

[jay73]

I doubt the arrow would bury entirely in the frozen ground. It is possible that you may not have the exact spot where the arrow came through.

You should always do everything possible to find arrows. Farmers don't think too kindly of broadheads, etc found in thier hay/feed in the barn. (I have come across this asking permission. One farmer said "Well there's no more bowhunting in my fields."

The dryfires usually happen when people forget to put bolts in. That's how mine happened.(once)

Congrats on the 2 does, that's one heck of a week.


Jay

[Normous]

I have harvested about 25 deer since 1992 with my accurate Excaliburs. I would estimate about 9-10 arrows lost and never found. I did look, space aliens probably took them. 5 broke going through deer, probably by the leg bone movement snapping them during penetration. The rest, about 10 got recovered. So thats my score.
Getting distracted from your normal loading routine is probably the No. 1 cause of dryfires. Having company around you will likely increase that chance. I wonder how many dry fires will accur at the Meet and Greet 3D Shoot coming up?
A heavier stock string or a 40 strand Boo one is insurance to prevent limb damage if a dry fire occurs. An sts system can prevent potential limb damage as well.
I have never dry fired because I always double and sometimes triple check my arrow.

[Grizzly Adam]

So I have a few questions. First, How many of you actually find your arrow after you shoot a deer? Is it possible that the arrow buried all 20 inchs in frozen ground? What is the main reason it happens? Is it people forgetting to put arrows in or forgetting to put the bow on safe? Will the string slip under the arrow? this is the first bow i have had that has a manual safety so it has taken me abit to get used to putting it on after i cock it.

Welcome to the forum!

I usually find the arrow, especially if it's shot from an elevation.

I don't think your arrow buried all 20 inches of it's length in hard frozen ground. Snow can cause an arrow to plane away at wild angles. Looking for it after melt is a good idea.

Dry-fires just happen! Two kinds of shooters ... those who have and those who have yet to! Other folks around will make it more likely, because of distraction. Solid and regimented routine will help prevent it.

I believe string material has much more to do with whether limbs will be damaged in a dryfire than does who made a string ( I think Boo would affirm this) ... and you're better off with a material that stretches more, because it is more forgiving. I'd rather have Dacron on if I had the misfortune to dry-fire.

Enjoy your bow! Enjoy the forum.

[wabi]

I've never lost an arrow when shooting from a tree stand, but I have lost a couple when shooting from the ground blind. It depends a lot on the ground cover. In weed fields they are usually very hard to find. You can go back and look for aluminum arrows with a metal detector - I've recovered a couple that way.
Dry fires are usually a result of being distracted during the cocking - loading process. My most recent dry-fire (a few years ago) was a result of cocking the bow then seeing my son move in my peripheral vision. I stopped to remind him to stay well behind me while I was shooting, and didn't load an arrow before I sat back down at the shooting bench.

[VixChix]

I'm with all the rest above on the dry-fires - distraction. Usually conversation with another or some other disruption of the train of thought. Now I always triple check before I release the safety.

[Sandman]

First off welcome to the forum~!

I have recovered all of my bolts with the exception of one. I personally spend alot of time trying to find the bolt because it gives me my first (aside from the shot itself) thought as to where I have connected and will also give me a better indicator as to how long I am going to wait before I set out to recover it.

Cheers,
Robin